🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,223 in Phuket versus $2,537 in Lombard, IL.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,237 in Phuket versus $3,716 in Lombard, IL.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,251 in Phuket versus $4,896 in Lombard, IL.
🙂Living in Phuket costs roughly 52% less than in Lombard, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Lombard, IL is 90% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Lombard, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.51฿147
$18.92$18.92
-76.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.62฿1,515
$76.3$76.3
-38.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.49฿276
$11.19$11.19
-24.13%
Cappuccino
$3.08฿100
$5.17$5.17
-40.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.07
$2.61$2.61
-73.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36฿11.75
$1.96$1.96
-81.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿78.8
$6.01$6.01
-59.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63฿118
$6.98$6.98
-47.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Lombard, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19฿71.1
$1.04$1.04
110.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿59.0
$3.49$3.49
-48.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.23฿72.5
$4.46$4.46
-50.00%
Eggs
$2.24฿72.7
$4.26$4.26
-47.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.60฿637
$12.24$12.24
60.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.72฿121
$11.31$11.31
-67.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.47฿438
$15.18$15.18
-11.26%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36฿109
$5.03$5.03
-33.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿52.5
$1.63$1.63
-0.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41฿78.3
$4.17$4.17
-42.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99฿64.6
$4.80$4.80
-58.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿49.76
$2.88$2.88
-46.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.45฿47.19
$2.90$2.90
-50.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01฿32.96
$2.05$2.05
-50.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48฿15.73
$2.18$2.18
-77.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿139
$9.33$9.33
-54.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.12฿621
$15.08$15.08
26.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿59.7
$1.79$1.79
2.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74฿89.1
$3.39$3.39
-19.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Lombard, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.42฿46.06
$1.94$1.94
-26.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72฿381
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.00฿97.6
$3.57$3.57
-15.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05฿34.00
$1.64$1.64
-35.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.90฿452
$28.99$28.99
-52.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿41.94
$0.83$0.83
55.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K฿911.1K
$29.5K$29.5K
-5.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K฿1.1M
$25.7K$25.7K
30.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Lombard, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿3,964
$190$190
-35.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.93฿453
$53.2$53.2
-73.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.87฿613
$67.6$67.6
-72.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Lombard, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.3฿1,992
$43.50$43.50
40.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84฿547
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.89฿289
$13.23$13.23
-32.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Lombard, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$691฿22.5K
$1,308$1,308
-47.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.2K฿525.2K
$23.0K$23.0K
-29.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Lombard, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8฿1,878
$51.3$51.3
12.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.39฿1,150
$39.27$39.27
-9.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113฿3,685
$88.3$88.3
28.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0฿2,698
$110$110
-24.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Lombard, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607฿19.7K
$1,618$1,618
-62.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448฿14.6K
$1,349$1,349
-66.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,029฿66.0K
$2,660$2,660
-23.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,493฿48.5K
$2,178$2,178
-31.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,585฿116.5K
$2,614$2,614
37.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,585฿84.0K
$2,667$2,667
-3.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Lombard, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$505฿16.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.51
-18.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 13, 2026
Last update for Lombard, IL: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Phuket and $1,618 in Lombard, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $76.0 in Lombard, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $389 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 Lombard, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lombard, IL cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 107% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,835 in Phuket and $3,806 in Lombard, IL 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 Phuket and Lombard, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $607 in Phuket versus $1,618 in Lombard, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Phuket and Lombard, IL?
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 Phuket vs Lombard, IL?
All in, you'll spend $1,223 per month in Phuket versus $2,537 in Lombard, IL – a 107% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Lombard, IL?
At $1,223 in Phuket versus $2,537 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 Phuket or Lombard, IL 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, Phuket or Lombard, IL?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Lombard, 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Phuket gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% less than in Lombard, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.