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: $1,232 in Phuket versus $3,564 in Selfoss.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $2,499 in Selfoss.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $1,435 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 166% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 ฿151

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.84 ฿1,532

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 ฿289

$20.26 ISK 2,481

-56.37%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.0

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

$0.74 ฿24.25

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.95

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.8

$12.03 ISK 1,473

-79.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 ฿118

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ฿73.9

$1.74 ISK 213

29.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.84 ฿60.1

$7.26 ISK 889

-74.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$4.53 ISK 555

-50.55%

Eggs

$2.32 ฿75.7

$6.29 ISK 770

-63.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.67 ฿643

$16.50 ISK 2,021

19.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.65 ฿119

$20.92 ISK 2,561

-82.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.10 ฿428

$33.41 ISK 4,091

-60.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 ฿111

$2.70 ISK 331

25.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.7

$2.62 ISK 320

-37.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ฿79.0

$2.57 ISK 314

-6.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 ฿66.4

$7.17 ISK 878

-71.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 ฿50.9

$3.19 ISK 391

-51.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 ฿48.94

$2.05 ISK 251

-26.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ฿33.50

$3.52 ISK 431

-71.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.00

$1.38 ISK 169

-64.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿145

$14.96 ISK 1,832

-70.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 ฿617

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿58.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 ฿90.1

$1.15 ISK 140

139.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.40 ฿45.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿376

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.12 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.00 ฿32.67

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.09 ฿461

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 ฿44.19

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

$27.2K ฿888.9K

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

$32.9K ฿1.1M

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

$125 ฿4,087

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

$13.57 ฿444

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿606

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 ฿2,010

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿551

Cinema Ticket

$9.19 ฿300

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

$698 ฿22.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.6K ฿509.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.8 ฿1,889

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.24 ฿1,152

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 ฿3,699

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.4 ฿2,825

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 ฿20.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.6K

$2,864 ISK 350.7K

-84.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,048 ฿67.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,492 ฿48.8K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,779 ฿123.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,649 ฿86.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$524 ฿17.1K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: April 28, 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 189% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $5,346 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 74% higher in Selfoss. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $3,564 in Selfoss – a 189% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,232 in Phuket versus $3,564 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 189% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.