Cost of Living Comparison Between Alton, IL and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Alton, IL and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,694 per month in Alton, IL vs $1,232 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,843 per month in Alton, IL vs $2,255 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,993 per month in Alton, IL vs $3,279 in Phuket, rent included.

Alton, IL costs about 119% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Alton, IL sits 101% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.65 $19.65

$4.63 ฿151

324.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$67.9 $67.9

$46.84 ฿1,523

45.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.89 $11.89

$8.84 ฿287

34.50%

Cappuccino

$5.02 $5.02

$3.00 ฿97.4

67.33%

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

$2.14 $2.14

$0.74 ฿24.11

189.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.91 $1.91

$0.37 ฿11.88

416.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.05 $5.05

$2.44 ฿79.3

106.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.39 $6.39

$3.61 ฿117

77.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$2.26 ฿73.5

-62.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 $2.67

$1.84 ฿59.8

45.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.44 $6.44

$2.24 ฿73.0

187.50%

Eggs

$3.64 $3.64

$2.32 ฿75.3

56.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.73 $7.73

$19.67 ฿639

-60.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.86 $7.86

$3.65 ฿119

115.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.16 $20.16

$13.10 ฿426

53.89%

Apples (1kg)

$6.79 $6.79

$3.39 ฿110

100.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 $2.59

$1.64 ฿53.4

57.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.79 $6.79

$2.41 ฿78.5

181.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$2.03 ฿66.0

142.36%

Potato (1kg)

$5.22 $5.22

$1.56 ฿50.6

234.62%

Onion (1kg)

$4.25 $4.25

$1.50 ฿48.66

183.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.02 ฿33.30

99.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.52 $2.52

$0.49 ฿15.91

414.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.12 $7.12

$4.45 ฿145

60.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.20 $15.20

$18.88 ฿614

-19.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.78 ฿57.7

2.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 $3.89

$2.75 ฿89.5

41.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.40 ฿45.54

46.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.48 ฿373

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.12 ฿101

-4.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 $1.53

$1.00 ฿32.48

53.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.21 $29.21

$14.09 ฿458

107.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.35 ฿43.93

-39.26%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$27.2K ฿883.7K

8.87%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-23.70%

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

$240 $240

$125 ฿4,063

91.93%

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

$49.25 $49.25

$13.57 ฿441

262.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.3 $62.3

$18.52 ฿602

236.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.34 $42.34

$61.5 ฿1,999

-31.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.84 ฿547

Cinema Ticket

$12.09 $12.09

$9.19 ฿299

31.56%

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

$1,287 $1,287

$698 ฿22.7K

84.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$15.6K ฿506.9K

52.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.4 $57.4

$57.8 ฿1,878

-0.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.46 $43.46

$35.24 ฿1,146

23.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.9 $73.9

$113 ฿3,677

-34.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$191 $191

$86.4 ฿2,808

121.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,627 $1,627

$616 ฿20.0K

164.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,349 $1,349

$446 ฿14.5K

202.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$2,048 ฿66.6K

26.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,186 $2,186

$1,492 ฿48.5K

46.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,532 $1,532

$3,779 ฿122.8K

-59.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,453 $1,453

$2,649 ฿86.1K

-45.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,867 $3,867

$524 ฿17.0K

638.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

5.33

23.08%

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

Last update for Alton, IL: April 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,627 in Alton, IL versus $616 in Phuket. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 638% higher in Alton, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Alton, IL versus $47.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $410 vs $292 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Alton, IL vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alton, IL costs about 119% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,040 per month in Alton, IL and $1,847 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,694 in Alton, IL and $1,232 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,287 per month in Alton, IL and $698 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,232, than in Alton, IL at $2,694. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Alton, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,232 versus $2,694 in Alton, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Alton, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.