Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Pattaya

For one person, living is cheaper in Pattaya: $1,056 a month against $1,224 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,224
/mo nomad
Pattaya
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,056
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bali and in Pattaya

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

A single person spends $1,224 per month in Bali vs $1,056 in Pattaya, rent included.

  • Bali $1,224
  • Pattaya $1,056

A couple spends around $2,064 per month in Bali vs $1,644 in Pattaya, rent included.

  • Bali $2,064
  • Pattaya $1,644

A family of three spends $2,904 per month in Bali vs $2,233 in Pattaya, rent included.

  • Bali $2,904
  • Pattaya $2,233

Bali costs about 16% more than Pattaya, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Bali and Pattaya are more affordable than the global median – Bali 9% lower, Pattaya 21% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Pattaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.74 Rp 49.0K
$3.66 ฿123
-25.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.64 Rp 529.8K
$36.02 ฿1,206
-17.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.74 Rp 84.7K
$9.12 ฿305
-48.03%
Cappuccino
$2.22 Rp 39.7K
$2.10 ฿70.4
5.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 Rp 24.5K
$0.72 ฿24.26
90.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 Rp 11.8K
$0.33 ฿10.89
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 Rp 39.4K
$2.45 ฿81.9
-9.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 Rp 64.7K
$2.69 ฿90.1
34.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Pattaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 Rp 25.8K
$1.73 ฿57.9
-16.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.17 Rp 38.7K
$1.42 ฿47.51
52.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.12 Rp 20.0K
$1.36 ฿45.44
-17.65%
Eggs
$1.97 Rp 35.2K
$2.11 ฿70.6
-6.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.41 Rp 293.2K
$15.64 ฿524
4.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 Rp 65.0K
$2.66 ฿89.0
36.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.53 Rp 206.2K
$9.99 ฿335
15.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 Rp 60.2K
$3.40 ฿114
-0.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 Rp 26.0K
$1.22 ฿40.80
19.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 Rp 38.4K
$1.84 ฿61.7
16.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 34.0K
$1.89 ฿63.3
0.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.80 Rp 32.2K
$1.19 ฿39.86
51.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.0K
$1.08 ฿36.05
107.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 Rp 16.8K
$1.27 ฿42.59
-25.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 Rp 8,577
$0.44 ฿14.70
9.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14 Rp 38.2K
$4.34 ฿145
-50.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.94 Rp 392.2K
$17.90 ฿599
22.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 40.4K
$1.70 ฿57.0
32.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 Rp 49.6K
$2.97 ฿99.5
-6.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Pattaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 Rp 4,661
$0.58 ฿19.32
-55.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.08 Rp 144.4K
$19.51 ฿653
-58.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,853
$1.31 ฿43.80
-66.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,491
$1.08 ฿36.29
-61.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.66 Rp 101.1K
$3.50 ฿117
61.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 Rp 16.0K
$1.43 ฿47.82
-37.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K Rp 433.4M
$46.3K ฿1.6M
-47.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K Rp 563.1M
$26.6K ฿890.4K
18.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Pattaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.1 Rp 1.4M
$92.8 ฿3,106
-13.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.63 Rp 118.5K
$11.58 ฿388
-42.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.33 Rp 327.6K
$19.30 ฿646
-5.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Pattaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.56 Rp 814.4K
$42.02 ฿1,407
8.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.24 Rp 272.4K
$20.44 ฿684
-25.44%
Cinema Ticket
$3.71 Rp 66.4K
$7.63 ฿255
-51.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Pattaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$442 Rp 7.9M
$622 ฿20.8K
-28.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,246 Rp 93.8M
$14.5K ฿487.0K
-63.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Pattaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.18 Rp 789.6K
$51.5 ฿1,725
-14.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.13 Rp 610.1K
$29.67 ฿993
15.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.2 Rp 1.4M
$96.1 ฿3,216
-19.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.0 Rp 1.3M
$74.4 ฿2,490
0.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Pattaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$994 Rp 17.8M
$579 ฿19.4K
71.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$588 Rp 10.5M
$376 ฿12.6K
56.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,084 Rp 55.1M
$1,466 ฿49.1K
110.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,496 Rp 26.7M
$747 ฿25.0K
100.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,383 Rp 42.6M
$2,538 ฿85.0K
-6.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,015 Rp 36.0M
$1,423 ฿47.6K
41.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Pattaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$223 Rp 4.0M
$455 ฿15.2K
-50.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
5.96
131.21%

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

Last update for Bali: October 4, 2026

Last update for Pattaya: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bali
$588
Pattaya
$376 36.1% $213
Groceries & Markets
Bali
$274
Pattaya
$243 11.4% $31
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
$105
Pattaya
$124 17.8% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Bali
$104
Pattaya
$113 9.2% $9.5
Eating Out
Bali
$89
Pattaya
$104 16.3% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Bali
$53
Pattaya
$57 8.1% $4.3
Getting Around
Bali
$12
Pattaya
$29 145% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $994 in Bali versus $579 in Pattaya. 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 104% higher in Pattaya, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Bali versus $36.00 in Pattaya. Groceries tell a different story – $274 in Bali vs $243 in Pattaya – so Pattaya wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Bali
🇹🇭 Pattaya
🕒 Local time
19:46 7:46 PM
18:46 6:46 PM
1 h behind Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
119,532
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 17,875 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.59 USD). 1 EUR = 20,030 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.99 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.52 THB (100 THB = 2.67 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bali Pattaya 2,860 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bali
  • Pattaya

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
Bali vs Pattaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Pattaya?
Bali costs about 16% more than Pattaya, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. 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 Bali and in Pattaya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,836 per month in Bali and $1,584 in Pattaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Pattaya?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pattaya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Bali and in Pattaya?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Bali and $36.00 in Pattaya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Bali compared to Pattaya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,224 in Bali and $1,056 in Pattaya. That's a gap of about 16%.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bali or in Pattaya?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Pattaya, where all-in costs run around $1,056, than in Bali at $1,224. In Pattaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bali or Pattaya?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pattaya costs $1,056 versus $1,224 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bali compared to Pattaya?
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 Bali or to Pattaya?
If budget matters most, go with Pattaya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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