😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,011 in Steinkjer versus $1,250 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,053 in Steinkjer versus $2,284 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,095 in Steinkjer versus $3,317 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Steinkjer is roughly 61% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Steinkjer is 51% above, Phuket is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Steinkjer
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.75NOK 219
$4.55฿153
400.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$55.3NOK 533
$46.18฿1,550
19.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.35NOK 129
$8.84฿297
51.02%
Cappuccino
$4.44NOK 42.73
$3.06฿103
45.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68NOK 35.47
$0.73฿24.36
404.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95NOK 28.38
$0.40฿13.37
637.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.31NOK 99.3
$2.43฿81.6
324.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.15NOK 59.2
$3.78฿127
62.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Steinkjer
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.99NOK 19.21
$2.26฿75.8
-11.95%
White Bread(500g)
$3.65NOK 35.20
$1.81฿60.8
101.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.03NOK 29.16
$2.25฿75.7
34.67%
Eggs
$4.49NOK 43.28
$2.25฿75.4
99.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.31NOK 99.3
$19.51฿655
-47.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.95NOK 144
$3.65฿122
309.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$28.55NOK 275
$13.05฿438
118.77%
Apples(1kg)
$3.76NOK 36.20
$3.23฿109
16.41%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26NOK 21.78
$1.62฿54.3
39.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.63NOK 25.31
$2.38฿80.0
10.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.08NOK 48.97
$2.03฿68.0
150.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.99NOK 19.13
$1.53฿51.5
30.07%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01NOK 19.33
$1.50฿50.4
34.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.60NOK 25.09
$0.98฿32.85
165.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.40NOK 23.15
$0.52฿17.36
361.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.01NOK 135
$4.44฿149
215.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.06NOK 174
$18.32฿615
-1.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.59NOK 34.60
$1.86฿62.6
93.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.60NOK 44.33
$2.68฿90.0
71.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Steinkjer
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.93NOK 37.84
$1.41฿47.37
178.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.7NOK 719
$11.70฿393
538.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.06NOK 145
$3.11฿104
384.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.20NOK 21.17
$1.04฿35.00
111.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$87.7NOK 844
$14.11฿474
521.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.04NOK 19.66
$1.31฿44.02
55.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4KNOK 302.9K
$27.8K฿933.8K
13.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.5KNOK 409.7K
$33.2K฿1.1M
28.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Steinkjer
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150NOK 1,445
$122฿4,110
22.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.93NOK 413
$13.59฿456
215.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.6NOK 487
$18.70฿628
170.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Steinkjer
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.69NOK 296
$60.5฿2,031
-49.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.73NOK 344
$16.98฿570
110.42%
Cinema Ticket
$15.06NOK 145
$9.07฿305
66.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Steinkjer
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$330NOK 3,182
$706฿23.7K
-53.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,521NOK 82.1K
$15.8K฿530.5K
-46.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Steinkjer
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.4NOK 485
$58.6฿1,965
-13.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.83NOK 297
$35.36฿1,187
-12.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.3NOK 580
$115฿3,876
-47.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$132NOK 1,271
$83.7฿2,811
57.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Steinkjer
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,011NOK 9,738
$626฿21.0K
61.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$657NOK 6,330
$445฿14.9K
47.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,530NOK 14.7K
$2,040฿68.5K
-24.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,026NOK 9,880
$1,492฿50.1K
-31.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,066NOK 58.4K
$3,483฿116.9K
74.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,692NOK 35.6K
$2,577฿86.5K
43.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Steinkjer
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$500฿16.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.5
5.33
-71.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Steinkjer: July 12, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,011 in Steinkjer and $626 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $55.0 in Steinkjer vs $46.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $459 vs $289 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
Steinkjer vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Steinkjer?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 61% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,017 in Steinkjer and $1,875 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.
What is the rent difference between Steinkjer and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,011 in Steinkjer versus $626 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $330 in Steinkjer versus $706 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Steinkjer and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 59% higher in Steinkjer. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Steinkjer or in Phuket?
At $1,250 in Phuket versus $2,011 in Steinkjer, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Steinkjer. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Steinkjer or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Steinkjer, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Steinkjer or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Steinkjer 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Steinkjer. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.