😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,068 in Bangkok versus $878 in Pak Kret.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,732 in Bangkok versus $1,438 in Pak Kret.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,396 in Bangkok versus $1,997 in Pak Kret.
😐Living in Bangkok is roughly 22% more expensive than Pak Kret, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bangkok20% lower, Pak Kret34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bangkok
Pak Kret
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.17฿103
$3.06฿99.9
3.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.33฿991
$31.17฿1,018
-2.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.27฿205
$6.20฿202
1.13%
Cappuccino
$2.51฿81.9
$2.17฿70.8
15.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68฿22.34
$0.73฿23.80
-6.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27฿8.79
$0.29฿9.48
-6.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.6
$2.40฿78.3
1.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94฿129
$2.48฿81.1
58.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bangkok
Pak Kret
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80฿58.8
$1.70฿55.6
5.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.39฿45.38
$1.34฿43.83
3.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.42฿46.22
$1.40฿45.75
1.43%
Eggs
$2.26฿73.8
$2.25฿73.4
0.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.40฿601
$15.38฿502
19.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01฿98.4
$3.34฿109
-9.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.38฿306
$9.22฿301
1.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.55฿116
$3.33฿109
6.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.76฿57.6
$1.28฿41.89
37.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21฿72.1
$1.91฿62.4
15.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.84฿59.9
$1.41฿46.13
30.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64฿53.5
$1.46฿47.69
12.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50฿48.88
$1.17฿38.25
28.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31฿42.67
$1.02฿33.23
28.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52฿17.10
$0.50฿16.32
4.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25฿139
$4.67฿153
-8.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.02฿490
$15.44฿504
-2.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿58.9
$1.83฿59.9
-1.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39฿111
$2.32฿75.6
46.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Bangkok
Pak Kret
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.19฿39.00
$0.89฿29.21
33.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.43฿1,190
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10฿35.84
$1.05฿34.22
4.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.20฿39.07
$1.14฿37.34
5.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.13฿200
$3.49฿114
75.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25฿40.88
$1.30฿42.35
-3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3K฿1.2M
$25.7K฿840.9K
44.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6K฿934.5K
$27.4K฿894.4K
4.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bangkok
Pak Kret
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.9฿3,000
$79.6฿2,599
15.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.96฿423
$12.54฿409
3.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.67฿577
$17.23฿563
2.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bangkok
Pak Kret
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.9฿1,759
$49.98฿1,632
7.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.68฿349
$12.13฿396
-11.95%
Cinema Ticket
$7.90฿258
$7.77฿254
1.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bangkok
Pak Kret
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$601฿19.6K
$295฿9,618
104.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2K฿432.6K
$9,336฿304.9K
41.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bangkok
Pak Kret
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0฿1,863
$29.74฿971
91.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.28฿1,250
$19.76฿645
93.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103฿3,376
$100฿3,274
3.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.0฿3,103
$43.73฿1,428
117.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bangkok
Pak Kret
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$669฿21.9K
$419฿13.7K
59.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$326฿10.7K
$289฿9,436
12.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,877฿61.3K
$804฿26.3K
133.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$843฿27.5K
$662฿21.6K
27.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,307฿206.0K
$1,757฿57.4K
259.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,371฿110.1K
$1,271฿41.5K
165.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bangkok
Pak Kret
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$747฿24.4K
$781฿25.5K
-4.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.84
5.84
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bangkok: May 31, 2026
Last update for Pak Kret: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $669 in Bangkok and $419 in Pak Kret. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pak Kret pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $30.00 in Bangkok vs $31.00 in Pak Kret. Groceries flip the comparison at $257 vs $236, with Pak Kret cheaper for home cooking.
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
Bangkok vs Pak Kret: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bangkok and Pak Kret?
Bangkok and Pak Kret differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($1,068 vs $878 including rent). Pak Kret is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Pak Kret earns 5% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Bangkok and Pak Kret?
Rent for a central apartment: $669 in Bangkok versus $419 in Pak Kret. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Bangkok. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bangkok or Pak Kret?
All in, you'll spend $1,068 per month in Bangkok versus $878 in Pak Kret – a 22% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $878 in Pak Kret versus $1,068 in Bangkok, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pak Kret but tight or insufficient in Bangkok. The gap between the two cities makes Pak Kret the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bangkok and Pak Kret?
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.
Is Bangkok or Pak Kret safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bangkok and Pak Kret are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Bangkok or Pak Kret?
Expats usually find Pak Kret gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Bangkok. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.