Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Stenungsund Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Stenungsund

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,909 in Stenungsund.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $2,961 in Stenungsund.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $4,014 in Stenungsund.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 34% less than in Stenungsund, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Stenungsund is 38% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Stenungsund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿154
$14.15 SEK 137
-67.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22 ฿1,065
$67.2 SEK 651
-52.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿287
$9.23 SEK 89.5
-5.96%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿95.8
$4.39 SEK 42.57
-33.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.89
$1.58 SEK 15.36
-46.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.16
$2.29 SEK 22.16
-78.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.48 ฿82.0
$7.14 SEK 69.3
-65.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿123
$7.18 SEK 69.6
-48.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Stenungsund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.89 ฿62.3
$1.48 SEK 14.33
27.70%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿46.54
$3.23 SEK 31.31
-56.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.6
$5.60 SEK 54.3
-71.07%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿74.1
$4.96 SEK 48.07
-54.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.84 ฿656
$14.15 SEK 137
40.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.48 ฿115
$13.41 SEK 130
-74.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.37 ฿376
$17.74 SEK 172
-35.91%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ฿95.8
$3.22 SEK 31.19
-9.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿57.0
$2.70 SEK 26.16
-36.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 ฿75.1
$2.13 SEK 20.60
6.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 ฿70.4
$4.94 SEK 47.93
-56.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿48.72
$1.49 SEK 14.41
-1.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.92
$1.84 SEK 17.84
-22.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.10 ฿36.25
$2.30 SEK 22.31
-52.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ฿19.76
$1.88 SEK 18.18
-68.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿142
$7.34 SEK 71.2
-41.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.60 ฿615
$8.38 SEK 81.2
121.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿59.5
$2.04 SEK 19.78
-11.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿98.0
$2.27 SEK 22.03
30.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Stenungsund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.25 ฿74.2
$2.54 SEK 24.65
-11.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$23.49 ฿776
$79.4 SEK 770
-70.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.10 ฿102
$13.32 SEK 129
-76.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿35.56
$2.05 SEK 19.85
-47.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.87 ฿128
$84.3 SEK 817
-95.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.16
$1.84 SEK 17.79
-22.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿918.0K
$34.6K SEK 335.7K
-19.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿891.5K
$34.5K SEK 334.7K
-21.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Stenungsund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 ฿3,462
$180 SEK 1,743
-41.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39 ฿376
$27.27 SEK 264
-58.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54 ฿580
$48.86 SEK 474
-64.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Stenungsund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.3 ฿1,795
$39.05 SEK 379
39.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44 ฿378
$26.37 SEK 256
-56.62%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78 ฿257
$16.75 SEK 162
-53.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Stenungsund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 ฿19.0K
$223 SEK 2,161
158.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿382.7K
$5,145 SEK 49.9K
125.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Stenungsund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6 ฿2,103
$104 SEK 1,007
-38.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10 ฿961
$55.0 SEK 533
-47.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.2 ฿3,179
$99.4 SEK 963
-3.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 ฿2,974
$224 SEK 2,172
-59.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Stenungsund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 ฿24.2K
$937 SEK 9,085
-21.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 ฿16.5K
$532 SEK 5,162
-5.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 ฿70.2K
$1,306 SEK 12.7K
62.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,252 ฿41.4K
$1,196 SEK 11.6K
4.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,534 ฿116.8K
$3,674 SEK 35.6K
-3.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,622 ฿86.6K
$2,799 SEK 27.1K
-6.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Stenungsund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.8K
$1,998 SEK 19.4K
-74.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.2
74.06%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Last update for Stenungsund: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $937 in Stenungsund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stenungsund pays 294% 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: $32.00 in Phuket vs $67.0 in Stenungsund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $389 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 Stenungsund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stenungsund cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 51% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Stenungsund?
On paper, salaries run 294% lower in Stenungsund. 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 Stenungsund?
Rent for a central apartment: $733 in Phuket versus $937 in Stenungsund. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $576 in Phuket versus $223 in Stenungsund. 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 Stenungsund?
Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Stenungsund. 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 Stenungsund?
At $1,265 in Phuket versus $1,909 in Stenungsund, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Stenungsund. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Stenungsund more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Stenungsund, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Stenungsund?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Stenungsund 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 51% less than in Stenungsund. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Phuket vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities