Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Solna Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Solna

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,773 in Solna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $2,691 in Solna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $3,610 in Solna.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 29% less than in Solna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Solna is 32% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Solna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿154
$14.78 SEK 139
-68.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,483
$56.1 SEK 527
-19.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿276
$10.42 SEK 97.9
-19.10%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.7
$5.02 SEK 47.18
-41.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.42
$3.19 SEK 30.01
-78.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿12.00
$1.51 SEK 14.19
-75.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.7
$7.63 SEK 71.7
-68.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$8.13 SEK 76.3
-54.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Solna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿73.0
$1.56 SEK 14.62
42.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.9
$2.67 SEK 25.07
-31.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.9
$3.78 SEK 35.48
-42.59%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.4
$3.92 SEK 36.85
-43.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$9.56 SEK 89.8
106.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$12.28 SEK 115
-70.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$14.88 SEK 140
-9.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$1.66 SEK 15.56
97.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.7
$2.16 SEK 20.26
-25.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.7
$2.60 SEK 24.44
-7.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$3.19 SEK 29.94
-34.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.97
$1.55 SEK 14.53
-1.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.41
$2.04 SEK 19.14
-27.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.32
$2.35 SEK 22.04
-57.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.68
$1.11 SEK 10.45
-54.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$7.55 SEK 70.9
-41.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿634
$14.78 SEK 139
31.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.40 SEK 13.16
27.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.7
$0.91 SEK 8.54
197.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Solna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.83
$4.54 SEK 42.68
-69.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$100 SEK 943
-88.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.7
$3.78 SEK 35.47
-20.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.51
$1.58 SEK 14.84
-37.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$85.5 SEK 803
-83.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.55
$1.96 SEK 18.38
-30.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.9K
$27.2K SEK 255.4K
3.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$30.1K SEK 283.1K
9.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Solna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,978
$109 SEK 1,021
11.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$28.80 SEK 271
-52.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿599
$41.35 SEK 388
-55.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Solna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,969
$47.03 SEK 442
28.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$25.68 SEK 241
-33.26%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$15.01 SEK 141
-42.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Solna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.7K
$157 SEK 1,477
341.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.8K
$4,218 SEK 39.6K
271.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Solna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,946
$93.5 SEK 879
-36.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,137
$42.46 SEK 399
-18.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,746
$93.7 SEK 880
22.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,723
$52.5 SEK 493
58.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Solna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$840 SEK 7,894
-27.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$657 SEK 6,171
-33.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.5K
$1,416 SEK 13.3K
47.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$1,090 SEK 10.2K
38.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.6K
$7,167 SEK 67.3K
-47.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.5K
$5,298 SEK 49.8K
-50.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Solna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$3,958 SEK 37.2K
-87.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
4.8
11.04%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Solna: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $840 in Solna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Solna pays 679% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $56.0 in Solna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $325 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

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 Solna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Solna cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Solna?
On paper, Solna earns 679% less. 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 Solna?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $840 in Solna. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $693 in Phuket versus $157 in Solna. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Solna?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Solna. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Solna?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,773 in Solna, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Solna. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Solna more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Solna, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Solna?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Solna are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Solna. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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