Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Belleville, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,249 in Belleville, IL, rent and utilities included – about $11,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Belleville, IL, United States
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Belleville, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,249
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Belleville, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Phuket and in Belleville, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,278 per month in Phuket vs $2,249 in Belleville, IL, rent included.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Belleville, IL $2,249

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Phuket vs $3,369 in Belleville, IL, rent included.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Belleville, IL $3,369

A family of three spends $3,154 per month in Phuket vs $4,489 in Belleville, IL, rent included.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Belleville, IL $4,489

Phuket is about 43% cheaper than Belleville, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Belleville, IL is 65% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Belleville, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$17.71 $17.71
-74.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$69.0 $69.0
-53.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$9.33 $9.33
-5.57%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.5
$4.48 $4.48
-36.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.43
$2.06 $2.06
-57.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.67
$1.75 $1.75
-72.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.4
$4.55 $4.55
-43.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$5.97 $5.97
-38.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Belleville, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$1.02 $1.02
62.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.35
$2.33 $2.33
-37.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$3.77 $3.77
-60.21%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$3.97 $3.97
-47.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿644
$12.27 $12.27
55.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$15.24 $15.24
-78.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$12.64 $12.64
-13.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿99.0
$5.83 $5.83
-49.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$1.76 $1.76
-3.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$3.37 $3.37
-33.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$3.51 $3.51
-40.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$2.18 $2.18
-30.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.56
$2.03 $2.03
-32.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.99
$1.59 $1.59
-32.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.52
$1.87 $1.87
-72.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$12.21 $12.21
-65.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$14.94 $14.94
25.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$2.07 $2.07
-12.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$2.74 $2.74
3.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Belleville, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.03
$0.98 $0.98
47.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,913
$78.6 $78.6
-27.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$3.45 $3.45
-12.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.36
$2.46 $2.46
-58.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$17.39 $17.39
-78.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.81
$0.96 $0.96
53.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿904.3K
$28.8K $28.8K
-7.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿901.3K
$26.2K $26.2K
1.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Belleville, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,254
$241 $241
-60.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$69.8 $69.8
-83.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$65.8 $65.8
-74.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Belleville, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,270
$31.06 $31.06
116.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$29.60 $29.60
-63.75%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$14.06 $14.06
-46.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Belleville, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$1,040 $1,040
-54.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.4K
$12.8K $12.8K
-12.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Belleville, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,106
$55.6 $55.6
12.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$32.16 $32.16
-11.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,184
$86.9 $86.9
8.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,898
$103 $103
-16.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Belleville, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$1,202 $1,202
-40.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$945 $945
-48.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.1K
$1,990 $1,990
-3.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$1,667 $1,667
-14.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿141.0K
$2,141 $2,141
95.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$1,753 $1,753
73.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Belleville, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
$6,255 $6,255
-91.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
6.72
-17.11%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Belleville, IL: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Belleville, IL
$945 92.5% $454
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Belleville, IL
$371 39.4% $105
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Belleville, IL
$377 203% $253
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Belleville, IL
$125 2.5% $3
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Belleville, IL
$273 125% $152
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Belleville, IL
$59 28% $23
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Belleville, IL
$98 39.2% $28

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Phuket versus $1,202 in Belleville, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Belleville, IL are about 12 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32 in Phuket versus $69 in Belleville, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $371 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇺🇸 Belleville, IL
🕒 Local time
02:01 2:01 AM
14:01 2:01 PM
12 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
42,404
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Belleville, IL 14,780 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Belleville, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Phuket vs Belleville, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Belleville, IL?
Belleville, IL costs about 76% more than Phuket, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Belleville, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,917 per month in Phuket and $3,373 in Belleville, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Belleville, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $716 there versus $1,202 in Belleville, IL.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Belleville, IL?
Kindergarten costs $476 per month in Phuket and $1,040 in Belleville, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Belleville, IL?
Groceries cost about 39% more in Belleville, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Belleville, IL?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,278, than in Belleville, IL at $2,249. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belleville, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
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.
How safe is Phuket compared to Belleville, IL?
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.
Should I move to Phuket or to Belleville, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Belleville, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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