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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,094 per month in Aurora, IL vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,430 per month in Aurora, IL vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,767 per month in Aurora, IL vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.

Aurora, IL costs about 67% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Aurora, IL sits 57% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.95 $14.95

$4.55 ฿153

228.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.0 $63.0

$46.18 ฿1,554

36.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.95 $10.95

$8.84 ฿298

23.87%

Cappuccino

$5.18 $5.18

$3.06 ฿103

69.28%

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

$2.76 $2.76

$0.73 ฿24.42

278.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$0.40 ฿13.40

462.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.05 $5.05

$2.43 ฿81.8

107.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.14 $7.14

$3.78 ฿127

88.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 $0.84

$2.26 ฿76.0

-62.83%

White Bread (500g)

$3.57 $3.57

$1.81 ฿60.9

97.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.85 $4.85

$2.25 ฿75.8

115.56%

Eggs

$3.97 $3.97

$2.25 ฿75.6

76.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.31 $7.31

$19.51 ฿656

-62.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.85 $12.85

$3.65 ฿123

252.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 $13.97

$13.05 ฿439

7.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.49 $4.49

$3.23 ฿109

39.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 $1.51

$1.62 ฿54.4

-6.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.90 $3.90

$2.38 ฿80.2

63.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.15 $3.15

$2.03 ฿68.2

55.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 $1.83

$1.53 ฿51.6

19.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$1.50 ฿50.5

82.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.85 $1.85

$0.98 ฿32.93

88.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 $1.63

$0.52 ฿17.40

213.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.64 $8.64

$4.44 ฿149

94.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.90 $13.90

$18.32 ฿616

-24.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$1.86 ฿62.7

22.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 $2.29

$2.68 ฿90.2

-14.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.41 ฿47.49

63.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$98.7 $98.7

$11.70 ฿394

743.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 $4.40

$3.11 ฿105

41.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 $1.75

$1.04 ฿35.08

68.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$41.65 $41.65

$14.11 ฿475

195.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.31 ฿44.13

-25.19%

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

$24.4K $24.4K

$27.8K ฿936.0K

-12.26%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-22.29%

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

$177 $177

$122 ฿4,120

44.39%

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

$50.9 $50.9

$13.59 ฿457

274.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.6 $65.6

$18.70 ฿629

250.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.55 $34.55

$60.5 ฿2,035

-42.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.98 ฿572

Cinema Ticket

$11.12 $11.12

$9.07 ฿305

22.60%

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

$1,363 $1,363

$706 ฿23.8K

92.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.4K $24.4K

$15.8K ฿531.8K

54.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.44 $49.44

$58.6 ฿1,970

-15.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.12 $49.12

$35.36 ฿1,190

38.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 $68.6

$115 ฿3,885

-40.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.3 $81.3

$83.7 ฿2,818

-2.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,382 $1,382

$626 ฿21.1K

120.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$891 $891

$445 ฿15.0K

100.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 $2,137

$2,040 ฿68.7K

4.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,218 $2,218

$1,492 ฿50.2K

48.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,836 $9,836

$3,483 ฿117.2K

182.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,253 $3,253

$2,577 ฿86.7K

26.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,857 $3,857

$500 ฿16.8K

671.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.52

5.33

22.33%

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

Last update for Aurora, IL: July 14, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,382 in Aurora, IL versus $626 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 672% higher in Aurora, 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 $63.0 in Aurora, IL versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $352 vs $289 – 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

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

Aurora, IL costs about 67% 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 $3,141 per month in Aurora, IL and $1,875 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Aurora, IL and $46.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,094 in Aurora, IL and $1,250 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Aurora, IL at $2,094. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aurora, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,250 versus $2,094 in Aurora, 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, Aurora, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.