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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,748 per month in Decatur, IL vs $1,253 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,694 per month in Decatur, IL vs $2,043 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,641 per month in Decatur, IL vs $2,833 in Phuket, rent included.

Decatur, IL costs about 39% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Decatur, IL sits 27% above the global median, while Phuket is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.76 $19.76

$4.56 ฿150

333.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.9 $84.9

$32.62 ฿1,073

160.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.25 $9.25

$8.90 ฿293

3.93%

Cappuccino

$5.34 $5.34

$2.80 ฿92.2

90.71%

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

$2.23 $2.23

$0.88 ฿28.94

153.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 $1.73

$0.49 ฿16.08

253.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.97 $4.97

$2.39 ฿78.5

107.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.91 $5.91

$3.71 ฿122

59.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.79 ฿58.8

-25.70%

White Bread (500g)

$2.99 $2.99

$1.44 ฿47.40

107.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.58 ฿52.1

23.42%

Eggs

$4.74 $4.74

$2.13 ฿69.9

122.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.88 $14.88

$19.92 ฿655

-25.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.73 $14.73

$3.43 ฿113

329.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.38 $13.38

$11.33 ฿372

18.09%

Apples (1kg)

$4.35 $4.35

$2.95 ฿97.0

47.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.72 ฿56.6

15.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.05 $4.05

$2.32 ฿76.5

74.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$2.08 ฿68.4

62.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.84 $0.84

$1.47 ฿48.34

-42.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.36 ฿44.65

-16.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 $1.48

$1.10 ฿36.13

34.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$0.57 ฿18.89

429.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$16.17 $16.17

$4.27 ฿140

278.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.86 $14.86

$18.42 ฿606

-19.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$1.87 ฿61.5

16.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 $2.04

$2.92 ฿96.1

-30.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.22 ฿73.0

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.90 ฿753

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.22 $3.22

$3.03 ฿99.6

6.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.07 ฿35.32

32.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.79 $22.79

$3.93 ฿129

479.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 $1.12

$1.49 ฿49.06

-24.83%

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

$37.0K $37.0K

$27.1K ฿892.0K

36.46%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$27.5K ฿902.6K

-5.26%

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

$86.0 $86.0

$103 ฿3,380

-16.38%

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

$69.6 $69.6

$10.99 ฿361

533.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.1 $60.1

$17.51 ฿576

243.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.4 $74.4

$53.5 ฿1,760

39.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.20 ฿368

Cinema Ticket

$11.88 $11.88

$7.48 ฿246

58.82%

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

$1,548 $1,548

$557 ฿18.3K

177.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.1K $32.1K

$11.9K ฿389.7K

171.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.0 $64.0

$64.1 ฿2,107

-0.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.1 $56.1

$29.07 ฿956

92.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 $103

$96.0 ฿3,155

7.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$157 $157

$90.3 ฿2,970

73.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$882 $882

$730 ฿24.0K

20.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$550 $550

$500 ฿16.4K

10.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 $1,000

$2,090 ฿68.7K

-52.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$821 $821

$1,209 ฿39.8K

-32.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$940 $940

$3,596 ฿118.2K

-73.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$935 $935

$2,512 ฿82.6K

-62.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,519 $4,519

$503 ฿16.6K

797.73%

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 Decatur, IL: August 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $882 in Decatur, IL versus $730 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 798% higher in Decatur, 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 $85.0 in Decatur, IL versus $33.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $387 vs $273 – 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

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

Yes – Decatur, IL is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,622 per month in Decatur, IL and $1,880 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 $85.0 in Decatur, IL and $33.00 in Phuket. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% more in Decatur, 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 $1,253, than in Decatur, IL at $1,748. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Decatur, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Phuket – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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