ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,594 in Lisle, IL versus $1,232 in Phuket.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,817 in Lisle, IL versus $2,255 in Phuket.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,040 in Lisle, IL versus $3,279 in Phuket.
ðLiving in Lisle, IL is roughly 111% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Lisle, IL is 94% above, Phuket is 8% below.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Lisle, IL
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.85$18.85
$4.63āļŋ151
307.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.9$74.9
$46.84āļŋ1,532
59.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09$11.09
$8.84āļŋ289
25.45%
Cappuccino
$5.18$5.18
$3.00āļŋ98.0
72.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49$2.49
$0.74āļŋ24.25
236.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05$2.05
$0.37āļŋ11.95
454.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.92$5.92
$2.44āļŋ79.8
142.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.20$7.20
$3.61āļŋ118
99.45%
ð Groceries & Markets
Lisle, IL
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04$1.04
$2.26āļŋ73.9
-53.98%
White Bread(500g)
$3.41$3.41
$1.84āļŋ60.1
85.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.46$4.46
$2.24āļŋ73.4
99.11%
Eggs
$4.24$4.24
$2.32āļŋ75.7
82.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.28$12.28
$19.67āļŋ643
-37.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.63$11.63
$3.65āļŋ119
218.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.55$15.55
$13.10āļŋ428
18.70%
Apples(1kg)
$4.82$4.82
$3.39āļŋ111
42.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56$1.56
$1.64āļŋ53.7
-4.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.37$4.37
$2.41āļŋ79.0
81.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.61$4.61
$2.03āļŋ66.4
127.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.81$2.81
$1.56āļŋ50.9
80.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.87$2.87
$1.50āļŋ48.94
91.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.08$2.08
$1.02āļŋ33.50
103.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.12$2.12
$0.49āļŋ16.00
332.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.44$9.44
$4.45āļŋ145
112.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.65$16.65
$18.88āļŋ617
-11.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$1.78āļŋ58.1
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33$3.33
$2.75āļŋ90.1
21.09%
ð Getting Around
Lisle, IL
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$1.40āļŋ45.81
46.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.48āļŋ376
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.59$3.59
$3.12āļŋ102
15.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57$1.57
$1.00āļŋ32.67
57.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33$29.33
$14.09āļŋ461
108.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84$0.84
$1.35āļŋ44.19
-37.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K$29.8K
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
9.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K$25.7K
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
-21.97%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisle, IL
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190$190
$125āļŋ4,087
52.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.6$52.6
$13.57āļŋ444
287.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.4$67.4
$18.52āļŋ606
263.93%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Lisle, IL
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.67$43.67
$61.5āļŋ2,010
-28.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.84āļŋ551
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.52$13.52
$9.19āļŋ300
47.12%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Lisle, IL
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,298$1,298
$698āļŋ22.8K
85.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.2K$23.2K
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
48.60%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Lisle, IL
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.5$50.5
$57.8āļŋ1,889
-12.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.35$39.35
$35.24āļŋ1,152
11.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.4$86.4
$113āļŋ3,699
-23.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111$111
$86.4āļŋ2,825
28.25%
ð Accommodation & Living
Lisle, IL
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621$1,621
$616āļŋ20.1K
163.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,353$1,353
$446āļŋ14.6K
203.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,601$2,601
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
27.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,204$2,204
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
47.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,649$2,649
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
-29.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,321$2,321
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
-12.38%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Lisle, IL
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,422$5,422
$524āļŋ17.1K
935.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.51
5.33
22.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisle, IL: April 27, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisle, IL and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ð°Lisle, IL pays 935% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
ðDining out: $75.0 in Lisle, IL vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $292 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.
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
Lisle, IL vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lisle, IL or Phuket?
Phuket wins on cost â living expenses run 111% lower than in Lisle, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Phuket the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lisle, IL or Phuket?
Lisle, IL pays 935% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lisle, IL vs Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisle, IL versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Lisle, IL or Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Lisle, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Lisle, IL compared to Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,594 per month in Lisle, IL versus $1,232 in Phuket â a 111% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Lisle, IL or Phuket?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,594 in Lisle, IL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Lisle, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lisle, IL or Phuket?
Both work as nomad bases, but Phuket delivers better value â similar infrastructure at $1,232 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Phuket hard to pass up.
How safe is Lisle, IL compared to Phuket?
Safety-wise, Lisle, IL and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 111% less than in Lisle, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.