Cost of Living Comparison Between Ystad and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Ystad and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,732 in Ystad versus $1,223 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,721 in Ystad versus $2,237 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,709 in Ystad versus $3,251 in Phuket.

Living in Ystad is roughly 42% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ystad is 30% above, Phuket is 8% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ystad
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.78 SEK 110
$4.51 ฿147
161.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.0 SEK 870
$46.62 ฿1,515
99.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.72 SEK 100
$8.49 ฿276
26.27%
Cappuccino
$4.16 SEK 38.92
$3.08 ฿100
35.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 SEK 28.21
$0.68 ฿22.07
344.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57 SEK 24.01
$0.36 ฿11.75
613.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.23 SEK 58.3
$2.43 ฿78.8
156.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.75 SEK 72.5
$3.63 ฿118
113.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ystad
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 SEK 15.78
$2.19 ฿71.1
-22.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.89 SEK 27.03
$1.81 ฿59.0
59.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.27 SEK 30.56
$2.23 ฿72.5
46.64%
Eggs
$3.20 SEK 29.90
$2.24 ฿72.7
42.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.81 SEK 110
$19.60 ฿637
-39.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.68 SEK 90.6
$3.72 ฿121
160.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.73 SEK 175
$13.47 ฿438
39.05%
Apples (1kg)
$3.17 SEK 29.62
$3.36 ฿109
-5.65%
Banana (1kg)
$2.76 SEK 25.77
$1.62 ฿52.5
70.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.04 SEK 28.48
$2.41 ฿78.3
26.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.34 SEK 40.63
$1.99 ฿64.6
118.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.73 SEK 16.22
$1.53 ฿49.76
13.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.93 SEK 18.10
$1.45 ฿47.19
33.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 SEK 20.75
$1.01 ฿32.96
119.80%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.61 SEK 15.03
$0.48 ฿15.73
235.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.14 SEK 76.2
$4.27 ฿139
90.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.85 SEK 120
$19.12 ฿621
-32.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18 SEK 20.42
$1.84 ฿59.7
18.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 SEK 23.52
$2.74 ฿89.1
-8.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Ystad
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.36 SEK 31.46
$1.42 ฿46.06
136.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$73.0 SEK 683
$11.72 ฿381
523.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$10.22 SEK 95.6
$3.00 ฿97.6
240.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 SEK 15.51
$1.05 ฿34.00
58.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$61.8 SEK 578
$13.90 ฿452
344.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 SEK 17.66
$1.29 ฿41.94
46.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K SEK 240.7K
$28.0K ฿911.1K
-8.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K SEK 277.1K
$33.5K ฿1.1M
-11.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ystad
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$123 SEK 1,146
$122 ฿3,964
0.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.34 SEK 200
$13.93 ฿453
53.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.03 SEK 300
$18.87 ฿613
69.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ystad
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.41 SEK 378
$61.3 ฿1,992
-34.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.09 SEK 235
$16.84 ฿547
48.99%
Cinema Ticket
$12.90 SEK 121
$8.89 ฿289
45.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ystad
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$173 SEK 1,618
$691 ฿22.5K
-74.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,208 SEK 39.4K
$16.2K ฿525.2K
-73.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ystad
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.2 SEK 498
$57.8 ฿1,878
-7.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.09 SEK 366
$35.39 ฿1,150
10.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.9 SEK 897
$113 ฿3,685
-15.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$155 SEK 1,452
$83.0 ฿2,698
86.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ystad
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$831 SEK 7,776
$607 ฿19.7K
37.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$643 SEK 6,017
$448 ฿14.6K
43.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,403 SEK 13.1K
$2,029 ฿66.0K
-30.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,096 SEK 10.3K
$1,493 ฿48.5K
-26.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,236 SEK 39.6K
$3,585 ฿116.5K
18.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,988 SEK 28.0K
$2,585 ฿84.0K
15.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ystad
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,928 SEK 18.0K
$505 ฿16.4K
282.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4
5.33
-24.95%

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

Last update for Ystad: June 16, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $831 in Ystad and $607 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ystad pays 282% 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: $93.0 in Ystad vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $357 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
Ystad vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Ystad?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ystad or Phuket?
Ystad pays 282% 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 Ystad and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $831 in Ystad versus $607 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $173 in Ystad versus $691 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 Ystad and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Ystad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ystad or Phuket?
At $1,223 in Phuket versus $1,732 in Ystad, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Ystad. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ystad or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ystad, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ystad or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Ystad 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 42% less than in Ystad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ystad vs other spots: cost of living compared

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