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 $1,987 per month in Alton, IL vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,938 per month in Alton, IL vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,890 per month in Alton, IL vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.

Alton, IL costs about 57% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Alton, IL sits 44% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.96 $14.96

$4.66 ฿154

221.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.0 $56.0

$32.22 ฿1,065

73.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.15 $8.15

$8.68 ฿287

-6.11%

Cappuccino

$4.81 $4.81

$2.90 ฿95.8

65.86%

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

$1.49 $1.49

$0.84 ฿27.89

77.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 $1.13

$0.49 ฿16.16

130.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.12 $4.12

$2.48 ฿82.0

66.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.92 $4.92

$3.73 ฿123

31.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.89 ฿62.3

-56.08%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 $2.39

$1.41 ฿46.54

69.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$1.62 ฿53.6

94.44%

Eggs

$3.77 $3.77

$2.24 ฿74.1

68.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.99 $11.99

$19.84 ฿656

-39.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.80 $9.80

$3.48 ฿115

181.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.09 $18.09

$11.37 ฿376

59.10%

Apples (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.90 ฿95.8

50.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 $1.19

$1.72 ฿57.0

-30.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.02 $5.02

$2.27 ฿75.1

121.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$2.13 ฿70.4

132.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 $2.16

$1.47 ฿48.72

46.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.42 ฿46.92

97.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 $1.97

$1.10 ฿36.25

79.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$4.07 $4.07

$0.60 ฿19.76

578.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.93 $10.93

$4.31 ฿142

153.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.17 $13.17

$18.60 ฿615

-29.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.80 ฿59.5

17.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.42 $4.42

$2.97 ฿98.0

48.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.25 ฿74.2

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.49 ฿776

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 $4.40

$3.10 ฿102

41.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.93 $2.93

$1.08 ฿35.56

171.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.61 $17.61

$3.87 ฿128

355.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 $1.02

$1.43 ฿47.16

-28.67%

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

$28.2K $28.2K

$27.8K ฿918.0K

1.35%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$27.0K ฿891.5K

-2.50%

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

$440 $440

$105 ฿3,462

320.00%

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

$44.87 $44.87

$11.39 ฿376

293.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.0 $66.0

$17.54 ฿580

276.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.46 $27.46

$54.3 ฿1,795

-49.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.44 ฿378

Cinema Ticket

$14.80 $14.80

$7.78 ฿257

90.23%

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

$576 ฿19.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K $12.8K

$11.6K ฿382.7K

10.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.39 $40.39

$63.6 ฿2,103

-36.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.72 $32.72

$29.10 ฿961

12.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.7 $64.7

$96.2 ฿3,179

-32.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.1 $76.1

$90.0 ฿2,974

-15.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$741 $741

$733 ฿24.2K

1.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$643 $643

$501 ฿16.5K

28.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,091 $1,091

$2,126 ฿70.2K

-48.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,311 $1,311

$1,252 ฿41.4K

4.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,530 $1,530

$3,534 ฿116.8K

-56.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,431 $1,431

$2,622 ฿86.6K

-45.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,778 $3,778

$508 ฿16.8K

644.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

7.72%

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

Last update for Alton, IL: September 7, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $741 in Alton, IL versus $733 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 644% 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 $56.0 in Alton, IL versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $388 vs $275 – 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 57% 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 $2,981 per month in Alton, IL and $1,898 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 $1,987 in Alton, IL and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 41% more in Alton, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Alton, IL at $1,987. 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 $1,265 versus $1,987 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.