Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Oslo

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,294 a month against $3,524 in Oslo, rent and utilities included – about $26,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Oslo, Norway
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,294
/mo nomad
Oslo
🇳🇴 Norway
$3,524
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Oslo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Oslo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,294 in Phuket versus $3,524 in Oslo.

  • Phuket $1,294
  • Oslo $3,524

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,204 in Phuket versus $5,087 in Oslo.

  • Phuket $2,204
  • Oslo $5,087

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,115 in Phuket versus $6,650 in Oslo.

  • Phuket $3,115
  • Oslo $6,650

Living in Phuket costs roughly 63% less than in Oslo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 4% below, Oslo is 161% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Oslo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.39 ฿148
$21.37 NOK 197
-79.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.31 ฿1,086
$129 NOK 1,194
-75.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.70 ฿293
$15.92 NOK 147
-45.35%
Cappuccino
$2.72 ฿91.6
$5.88 NOK 54.2
-53.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 ฿31.28
$4.45 NOK 41.07
-79.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.79
$3.48 NOK 32.05
-85.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿85.1
$11.61 NOK 107
-78.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 ฿122
$12.67 NOK 117
-71.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Oslo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ฿58.5
$2.52 NOK 23.28
-30.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 ฿48.77
$4.14 NOK 38.15
-64.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$4.89 NOK 45.06
-69.33%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿73.0
$6.27 NOK 57.8
-65.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.09 ฿642
$15.45 NOK 142
23.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.40 ฿114
$16.34 NOK 151
-79.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿366
$31.50 NOK 291
-65.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.94 ฿98.9
$3.34 NOK 30.84
-11.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿56.9
$2.75 NOK 25.40
-38.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.8
$3.55 NOK 32.71
-38.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.12 ฿71.4
$6.04 NOK 55.7
-64.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿49.03
$2.73 NOK 25.15
-46.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.37 ฿45.99
$2.86 NOK 26.35
-52.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 ฿36.17
$2.99 NOK 27.55
-63.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.34
$2.41 NOK 22.21
-77.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43 ฿149
$19.16 NOK 177
-76.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.25 ฿614
$16.09 NOK 148
13.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿59.6
$3.48 NOK 32.14
-49.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ฿96.8
$4.32 NOK 39.82
-33.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Oslo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿48.66
$5.04 NOK 46.44
-71.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$54.9 ฿1,845
$78.8 NOK 726
-30.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 ฿50.9
$12.43 NOK 115
-87.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.78 ฿26.08
$1.84 NOK 16.96
-57.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 ฿129
$72.0 NOK 664
-94.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿50.0
$2.41 NOK 22.23
-38.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K ฿903.7K
$50.2K NOK 462.6K
-46.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K ฿885.7K
$45.3K NOK 417.6K
-41.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Oslo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$97.8 ฿3,288
$430 NOK 3,970
-77.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.29 ฿380
$34.90 NOK 322
-67.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.19 ฿578
$54.8 NOK 505
-68.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Oslo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.3 ฿2,297
$58.2 NOK 537
17.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.92 ฿367
$29.89 NOK 276
-63.47%
Cinema Ticket
$7.43 ฿250
$19.63 NOK 181
-62.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Oslo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$530 ฿17.8K
$246 NOK 2,273
115.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.8K ฿631.4K
$17.6K NOK 162.7K
6.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Oslo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.7 ฿2,073
$103 NOK 948
-40.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.25 ฿950
$62.6 NOK 577
-54.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 ฿3,228
$134 NOK 1,238
-28.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8 ฿2,919
$159 NOK 1,465
-45.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Oslo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$721 ฿24.2K
$2,117 NOK 19.5K
-65.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$509 ฿17.1K
$1,651 NOK 15.2K
-69.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,950 ฿65.6K
$3,238 NOK 29.9K
-39.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,397 ฿47.0K
$2,501 NOK 23.1K
-44.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,192 ฿140.9K
$12.0K NOK 110.6K
-65.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,298 ฿110.9K
$7,601 NOK 70.1K
-56.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Oslo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$492 ฿16.5K
$4,955 NOK 45.7K
-90.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.94
12.75%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: November 2, 2026

Last update for Oslo: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$509
Oslo
$1.7K 225% $1.1K
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$267
Oslo
$524 96.5% $258
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$126
Oslo
$520 312% $394
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$123
Oslo
$206 68.1% $84
Eating Out
Phuket
$120
Oslo
$404 238% $285
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$83
Oslo
$97 17.2% $14
Getting Around
Phuket
$66
Oslo
$121 82.5% $54

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $721 in Phuket and $2,117 in Oslo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Oslo pays about 10 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $129 in Oslo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $524 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇳🇴 Oslo
🕒 Local time
06:59 6:59 AM
00:59 12:59 AM
6 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
1,098,061 Capital
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

NOK, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 33.62 THB (100 THB = 2.97 USD). 1 EUR = 37.85 THB (100 THB = 2.64 EUR).

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 9.22 NOK (1 NOK = 0.108 USD). 1 EUR = 10.38 NOK (100 NOK = 9.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Oslo 9,120 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Oslo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Phuket vs Oslo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Oslo?
Phuket is about 63% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and clothing. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Oslo?
On paper, salaries run 90% lower in Phuket. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Oslo?
Rent for a central apartment: $721 in Phuket versus $2,117 in Oslo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Phuket and in Oslo?
All in, you’ll spend $1,294 per month in Phuket versus $3,524 in Oslo – Phuket is about 63% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Phuket runs roughly 30% less than in Oslo. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Oslo?
At $1,294 in Phuket versus $3,524 in Oslo, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Oslo. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city suits remote workers better?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value at $1,294 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Oslo?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Oslo are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Oslo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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