Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Selfoss and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,533 in Selfoss versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,478 in Selfoss versus $2,286 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,422 in Selfoss versus $3,310 in Phuket.

Living in Selfoss is roughly 180% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Selfoss is 163% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.56 ฿149

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.63 ฿1,519

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$19.63 ISK 2,444

$8.47 ฿276

131.76%

Cappuccino

$3.03 ฿98.6

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ฿22.45

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿11.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.26 ISK 1,527

$2.49 ฿81.0

392.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ISK 218

$2.18 ฿71.0

-19.72%

White Bread (500g)

$7.42 ISK 924

$1.90 ฿62.0

290.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.32 ISK 538

$2.20 ฿71.6

96.36%

Eggs

$6.22 ISK 774

$2.22 ฿72.4

180.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.97 ISK 2,113

$19.99 ฿651

-15.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$21.17 ISK 2,635

$3.66 ฿119

478.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.10 ISK 4,121

$13.25 ฿432

149.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ISK 344

$3.23 ฿105

-14.55%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ISK 322

$1.70 ฿55.3

52.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.57 ISK 320

$2.39 ฿78.0

7.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.15 ISK 891

$2.08 ฿67.7

243.75%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 ISK 391

$1.59 ฿51.8

97.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.07 ISK 257

$1.48 ฿48.31

39.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.59 ISK 447

$1.03 ฿33.54

248.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 ISK 167

$0.52 ฿16.83

157.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.37 ISK 1,914

$4.25 ฿138

261.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 ฿612

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 ฿57.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 ISK 137

$2.76 ฿89.8

-60.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 ฿44.32

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.36 ฿370

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 ฿102

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ฿33.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.77 ฿448

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿43.79

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.7K ฿901.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.9K ฿1.1M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$124 ฿4,025

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.52 ฿440

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.69 ฿609

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 ฿2,013

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.25 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ฿298

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$703 ฿22.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.9K ฿517.0K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 ฿1,937

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.07 ฿1,142

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,754

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.1 ฿2,737

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$619 ฿20.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,884 ISK 359.0K

$433 ฿14.1K

566.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,062 ฿67.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,511 ฿49.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,646 ฿118.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,626 ฿85.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$507 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

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

Last update for Selfoss: June 8, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026

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

Selfoss vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets. The 180% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,299 in Selfoss and $1,892 in Phuket 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 75% higher in Selfoss. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,533 per month in Selfoss versus $1,261 in Phuket – a 180% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,261 in Phuket versus $3,533 in Selfoss, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Selfoss. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Selfoss, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Selfoss and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 180% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.