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: $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,809 in Visby.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,054 in Phuket versus $2,790 in Visby.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Phuket versus $3,771 in Visby.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 32% less than in Visby, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 10% below, Visby is 32% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 ฿147
$13.09 SEK 129
-66.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.26 ฿1,077
$84.5 SEK 833
-61.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.93 ฿298
$9.33 SEK 92.0
-4.29%
Cappuccino
$2.90 ฿96.6
$4.04 SEK 39.79
-28.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ฿29.38
$2.46 SEK 24.25
-64.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿16.06
$2.58 SEK 25.47
-81.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 ฿78.5
$7.73 SEK 76.2
-69.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿124
$4.09 SEK 40.33
-9.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 ฿62.3
$1.50 SEK 14.79
24.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ฿48.94
$3.18 SEK 31.33
-53.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 ฿51.8
$3.22 SEK 31.72
-51.86%
Eggs
$2.10 ฿70.1
$4.17 SEK 41.10
-49.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.59 ฿654
$10.22 SEK 101
91.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 ฿114
$12.14 SEK 120
-71.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.38 ฿380
$16.40 SEK 162
-30.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 ฿99.6
$3.07 SEK 30.23
-2.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.68 ฿56.2
$2.64 SEK 26.04
-36.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿73.7
$3.16 SEK 31.13
-30.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 ฿72.1
$4.16 SEK 40.99
-48.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.9
$1.79 SEK 17.67
-15.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.34 ฿44.67
$1.81 SEK 17.85
-25.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.67
$2.32 SEK 22.87
-51.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿18.24
$1.05 SEK 10.39
-47.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.26 ฿142
$5.25 SEK 51.8
-18.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.09 ฿637
$12.47 SEK 123
53.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿59.4
$2.32 SEK 22.83
-23.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 ฿92.9
$1.60 SEK 15.75
73.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Visby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.23 ฿74.4
$3.21 SEK 31.65
-30.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.74 ฿759
$81.3 SEK 801
-72.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 ฿101
$3.62 SEK 35.70
-16.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.15
$2.84 SEK 27.99
-64.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 ฿130
$82.7 SEK 815
-95.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 ฿49.77
$1.89 SEK 18.64
-21.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K ฿887.3K
$34.4K SEK 339.0K
-22.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K ฿902.2K
$34.4K SEK 338.6K
-21.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$102 ฿3,420
$189 SEK 1,864
-45.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.33 ฿378
$23.02 SEK 227
-50.78%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.40 ฿581
$44.83 SEK 442
-61.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.1 ฿1,738
$39.54 SEK 390
31.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ฿370
$26.38 SEK 260
-58.04%
Cinema Ticket
$7.69 ฿257
$14.39 SEK 142
-46.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.7K
$154 SEK 1,522
262.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.5K ฿384.1K
$5,200 SEK 51.2K
121.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.0 ฿2,104
$106 SEK 1,046
-40.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.52 ฿986
$41.39 SEK 408
-28.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.0 ฿3,272
$91.6 SEK 902
7.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,954
$143 SEK 1,414
-38.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Visby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.6K
$750 SEK 7,388
-1.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 ฿16.1K
$573 SEK 5,647
-15.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,107 ฿70.3K
$1,407 SEK 13.9K
49.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,226 ฿40.9K
$1,060 SEK 10.4K
15.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,617 ฿120.7K
$4,189 SEK 41.3K
-13.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,603 ฿86.9K
$2,969 SEK 29.3K
-12.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 ฿16.5K
$2,555 SEK 25.2K
-80.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
3.53
57.79%

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

Last update for Phuket: September 15, 2026

Last update for Visby: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $738 in Phuket and $750 in Visby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Visby pays 418% 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 $85.0 in Visby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $274 vs $352 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Visby?
On paper, salaries run 418% 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: $738 in Phuket versus $750 in Visby. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $561 in Phuket versus $154 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 29% 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 $1,232 in Phuket versus $1,809 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 47% 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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