Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Selfoss Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Selfoss

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $3,518 in Selfoss.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $2,483 in Selfoss.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $1,447 in Selfoss.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 65% less than in Selfoss, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Selfoss is 164% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.51 ฿147

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.62 ฿1,515

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.49 ฿276

$20.10 ISK 2,498

-57.76%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ฿100

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 ฿22.07

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.75

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 ฿78.8

$11.98 ISK 1,489

-79.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿118

Milk (1 liter)

$2.19 ฿71.1

$1.73 ISK 214

26.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 ฿59.0

$7.26 ISK 902

-75.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ฿72.5

$4.43 ISK 551

-49.66%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿72.7

$6.17 ISK 766

-63.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.60 ฿637

$16.57 ISK 2,059

18.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.72 ฿121

$20.62 ISK 2,562

-81.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.47 ฿438

$32.37 ISK 4,022

-58.39%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 ฿109

$2.74 ISK 340

22.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ฿52.5

$2.57 ISK 320

-36.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿78.3

$2.62 ISK 326

-8.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 ฿64.6

$7.12 ISK 885

-72.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿49.76

$3.09 ISK 384

-50.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ฿47.19

$2.07 ISK 257

-29.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ฿32.96

$3.48 ISK 432

-70.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿15.73

$1.34 ISK 166

-64.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 ฿139

$15.27 ISK 1,897

-72.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.12 ฿621

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿59.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ฿89.1

$1.14 ISK 141

140.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿46.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 ฿381

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 ฿97.6

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ฿34.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.90 ฿452

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿41.94

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$28.0K ฿911.1K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.5K ฿1.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ฿3,964

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.93 ฿453

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.87 ฿613

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.3 ฿1,992

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

Cinema Ticket

$8.89 ฿289

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$691 ฿22.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.2K ฿525.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,878

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.39 ฿1,150

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,685

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 ฿2,698

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$607 ฿19.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$448 ฿14.6K

$2,897 ISK 359.9K

-84.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,029 ฿66.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,493 ฿48.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,585 ฿116.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,585 ฿84.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$505 ฿16.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: June 15, 2026

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 Selfoss: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets. The 188% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,835 in Phuket and $5,278 in Selfoss to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 72% higher in Selfoss. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,223 per month in Phuket versus $3,518 in Selfoss – a 188% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,223 in Phuket versus $3,518 in Selfoss, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Selfoss. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Selfoss, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Phuket and Selfoss are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 188% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.