Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pathum Thani and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Pathum Thani: $785 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $12,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Pathum Thani
🇹🇭 Thailand
$785
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pathum Thani and in Nosara

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

A single person spends $785 per month in Pathum Thani vs $1,839 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Pathum Thani $785
  • Nosara $1,839

A couple spends around $1,329 per month in Pathum Thani vs $2,828 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Pathum Thani $1,329
  • Nosara $2,828

A family of three spends $1,873 per month in Pathum Thani vs $3,818 in Nosara, rent included.

  • Pathum Thani $1,873
  • Nosara $3,818

Pathum Thani is about 57% cheaper than Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Pathum Thani sits 42% below the global median, while Nosara is 36% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pathum Thani
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.79 ฿59.9
$12.35 ₡5,539
-85.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.25 ฿744
$61.2 ₡27.4K
-63.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.90 ฿197
$7.52 ₡3,373
-21.54%
Cappuccino
$1.73 ฿58.0
$4.41 ₡1,978
-60.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 ฿14.03
$1.74 ₡780
-75.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18 ฿6.05
$1.31 ₡587
-86.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.73 ฿57.7
$3.28 ₡1,471
-47.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 ฿71.3
$4.47 ₡2,004
-52.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pathum Thani
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.07
$1.56 ₡701
-5.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.32 ฿44.22
$3.02 ₡1,355
-56.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.23 ฿41.03
$2.51 ₡1,125
-51.00%
Eggs
$1.80 ฿60.2
$3.57 ₡1,603
-49.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.52 ฿418
$7.43 ₡3,333
68.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.43 ฿81.1
$10.52 ₡4,717
-76.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.06 ฿403
$13.97 ₡6,265
-13.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 ฿120
$2.35 ₡1,052
53.19%
Banana (1kg)
$0.96 ฿31.93
$1.61 ₡720
-40.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.49 ฿83.3
$4.80 ₡2,152
-48.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 ฿52.8
$1.61 ₡724
-1.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 ฿66.0
$3.80 ₡1,703
-48.16%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.74
$3.69 ₡1,657
-71.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 ฿25.70
$1.13 ₡507
-31.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 ฿14.85
$2.66 ₡1,191
-83.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53 ฿151
$5.18 ₡2,321
-12.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.87 ฿464
$19.88 ₡8,916
-30.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 ฿50.3
$2.90 ₡1,300
-47.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 ฿55.6
$3.63 ₡1,626
-54.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Pathum Thani
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 ฿20.07
$1.12 ₡504
-46.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.06 ฿35.28
$2.14 ₡958
-50.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 ฿51.1
$1.57 ₡703
-2.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.76 ฿293
$8.52 ₡3,823
2.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ฿38.69
$1.52 ₡682
-23.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.5K ฿585.7K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
-18.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K ฿797.8K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-30.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pathum Thani
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 ฿2,751
$96.3 ₡43.2K
-14.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.23 ฿309
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-74.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.22 ฿341
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-80.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pathum Thani
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.61 ฿990
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-58.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.63 ฿222
$7.89 ₡3,539
-15.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pathum Thani
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$196 ฿6,543
$494 ₡221.6K
-60.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K ฿357.5K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-9.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pathum Thani
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$5.91 ฿198
$53.9 ₡24.2K
-89.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.81 ฿1,197
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-35.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.5 ฿2,388
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-8.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.8 ฿1,765
$79.6 ₡35.7K
-33.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pathum Thani
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$453 ฿15.1K
$788 ₡353.4K
-42.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$263 ฿8,805
$794 ₡356.2K
-66.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,476 ฿49.3K
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-62.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$738 ฿24.6K
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-48.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,477 ฿149.6K
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-35.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,199 ฿73.5K
$1,224 ₡549.0K
79.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pathum Thani
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$396 ฿13.2K
$864 ₡387.3K
-54.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4
8.62
-53.60%

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

Last update for Pathum Thani: October 11, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Pathum Thani
$263
Nosara
$794 202% $531
Groceries & Markets
Pathum Thani
$223
Nosara
$352 58.3% $130
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pathum Thani
$102
Nosara
$186 82.5% $84
Clothing & Footwear
Pathum Thani
$75
Nosara
$120 60.8% $45
Eating Out
Pathum Thani
$68
Nosara
$212 211% $144
Sport & Entertainment
Pathum Thani
$43
Nosara
$87 104% $45
Getting Around
Pathum Thani
$11 *
Nosara
$87 685% $76

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $453 in Pathum Thani versus $788 in Nosara. 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 118% higher in Nosara, 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 $22.00 in Pathum Thani versus $61.0 in Nosara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $352 – making Pathum Thani the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Pathum Thani
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
02:56 2:56 AM
13:56 1:56 PM
13 h behind Pathum Thani
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
18,320
4,912
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pathum Thani Nosara 17,260 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Pathum Thani
  • Nosara

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
Pathum Thani vs Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Pathum Thani and in Nosara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $785 in Pathum Thani, $1,839 in Nosara – roughly 134% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Pathum Thani compared to Nosara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,177 per month in Pathum Thani and $2,758 in Nosara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Pathum Thani and Nosara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pathum Thani, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $22.00 in Pathum Thani and $61.0 in Nosara. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 58% more in Nosara, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pathum Thani, where all-in costs run around $785, than in Nosara at $1,839. In Pathum Thani it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nosara it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Pathum Thani and Nosara?
It depends on your priorities. Nosara has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $785 in Pathum Thani to $1,839 in Nosara. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Pathum Thani or Nosara safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Pathum Thani and Nosara?
If budget matters most, go with Pathum Thani. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nosara makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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