Cost of Living Comparison Between Pathum Thani and Calamba Cost of Living Comparison Between Pathum Thani and Calamba

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $778 in Pathum Thani versus $528 in Calamba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,330 in Pathum Thani versus $775 in Calamba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,883 in Pathum Thani versus $1,021 in Calamba.

Living in Pathum Thani is roughly 47% more expensive than in Calamba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pathum Thani 43% lower, Calamba 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.77 ฿58.2

$3.91 ₱245

-54.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.78 ฿716

$12.20 ₱763

78.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.16 ฿203

$2.80 ₱175

120.00%

Cappuccino

$1.79 ฿58.8

$1.78 ₱111

0.56%

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

$0.46 ฿15.07

$0.56 ₱35.07

-17.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 ฿7.21

$0.32 ₱19.98

-31.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.78 ฿58.5

$0.88 ₱55.2

102.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 ฿68.1

$1.64 ₱102

26.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿47.77

$1.68 ₱105

-13.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ฿43.77

$1.11 ₱69.4

19.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 ฿41.41

$1.01 ₱63.2

24.75%

Eggs

$1.83 ฿60.1

$2.10 ₱131

-12.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.35 ฿406

$5.05 ₱316

144.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.42 ฿79.6

$3.36 ₱210

-27.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.10 ฿398

$7.70 ₱482

57.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 ฿115

$2.20 ₱138

58.64%

Banana (1kg)

$0.96 ฿31.67

$1.61 ₱100

-40.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.51 ฿82.5

$2.31 ₱145

8.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿52.4

$1.05 ₱65.4

51.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 ฿68.4

$1.70 ₱106

22.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 ฿34.57

$1.73 ₱108

-39.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 ฿25.16

$0.66 ₱41.13

16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 ฿14.85

$0.50 ₱31.26

-10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 ฿144

$2.94 ₱184

48.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.39 ฿473

$8.65 ₱541

66.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.54 ฿50.5

$0.91 ₱56.8

69.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿53.1

$2.00 ₱125

-19.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 ฿18.83

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 ฿35.20

$0.82 ₱51.4

30.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.55 ฿51.0

$0.25 ₱15.65

520.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.97 ₱123

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ฿38.73

$0.94 ₱58.8

25.53%

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

$18.0K ฿592.5K

$21.8K ₱1.4M

-17.27%

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

$23.9K ฿786.5K

$19.3K ₱1.2M

23.67%

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

$83.8 ฿2,754

$144 ₱8,992

-41.75%

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

$9.54 ฿314

$17.74 ₱1,110

-46.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$10.37 ฿341

$23.94 ₱1,497

-56.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.05 ฿988

Cinema Ticket

$6.73 ฿221

$5.12 ₱320

31.45%

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

$205 ฿6,738

$135 ₱8,450

51.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K ฿355.1K

$10.9K ₱684.6K

-1.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$5.96 ฿196

$29.37 ₱1,836

-79.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.59 ₱1,225

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 ฿2,380

$71.4 ₱4,462

1.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.8 ฿1,768

$55.8 ₱3,492

-3.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$456 ฿15.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$272 ฿8,933

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,491 ฿49.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$768 ฿25.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,455 ฿146.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,266 ฿74.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$399 ฿13.1K

$260 ₱16.3K

53.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.75

-40.74%

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

Last update for Pathum Thani: August 31, 2026

Last update for Calamba: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Pathum Thani pays 53% 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: $22.00 in Pathum Thani vs $12.00 in Calamba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $223 vs $174 per month, with Calamba 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

Pathum Thani vs Calamba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Calamba wins on cost – living expenses run 47% lower than in Pathum Thani. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Calamba the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 53% higher in Pathum Thani, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Pathum Thani. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $778 per month in Pathum Thani versus $528 in Calamba – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Calamba gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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, Pathum Thani and Calamba 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 Calamba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Pathum Thani. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.