🙂A single person spends $1,250 per month in Phuket vs $1,955 in Peoria, IL, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,284 per month in Phuket vs $2,933 in Peoria, IL, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,317 per month in Phuket vs $3,912 in Peoria, IL, rent included.
🙂Phuket is about 36% cheaper than Peoria, IL, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Phuket sits 6% below the global median, while Peoria, IL is 46% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Peoria, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.55฿153
$17.42$17.42
-73.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.18฿1,553
$59.9$59.9
-22.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84฿297
$7.81$7.81
13.19%
Cappuccino
$3.06฿103
$4.83$4.83
-36.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73฿24.40
$1.87$1.87
-60.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40฿13.39
$1.11$1.11
-63.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43฿81.8
$4.49$4.49
-45.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78฿127
$4.88$4.88
-22.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Peoria, IL
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26฿76.0
$0.87$0.87
159.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.81฿60.9
$2.80$2.80
-35.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25฿75.8
$4.70$4.70
-52.13%
Eggs
$2.25฿75.5
$3.15$3.15
-28.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.51฿656
$9.22$9.22
111.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.65฿123
$11.03$11.03
-66.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.05฿439
$14.15$14.15
-7.77%
Apples(1kg)
$3.23฿109
$4.22$4.22
-23.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62฿54.4
$1.20$1.20
35.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38฿80.1
$4.99$4.99
-52.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03฿68.1
$4.82$4.82
-57.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.6
$2.53$2.53
-39.53%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿50.5
$2.32$2.32
-35.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.91
$1.94$1.94
-49.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.39
$2.15$2.15
-75.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44฿149
$8.41$8.41
-47.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.32฿616
$12.94$12.94
41.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86฿62.7
$2.12$2.12
-12.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿90.1
$3.23$3.23
-17.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Peoria, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41฿47.46
$0.98$0.98
43.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.70฿393
$40.40$40.40
-71.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.11฿105
$4.49$4.49
-30.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04฿35.06
$2.11$2.11
-50.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.11฿474
$17.16$17.16
-17.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31฿44.10
$0.78$0.78
67.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿935.4K
$27.5K$27.5K
1.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K฿1.1M
$27.1K$27.1K
22.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Peoria, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122฿4,118
$209$209
-41.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.59฿457
$50.6$50.6
-73.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70฿629
$64.9$64.9
-71.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Peoria, IL
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.5฿2,034
$37.98$37.98
59.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98฿571
$10.13$10.13
67.62%
Cinema Ticket
$9.07฿305
$11.45$11.45
-20.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Peoria, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$706฿23.8K
$976$976
-27.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.8K฿531.5K
$15.7K$15.7K
0.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Peoria, IL
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6฿1,969
$62.1$62.1
-5.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.36฿1,189
$36.78$36.78
-3.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115฿3,883
$76.8$76.8
50.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.7฿2,816
$118$118
-28.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Peoria, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626฿21.0K
$982$982
-36.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$445฿15.0K
$788$788
-43.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,040฿68.6K
$1,558$1,558
30.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,492฿50.2K
$1,290$1,290
15.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,483฿117.1K
$1,092$1,092
218.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,577฿86.7K
$1,094$1,094
135.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Peoria, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$500฿16.8K
$4,152$4,152
-87.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.33
6.49
-17.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Last update for Peoria, IL: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $626 in Phuket versus $982 in Peoria, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 731% higher in Peoria, IL, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $60.0 in Peoria, IL. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $289 vs $354 – making Phuket the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Peoria, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Phuket or Peoria, IL?
Peoria, IL costs about 56% more than Phuket, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Phuket and in Peoria, IL?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,875 per month in Phuket and $2,933 in Peoria, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Phuket or Peoria, IL?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Phuket, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Phuket and in Peoria, IL?
Kindergarten costs $706 per month in Phuket and $976 in Peoria, IL. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Phuket or in Peoria, IL?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Peoria, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Phuket or in Peoria, IL?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Phuket, where all-in costs run around $1,250, than in Peoria, IL at $1,955. In Phuket it covers expenses comfortably, while in Peoria, IL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Phuket or Peoria, IL?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phuket costs $1,250 versus $1,955 in Peoria, IL. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Phuket compared to Peoria, IL?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Phuket or to Peoria, IL?
If budget matters most, go with Phuket. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Peoria, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.