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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,611 per month in Lansing, IL vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,765 per month in Lansing, IL vs $2,297 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,920 per month in Lansing, IL vs $3,329 in Phuket, rent included.

Lansing, IL costs about 106% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lansing, IL sits 95% above the global median, while Phuket is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$18.77 $18.77

$4.70 ฿154

299.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.5 $76.5

$45.37 ฿1,489

68.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.97 $10.97

$8.43 ฿277

30.13%

Cappuccino

$5.23 $5.23

$2.93 ฿96.1

78.50%

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

$2.48 $2.48

$0.69 ฿22.50

259.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.37 ฿12.04

448.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.17 $6.17

$2.41 ฿79.0

156.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.21 $7.21

$3.72 ฿122

93.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 $1.04

$2.23 ฿73.3

-53.36%

White Bread (500g)

$3.44 $3.44

$1.83 ฿60.1

87.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$2.17 ฿71.1

101.84%

Eggs

$4.19 $4.19

$2.21 ฿72.6

89.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.47 $12.47

$19.74 ฿648

-36.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.45 $11.45

$3.63 ฿119

215.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.69 $15.69

$13.53 ฿444

15.96%

Apples (1kg)

$4.81 $4.81

$3.28 ฿108

46.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.61 ฿52.9

-2.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.36 $4.36

$2.41 ฿79.0

80.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.74 $4.74

$2.08 ฿68.4

127.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$1.53 ฿50.2

84.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.48 ฿48.58

89.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.04 $2.04

$0.99 ฿32.44

106.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 $2.18

$0.51 ฿16.74

327.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.45 $9.45

$4.41 ฿145

114.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.81 $14.81

$19.38 ฿636

-23.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 $1.80

$1.78 ฿58.4

1.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 $3.43

$2.71 ฿89.0

26.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$1.37 ฿44.99

47.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.39 ฿374

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 $3.49

$3.02 ฿99.1

15.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 $1.64

$0.99 ฿32.63

65.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.21 $29.21

$14.10 ฿463

107.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.36 ฿44.71

-38.97%

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

$30.0K $30.0K

$28.2K ฿925.3K

6.53%

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

$26.0K $26.0K

$32.9K ฿1.1M

-20.96%

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

$191 $191

$122 ฿3,993

56.61%

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

$52.6 $52.6

$13.57 ฿445

287.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.2 $67.2

$18.31 ฿601

267.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.66 $43.66

$60.2 ฿1,976

-27.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.14 ฿562

Cinema Ticket

$13.68 $13.68

$8.69 ฿285

57.42%

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

$1,304 $1,304

$693 ฿22.8K

88.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$15.7K ฿514.7K

51.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.9 $51.9

$59.5 ฿1,953

-12.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.07 $40.07

$34.77 ฿1,141

15.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.0 $86.0

$115 ฿3,760

-24.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$83.3 ฿2,733

33.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,616 $1,616

$613 ฿20.1K

163.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,332 $1,332

$437 ฿14.3K

204.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,628 $2,628

$2,094 ฿68.7K

25.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,244 $2,244

$1,509 ฿49.5K

48.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,940 $2,940

$3,749 ฿123.0K

-21.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,062 $2,062

$2,616 ฿85.8K

-21.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,113 $3,113

$508 ฿16.7K

512.68%

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 Lansing, IL: May 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,616 in Lansing, IL versus $613 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 513% higher in Lansing, 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 $76.0 in Lansing, IL versus $45.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $389 vs $293 – 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

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

Yes – Lansing, IL 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 $3,917 per month in Lansing, 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,611 in Lansing, IL and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,304 per month in Lansing, IL and $693 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 $1,265, than in Lansing, IL at $2,611. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lansing, 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, Lansing, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.