🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,253 in Phuket versus $2,748 in Steinkjer.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,043 in Phuket versus $3,954 in Steinkjer.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,833 in Phuket versus $5,161 in Steinkjer.
🌍Living in Phuket costs roughly 54% less than in Steinkjer, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 9% below, Steinkjer is 100% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿150
$21.44NOK 199
-78.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62฿1,073
$59.4NOK 551
-45.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90฿293
$14.16NOK 131
-37.15%
Cappuccino
$2.80฿92.2
$4.96NOK 46.07
-43.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿28.94
$5.74NOK 53.3
-84.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.08
$4.23NOK 39.25
-88.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿78.5
$10.62NOK 98.6
-77.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿122
$6.55NOK 60.8
-43.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿58.8
$2.59NOK 24.08
-30.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44฿47.40
$3.56NOK 33.06
-59.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿52.1
$3.88NOK 35.99
-59.28%
Eggs
$2.13฿69.9
$4.85NOK 45.01
-56.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.92฿655
$13.50NOK 125
47.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43฿113
$16.65NOK 155
-79.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.33฿372
$29.88NOK 277
-62.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95฿97.0
$4.05NOK 37.56
-27.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿56.6
$2.92NOK 27.11
-41.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32฿76.5
$3.94NOK 36.58
-41.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.4
$5.69NOK 52.8
-63.44%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.34
$2.95NOK 27.36
-50.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36฿44.65
$3.05NOK 28.35
-55.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.13
$2.94NOK 27.29
-62.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.89
$2.26NOK 21.02
-74.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿140
$17.78NOK 165
-75.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42฿606
$18.66NOK 173
-1.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87฿61.5
$3.67NOK 34.11
-49.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92฿96.1
$4.53NOK 42.06
-35.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22฿73.0
$4.31NOK 40.05
-48.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.90฿753
$87.0NOK 808
-73.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿99.6
$9.58NOK 89.0
-68.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.32
$1.67NOK 15.55
-35.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.93฿129
$61.8NOK 574
-93.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.06
$2.34NOK 21.72
-36.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K฿892.0K
$46.0KNOK 426.8K
-40.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿902.6K
$45.9KNOK 426.2K
-40.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103฿3,380
$276NOK 2,564
-62.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99฿361
$36.55NOK 339
-69.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51฿576
$83.1NOK 772
-78.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5฿1,760
$53.6NOK 498
-0.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20฿368
$42.75NOK 397
-73.80%
Cinema Ticket
$7.48฿246
$16.01NOK 149
-53.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557฿18.3K
$303NOK 2,814
83.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K฿389.7K
$4,430NOK 41.1K
167.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1฿2,107
$110NOK 1,017
-41.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07฿956
$51.0NOK 473
-42.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0฿3,155
$122NOK 1,132
-21.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,970
$162NOK 1,503
-44.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730฿24.0K
$1,247NOK 11.6K
-41.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500฿16.4K
$1,129NOK 10.5K
-55.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,090฿68.7K
$1,832NOK 17.0K
14.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209฿39.8K
$1,898NOK 17.6K
-36.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,596฿118.2K
$6,007NOK 55.8K
-40.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,512฿82.6K
$3,779NOK 35.1K
-33.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Steinkjer
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
5.32
4.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Last update for Steinkjer: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $730 in Phuket and $1,247 in Steinkjer. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Phuket vs $59.0 in Steinkjer for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $273 vs $510 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, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 119% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,880 in Phuket and $4,122 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: $730 in Phuket versus $1,247 in Steinkjer. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $557 in Phuket versus $303 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 87% 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 $1,253 in Phuket versus $2,748 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 119% less than in Steinkjer. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.