🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,261 in Phuket versus $2,425 in Mundelein, IL.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,286 in Phuket versus $3,540 in Mundelein, IL.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,310 in Phuket versus $4,655 in Mundelein, IL.
🙂Living in Phuket costs roughly 48% less than in Mundelein, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Phuket is 6% below, Mundelein, IL is 80% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Mundelein, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿148
$15.19$15.19
-69.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.63฿1,517
$53.8$53.8
-13.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.47฿275
$7.88$7.88
7.49%
Cappuccino
$3.03฿98.5
$5.40$5.40
-43.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.42
$2.62$2.62
-73.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿11.90
$2.35$2.35
-84.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.49฿80.9
$5.93$5.93
-58.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66฿119
$6.90$6.90
-46.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Mundelein, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.18฿70.9
$0.77$0.77
183.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.90฿61.9
$3.86$3.86
-50.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20฿71.5
$2.18$2.18
0.92%
Eggs
$2.22฿72.3
$4.12$4.12
-46.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.99฿650
$13.61$13.61
46.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.66฿119
$13.07$13.07
-72.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.25฿431
$16.18$16.18
-18.11%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿105
$4.38$4.38
-26.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70฿55.2
$1.52$1.52
11.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39฿77.9
$5.65$5.65
-57.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿67.6
$4.63$4.63
-55.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59฿51.8
$2.69$2.69
-40.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.48฿48.25
$2.86$2.86
-48.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03฿33.50
$2.04$2.04
-49.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿16.81
$2.06$2.06
-74.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿138
$9.86$9.86
-56.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.79฿611
$15.33$15.33
22.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76฿57.2
$2.32$2.32
-24.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76฿89.7
$4.68$4.68
-41.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Mundelein, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.36฿44.26
$1.98$1.98
-31.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.36฿370
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.14฿102
$4.62$4.62
-32.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿33.70
$2.13$2.13
-51.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.77฿448
$42.72$42.72
-67.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34฿43.74
$0.89$0.89
50.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K฿900.3K
$25.0K$25.0K
10.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K฿1.1M
$25.9K$25.9K
30.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Mundelein, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124฿4,020
$180$180
-31.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52฿440
$51.6$51.6
-73.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69฿608
$44.32$44.32
-57.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Mundelein, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8฿2,011
$43.73$43.73
41.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.25฿561
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.14฿297
$15.17$15.17
-39.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Mundelein, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$703฿22.9K
$1,630$1,630
-56.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K฿516.3K
$24.2K$24.2K
-34.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Mundelein, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5฿1,934
$66.6$66.6
-10.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.07฿1,141
$49.23$49.23
-28.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,750
$103$103
12.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1฿2,734
$131$131
-36.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Mundelein, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619฿20.1K
$1,495$1,495
-58.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433฿14.1K
$1,218$1,218
-64.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,062฿67.1K
$2,285$2,285
-9.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,511฿49.2K
$2,093$2,093
-27.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,646฿118.6K
$2,575$2,575
41.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,626฿85.4K
$2,104$2,104
24.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Mundelein, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$507฿16.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.55
-18.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Last update for Mundelein, IL: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Phuket and $1,495 in Mundelein, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Phuket vs $54.0 in Mundelein, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $401 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 Mundelein, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mundelein, IL cheaper than Phuket?
Phuket is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 92% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,892 in Phuket and $3,638 in Mundelein, 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 Mundelein, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Phuket versus $1,495 in Mundelein, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $703 in Phuket versus $1,630 in Mundelein, IL. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Phuket or Mundelein, IL?
Dining out is cheaper in Phuket – a meal for two runs $47.00 versus $54.0 in Mundelein, IL. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Phuket or Mundelein, IL?
At $1,261 in Phuket versus $2,425 in Mundelein, IL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Mundelein, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Mundelein, IL more family-friendly?
For families, Phuket is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mundelein, IL, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Mundelein, IL?
Safety-wise, Phuket and Mundelein, 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 92% less than in Mundelein, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.