Cost of Living Comparison Between Pattaya and Chiang Rai Cost of Living Comparison Between Pattaya and Chiang Rai

😐 Solo nomad: Pattaya is 9.2% more expensive than Chiang Rai without rent, and 18.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Pattaya is 9.5% more expensive than Chiang Rai without rent, and 20.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pattaya
Chiang Rai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.79 ฿120
$1.98 ฿62.8
91.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.09 ฿984
$15.14 ฿479
105.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.14 ฿289
$6.22 ฿197
46.95%
Cappuccino
$2.14 ฿67.8
$1.48 ฿46.72
44.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 ฿25.67
$0.56 ฿17.80
44.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿11.83
$0.28 ฿8.81
32.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 ฿78.8
$1.82 ฿57.7
36.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 ฿75.7
$3.67 ฿116
-34.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pattaya
Chiang Rai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 ฿55.5
$1.65 ฿52.4
6.06%
White Bread (500g)
$1.39 ฿44.14
$1.62 ฿51.3
-14.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.30 ฿41.20
$1.14 ฿35.93
14.04%
Eggs
$2.30 ฿72.7
$1.95 ฿61.7
17.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.60 ฿494
$15.98 ฿506
-2.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.28 ฿104
$3.10 ฿98.3
5.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.34 ฿359
$10.98 ฿348
3.28%
Apples (1kg)
$3.37 ฿107
$2.55 ฿80.8
32.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 ฿40.73
$1.01 ฿31.90
27.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.95 ฿61.8
$1.64 ฿51.8
18.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.41 ฿44.48
$0.94 ฿29.61
50.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 ฿47.13
$1.40 ฿44.27
6.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿38.23
$1.12 ฿35.35
8.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.65 ฿52.1
$0.66 ฿20.88
150.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ฿16.96
$0.52 ฿16.48
3.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69 ฿148
$3.78 ฿120
24.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.14 ฿511
$19.09 ฿604
-15.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 ฿55.1
$1.86 ฿58.8
-6.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 ฿75.4
$3.26 ฿103
-26.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Pattaya
Chiang Rai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 ฿10.19
$0.80 ฿25.33
-60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.22 ฿577
$22.77 ฿721
-19.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.43 ฿45.25
$1.41 ฿44.55
1.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿42.27
$1.30 ฿41.27
3.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.33 ฿105
$8.24 ฿261
-59.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 ฿41.87
$1.28 ฿40.46
3.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K ฿817.5K
$20.1K ฿635.7K
28.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿845.6K
$22.4K ฿710.5K
19.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pattaya
Chiang Rai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$76.9 ฿2,434
$48.56 ฿1,537
58.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿446
$13.91 ฿440
1.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.69 ฿591
$15.11 ฿478
23.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pattaya
Chiang Rai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.73 ฿1,384
$48.77 ฿1,544
-10.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.87 ฿534
$12.43 ฿394
35.72%
Cinema Ticket
$7.56 ฿239
$3.61 ฿114
109.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pattaya
Chiang Rai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$296 ฿9,363
$307 ฿9,719
-3.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,415 ฿298.0K
$7,823 ฿247.6K
20.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pattaya
Chiang Rai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.16 ฿955
$56.4 ฿1,784
-46.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.93 ฿631
$26.66 ฿844
-25.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 ฿3,194
$71.9 ฿2,276
40.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.26 ฿1,369
$71.5 ฿2,262
-39.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pattaya
Chiang Rai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$543 ฿17.2K
$271 ฿8,588
100.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$346 ฿10.9K
$255 ฿8,075
35.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,365 ฿43.2K
$765 ฿24.2K
78.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$697 ฿22.1K
$502 ฿15.9K
38.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,049 ฿96.5K
$2,029 ฿64.2K
50.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,743 ฿55.2K
$1,009 ฿31.9K
72.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pattaya
Chiang Rai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$476 ฿15.1K
$636 ฿20.1K
-25.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.45
5
9.00%

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

Last update for Pattaya: March 3, 2026

Last update for Chiang Rai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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