Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Stokmarknes

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,208 a month against $2,652 in Stokmarknes, rent and utilities included – about $17,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Stokmarknes
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,652
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Stokmarknes

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Stokmarknes actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,208 in Phuket versus $2,652 in Stokmarknes.

  • Phuket $1,208
  • Stokmarknes $2,652

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,027 in Phuket versus $4,015 in Stokmarknes.

  • Phuket $2,027
  • Stokmarknes $4,015

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,845 in Phuket versus $5,378 in Stokmarknes.

  • Phuket $2,845
  • Stokmarknes $5,378

Living in Phuket costs roughly 54% less than in Stokmarknes, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 11% below, Stokmarknes is 96% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Stokmarknes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40 ฿147
$20.63 NOK 194
-78.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,078
$103 NOK 968
-68.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿293
$15.80 NOK 149
-44.56%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿94.5
$5.38 NOK 50.6
-47.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 ฿30.14
$3.98 NOK 37.43
-77.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ฿15.56
$3.18 NOK 29.93
-85.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.55 ฿85.2
$11.81 NOK 111
-78.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.83 ฿128
$10.36 NOK 97.5
-63.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Stokmarknes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ฿57.7
$2.47 NOK 23.27
-29.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿49.11
$3.55 NOK 33.41
-58.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.6
$3.87 NOK 36.44
-60.98%
Eggs
$2.17 ฿72.7
$4.76 NOK 44.83
-54.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.70 ฿658
$13.04 NOK 123
51.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.34 ฿112
$15.20 NOK 143
-78.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿373
$31.03 NOK 292
-64.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 ฿95.1
$3.27 NOK 30.75
-12.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿56.9
$2.58 NOK 24.26
-34.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ฿73.3
$3.51 NOK 33.04
-37.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 ฿68.4
$4.77 NOK 44.90
-57.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 ฿48.57
$2.59 NOK 24.40
-44.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.16
$2.88 NOK 27.13
-52.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.69
$3.02 NOK 28.44
-64.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.91
$2.33 NOK 21.90
-78.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$17.47 NOK 164
-75.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.58 ฿621
$16.55 NOK 156
12.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.7
$3.49 NOK 32.83
-49.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.2
$4.20 NOK 39.57
-32.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Stokmarknes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 ฿75.6
$4.62 NOK 43.50
-51.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.10 ฿738
$86.0 NOK 810
-74.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.01 ฿101
$12.01 NOK 113
-74.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.06 ฿35.34
$1.86 NOK 17.47
-43.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.86 ฿129
$69.1 NOK 650
-94.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.45
$2.33 NOK 21.93
-37.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3K ฿879.9K
$48.7K NOK 458.2K
-45.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿900.4K
$42.8K NOK 402.7K
-37.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Stokmarknes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,221
$271 NOK 2,554
-64.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.04 ฿369
$33.47 NOK 315
-67.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.14 ฿573
$54.3 NOK 511
-68.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Stokmarknes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 ฿1,744
$49.46 NOK 466
5.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.16 ฿373
$36.68 NOK 345
-69.57%
Cinema Ticket
$7.81 ฿261
$17.21 NOK 162
-54.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Stokmarknes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$556 ฿18.6K
$234 NOK 2,204
137.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K ฿387.0K
$12.9K NOK 121.9K
-10.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Stokmarknes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.2 ฿2,146
$99.7 NOK 938
-35.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.69 ฿959
$56.7 NOK 534
-49.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.4 ฿3,187
$126 NOK 1,187
-24.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0 ฿2,940
$155 NOK 1,461
-43.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Stokmarknes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 ฿24.6K
$1,206 NOK 11.4K
-38.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$462 ฿15.5K
$1,016 NOK 9,563
-54.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,095 ฿70.0K
$1,973 NOK 18.6K
6.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ฿40.1K
$1,690 NOK 15.9K
-28.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,488 ฿116.6K
$6,221 NOK 58.6K
-43.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,523 ฿84.3K
$4,109 NOK 38.7K
-38.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Stokmarknes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$501 ฿16.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.94
12.75%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Last update for Stokmarknes: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$462
Stokmarknes
$1K 120% $553
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$269
Stokmarknes
$485 80.6% $216
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$125
Stokmarknes
$359 188% $235
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$124
Stokmarknes
$197 58.5% $73
Eating Out
Phuket
$121
Stokmarknes
$385 218% $264
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$68
Stokmarknes
$84 23.7% $16
Getting Around
Phuket
$39
Stokmarknes
$126 219% $86

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $737 in Phuket and $1,206 in Stokmarknes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $103 in Stokmarknes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $485 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇳🇴 Stokmarknes
🕒 Local time
17:16 5:16 PM
12:16 12:16 PM
5 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
3,300
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

NOK, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 9.41 NOK (1 NOK = 0.106 USD). 1 EUR = 10.58 NOK (100 NOK = 9.45 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Stokmarknes 8,930 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Stokmarknes

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Stokmarknes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stokmarknes cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. 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 $1,813 in Phuket and $3,978 in Stokmarknes 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 Stokmarknes?
Rent for a central apartment: $737 in Phuket versus $1,206 in Stokmarknes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $556 in Phuket versus $234 in Stokmarknes. 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 Stokmarknes?
Supermarket bills run roughly 81% higher in Stokmarknes. 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 Stokmarknes?
At $1,208 in Phuket versus $2,652 in Stokmarknes, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Stokmarknes. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Stokmarknes more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Stokmarknes, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Stokmarknes?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Stokmarknes 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 Stokmarknes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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