Cost of Living Comparison Between Durban and RayongCost of Living Comparison Between Durban and Rayong
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,058 per month in Durban vs $847 in Rayong, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,552 per month in Durban vs $1,427 in Rayong, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,046 per month in Durban vs $2,008 in Rayong, rent included.
😐Durban costs about 25% more than Rayong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Durban and Rayong are more affordable than the global median – Durban21% lower, Rayong37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Durban
Rayong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.60R 123
$3.07฿100
147.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.12R 457
$18.62฿608
51.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.97R 80.8
$6.06฿198
-17.99%
Cappuccino
$1.97R 31.98
$2.55฿83.4
-22.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87R 14.12
$0.54฿17.61
61.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67R 10.94
$0.27฿8.77
148.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.93R 31.30
$1.89฿61.7
2.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22R 36.02
$3.00฿98.1
-26.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Durban
Rayong
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.00R 16.18
$1.87฿61.1
-46.52%
White Bread(500g)
$0.91R 14.80
$1.29฿42.15
-29.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.48R 24.13
$1.26฿41.02
17.46%
Eggs
$2.11R 34.25
$2.22฿72.5
-4.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.28R 118
$18.30฿598
-60.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.59R 74.7
$2.07฿67.6
121.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.33R 103
$9.24฿302
-31.49%
Apples(1kg)
$1.57R 25.53
$2.51฿81.9
-37.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36R 22.08
$1.26฿40.99
7.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.38R 22.43
$2.03฿66.3
-32.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36R 22.14
$1.06฿34.55
28.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27R 20.66
$1.26฿41.30
0.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18R 19.18
$1.21฿39.65
-2.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97R 15.82
$0.75฿24.41
29.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96R 15.57
$0.42฿13.57
128.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13R 50.9
$4.32฿141
-27.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.02R 81.6
$15.06฿492
-66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46R 23.74
$1.78฿58.2
-17.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75R 28.39
$3.34฿109
-47.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Durban
Rayong
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.50R 24.33
$0.90฿29.43
66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.86R 615
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.71R 27.76
$1.05฿34.41
62.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61R 9.95
$1.14฿37.12
-46.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.78R 110
$6.24฿204
8.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28R 20.73
$1.20฿39.11
6.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.3KR 330.0K
$37.3K฿1.2M
-45.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2KR 393.9K
$29.2K฿952.8K
-16.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Durban
Rayong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$147R 2,388
$56.7฿1,850
159.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.29R 476
$12.52฿409
133.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.72R 548
$17.43฿569
93.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Durban
Rayong
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.46R 560
$68.9฿2,251
-50.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.14R 149
$18.31฿598
-50.08%
Cinema Ticket
$6.56R 107
$7.60฿248
-13.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Durban
Rayong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$210R 3,405
$603฿19.7K
-65.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,585R 74.5K
$9,058฿295.8K
-49.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Durban
Rayong
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.78R 695
$49.30฿1,610
-13.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.50R 479
$38.25฿1,249
-22.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.3R 1,515
$77.8฿2,541
19.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.1R 1,187
$59.3฿1,937
23.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Durban
Rayong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$373R 6,063
$420฿13.7K
-11.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368R 5,974
$231฿7,555
58.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$754R 12.2K
$802฿26.2K
-6.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$594R 9,651
$668฿21.8K
-11.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$910R 14.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$581R 9,440
$1,988฿64.9K
-70.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Durban
Rayong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,395R 22.7K
$788฿25.7K
77.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.01
5.5
118.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Durban: May 30, 2026
Last update for Rayong: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $373 in Durban versus $420 in Rayong. 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 77% higher in Durban, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Durban versus $19.00 in Rayong. Groceries tell a different story – $168 in Durban vs $232 in Rayong – so Durban wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Durban vs Rayong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rayong cheaper than Durban?
Yes – Durban is pricier by about 25%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,587 per month in Durban and $1,270 in Rayong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rayong, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Durban or Rayong?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Durban and $19.00 in Rayong. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Durban and Rayong?
Interestingly, groceries are about 38% cheaper in Durban – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,200 enough for either Durban or Rayong?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,058 in Durban and $847 in Rayong, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Durban or Rayong more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Rayong – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Durban or Rayong?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Rayong. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Durban makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.