Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Ilion

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $1,564 in Ilion, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Phuket, Thailand
Ilion, Greece
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Ilion
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,564
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Phuket and in Ilion

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 Ilion actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,278 in Phuket versus $1,564 in Ilion.

  • Phuket $1,278
  • Ilion $1,564

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,216 in Phuket versus $2,458 in Ilion.

  • Phuket $2,216
  • Ilion $2,458

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,154 in Phuket versus $3,351 in Ilion.

  • Phuket $3,154
  • Ilion $3,351

Living in Phuket costs roughly 18% less than in Ilion, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Ilion is 15% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ilion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.47 ฿151
$13.18 €11.84
-66.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.41 ฿1,094
$59.3 €53.2
-45.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.81 ฿297
$8.96 €8.05
-1.67%
Cappuccino
$2.83 ฿95.5
$4.17 €3.75
-32.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿29.43
$2.42 €2.17
-64.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.67
$0.57 €0.51
-14.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 ฿86.4
$5.69 €5.11
-55.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 ฿124
$5.45 €4.89
-32.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ilion
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 ฿56.0
$1.60 €1.44
3.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿49.35
$1.41 €1.27
3.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.6
$2.57 €2.31
-41.63%
Eggs
$2.09 ฿70.5
$5.14 €4.62
-59.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.07 ฿644
$12.17 €10.93
56.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 ฿111
$10.38 €9.32
-68.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.91 ฿368
$18.74 €16.84
-41.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 ฿99.0
$2.21 €1.99
32.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 ฿57.1
$2.00 €1.80
-15.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 ฿75.8
$1.37 €1.23
64.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿70.1
$2.15 €1.93
-3.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 ฿51.0
$1.10 €0.99
37.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.56
$1.11 €1.00
24.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 ฿35.99
$0.90 €0.81
18.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.52
$1.14 €1.03
-54.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 ฿142
$5.46 €4.90
-23.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.79 ฿634
$7.87 €7.07
138.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿61.5
$1.73 €1.55
5.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.9
$3.21 €2.88
-11.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ilion
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.45 ฿49.03
$1.35 €1.21
7.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.7 ฿1,913
$49.57 €44.53
14.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿102
$4.34 €3.90
-30.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ฿34.36
$0.99 €0.89
3.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 ฿125
$16.56 €14.87
-77.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.81
$2.26 €2.03
-34.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K ฿904.3K
$27.4K €24.6K
-2.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿901.3K
$24.4K €21.9K
9.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ilion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 ฿3,254
$199 €179
-51.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 ฿380
$25.82 €23.20
-56.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.85 ฿569
$27.73 €24.91
-39.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ilion
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.2 ฿2,270
$50.4 €45.29
33.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 ฿362
$25.60 €23.00
-58.09%
Cinema Ticket
$7.50 ฿253
$9.75 €8.75
-23.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ilion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$476 ฿16.1K
$475 €427
0.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿380.4K
$4,757 €4,273
136.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ilion
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4 ฿2,106
$83.6 €75.1
-25.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.41 ฿959
$38.56 €34.64
-26.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,184
$103 €92.2
-8.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.8 ฿2,898
$107 €96.4
-20.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ilion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 ฿24.2K
$591 €531
21.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 ฿16.6K
$496 €445
-0.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,927 ฿65.1K
$1,190 €1,069
61.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,431 ฿48.3K
$976 €877
46.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,175 ฿141.0K
$3,693 €3,317
13.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,045 ฿102.8K
$2,904 €2,609
4.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ilion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$502 ฿17.0K
$1,278 €1,148
-60.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4.4
26.59%

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

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Last update for Ilion: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Phuket
$491
Ilion
$496 1% $4.7
Groceries & Markets
Phuket
$266
Ilion
$299 12.1% $32
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
$124
Ilion
$252 103% $128
Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
$122
Ilion
$149 22.6% $28
Eating Out
Phuket
$122
Ilion
$234 92% $112
Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
$82
Ilion
$70 15% $12
Getting Around
Phuket
$71
Ilion
$64 8.9% $6.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $716 in Phuket and $591 in Ilion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ilion pays about 2.5 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $32 in Phuket vs $59 in Ilion for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $266 vs $299 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Phuket
🇬🇷 Ilion
🕒 Local time
04:18 4:18 AM
23:18 11:18 PM
5 h behind Phuket
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,308
84,793
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD 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).

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

On the map
Between locations
  • Phuket Ilion 8,130 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Phuket
  • Ilion

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 Ilion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Phuket and in Ilion?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,278 in Phuket and $1,564 in Ilion, so Phuket is about 18% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 61% lower in Phuket. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Phuket and in Ilion?
Rent for a central apartment: $716 in Phuket versus $591 in Ilion. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Ilion?
Childcare runs $476 in Phuket versus $475 in Ilion. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Ilion. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,278 in Phuket versus $1,564 in Ilion, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Ilion. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Ilion?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Phuket or Ilion safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Ilion are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
How do I decide between Phuket and Ilion?
It comes down to priorities – Phuket wins on affordability, Ilion on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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