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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,184 per month in Chicago, IL vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,725 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,266 per month in Chicago, IL vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.

Chicago, IL costs about 152% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Chicago, IL sits 131% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$4.66 ฿154

334.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.8 $88.8

$32.22 ฿1,065

175.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.16 $13.16

$8.68 ฿287

51.61%

Cappuccino

$5.77 $5.77

$2.90 ฿95.8

98.97%

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

$2.63 $2.63

$0.84 ฿27.89

213.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$0.49 ฿16.16

377.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.06 $7.06

$2.48 ฿82.0

184.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.18 $9.18

$3.73 ฿123

146.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.89 ฿62.3

-31.22%

White Bread (500g)

$4.05 $4.05

$1.41 ฿46.54

187.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$1.62 ฿53.6

251.23%

Eggs

$4.85 $4.85

$2.24 ฿74.1

116.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.08 $15.08

$19.84 ฿656

-23.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.87 $14.87

$3.48 ฿115

327.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.28 $19.28

$11.37 ฿376

69.57%

Apples (1kg)

$5.68 $5.68

$2.90 ฿95.8

95.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 $1.93

$1.72 ฿57.0

12.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.10 $4.10

$2.27 ฿75.1

80.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.11 $5.11

$2.13 ฿70.4

139.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.47 ฿48.72

98.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.77 $2.77

$1.42 ฿46.92

95.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.30 $2.30

$1.10 ฿36.25

109.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.04 $3.04

$0.60 ฿19.76

406.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$15.93 $15.93

$4.31 ฿142

269.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.06 $15.06

$18.60 ฿615

-19.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 $2.53

$1.80 ฿59.5

40.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

$2.97 ฿98.0

17.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.53 $2.53

$2.25 ฿74.2

12.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$74.8 $74.8

$23.49 ฿776

218.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 $3.28

$3.10 ฿102

5.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.08 ฿35.56

25.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.55 $22.55

$3.87 ฿128

482.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 $1.22

$1.43 ฿47.16

-14.69%

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

$36.1K $36.1K

$27.8K ฿918.0K

29.97%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$27.0K ฿891.5K

-3.71%

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

$188 $188

$105 ฿3,462

79.79%

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

$69.0 $69.0

$11.39 ฿376

505.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.6 $63.6

$17.54 ฿580

262.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.4 $63.4

$54.3 ฿1,795

16.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.11 $27.11

$11.44 ฿378

136.98%

Cinema Ticket

$17.90 $17.90

$7.78 ฿257

130.08%

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

$1,526 $1,526

$576 ฿19.0K

164.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$31.9K $31.9K

$11.6K ฿382.7K

175.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 $62.1

$63.6 ฿2,103

-2.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.4 $56.4

$29.10 ฿961

93.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$96.2 ฿3,179

4.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 $156

$90.0 ฿2,974

73.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,342 $2,342

$733 ฿24.2K

219.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,698 $1,698

$501 ฿16.5K

239.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,576 $4,576

$2,126 ฿70.2K

115.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,806 $2,806

$1,252 ฿41.4K

124.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,130 $4,130

$3,534 ฿116.8K

16.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,740 $2,740

$2,622 ฿86.6K

4.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,891 $4,891

$508 ฿16.8K

863.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.38

5.57

14.54%

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

Last update for Chicago, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,342 in Chicago, 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 864% higher in Chicago, 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 $89.0 in Chicago, IL versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $465 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $3,184 in Chicago, IL, $1,265 in Phuket – roughly 152% apart. Chicago, IL costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,776 per month in Chicago, 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.

Groceries cost about 69% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $89.0 in Chicago, IL and $32.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,265, than in Chicago, IL at $3,184. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chicago, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,265 in Phuket to $3,184 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.