Cost of Living Comparison Between Bangkok and Thung Song Cost of Living Comparison Between Bangkok and Thung Song

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,068 in Bangkok versus $928 in Thung Song.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,732 in Bangkok versus $1,489 in Thung Song.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,396 in Bangkok versus $2,050 in Thung Song.

Living in Bangkok is roughly 15% more expensive than Thung Song, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bangkok 20% lower, Thung Song 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bangkok
Thung Song
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.17 ฿103
$4.60 ฿150
-31.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.33 ฿991
$18.60 ฿607
63.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.27 ฿205
$8.56 ฿280
-26.75%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ฿81.9
$2.36 ฿76.9
6.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 ฿22.34
$0.68 ฿22.36
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ฿8.79
$0.32 ฿10.60
-15.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 ฿79.6
$2.40 ฿78.4
1.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 ฿129
$3.74 ฿122
5.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bangkok
Thung Song
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 ฿58.8
$2.22 ฿72.5
-18.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.39 ฿45.38
$1.88 ฿61.3
-26.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 ฿46.22
$2.16 ฿70.5
-34.26%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿73.8
$2.26 ฿73.9
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.40 ฿601
$19.83 ฿648
-7.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.01 ฿98.4
$3.73 ฿122
-19.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.38 ฿306
$13.29 ฿434
-29.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 ฿116
$3.35 ฿109
5.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 ฿57.6
$1.70 ฿55.5
3.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ฿72.1
$0.65 ฿21.37
240.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.84 ฿59.9
$2.08 ฿67.9
-11.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.64 ฿53.5
$1.61 ฿52.6
1.86%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 ฿48.88
$1.50 ฿49.08
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.31 ฿42.67
$1.03 ฿33.49
27.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.10
$0.52 ฿16.98
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿139
$4.38 ฿143
-2.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.02 ฿490
$19.39 ฿633
-22.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 ฿58.9
$1.80 ฿58.7
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 ฿111
$2.28 ฿74.5
48.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Bangkok
Thung Song
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.19 ฿39.00
$0.89 ฿29.09
33.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$36.43 ฿1,190
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.10 ฿35.84
$2.26 ฿73.9
-51.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.20 ฿39.07
$1.04 ฿34.11
15.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.13 ฿200
$13.96 ฿456
-56.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.88
$1.16 ฿38.02
7.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3K ฿1.2M
$28.0K ฿913.6K
33.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6K ฿934.5K
$33.4K ฿1.1M
-14.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bangkok
Thung Song
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.9 ฿3,000
$30.26 ฿988
203.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.96 ฿423
$6.05 ฿198
114.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.67 ฿577
$13.98 ฿457
26.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bangkok
Thung Song
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.9 ฿1,759
$49.96 ฿1,632
7.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.68 ฿349
$12.28 ฿401
-13.03%
Cinema Ticket
$7.90 ฿258
$9.17 ฿299
-13.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bangkok
Thung Song
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$601 ฿19.6K
$696 ฿22.7K
-13.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.2K ฿432.6K
$16.0K ฿523.1K
-17.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bangkok
Thung Song
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0 ฿1,863
$28.08 ฿917
103.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.28 ฿1,250
$18.77 ฿613
103.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 ฿3,376
$115 ฿3,753
-10.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.0 ฿3,103
$85.5 ฿2,793
11.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bangkok
Thung Song
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$669 ฿21.9K
$416 ฿13.6K
60.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$326 ฿10.7K
$287 ฿9,384
13.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,877 ฿61.3K
$820 ฿26.8K
128.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$843 ฿27.5K
$665 ฿21.7K
26.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,307 ฿206.0K
$1,757 ฿57.4K
258.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,371 ฿110.1K
$1,606 ฿52.5K
109.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bangkok
Thung Song
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$747 ฿24.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.84
5
16.80%

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

Last update for Bangkok: May 31, 2026

Last update for Thung Song: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $669 in Bangkok and $416 in Thung Song. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $30.00 in Bangkok vs $19.00 in Thung Song. Groceries flip the comparison at $257 vs $287, with Bangkok 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 Thung Song: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bangkok and Thung Song?
Bangkok and Thung Song differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($1,068 vs $928 including rent). Thung Song is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Bangkok compared to Thung Song?
You'd need roughly $1,602 in Bangkok and $1,392 in Thung Song to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Bangkok and Thung Song?
Rent for a central apartment: $669 in Bangkok versus $416 in Thung Song. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Bangkok pay roughly 12% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bangkok or Thung Song?
All in, you'll spend $1,068 per month in Bangkok versus $928 in Thung Song – a 15% 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 $928 in Thung Song versus $1,068 in Bangkok, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Thung Song but tight or insufficient in Bangkok. The gap between the two cities makes Thung Song the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bangkok and Thung Song?
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 Thung Song safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bangkok and Thung Song 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 Thung Song?
Expats usually find Thung Song gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Bangkok. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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