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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,525 per month in Ottawa, IL vs $1,265 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,707 per month in Ottawa, IL vs $2,089 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,888 per month in Ottawa, IL vs $2,913 in Phuket, rent included.

Ottawa, IL costs about 100% more than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ottawa, IL sits 83% above the global median, while Phuket is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.94 $14.94

$4.66 ฿154

220.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.7 $63.7

$32.22 ฿1,065

97.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.14 $8.14

$8.68 ฿287

-6.22%

Cappuccino

$4.81 $4.81

$2.90 ฿95.8

65.86%

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

$2.20 $2.20

$0.84 ฿27.89

161.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.09 $1.09

$0.49 ฿16.16

122.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.07 $5.07

$2.48 ฿82.0

104.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.96 $4.96

$3.73 ฿123

32.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.89 ฿62.3

-50.79%

White Bread (500g)

$2.40 $2.40

$1.41 ฿46.54

70.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.49 $5.49

$1.62 ฿53.6

238.89%

Eggs

$3.94 $3.94

$2.24 ฿74.1

75.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.97 $11.97

$19.84 ฿656

-39.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.56 $15.56

$3.48 ฿115

347.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.01 $18.01

$11.37 ฿376

58.40%

Apples (1kg)

$4.96 $4.96

$2.90 ฿95.8

71.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.72 ฿57.0

52.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.31 $5.31

$2.27 ฿75.1

133.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.63 $4.63

$2.13 ฿70.4

117.37%

Potato (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$1.47 ฿48.72

143.54%

Onion (1kg)

$3.00 $3.00

$1.42 ฿46.92

111.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.10 ฿36.25

76.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 $2.93

$0.60 ฿19.76

388.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.12 $12.12

$4.31 ฿142

181.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.86 $12.86

$18.60 ฿615

-30.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.80 ฿59.5

15.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.59 $4.59

$2.97 ฿98.0

54.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.25 ฿74.2

-13.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.49 ฿776

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 $4.61

$3.10 ฿102

48.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.91 $2.91

$1.08 ฿35.56

169.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.30 $17.30

$3.87 ฿128

347.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 $1.07

$1.43 ฿47.16

-25.17%

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

$36.3K $36.3K

$27.8K ฿918.0K

30.60%

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

$26.7K $26.7K

$27.0K ฿891.5K

-1.07%

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

$229 $229

$105 ฿3,462

118.87%

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

$52.1 $52.1

$11.39 ฿376

356.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$65.0 $65.0

$17.54 ฿580

270.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.77 $37.77

$54.3 ฿1,795

-30.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.56 $26.56

$11.44 ฿378

132.17%

Cinema Ticket

$14.90 $14.90

$7.78 ฿257

91.52%

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

$1,533 $1,533

$576 ฿19.0K

165.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.5K $12.5K

$11.6K ฿382.7K

7.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.9 $65.9

$63.6 ฿2,103

3.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.31 $32.31

$29.10 ฿961

11.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$62.5 $62.5

$96.2 ฿3,179

-35.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 $100

$90.0 ฿2,974

11.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,624 $1,624

$733 ฿24.2K

121.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,146 $1,146

$501 ฿16.5K

128.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,329 $2,329

$2,126 ฿70.2K

9.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,003 $2,003

$1,252 ฿41.4K

59.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,765 $2,765

$3,534 ฿116.8K

-21.76%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,617 $2,617

$2,622 ฿86.6K

-0.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,367 $2,367

$508 ฿16.8K

366.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

5.57

14.18%

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

Last update for Ottawa, IL: September 6, 2026

Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,624 in Ottawa, IL versus $733 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 366% higher in Ottawa, 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 $64.0 in Ottawa, IL versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $429 vs $275 – 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

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

Yes – Ottawa, IL is pricier by about 100%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,788 per month in Ottawa, 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 $2,525 in Ottawa, IL and $1,265 in Phuket. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,533 per month in Ottawa, IL and $576 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 Ottawa, IL at $2,525. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ottawa, 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, Ottawa, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.