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: $1,270 in Phuket versus $1,823 in Stenungsund.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,304 in Phuket versus $2,802 in Stenungsund.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,339 in Phuket versus $3,781 in Stenungsund.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 30% less than in Stenungsund, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 5% below, Stenungsund is 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Stenungsund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿150
$12.97 SEK 119
-64.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.44 ฿1,496
$68.9 SEK 634
-32.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.68 ฿280
$8.98 SEK 82.6
-3.34%
Cappuccino
$2.95 ฿95.0
$4.51 SEK 41.47
-34.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ฿22.52
$1.56 SEK 14.32
-55.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ฿12.70
$2.41 SEK 22.16
-83.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿81.6
$7.18 SEK 66.1
-64.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 ฿122
$7.17 SEK 66.0
-47.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Stenungsund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.22 ฿71.5
$1.45 SEK 13.38
53.10%
White Bread (500g)
$1.80 ฿57.8
$3.08 SEK 28.29
-41.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ฿70.4
$3.92 SEK 36.03
-44.13%
Eggs
$2.31 ฿74.5
$3.94 SEK 36.21
-41.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.34 ฿623
$13.93 SEK 128
38.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.77 ฿121
$11.94 SEK 110
-68.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.22 ฿426
$15.85 SEK 146
-16.59%
Apples (1kg)
$3.33 ฿107
$3.61 SEK 33.17
-7.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 ฿53.1
$2.58 SEK 23.78
-36.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.29 ฿73.7
$1.54 SEK 14.19
48.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ฿64.1
$5.59 SEK 51.4
-64.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.24
$1.51 SEK 13.90
1.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 ฿48.77
$2.10 SEK 19.31
-28.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.12
$2.78 SEK 25.60
-62.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.57
$1.75 SEK 16.10
-70.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿142
$7.60 SEK 69.9
-41.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.41 ฿625
$8.87 SEK 81.6
118.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿58.0
$1.71 SEK 15.78
5.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ฿86.4
$1.96 SEK 18.06
36.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Stenungsund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.43 ฿46.11
$2.71 SEK 24.98
-47.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.70 ฿377
$73.6 SEK 677
-84.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.04 ฿97.9
$5.66 SEK 52.1
-46.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.37
$1.59 SEK 14.62
-34.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.68 ฿441
$21.22 SEK 195
-35.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 ฿41.85
$1.98 SEK 18.26
-34.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.9K ฿898.9K
$32.2K SEK 296.5K
-13.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K ฿1.1M
$34.0K SEK 312.9K
-2.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Stenungsund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿3,962
$89.5 SEK 824
37.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.82 ฿445
$27.93 SEK 257
-50.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.86 ฿608
$36.86 SEK 339
-48.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Stenungsund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.2 ฿1,970
$40.19 SEK 370
52.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.81 ฿541
$25.02 SEK 230
-32.81%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 ฿286
$15.67 SEK 144
-43.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Stenungsund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$696 ฿22.4K
$145 SEK 1,333
380.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K ฿517.4K
$729 SEK 6,705
2103.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Stenungsund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 ฿1,910
$107 SEK 983
-44.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.85 ฿1,123
$43.62 SEK 401
-20.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 ฿3,646
$118 SEK 1,088
-4.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.1 ฿2,740
$158 SEK 1,451
-46.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Stenungsund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$615 ฿19.8K
$827 SEK 7,609
-25.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$448 ฿14.4K
$650 SEK 5,984
-31.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,085 ฿67.2K
$1,390 SEK 12.8K
49.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 ฿48.2K
$1,085 SEK 9,982
37.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,734 ฿120.3K
$3,926 SEK 36.1K
-4.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,662 ฿85.8K
$3,398 SEK 31.3K
-21.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Stenungsund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$534 ฿17.2K
$2,123 SEK 19.5K
-74.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
4.53
17.66%

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

Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026

Last update for Stenungsund: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $615 in Phuket and $827 in Stenungsund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stenungsund pays 298% 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: $46 in Phuket vs $69 in Stenungsund for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $364 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Stenungsund?
On paper, Stenungsund earns 298% 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 Stenungsund?
Rent for a central apartment: $615 in Phuket versus $827 in Stenungsund. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $696 in Phuket versus $145 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 Stenungsund?
Supermarket bills run roughly 25% higher in Stenungsund. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Stenungsund?
At $1,270 in Phuket versus $1,823 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 44% 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

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