Cost of Living Comparison Between Bangkok and Rayong Cost of Living Comparison Between Bangkok and Rayong

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,159 in Bangkok versus $937 in Rayong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,862 in Bangkok versus $1,178 in Rayong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,564 in Bangkok versus $1,419 in Rayong.

Living in Bangkok is roughly 24% more expensive than in Rayong, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bangkok 16% lower, Rayong 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.01 ฿99.3

$3.07 ฿102

-1.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.47 ฿1,205

$18.20 ฿601

100.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 ฿251

$7.75 ฿256

-2.06%

Cappuccino

$2.89 ฿95.4

$1.64 ฿54.1

76.22%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ฿22.96

$0.51 ฿16.96

35.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ฿12.43

$0.26 ฿8.50

46.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.68 ฿88.7

$1.80 ฿59.4

48.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.69 ฿155

$2.98 ฿98.4

57.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 ฿66.0

$1.91 ฿63.2

4.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿51.9

$1.34 ฿44.13

17.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 ฿50.8

Eggs

$2.55 ฿84.2

$2.65 ฿87.5

-3.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.38 ฿574

$17.59 ฿581

-1.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.69 ฿122

$2.85 ฿94.3

29.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.13 ฿467

$13.53 ฿447

4.43%

Apples (1kg)

$4.27 ฿141

$3.42 ฿113

24.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 ฿63.8

$1.90 ฿62.7

1.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.88 ฿95.2

$2.24 ฿74.1

28.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 ฿65.5

$2.04 ฿67.5

-2.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.72 ฿56.8

$1.80 ฿59.6

-4.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.3

$1.56 ฿51.5

3.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 ฿41.68

$1.26 ฿41.63

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 ฿18.68

$0.57 ฿18.78

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.45 ฿147

$4.66 ฿154

-4.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.31 ฿506

$15.10 ฿499

1.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿60.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.38 ฿112

$3.28 ฿108

3.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 ฿35.70

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.43 ฿1,204

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 ฿35.46

$1.03 ฿34.07

3.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 ฿41.19

$1.20 ฿39.67

4.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.96 ฿197

$6.00 ฿198

-0.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 ฿48.11

$1.43 ฿47.38

2.10%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.0K ฿1.1M

0.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.0K ฿925.4K

$27.4K ฿904.2K

2.34%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$107 ฿3,546

$44.86 ฿1,482

139.28%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.75 ฿487

$14.71 ฿486

0.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 ฿612

$12.29 ฿406

50.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,004

$67.7 ฿2,238

-10.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.82 ฿622

$18.33 ฿606

2.67%

Cinema Ticket

$7.84 ฿259

$6.76 ฿223

15.98%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$553 ฿18.3K

$544 ฿18.0K

1.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.3K ฿570.3K

$17.2K ฿568.3K

0.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.6 ฿2,466

$30.19 ฿998

147.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.46 ฿1,469

$44.67 ฿1,476

-0.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.4 ฿3,250

$97.9 ฿3,235

0.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 ฿3,807

$77.2 ฿2,551

49.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$699 ฿23.1K

$425 ฿14.1K

64.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$362 ฿12.0K

$303 ฿10.0K

19.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,043 ฿67.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$742 ฿24.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,019 ฿198.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,238 ฿107.0K

$1,990 ฿65.8K

62.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$638 ฿21.1K

$785 ฿25.9K

-18.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.38

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

Last update for Bangkok: September 6, 2026

Last update for Rayong: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $699 in Bangkok and $425 in Rayong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rayong pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Bangkok vs $18.00 in Rayong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $271 per month, with Rayong cheaper across the board.

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 Rayong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bangkok and Rayong differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,159 vs $937 including rent). Rayong is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 23% lower in Rayong. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $699 in Bangkok versus $425 in Rayong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Bangkok. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,159 per month in Bangkok versus $937 in Rayong – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $937 in Rayong versus $1,159 in Bangkok, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rayong but tight or insufficient in Bangkok. The gap between the two cities makes Rayong the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Bangkok and Rayong are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Rayong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Bangkok. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.