Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bangkok and Phitsanulok

For one person, living is cheaper in Phitsanulok: $888 a month against $1,125 in Bangkok, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Bangkok, Thailand
Phitsanulok, Thailand
Bangkok
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,125
/mo nomad
Phitsanulok
🇹🇭 Thailand
$888
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bangkok and in Phitsanulok

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,125 in Bangkok versus $888 in Phitsanulok.

  • Bangkok $1,125
  • Phitsanulok $888

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,837 in Bangkok versus $1,437 in Phitsanulok.

  • Bangkok $1,837
  • Phitsanulok $1,437

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,549 in Bangkok versus $1,986 in Phitsanulok.

  • Bangkok $2,549
  • Phitsanulok $1,986

Living in Bangkok is roughly 27% more expensive than in Phitsanulok, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bangkok 17% lower, Phitsanulok 35% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bangkok
Phitsanulok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.90 ฿98.1
$2.29 ฿77.2
26.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.48 ฿1,198
$19.59 ฿662
81.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.37 ฿249
$5.45 ฿184
35.23%
Cappuccino
$2.73 ฿92.2
$1.68 ฿56.7
62.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 ฿22.75
$0.64 ฿21.52
4.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ฿10.96
$0.34 ฿11.32
-5.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.63 ฿88.8
$2.33 ฿78.8
12.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54 ฿153
$3.82 ฿129
18.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bangkok
Phitsanulok
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 ฿62.3
$2.02 ฿68.3
-8.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.48 ฿49.98
$1.42 ฿47.83
4.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.41 ฿47.61
$1.34 ฿45.17
5.22%
Eggs
$2.60 ฿87.9
$2.21 ฿74.8
17.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.29 ฿584
$16.64 ฿562
3.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.55 ฿120
$2.72 ฿91.9
30.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.69 ฿428
$9.37 ฿317
35.43%
Apples (1kg)
$3.70 ฿125
$2.38 ฿80.3
55.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 ฿58.2
$0.98 ฿32.95
75.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 ฿92.6
$1.62 ฿54.8
69.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 ฿66.3
$1.46 ฿49.34
34.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.67 ฿56.5
$1.31 ฿44.13
27.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 ฿50.9
$1.06 ฿35.72
42.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 ฿42.88
$0.71 ฿23.95
78.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ฿16.96
$0.52 ฿17.62
-3.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.80 ฿162
$4.38 ฿148
9.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.88 ฿503
$18.12 ฿612
-17.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 ฿62.1
$1.63 ฿55.1
12.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22 ฿109
$2.84 ฿95.8
13.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Bangkok
Phitsanulok
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 ฿34.33
$0.87 ฿29.36
17.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.37 ฿1,194
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.05 ฿35.48
$1.22 ฿41.12
-13.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 ฿40.66
$0.53 ฿18.03
126.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 ฿206
$2.35 ฿79.3
159.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿48.30
$1.51 ฿51.0
-5.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K ฿1.0M
$20.8K ฿702.8K
47.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9K ฿907.8K
$27.0K ฿911.8K
-0.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bangkok
Phitsanulok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$109 ฿3,668
$61.5 ฿2,076
76.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.94 ฿504
$12.27 ฿414
21.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.05 ฿610
$20.22 ฿683
-10.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bangkok
Phitsanulok
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.3 ฿1,900
$47.68 ฿1,610
18.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.45 ฿623
$13.08 ฿442
41.06%
Cinema Ticket
$7.46 ฿252
$6.71 ฿227
11.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bangkok
Phitsanulok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$802 ฿27.1K
$776 ฿26.2K
3.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.0K ฿573.2K
$15.0K ฿505.5K
13.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bangkok
Phitsanulok
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.5 ฿2,416
$53.7 ฿1,812
33.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12 ฿1,422
$25.26 ฿853
66.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.1 ฿3,279
$92.7 ฿3,131
4.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ฿3,604
$72.1 ฿2,433
48.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bangkok
Phitsanulok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$713 ฿24.1K
$434 ฿14.7K
64.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$347 ฿11.7K
$301 ฿10.2K
15.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,219 ฿74.9K
$1,167 ฿39.4K
90.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$820 ฿27.7K
$707 ฿23.9K
15.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,948 ฿200.9K
$1,942 ฿65.6K
206.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,151 ฿106.4K
$1,443 ฿48.7K
118.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bangkok
Phitsanulok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$612 ฿20.7K
$471 ฿15.9K
29.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.25
5.57
-5.75%

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

Last update for Bangkok: October 25, 2026

Last update for Phitsanulok: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bangkok
$347
Phitsanulok
$301 13.4% $46
Groceries & Markets
Bangkok
$271
Phitsanulok
$237 12.6% $34
Clothing & Footwear
Bangkok
$143
Phitsanulok
$110 23.2% $33
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bangkok
$142
Phitsanulok
$94 33.6% $48
Eating Out
Bangkok
$104
Phitsanulok
$78 25.3% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Bangkok
$71
Phitsanulok
$61 14.2% $10
Getting Around
Bangkok
$47
Phitsanulok
$7.4 * 84.2% $39

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $713 in Bangkok and $434 in Phitsanulok. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bangkok pays 30% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $35 in Bangkok vs $20 in Phitsanulok for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $271 vs $237 per month, with Phitsanulok cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Bangkok
🇹🇭 Phitsanulok
🕒 Local time
00:45 12:45 AM
00:45 12:45 AM
Same time as Bangkok
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
5,666,264 Capital
66,106
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

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
  • Bangkok Phitsanulok 340 km
From you
  • Bangkok
  • Phitsanulok

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
Bangkok vs Phitsanulok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bangkok and in Phitsanulok?
Bangkok and Phitsanulok differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($1,125 vs $888 including rent). Phitsanulok is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bangkok or Phitsanulok?
Average pay runs 30% higher in Bangkok, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Bangkok and in Phitsanulok?
Rent for a central apartment: $713 in Bangkok versus $434 in Phitsanulok. 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 14% 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 Phitsanulok?
All in, you’ll spend $1,125 per month in Bangkok versus $888 in Phitsanulok – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is feasible on a $800 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $800. Phitsanulok is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Bangkok and Phitsanulok?
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 Phitsanulok safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bangkok and Phitsanulok are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
How do I decide between Bangkok and Phitsanulok?
It comes down to priorities – Phitsanulok wins on affordability, Bangkok on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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