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 $2,611 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $1,270 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,793 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $2,304 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,975 per month in East Chicago, IN vs $3,339 in Phuket, rent included.

East Chicago, IN costs about 106% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

East Chicago, IN sits 95% above the global median, while Phuket is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.82 $18.82

$4.66 ฿150

303.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$74.9 $74.9

$46.44 ฿1,496

61.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 $11.09

$8.68 ฿280

27.76%

Cappuccino

$5.15 $5.15

$2.95 ฿95.0

74.58%

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

$2.47 $2.47

$0.70 ฿22.52

252.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.39 ฿12.70

420.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$2.53 ฿81.6

136.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.84 $6.84

$3.78 ฿122

80.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$2.22 ฿71.5

-54.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.46 $3.46

$1.80 ฿57.8

92.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$2.19 ฿70.4

100.00%

Eggs

$4.16 $4.16

$2.31 ฿74.5

80.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.42 $12.42

$19.34 ฿623

-35.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.69 $11.69

$3.77 ฿121

210.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.30 $15.30

$13.22 ฿426

15.73%

Apples (1kg)

$5.00 $5.00

$3.33 ฿107

50.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 $1.56

$1.65 ฿53.1

-5.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.32 $4.32

$2.29 ฿73.7

88.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.68 $4.68

$1.99 ฿64.1

135.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.86 $2.86

$1.53 ฿49.24

86.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 $2.82

$1.51 ฿48.77

86.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.03 ฿33.12

96.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.17 $2.17

$0.51 ฿16.57

325.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.54 $9.54

$4.41 ฿142

116.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.75 $16.75

$19.41 ฿625

-13.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.80 ฿58.0

-0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.68 ฿86.4

27.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.05 $2.05

$1.43 ฿46.11

43.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.70 ฿377

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 $3.42

$3.04 ฿97.9

12.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 $1.66

$1.04 ฿33.37

59.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.56 $29.56

$13.68 ฿441

116.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$1.30 ฿41.85

-33.85%

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

$29.6K $29.6K

$27.9K ฿898.9K

6.05%

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

$25.1K $25.1K

$33.0K ฿1.1M

-23.96%

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

$190 $190

$123 ฿3,962

54.66%

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

$53.3 $53.3

$13.82 ฿445

285.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.5 $68.5

$18.86 ฿608

263.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.24 $42.24

$61.2 ฿1,970

-30.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.81 ฿541

Cinema Ticket

$13.54 $13.54

$8.87 ฿286

52.65%

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

$1,287 $1,287

$696 ฿22.4K

84.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.6K $23.6K

$16.1K ฿517.4K

46.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 $50.8

$59.3 ฿1,910

-14.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.40 $40.40

$34.85 ฿1,123

15.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 $86.1

$113 ฿3,646

-23.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$85.1 ฿2,740

30.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,597 $1,597

$615 ฿19.8K

159.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 $1,380

$448 ฿14.4K

207.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,653 $2,653

$2,085 ฿67.2K

27.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,224 $2,224

$1,496 ฿48.2K

48.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,662 $2,662

$3,734 ฿120.3K

-28.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,049 $2,049

$2,662 ฿85.8K

-23.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,239 $4,239

$534 ฿17.2K

694.54%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Phuket: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,597 in East Chicago, IN versus $615 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 695% 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 $75 in East Chicago, IN versus $46 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $393 vs $291 – 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 106%, 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 $3,916 per month in East Chicago, IN and $1,904 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 $2,611 in East Chicago, IN and $1,270 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,287 per month in East Chicago, IN and $696 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 $1,270, than in East Chicago, IN at $2,611. 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.