ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,565 in Lombard, IL versus $1,232 in Phuket.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $3,748 in Lombard, IL versus $2,255 in Phuket.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,931 in Lombard, IL versus $3,279 in Phuket.
ðLiving in Lombard, IL is roughly 108% more expensive than Phuket, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Lombard, IL is 92% above, Phuket is 8% below.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Lombard, IL
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.95$18.95
$4.63āļŋ151
309.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.5$74.5
$46.84āļŋ1,523
58.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.97$10.97
$8.84āļŋ287
24.10%
Cappuccino
$5.24$5.24
$3.00āļŋ97.4
74.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60$2.60
$0.74āļŋ24.11
251.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05$2.05
$0.37āļŋ11.88
454.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.17$6.17
$2.44āļŋ79.3
152.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82$6.82
$3.61āļŋ117
88.92%
ð Groceries & Markets
Lombard, IL
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99$0.99
$2.26āļŋ73.5
-56.19%
White Bread(500g)
$3.53$3.53
$1.84āļŋ59.8
91.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.30$4.30
$2.24āļŋ73.0
91.96%
Eggs
$4.14$4.14
$2.32āļŋ75.3
78.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.06$12.06
$19.67āļŋ639
-38.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.39$11.39
$3.65āļŋ119
212.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.21$15.21
$13.10āļŋ426
16.11%
Apples(1kg)
$5.05$5.05
$3.39āļŋ110
48.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58$1.58
$1.64āļŋ53.4
-3.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.30$4.30
$2.41āļŋ78.5
78.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.84$4.84
$2.03āļŋ66.0
138.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.85$2.85
$1.56āļŋ50.6
82.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.83$2.83
$1.50āļŋ48.66
88.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.08$2.08
$1.02āļŋ33.30
103.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.09$2.09
$0.49āļŋ15.91
326.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.87$9.87
$4.45āļŋ145
121.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.24$15.24
$18.88āļŋ614
-19.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$1.78āļŋ57.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32$3.32
$2.75āļŋ89.5
20.73%
ð Getting Around
Lombard, IL
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.97$1.97
$1.40āļŋ45.54
40.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.48āļŋ373
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.56$3.56
$3.12āļŋ101
14.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60$1.60
$1.00āļŋ32.48
60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.83$28.83
$14.09āļŋ458
104.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84$0.84
$1.35āļŋ43.93
-37.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K$30.2K
$27.2Kāļŋ883.7K
10.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K$25.4K
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
-22.79%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lombard, IL
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187$187
$125āļŋ4,063
49.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.8$53.8
$13.57āļŋ441
296.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.1$67.1
$18.52āļŋ602
262.04%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Lombard, IL
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.56$43.56
$61.5āļŋ1,999
-29.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$16.84āļŋ547
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.26$13.26
$9.19āļŋ299
44.29%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Lombard, IL
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,322$1,322
$698āļŋ22.7K
89.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.4K$23.4K
$15.6Kāļŋ506.9K
50.19%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Lombard, IL
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.3$51.3
$57.8āļŋ1,878
-11.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.81$39.81
$35.24āļŋ1,146
12.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1$86.1
$113āļŋ3,677
-23.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111$111
$86.4āļŋ2,808
28.32%
ð Accommodation & Living
Lombard, IL
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,620$1,620
$616āļŋ20.0K
163.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,346$1,346
$446āļŋ14.5K
201.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,663$2,663
$2,048āļŋ66.6K
30.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,192$2,192
$1,492āļŋ48.5K
46.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,668$2,668
$3,779āļŋ122.8K
-29.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,036$2,036
$2,649āļŋ86.1K
-23.13%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Lombard, IL
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$524āļŋ17.0K
-
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 Lombard, IL: April 26, 2026
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,620 in Lombard, IL and $616 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $74.0 in Lombard, IL vs $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $388 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
Lombard, IL vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Lombard, IL?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 108% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $3,847 in Lombard, IL and $1,847 in Phuket to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Lombard, IL and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,620 in Lombard, IL versus $616 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Lombard, IL and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 33% higher in Lombard, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Lombard, IL vs Phuket?
All in, you'll spend $2,565 per month in Lombard, IL versus $1,232 in Phuket â a 108% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lombard, IL or Phuket?
At $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,565 in Lombard, IL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Lombard, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lombard, IL or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lombard, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lombard, IL or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Lombard, 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet â expenses run 108% less than in Lombard, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Lombard, IL vs other spots: cost of living compared