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: $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,011 in Steinkjer.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,284 in Phuket versus $3,053 in Steinkjer.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,317 in Phuket versus $4,095 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 51% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55 ฿153
$22.75 NOK 219
-80.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18 ฿1,554
$55.3 NOK 533
-16.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.84 ฿298
$13.35 NOK 129
-33.78%
Cappuccino
$3.06 ฿103
$4.44 NOK 42.78
-31.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 ฿24.42
$3.68 NOK 35.51
-80.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ฿13.40
$2.95 NOK 28.42
-86.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.43 ฿81.8
$10.31 NOK 99.4
-76.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿127
$6.15 NOK 59.3
-38.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ฿76.0
$1.99 NOK 19.23
13.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ฿60.9
$3.65 NOK 35.24
-50.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$3.03 NOK 29.19
-25.74%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.6
$4.49 NOK 43.33
-49.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 ฿656
$10.31 NOK 99.5
89.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.65 ฿123
$14.95 NOK 144
-75.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.05 ฿439
$28.55 NOK 275
-54.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿109
$3.76 NOK 36.24
-14.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 ฿54.4
$2.26 NOK 21.80
-28.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ฿80.2
$2.63 NOK 25.34
-9.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 ฿68.2
$5.08 NOK 49.02
-60.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿51.6
$1.99 NOK 19.15
-23.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.5
$2.01 NOK 19.35
-25.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.93
$2.60 NOK 25.12
-62.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.40
$2.40 NOK 23.17
-78.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44 ฿149
$14.01 NOK 135
-68.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.32 ฿616
$18.06 NOK 174
1.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿62.7
$3.59 NOK 34.64
-48.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿90.2
$4.60 NOK 44.38
-41.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.41 ฿47.49
$3.93 NOK 37.88
-64.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿394
$74.7 NOK 720
-84.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.11 ฿105
$15.06 NOK 145
-79.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿35.08
$2.20 NOK 21.19
-52.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.11 ฿475
$87.7 NOK 845
-83.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ฿44.13
$2.04 NOK 19.68
-35.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿936.0K
$31.4K NOK 303.2K
-11.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K ฿1.1M
$42.5K NOK 410.2K
-21.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿4,120
$150 NOK 1,447
-18.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59 ฿457
$42.93 NOK 414
-68.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70 ฿629
$50.6 NOK 488
-63.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.5 ฿2,035
$30.69 NOK 296
97.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 ฿572
$35.73 NOK 345
-52.48%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07 ฿305
$15.06 NOK 145
-39.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$706 ฿23.8K
$330 NOK 3,185
113.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿531.8K
$8,521 NOK 82.2K
85.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 ฿1,970
$50.4 NOK 486
16.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36 ฿1,190
$30.83 NOK 297
14.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,885
$60.3 NOK 581
91.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7 ฿2,818
$132 NOK 1,273
-36.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$626 ฿21.1K
$1,011 NOK 9,749
-38.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$445 ฿15.0K
$657 NOK 6,337
-32.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,040 ฿68.7K
$1,530 NOK 14.8K
33.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,492 ฿50.2K
$1,026 NOK 9,892
45.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,483 ฿117.2K
$6,066 NOK 58.5K
-42.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,577 ฿86.7K
$3,692 NOK 35.6K
-30.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$500 ฿16.8K
-
-
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Steinkjer: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $626 in Phuket and $1,011 in Steinkjer. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $46.00 in Phuket vs $55.0 in Steinkjer for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $289 vs $459 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 $1,875 in Phuket and $3,017 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: $626 in Phuket versus $1,011 in Steinkjer. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $706 in Phuket versus $330 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 in Steinkjer?
Supermarket bills run roughly 59% higher in Steinkjer. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Steinkjer?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,011 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.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

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