ðMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,565 in Lombard, IL.
ðEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Phuket versus $3,748 in Lombard, IL.
ðMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,279 in Phuket versus $4,931 in Lombard, IL.
ðLiving in Phuket costs roughly 52% less than in Lombard, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.
ðThe two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 8% below, Lombard, IL is 92% above.
Currency
ð― Eating Out
Phuket
Lombard, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63āļŋ151
$18.95$18.95
-75.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.84āļŋ1,532
$74.5$74.5
-37.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84āļŋ289
$10.97$10.97
-19.42%
Cappuccino
$3.00āļŋ98.0
$5.24$5.24
-42.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74āļŋ24.25
$2.60$2.60
-71.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37āļŋ11.95
$2.05$2.05
-81.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44āļŋ79.8
$6.17$6.17
-60.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61āļŋ118
$6.82$6.82
-47.07%
ð Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Lombard, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26āļŋ73.9
$0.99$0.99
128.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84āļŋ60.1
$3.53$3.53
-47.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24āļŋ73.4
$4.30$4.30
-47.91%
Eggs
$2.32āļŋ75.7
$4.14$4.14
-43.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.67āļŋ643
$12.06$12.06
63.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65āļŋ119
$11.39$11.39
-67.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.10āļŋ428
$15.21$15.21
-13.87%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39āļŋ111
$5.05$5.05
-32.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64āļŋ53.7
$1.58$1.58
3.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41āļŋ79.0
$4.30$4.30
-43.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03āļŋ66.4
$4.84$4.84
-58.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56āļŋ50.9
$2.85$2.85
-45.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50āļŋ48.94
$2.83$2.83
-47.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02āļŋ33.50
$2.08$2.08
-50.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49āļŋ16.00
$2.09$2.09
-76.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45āļŋ145
$9.87$9.87
-54.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88āļŋ617
$15.24$15.24
23.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78āļŋ58.1
$1.78$1.78
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75āļŋ90.1
$3.32$3.32
-17.17%
ð Getting Around
Phuket
Lombard, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.40āļŋ45.81
$1.97$1.97
-28.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48āļŋ376
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.12āļŋ102
$3.56$3.56
-12.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00āļŋ32.67
$1.60$1.60
-37.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.09āļŋ461
$28.83$28.83
-51.13%
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
$30.2K$30.2K
-9.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9Kāļŋ1.1M
$25.4K$25.4K
29.52%
ð§ū Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Lombard, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125āļŋ4,087
$187$187
-33.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57āļŋ444
$53.8$53.8
-74.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.52āļŋ606
$67.1$67.1
-72.38%
ð Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Lombard, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5āļŋ2,010
$43.56$43.56
41.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.84āļŋ551
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.19āļŋ300
$13.26$13.26
-30.69%
ð§ļ Childcare & Education
Phuket
Lombard, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$698āļŋ22.8K
$1,322$1,322
-47.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.6Kāļŋ509.9K
$23.4K$23.4K
-33.42%
ðð Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Lombard, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.8āļŋ1,889
$51.3$51.3
12.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.24āļŋ1,152
$39.81$39.81
-11.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113āļŋ3,699
$86.1$86.1
31.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4āļŋ2,825
$111$111
-22.07%
ð Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Lombard, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$616āļŋ20.1K
$1,620$1,620
-61.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$446āļŋ14.6K
$1,346$1,346
-66.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,048āļŋ67.0K
$2,663$2,663
-23.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492āļŋ48.8K
$2,192$2,192
-31.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,779āļŋ123.6K
$2,668$2,668
41.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,649āļŋ86.6K
$2,036$2,036
30.09%
ðĩ Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Lombard, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$524āļŋ17.1K
-
-
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 Lombard, IL: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
ð A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $616 in Phuket and $1,620 in Lombard, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
ðDining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $74.0 in Lombard, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $388 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 108% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,847 in Phuket and $3,847 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: $616 in Phuket versus $1,620 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 $1,232 per month in Phuket versus $2,565 in Lombard, IL â a 108% 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 $1,232 in Phuket versus $2,565 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 â expenses run 108% less than in Lombard, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.