ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,594 in Lisle, IL.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $3,817 in Lisle, IL.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $5,040 in Lisle, IL.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 53% less than in Lisle, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Lisle, IL is 94% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Lisle, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$18.85$18.85
-75.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$74.9$74.9
-37.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$11.09$11.09
-20.29%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$5.18$5.18
-42.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.49$2.49
-70.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$2.05$2.05
-81.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$5.92$5.92
-58.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$7.20$7.20
-49.86%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Lisle, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$1.04$1.04
117.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$3.41$3.41
-46.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$4.46$4.46
-49.78%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$4.24$4.24
-45.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$12.28$12.28
60.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$11.63$11.63
-68.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$15.55$15.55
-15.76%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$4.82$4.82
-29.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.56$1.56
5.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$4.37$4.37
-44.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$4.61$4.61
-55.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$2.81$2.81
-44.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$2.87$2.87
-47.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$2.08$2.08
-50.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$2.12$2.12
-76.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$9.44$9.44
-52.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$16.65$16.65
13.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.78$1.78
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$3.33$3.33
-17.42%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Lisle, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$2.05$2.05
-31.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$3.59$3.59
-13.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.57$1.57
-36.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$29.33$29.33
-51.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35āļŋ44.19
$0.84$0.84
60.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2Kāļŋ888.9K
$29.8K$29.8K
-8.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$25.7K$25.7K
28.15%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Lisle, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$190$190
-34.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$52.6$52.6
-74.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$67.4$67.4
-72.52%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Lisle, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$43.67$43.67
40.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$13.52$13.52
-32.03%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Lisle, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$1,298$1,298
-46.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$23.2K$23.2K
-32.71%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Lisle, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$50.5$50.5
14.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$39.35$39.35
-10.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$86.4$86.4
30.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$111$111
-22.03%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Lisle, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$1,621$1,621
-62.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$1,353$1,353
-67.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$2,601$2,601
-21.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$2,204$2,204
-32.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$2,649$2,649
42.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,321$2,321
14.13%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Lisle, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
$5,422$5,422
-90.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.51
-18.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: April 27, 2026
Last update for Lisle, IL: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $1,621 in Lisle, IL. 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: $47.00 in Phuket vs $75.0 in Lisle, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $392 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
Phuket vs Lisle, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Lisle, IL?
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 Phuket or Lisle, IL?
On paper, Lisle, IL earns 935% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Phuket vs Lisle, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $616 in Phuket versus $1,621 in Lisle, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or Lisle, IL?
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 Phuket compared to Lisle, IL?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $2,594 in Lisle, IL 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 Phuket or Lisle, IL?
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, Phuket or Lisle, IL?
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 Phuket compared to Lisle, IL?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Lisle, IL 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.