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: $3,517 in Selfoss versus $1,261 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,487 in Selfoss versus $2,078 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,456 in Selfoss versus $2,896 in Phuket.

Living in Selfoss is roughly 179% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Selfoss is 157% above, Phuket is 8% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.43 ฿145

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.07 ฿1,151

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$20.56 ISK 2,498

$8.96 ฿294

129.46%

Cappuccino

$3.00 ฿98.4

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

$0.77 ฿25.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ฿15.44

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$11.99 ISK 1,457

$2.40 ฿78.6

399.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿123

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 ISK 215

$1.82 ฿59.8

-2.75%

White Bread (500g)

$7.32 ISK 890

$1.42 ฿46.65

415.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.52 ISK 549

$1.55 ฿50.8

191.61%

Eggs

$6.33 ISK 768

$2.13 ฿69.9

197.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.95 ISK 2,059

$19.76 ฿648

-14.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$20.73 ISK 2,519

$3.48 ฿114

495.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$33.89 ISK 4,118

$11.09 ฿364

205.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 ISK 328

$2.91 ฿95.5

-7.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.67 ISK 324

$1.66 ฿54.6

60.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 ISK 317

$2.27 ฿74.5

14.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.14 ISK 867

$2.10 ฿68.8

240.00%

Potato (1kg)

$3.26 ISK 396

$1.47 ฿48.24

121.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 ISK 255

$1.41 ฿46.29

48.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.62 ISK 440

$1.09 ฿35.78

232.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 ISK 172

$0.54 ฿17.58

162.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.35 ISK 1,865

$4.48 ฿147

242.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.72 ฿614

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿60.4

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 ISK 135

$2.95 ฿96.7

-62.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.26 ฿74.1

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.07 ฿757

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.04 ฿99.9

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.09 ฿35.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.82 ฿125

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 ฿48.79

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

$27.4K ฿900.3K

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

$27.5K ฿902.7K

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

$102 ฿3,340

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

$11.28 ฿370

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.75 ฿582

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.2 ฿1,777

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.96 ฿360

Cinema Ticket

$7.85 ฿258

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

$577 ฿18.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.6K ฿381.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.4 ฿2,144

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.89 ฿948

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 ฿3,250

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 ฿2,961

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$756 ฿24.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,856 ISK 347.0K

$487 ฿16.0K

486.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,085 ฿68.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 ฿39.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,591 ฿117.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,610 ฿85.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$502 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Selfoss: August 18, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 18, 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 179% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $5,275 in Selfoss and $1,891 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 89% higher in Selfoss. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $3,517 per month in Selfoss versus $1,261 in Phuket – a 179% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,261 in Phuket versus $3,517 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 179% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.