Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Visby Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Visby

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,264 in Phuket versus $1,743 in Visby.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,256 in Phuket versus $2,773 in Visby.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,248 in Phuket versus $3,804 in Visby.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 27% less than in Visby, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 5% below, Visby is 31% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.48 ฿150
$10.48 SEK 99.6
-57.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.59 ฿1,521
$95.0 SEK 902
-52.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.76 ฿292
$9.28 SEK 88.2
-5.60%
Cappuccino
$2.97 ฿99.0
$3.02 SEK 28.72
-1.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.90
$3.24 SEK 30.74
-78.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ฿13.04
$2.74 SEK 26.07
-85.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.53 ฿84.4
$7.63 SEK 72.5
-66.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 ฿125
$4.17 SEK 39.64
-10.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.15 ฿71.6
$1.54 SEK 14.61
39.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.82 ฿60.6
$2.72 SEK 25.87
-33.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 ฿72.9
$3.18 SEK 30.19
-31.45%
Eggs
$2.25 ฿75.0
$4.03 SEK 38.24
-44.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$20.00 ฿667
$10.75 SEK 102
86.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿121
$12.10 SEK 115
-70.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.56 ฿452
$18.87 SEK 179
-28.14%
Apples (1kg)
$3.24 ฿108
$3.13 SEK 29.71
3.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 ฿54.6
$2.58 SEK 24.54
-36.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ฿77.8
$3.11 SEK 29.56
-25.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.07 ฿69.1
$3.72 SEK 35.35
-44.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.6
$1.81 SEK 17.15
-14.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.54
$1.74 SEK 16.55
-16.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 ฿32.86
$2.93 SEK 27.86
-66.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.09
$1.19 SEK 11.27
-59.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 ฿145
$5.95 SEK 56.6
-26.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.57 ฿620
$12.24 SEK 116
51.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ฿61.9
$2.36 SEK 22.39
-21.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 ฿88.6
$1.88 SEK 17.89
40.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Visby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.42 ฿47.28
$3.22 SEK 30.63
-55.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.57 ฿386
$49.23 SEK 468
-76.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.17 ฿106
$3.66 SEK 34.74
-13.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 ฿34.41
$1.19 SEK 11.28
-13.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.89 ฿463
$86.0 SEK 817
-83.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿44.84
$1.90 SEK 18.04
-29.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K ฿927.1K
$32.4K SEK 307.7K
-14.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K ฿1.1M
$34.8K SEK 330.6K
-4.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 ฿4,105
$190 SEK 1,807
-35.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 ฿459
$28.67 SEK 272
-51.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33 ฿611
$41.87 SEK 398
-56.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.7 ฿2,025
$48.15 SEK 457
26.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.16 ฿573
$41.52 SEK 394
-58.67%
Cinema Ticket
$8.87 ฿296
$14.92 SEK 142
-40.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$688 ฿22.9K
$159 SEK 1,508
333.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.8K ฿526.4K
$4,205 SEK 39.9K
275.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.3 ฿1,978
$96.2 SEK 914
-38.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.69 ฿1,157
$43.03 SEK 409
-19.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,843
$93.2 SEK 885
23.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8 ฿2,794
$121 SEK 1,151
-30.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Visby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$621 ฿20.7K
$764 SEK 7,261
-18.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$446 ฿14.9K
$584 SEK 5,546
-23.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,034 ฿67.8K
$1,465 SEK 13.9K
38.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 ฿49.9K
$1,046 SEK 9,937
43.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,455 ฿115.3K
$4,341 SEK 41.2K
-20.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,531 ฿84.4K
$3,097 SEK 29.4K
-18.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
$2,535 SEK 24.1K
-80.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
4.87
9.45%

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

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Visby: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $621 in Phuket and $764 in Visby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Visby pays 413% 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: $46.00 in Phuket vs $95.0 in Visby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $358 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 Visby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Visby cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Visby?
On paper, salaries run 413% lower in Visby. 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 Visby?
Rent for a central apartment: $621 in Phuket versus $764 in Visby. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $688 in Phuket versus $159 in Visby. 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 Visby?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Visby. 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 Visby?
At $1,264 in Phuket versus $1,743 in Visby, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Visby. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Visby more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Visby, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Visby?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Visby 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 38% less than in Visby. 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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