😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,807 in Sundsvall versus $1,253 in Phuket.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,745 in Sundsvall versus $2,043 in Phuket.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,684 in Sundsvall versus $2,833 in Phuket.
🌍Living in Sundsvall is roughly 44% more expensive than in Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sundsvall is 31% above, Phuket is 9% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sundsvall
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.45SEK 147
$4.56฿150
238.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.3SEK 784
$32.62฿1,073
152.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.47SEK 109
$8.90฿293
28.88%
Cappuccino
$4.86SEK 46.38
$2.80฿92.2
73.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51SEK 23.94
$0.88฿28.94
185.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98SEK 18.85
$0.49฿16.08
304.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.83SEK 84.2
$2.39฿78.5
269.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.85SEK 74.8
$3.71฿122
111.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sundsvall
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56SEK 14.86
$1.79฿58.8
-12.85%
White Bread(500g)
$3.07SEK 29.31
$1.44฿47.40
113.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.69SEK 35.19
$1.58฿52.1
133.54%
Eggs
$3.52SEK 33.61
$2.13฿69.9
65.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03SEK 95.7
$19.92฿655
-49.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12SEK 96.5
$3.43฿113
195.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.16SEK 173
$11.33฿372
60.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75SEK 26.19
$2.95฿97.0
-6.78%
Banana(1kg)
$2.42SEK 23.11
$1.72฿56.6
40.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.61SEK 24.90
$2.32฿76.5
12.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.13SEK 39.35
$2.08฿68.4
98.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53SEK 14.58
$1.47฿48.34
4.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.41SEK 13.44
$1.36฿44.65
3.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.84SEK 17.57
$1.10฿36.13
67.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98SEK 9.30
$0.57฿18.89
71.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.78SEK 74.1
$4.27฿140
82.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.49SEK 90.5
$18.42฿606
-48.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74SEK 16.59
$1.87฿61.5
-6.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43SEK 13.62
$2.92฿96.1
-51.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Sundsvall
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.51SEK 33.45
$2.22฿73.0
58.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$90.7SEK 865
$22.90฿753
295.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.21SEK 59.2
$3.03฿99.6
104.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$6.41SEK 61.1
$1.07฿35.32
499.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.93฿129
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.85SEK 17.60
$1.49฿49.06
24.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KSEK 307.0K
$27.1K฿892.0K
18.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KSEK 309.4K
$27.5K฿902.6K
18.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sundsvall
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102SEK 976
$103฿3,380
-0.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.85SEK 285
$10.99฿361
171.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.63SEK 302
$17.51฿576
80.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sundsvall
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.82SEK 399
$53.5฿1,760
-21.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.69SEK 121
$11.20฿368
13.30%
Cinema Ticket
$14.33SEK 137
$7.48฿246
91.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sundsvall
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$145SEK 1,384
$557฿18.3K
-73.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$11.9K฿389.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sundsvall
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.8SEK 876
$64.1฿2,107
43.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.13SEK 278
$29.07฿956
0.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.6SEK 749
$96.0฿3,155
-18.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138SEK 1,320
$90.3฿2,970
53.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sundsvall
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$701SEK 6,682
$730฿24.0K
-4.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631SEK 6,020
$500฿16.4K
26.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,230SEK 11.7K
$2,090฿68.7K
-41.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$926SEK 8,833
$1,209฿39.8K
-23.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,516SEK 24.0K
$3,596฿118.2K
-30.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,357SEK 12.9K
$2,512฿82.6K
-45.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sundsvall
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,141SEK 29.9K
$503฿16.6K
523.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.88
5.57
-30.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sundsvall: September 1, 2026
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $701 in Sundsvall and $730 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sundsvall pays 524% 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: $82.0 in Sundsvall vs $33.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $327 vs $273 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
Sundsvall vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Sundsvall?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 44% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Sundsvall or Phuket?
Average pay runs 524% higher in Sundsvall, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Sundsvall and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $701 in Sundsvall versus $730 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $145 in Sundsvall versus $557 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 Sundsvall and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Sundsvall. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Sundsvall or in Phuket?
At $1,253 in Phuket versus $1,807 in Sundsvall, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Sundsvall. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Sundsvall or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sundsvall, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Sundsvall or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Sundsvall 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 44% less than in Sundsvall. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.