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: $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,709 in Visby.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $2,757 in Visby.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $3,806 in Visby.

Living in Phuket costs roughly 26% less than in Visby, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Visby is 27% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 ฿149
$10.56 SEK 99.1
-56.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63 ฿1,519
$95.5 SEK 895
-51.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 ฿276
$9.26 SEK 86.9
-8.53%
Cappuccino
$3.03 ฿98.6
$3.09 SEK 29.01
-1.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.45
$3.07 SEK 28.80
-77.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.92
$2.73 SEK 25.61
-86.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿81.0
$7.59 SEK 71.2
-67.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿119
$4.33 SEK 40.64
-15.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ฿71.0
$1.54 SEK 14.47
41.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.90 ฿62.0
$2.75 SEK 25.77
-30.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 ฿71.6
$3.22 SEK 30.16
-31.68%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿72.4
$4.03 SEK 37.83
-44.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.99 ฿651
$10.67 SEK 100
87.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.66 ฿119
$12.34 SEK 116
-70.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.25 ฿432
$18.77 SEK 176
-29.41%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 ฿105
$3.05 SEK 28.57
5.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.3
$2.62 SEK 24.62
-35.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 ฿78.0
$3.07 SEK 28.77
-22.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿67.7
$3.62 SEK 33.96
-42.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿51.8
$1.86 SEK 17.40
-14.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.31
$1.84 SEK 17.23
-19.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ฿33.54
$2.86 SEK 26.79
-63.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿16.83
$1.13 SEK 10.63
-53.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿138
$6.14 SEK 57.6
-30.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿612
$12.40 SEK 116
51.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.2
$2.37 SEK 22.23
-25.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿89.8
$1.84 SEK 17.25
50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Visby
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.36 ฿44.32
$3.07 SEK 28.78
-55.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.36 ฿370
$50.0 SEK 469
-77.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 ฿102
$3.63 SEK 34.01
-13.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿33.74
$1.18 SEK 11.04
-11.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.77 ฿448
$84.8 SEK 796
-83.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 ฿43.79
$1.99 SEK 18.64
-32.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K ฿901.4K
$32.1K SEK 300.7K
-13.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ฿1.1M
$34.7K SEK 325.9K
-2.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 ฿4,025
$188 SEK 1,760
-34.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52 ฿440
$28.37 SEK 266
-52.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿609
$40.76 SEK 382
-54.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.8 ฿2,013
$48.89 SEK 459
26.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25 ฿562
$41.79 SEK 392
-58.72%
Cinema Ticket
$9.14 ฿298
$14.44 SEK 135
-36.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$703 ฿22.9K
$161 SEK 1,506
337.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K ฿517.0K
$4,106 SEK 38.5K
286.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,937
$95.7 SEK 898
-37.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07 ฿1,142
$42.51 SEK 399
-17.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,754
$94.0 SEK 882
22.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1 ฿2,737
$121 SEK 1,132
-30.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Visby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$619 ฿20.1K
$757 SEK 7,104
-18.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$433 ฿14.1K
$579 SEK 5,427
-25.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,062 ฿67.2K
$1,493 SEK 14.0K
38.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 ฿49.2K
$1,036 SEK 9,719
45.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,646 ฿118.7K
$4,430 SEK 41.6K
-17.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,626 ฿85.5K
$2,855 SEK 26.8K
-8.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Visby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$507 ฿16.5K
$2,693 SEK 25.3K
-81.17%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Visby: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $757 in Visby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Visby pays 431% 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: $47.00 in Phuket vs $95.0 in Visby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 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 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Phuket or Visby?
On paper, Visby earns 431% 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 Visby?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $757 in Visby. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $161 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 Visby?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Visby. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Visby?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $1,709 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 35% 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

Similar cities