Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Steinkjer Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Steinkjer

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,040 in Steinkjer.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Phuket versus $3,013 in Steinkjer.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,329 in Phuket versus $3,985 in Steinkjer.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 38% less than in Steinkjer, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Steinkjer is 52% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿153
$22.84 NOK 212
-79.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,482
$54.9 NOK 510
-17.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿275
$13.05 NOK 121
-35.40%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.6
$4.64 NOK 43.10
-36.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.40
$3.64 NOK 33.80
-81.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.99
$2.87 NOK 26.70
-87.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$10.01 NOK 93.0
-75.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$6.13 NOK 56.9
-39.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿72.9
$1.96 NOK 18.24
13.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.8
$3.63 NOK 33.73
-49.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.8
$3.07 NOK 28.52
-29.32%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.3
$4.64 NOK 43.13
-52.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$10.14 NOK 94.2
94.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$15.08 NOK 140
-75.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$28.06 NOK 261
-51.78%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$3.93 NOK 36.53
-16.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.6
$2.25 NOK 20.88
-28.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.6
$2.57 NOK 23.92
-6.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$5.08 NOK 47.16
-59.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.93
$2.03 NOK 18.90
-24.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.36
$2.06 NOK 19.18
-28.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.29
$2.51 NOK 23.35
-60.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.67
$2.40 NOK 22.25
-78.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$14.41 NOK 134
-69.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿633
$18.92 NOK 176
2.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$3.52 NOK 32.66
-49.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.6
$4.81 NOK 44.68
-43.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.79
$4.01 NOK 37.21
-65.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$74.3 NOK 691
-84.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.6
$14.99 NOK 139
-79.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.48
$2.23 NOK 20.73
-55.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$89.5 NOK 831
-84.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.51
$1.98 NOK 18.35
-31.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.1K
$31.8K NOK 295.3K
-11.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$42.7K NOK 396.6K
-22.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,975
$150 NOK 1,397
-19.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿443
$42.78 NOK 397
-68.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿598
$50.6 NOK 470
-63.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,967
$30.84 NOK 286
95.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$36.02 NOK 335
-52.42%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$15.26 NOK 142
-43.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.6K
$329 NOK 3,060
110.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.3K
$8,468 NOK 78.7K
85.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,944
$50.9 NOK 473
16.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,136
$29.97 NOK 278
16.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,743
$61.0 NOK 567
87.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,720
$129 NOK 1,198
-35.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$1,022 NOK 9,499
-40.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$648 NOK 6,020
-32.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.4K
$1,530 NOK 14.2K
36.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$999 NOK 9,278
51.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.5K
$5,278 NOK 49.0K
-28.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.4K
$3,870 NOK 36.0K
-32.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
1.5
255.33%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Steinkjer: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $613 in Phuket and $1,022 in Steinkjer. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Phuket vs $55.0 in Steinkjer for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $460 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 Steinkjer: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Steinkjer cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket and $3,060 in Steinkjer 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.
What is the rent difference between Phuket and Steinkjer?
Rent for a central apartment: $613 in Phuket versus $1,022 in Steinkjer. 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 $329 in Steinkjer. 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 Steinkjer?
Supermarket bills run roughly 57% higher in Steinkjer. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Steinkjer?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $2,040 in Steinkjer, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Steinkjer. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Steinkjer more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Steinkjer, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Steinkjer?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Steinkjer 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 61% less than in Steinkjer. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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