Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Pattaya and Dhaka

For one person, living is cheaper in Dhaka: $426 a month against $1,056 in Pattaya, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Pattaya
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,056
/mo nomad
Dhaka
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
$426
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Pattaya and in Dhaka

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,056 in Pattaya versus $426 in Dhaka.

  • Pattaya $1,056
  • Dhaka $426

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,644 in Pattaya versus $735 in Dhaka.

  • Pattaya $1,644
  • Dhaka $735

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,233 in Pattaya versus $1,043 in Dhaka.

  • Pattaya $2,233
  • Dhaka $1,043

Living in Pattaya is roughly 148% more expensive than in Dhaka, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pattaya 21% lower, Dhaka 68% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pattaya
Dhaka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.66 ฿123
$2.49 ৳305
46.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.02 ฿1,206
$13.06 ৳1,604
175.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.12 ฿305
$4.83 ৳594
88.82%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.93 ৳606
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.10 ৳504
-
Cappuccino
$2.10 ฿70.4
$2.34 ৳287
-10.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ฿24.26
$0.30 ৳37.38
140.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.89
$0.16 ৳19.96
106.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.45 ฿81.9
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 ฿90.1
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pattaya
Dhaka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 ฿57.9
$0.80 ৳98.1
116.25%
White Bread (500g)
$1.42 ฿47.51
$0.65 ৳79.3
118.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.36 ฿45.44
$0.71 ৳87.2
91.55%
Eggs
$2.11 ฿70.6
$1.21 ৳149
74.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.64 ฿524
$8.67 ৳1,065
80.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.66 ฿89.0
$3.21 ৳395
-17.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.99 ฿335
$6.70 ৳823
49.10%
Apples (1kg)
$3.40 ฿114
$2.73 ৳335
24.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿40.80
$0.88 ৳108
38.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.84 ฿61.7
$2.37 ৳291
-22.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.89 ฿63.3
$0.65 ৳79.5
190.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.19 ฿39.86
$0.24 ৳29.19
395.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.08 ฿36.05
$0.49 ৳60.6
120.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 ฿42.59
$0.32 ৳38.87
296.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 ฿14.70
$0.30 ৳37.30
46.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$12.07 ৳1,483
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$5.51 ৳677
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.66 ৳818
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.34 ฿145
$3.23 ৳396
34.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.90 ฿599
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 ฿57.0
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿99.5
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Pattaya
Dhaka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.58 ฿19.32
$0.42 ৳52.1
38.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.51 ฿653
$22.54 ৳2,769
-13.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 ฿43.80
$1.19 ৳147
10.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.08 ฿36.29
$0.40 ৳48.58
170.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.50 ฿117
$3.35 ৳411
4.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 ฿47.82
$1.15 ৳141
24.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.3K ฿1.6M
$30.3K ৳3.7M
52.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K ฿890.4K
$33.0K ৳4.1M
-19.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pattaya
Dhaka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$92.8 ฿3,106
$46.32 ৳5,690
100.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.58 ฿388
$4.33 ৳531
167.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.30 ฿646
$10.63 ৳1,306
81.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pattaya
Dhaka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.02 ฿1,407
$16.37 ৳2,011
156.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ฿684
$16.14 ৳1,982
26.64%
Cinema Ticket
$7.63 ฿255
$4.13 ৳508
84.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pattaya
Dhaka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$622 ฿20.8K
$90.7 ৳11.1K
585.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.5K ฿487.0K
$2,649 ৳325.4K
449.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pattaya
Dhaka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.5 ฿1,725
$16.48 ৳2,024
212.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.67 ฿993
$21.00 ৳2,579
41.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 ฿3,216
$50.3 ৳6,173
91.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.4 ฿2,490
$36.46 ৳4,478
103.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pattaya
Dhaka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$579 ฿19.4K
$152 ৳18.6K
281.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 ฿12.6K
$73.6 ৳9,041
410.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,466 ฿49.1K
$436 ৳53.5K
236.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$747 ฿25.0K
$214 ৳26.3K
249.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,538 ฿85.0K
$1,622 ৳199.2K
56.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,423 ฿47.6K
$761 ৳93.5K
86.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pattaya
Dhaka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$455 ฿15.2K
$249 ৳30.6K
82.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.96
10.48
-43.13%

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

Last update for Pattaya: October 3, 2026

Last update for Dhaka: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Pattaya
$376
Dhaka
$74 80.4% $302
Groceries & Markets
Pattaya
$243
Dhaka
$123 49.6% $120
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pattaya
$124
Dhaka
$61 50.4% $62
Clothing & Footwear
Pattaya
$113
Dhaka
$56 50.6% $57
Eating Out
Pattaya
$104
Dhaka
$64 38% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Pattaya
$57
Dhaka
$25 57% $33
Getting Around
Pattaya
$29
Dhaka
$27 4% $1.1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $579 in Pattaya and $152 in Dhaka. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pattaya pays 83% 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: $36.00 in Pattaya vs $13.00 in Dhaka for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $123 per month, with Dhaka cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Pattaya
🇧🇩 Dhaka
🕒 Local time
14:13 2:13 PM
13:13 1:13 PM
1 h behind Pattaya
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
119,532
21,741,000 Capital
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

BDT, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 33.48 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.55 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Bangladeshi Taka exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 123 BDT (1,000 BDT = 8.14 USD). 1 EUR = 138 BDT (1,000 BDT = 7.26 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Pattaya Dhaka 1,630 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Pattaya
  • Dhaka

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
Pattaya vs Dhaka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dhaka cheaper than Pattaya?
Dhaka is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. The 148% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Pattaya or Dhaka?
Average pay runs 83% higher in Pattaya, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Pattaya and Dhaka?
Rent for a central apartment: $579 in Pattaya versus $152 in Dhaka. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Pattaya and in Dhaka?
All in, you'll spend $1,056 per month in Pattaya versus $426 in Dhaka – a 148% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Dhaka runs roughly 16% less than in Pattaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Pattaya or in Dhaka?
At $426 in Dhaka versus $1,056 in Pattaya, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dhaka but tight or insufficient in Pattaya. The gap between the two cities makes Dhaka the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Pattaya or Dhaka more family-friendly?
For families, Dhaka is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Pattaya, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Pattaya or Dhaka?
Safety-wise, Pattaya and Dhaka are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Dhaka gentler on the wallet – expenses run 148% less than in Pattaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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