Cost of Living Comparison Between East Chicago, IN and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between East Chicago, IN and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,616 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $1,261 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,799 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $2,276 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,981 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $3,291 in Phuket, rent included.

East Chicago, IN costs about 107% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

East Chicago, IN sits 96% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.19 $19.19

$4.53 ฿153

323.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.1 $76.1

$46.36 ฿1,565

64.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.08 $11.08

$8.65 ฿292

28.09%

Cappuccino

$5.22 $5.22

$3.09 ฿104

68.93%

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

$2.59 $2.59

$0.68 ฿22.89

280.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.37 ฿12.44

427.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.18 $6.18

$2.42 ฿81.6

155.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.20 $7.20

$3.81 ฿129

88.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$2.18 ฿73.5

-52.29%

White Bread (500g)

$3.41 $3.41

$1.82 ฿61.3

87.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$2.18 ฿73.5

100.92%

Eggs

$4.12 $4.12

$2.24 ฿75.4

83.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.32 $12.32

$19.93 ฿673

-38.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.48 $11.48

$3.64 ฿123

215.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.19 $15.19

$13.56 ฿458

12.02%

Apples (1kg)

$4.88 $4.88

$3.29 ฿111

48.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.69 ฿56.9

-5.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.20 $4.20

$2.33 ฿78.8

80.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$2.03 ฿68.4

127.09%

Potato (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$1.60 ฿54.0

79.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.49 ฿50.5

89.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.01 ฿34.17

109.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.13 $2.13

$0.48 ฿16.09

343.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.80 $9.80

$4.45 ฿150

120.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.73 $13.73

$18.63 ฿629

-26.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 $1.84

$1.79 ฿60.3

2.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 $3.45

$2.80 ฿94.4

23.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.99 $1.99

$1.42 ฿47.90

40.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.33 ฿382

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.52 $3.52

$3.09 ฿104

13.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$1.04 ฿35.19

51.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.73 $29.73

$13.63 ฿460

118.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.31 ฿44.23

-32.06%

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

$30.2K $30.2K

$27.3K ฿920.7K

10.59%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$33.2K ฿1.1M

-21.86%

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

$189 $189

$123 ฿4,157

53.06%

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

$51.9 $51.9

$13.81 ฿466

275.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.6 $68.6

$18.52 ฿625

270.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.25 $42.25

$60.4 ฿2,037

-30.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.80 ฿567

Cinema Ticket

$13.65 $13.65

$8.89 ฿300

53.54%

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

$1,301 $1,301

$687 ฿23.2K

89.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.5K $23.5K

$15.6K ฿524.8K

51.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.3 $51.3

$57.6 ฿1,945

-10.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.88 $39.88

$34.66 ฿1,170

15.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 $86.1

$115 ฿3,879

-25.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$114 $114

$84.9 ฿2,865

33.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,594 $1,594

$618 ฿20.8K

158.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,378 $1,378

$443 ฿15.0K

211.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,586 $2,586

$2,047 ฿69.1K

26.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,252 $2,252

$1,506 ฿50.8K

49.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,475 $2,475

$3,568 ฿120.4K

-30.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,558 $2,558

$2,511 ฿84.7K

1.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,098 $4,098

$503 ฿17.0K

715.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.51

5.33

22.14%

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

Last update for East Chicago, IN: July 21, 2026

Last update for Phuket: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,594 in East Chicago, IN versus $618 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 715% higher in East Chicago, IN, 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 $76.0 in East Chicago, IN versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $384 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

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

Yes – East Chicago, IN is pricier by about 107%, 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 $3,924 per month in East Chicago, IN and $1,891 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 $2,616 in East Chicago, IN and $1,261 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,301 per month in East Chicago, IN and $687 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 $1,261, than in East Chicago, IN at $2,616. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in East Chicago, IN 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, East Chicago, IN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.