Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Koh Phangan and Pathum Thani

For one person, living is cheaper in Pathum Thani: $785 a month against $1,018 in Koh Phangan, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Koh Phangan
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,018
/mo nomad
Pathum Thani
🇹🇭 Thailand
$785
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Koh Phangan and in Pathum Thani

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,018 in Koh Phangan versus $785 in Pathum Thani.

  • Koh Phangan $1,018
  • Pathum Thani $785

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,687 in Koh Phangan versus $1,329 in Pathum Thani.

  • Koh Phangan $1,687
  • Pathum Thani $1,329

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,357 in Koh Phangan versus $1,873 in Pathum Thani.

  • Koh Phangan $2,357
  • Pathum Thani $1,873

Living in Koh Phangan is roughly 30% more expensive than in Pathum Thani, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Koh Phangan 25% lower, Pathum Thani 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Koh Phangan
Pathum Thani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.91 ฿131
$1.79 ฿59.9
118.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.34 ฿980
$22.25 ฿744
31.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.70 ฿257
$5.90 ฿197
30.51%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ฿83.8
$1.73 ฿58.0
45.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿28.93
$0.42 ฿14.03
107.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ฿14.79
$0.18 ฿6.05
144.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 ฿74.7
$1.73 ฿57.7
28.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 ฿114
$2.13 ฿71.3
59.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Koh Phangan
Pathum Thani
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿54.8
$1.47 ฿49.07
11.56%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 ฿43.77
$1.32 ฿44.22
-0.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.45 ฿48.44
$1.23 ฿41.03
17.89%
Eggs
$2.05 ฿68.6
$1.80 ฿60.2
13.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.25 ฿610
$12.52 ฿418
45.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.15 ฿105
$2.43 ฿81.1
29.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.26 ฿343
$12.06 ฿403
-14.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿90.6
$3.60 ฿120
-24.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.0
$0.96 ฿31.93
56.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 ฿70.9
$2.49 ฿83.3
-14.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 ฿66.3
$1.58 ฿52.8
25.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.05
$1.97 ฿66.0
-29.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 ฿42.34
$1.04 ฿34.74
22.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 ฿35.11
$0.77 ฿25.70
36.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ฿17.54
$0.44 ฿14.85
18.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.02 ฿134
$4.53 ฿151
-11.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.43 ฿583
$13.87 ฿464
25.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 ฿57.8
$1.51 ฿50.3
14.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 ฿88.2
$1.66 ฿55.6
59.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Koh Phangan
Pathum Thani
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.00 ฿66.7
$0.60 ฿20.07
233.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.63 ฿87.8
$1.06 ฿35.28
148.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 ฿30.83
$1.53 ฿51.1
-39.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.49 ฿117
$8.76 ฿293
-60.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 ฿42.83
$1.16 ฿38.69
10.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K ฿799.7K
$17.5K ฿585.7K
36.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K ฿811.4K
$23.9K ฿797.8K
1.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koh Phangan
Pathum Thani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$98.6 ฿3,296
$82.3 ฿2,751
19.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.03 ฿369
$9.23 ฿309
19.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.25 ฿577
$10.22 ฿341
68.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Koh Phangan
Pathum Thani
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.8 ฿1,730
$29.61 ฿990
74.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.01 ฿368
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.48 ฿250
$6.63 ฿222
12.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Koh Phangan
Pathum Thani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$549 ฿18.4K
$196 ฿6,543
180.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K ฿379.4K
$10.7K ฿357.5K
6.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Koh Phangan
Pathum Thani
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.8 ฿2,131
$5.91 ฿198
979.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.04 ฿971
$35.81 ฿1,197
-18.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.3 ฿3,152
$71.5 ฿2,388
32.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.5 ฿2,958
$52.8 ฿1,765
67.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Koh Phangan
Pathum Thani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$506 ฿16.9K
$453 ฿15.1K
11.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$326 ฿10.9K
$263 ฿8,805
23.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,446 ฿48.3K
$1,476 ฿49.3K
-2.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$842 ฿28.1K
$738 ฿24.6K
14.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,423 ฿81.0K
$4,477 ฿149.6K
-45.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,769 ฿59.1K
$2,199 ฿73.5K
-19.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Koh Phangan
Pathum Thani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$708 ฿23.7K
$396 ฿13.2K
78.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
4
39.25%

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

Last update for Koh Phangan: October 11, 2026

Last update for Pathum Thani: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Koh Phangan
$326
Pathum Thani
$263 19.1% $62
Groceries & Markets
Koh Phangan
$252
Pathum Thani
$223 11.6% $29
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koh Phangan
$127
Pathum Thani
$102 19.8% $25
Clothing & Footwear
Koh Phangan
$124
Pathum Thani
$75 39.8% $49
Eating Out
Koh Phangan
$108
Pathum Thani
$68 36.7% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Koh Phangan
$67
Pathum Thani
$43 35.7% $24
Getting Around
Koh Phangan
$15 *
Pathum Thani
$11 * 27.1% $4.1

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 $506 in Koh Phangan and $453 in Pathum Thani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Koh Phangan pays 79% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $29.00 in Koh Phangan vs $22.00 in Pathum Thani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $223 per month, with Pathum Thani cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Koh Phangan
🇹🇭 Pathum Thani
🕒 Local time
22:24 10:24 PM
22:24 10:24 PM
Same time as Koh Phangan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
18,320
💱 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 19, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Koh Phangan Pathum Thani 480 km
From you
  • Koh Phangan
  • Pathum Thani

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
Koh Phangan vs Pathum Thani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Koh Phangan and in Pathum Thani?
Koh Phangan and Pathum Thani differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($1,018 vs $785 including rent). Pathum Thani is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Koh Phangan or Pathum Thani?
Average pay runs 79% higher in Koh Phangan, 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 Koh Phangan and in Pathum Thani?
Rent for a central apartment: $506 in Koh Phangan versus $453 in Pathum Thani. 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 13% higher in Koh Phangan. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Koh Phangan or Pathum Thani?
All in, you'll spend $1,018 per month in Koh Phangan versus $785 in Pathum Thani – a 30% 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 $785 in Pathum Thani versus $1,018 in Koh Phangan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pathum Thani but tight or insufficient in Koh Phangan. The gap between the two cities makes Pathum Thani the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Koh Phangan and Pathum Thani?
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 Koh Phangan or Pathum Thani safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Koh Phangan and Pathum Thani 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: Koh Phangan or Pathum Thani?
Expats usually find Pathum Thani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Koh Phangan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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