Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Robinson, IL and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Phuket: $1,278 a month against $2,383 in Robinson, IL, rent and utilities included – about $13,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Robinson, IL, United States
Phuket, Thailand
Robinson, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,383
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,278
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Robinson, IL and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Robinson, IL and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,383 in Robinson, IL versus $1,278 in Phuket.

  • Robinson, IL $2,383
  • Phuket $1,278

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,412 in Robinson, IL versus $2,216 in Phuket.

  • Robinson, IL $3,412
  • Phuket $2,216

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,441 in Robinson, IL versus $3,154 in Phuket.

  • Robinson, IL $4,441
  • Phuket $3,154

Living in Robinson, IL is roughly 86% more expensive than in Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Robinson, IL is 75% above, Phuket is 6% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Robinson, IL
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.80 $10.80
$4.47 ฿151
141.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.9 $54.9
$32.41 ฿1,094
69.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.04 $9.04
$8.81 ฿297
2.61%
Cappuccino
$4.99 $4.99
$2.83 ฿95.5
76.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$0.87 ฿29.43
148.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 $1.63
$0.49 ฿16.67
232.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.11 $6.11
$2.56 ฿86.4
138.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.11 $7.11
$3.68 ฿124
93.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Robinson, IL
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.76 $0.76
$1.66 ฿56.0
-54.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.46 ฿49.35
67.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.93 $4.93
$1.50 ฿50.6
228.67%
Eggs
$3.02 $3.02
$2.09 ฿70.5
44.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.35 $13.35
$19.07 ฿644
-29.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.69 $6.69
$3.30 ฿111
102.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.86 $5.86
$10.91 ฿368
-46.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.81 $3.81
$2.93 ฿99.0
30.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.69 ฿57.1
-20.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.50 $3.50
$2.25 ฿75.8
55.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.25 $4.25
$2.08 ฿70.1
104.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.51 ฿51.0
68.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.38 ฿46.56
90.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.07 ฿35.99
107.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 $2.39
$0.52 ฿17.52
359.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.06 $9.06
$4.20 ฿142
115.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.84 $15.84
$18.79 ฿634
-15.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 $2.86
$1.82 ฿61.5
57.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 $3.75
$2.84 ฿95.9
32.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Robinson, IL
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.24 $2.24
$1.45 ฿49.03
54.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$66.3 $66.3
$56.7 ฿1,913
16.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.77 $2.77
$3.02 ฿102
-8.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.39 $1.39
$1.02 ฿34.36
36.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.91 $29.91
$3.69 ฿125
710.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.47 ฿49.81
-36.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K $33.0K
$26.8K ฿904.3K
23.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26.7K ฿901.3K
-1.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Robinson, IL
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 $180
$96.4 ฿3,254
86.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.9 $59.9
$11.26 ฿380
431.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.9 $66.9
$16.85 ฿569
297.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Robinson, IL
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.06 $38.06
$67.2 ฿2,270
-43.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.73 ฿362
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.85 $10.85
$7.50 ฿253
44.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Robinson, IL
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$398 $398
$476 ฿16.1K
-16.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K $16.2K
$11.3K ฿380.4K
43.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Robinson, IL
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.89 $49.89
$62.4 ฿2,106
-20.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.62 $35.62
$28.41 ฿959
25.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.0 $61.0
$94.3 ฿3,184
-35.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.6 $78.6
$85.8 ฿2,898
-8.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Robinson, IL
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$570 $570
$716 ฿24.2K
-20.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,276 $1,276
$491 ฿16.6K
159.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,524 $2,524
$1,927 ฿65.1K
30.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,117 $2,117
$1,431 ฿48.3K
47.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,646 $2,646
$4,175 ฿141.0K
-36.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,453 $2,453
$3,045 ฿102.8K
-19.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Robinson, IL
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,018 $5,018
$502 ฿17.0K
899.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.4
5.57
14.90%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Robinson, IL: October 26, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Robinson, IL
$1.3K
Phuket
$491 61.5% $785
Groceries & Markets
Robinson, IL
$321
Phuket
$266 17.1% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Robinson, IL
$306
Phuket
$124 59.4% $182
Eating Out
Robinson, IL
$233
Phuket
$122 47.8% $112
Clothing & Footwear
Robinson, IL
$101
Phuket
$122 20.3% $21
Getting Around
Robinson, IL
$85
Phuket
$71 16.9% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Robinson, IL
$60
Phuket
$82 37.6% $22

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $570 in Robinson, IL and $716 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Robinson, IL pays about 10 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $55 in Robinson, IL vs $32 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $321 vs $266 per month, with Phuket cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Robinson, IL
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
17:05 5:05 PM
05:05 5:05 AM
12 h ahead of Robinson, IL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
12,443
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Robinson, IL Phuket 14,760 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Robinson, IL
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Robinson, IL vs Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Robinson, IL?
Phuket is about 46% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, utilities, and groceries. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Robinson, IL or Phuket?
Average pay in Robinson, IL is about 10 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Robinson, IL and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $570 in Robinson, IL versus $716 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $398 in Robinson, IL versus $476 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Robinson, IL and in Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Robinson, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Robinson, IL or in Phuket?
At $1,278 in Phuket versus $2,383 in Robinson, IL, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Phuket but tight or insufficient in Robinson, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Phuket the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Robinson, IL or in Phuket?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Robinson, IL or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Robinson, IL and Phuket are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Phuket wins on affordability, Robinson, IL on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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