Cost of Living Comparison Between Torshavn and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Torshavn and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,314 in Torshavn versus $1,232 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,640 in Torshavn versus $2,255 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,965 in Torshavn versus $3,279 in Phuket.

Living in Torshavn is roughly 88% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Torshavn is 73% above, Phuket is 8% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Torshavn
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.45 FOK 150
$4.63 ฿151
406.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$142 FOK 905
$46.84 ฿1,532
202.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$19.99 FOK 128
$8.84 ฿289
126.13%
Cappuccino
$7.02 FOK 44.82
$3.00 ฿98.0
134.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 FOK 20.29
$0.74 ฿24.25
329.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 FOK 16.93
$0.37 ฿11.95
616.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$9.22 FOK 58.8
$2.44 ฿79.8
277.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.56 FOK 54.6
$3.61 ฿118
137.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Torshavn
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.33 FOK 14.88
$2.26 ฿73.9
3.10%
White Bread (500g)
$4.00 FOK 25.51
$1.84 ฿60.1
117.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.81 FOK 11.52
$2.24 ฿73.4
-19.20%
Eggs
$5.67 FOK 36.16
$2.32 ฿75.7
144.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.76 FOK 81.4
$19.67 ฿643
-35.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.24 FOK 90.8
$3.65 ฿119
290.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$13.10 ฿428
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 FOK 14.60
$3.39 ฿111
-32.45%
Banana (1kg)
$2.86 FOK 18.22
$1.64 ฿53.7
74.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.17 FOK 20.24
$2.41 ฿79.0
31.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.90 FOK 12.14
$2.03 ฿66.4
-6.40%
Potato (1kg)
$2.77 FOK 17.66
$1.56 ฿50.9
77.56%
Onion (1kg)
$3.49 FOK 22.26
$1.50 ฿48.94
132.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.53 FOK 16.15
$1.02 ฿33.50
148.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.67 FOK 17.01
$0.49 ฿16.00
444.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.95 FOK 69.9
$4.45 ฿145
146.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.74 FOK 81.3
$18.88 ฿617
-32.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 FOK 13.96
$1.78 ฿58.1
23.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 FOK 19.24
$2.75 ฿90.1
9.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Torshavn
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.40 ฿45.81
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.48 ฿376
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$12.57 FOK 80.2
$3.12 ฿102
302.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$1.00 ฿32.67
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$14.09 ฿461
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.11 FOK 13.44
$1.35 ฿44.19
56.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$27.2K ฿888.9K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$55.5K FOK 354.1K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
68.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Torshavn
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 FOK 856
$125 ฿4,087
7.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.61 FOK 259
$13.57 ฿444
199.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.9 FOK 427
$18.52 ฿606
261.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Torshavn
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.88 FOK 261
$61.5 ฿2,010
-33.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.84 ฿551
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.59 FOK 106
$9.19 ฿300
80.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Torshavn
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$563 FOK 3,594
$698 ฿22.8K
-19.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$15.6K ฿509.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Torshavn
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$154 FOK 984
$57.8 ฿1,889
166.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.9 FOK 388
$35.24 ฿1,152
72.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$170 FOK 1,084
$113 ฿3,699
50.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$226 FOK 1,441
$86.4 ฿2,825
161.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Torshavn
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,113 FOK 7,102
$616 ฿20.1K
80.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$927 FOK 5,916
$446 ฿14.6K
107.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,926 FOK 12.3K
$2,048 ฿67.0K
-5.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,541 FOK 9,832
$1,492 ฿48.8K
3.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,005 FOK 25.6K
$3,779 ฿123.6K
6.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,937 FOK 31.5K
$2,649 ฿86.6K
86.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Torshavn
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,420 FOK 15.4K
$524 ฿17.1K
362.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
5.33
-

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

Last update for Torshavn: April 25, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,113 in Torshavn and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Torshavn pays 362% 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: $142 in Torshavn vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $353 vs $292 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
Torshavn vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Torshavn?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 88% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Torshavn or Phuket?
Torshavn pays 362% more on average, 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 Torshavn and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,113 in Torshavn versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $563 in Torshavn versus $698 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Torshavn or Phuket?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $142 in Torshavn. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Torshavn or Phuket?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,314 in Torshavn, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Torshavn. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Torshavn or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Torshavn, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Torshavn or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Torshavn 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 88% less than in Torshavn. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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