😐A single person spends $988 per month in Pattaya vs $861 in Nonthaburi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,558 per month in Pattaya vs $1,380 in Nonthaburi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,129 per month in Pattaya vs $1,899 in Nonthaburi, rent included.
😐Pattaya costs about 15% more than Nonthaburi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Pattaya and Nonthaburi are more affordable than the global median – Pattaya26% lower, Nonthaburi36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pattaya
Nonthaburi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.74฿122
$3.05฿99.3
22.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.45฿990
$21.76฿708
39.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.39฿305
$5.99฿195
56.76%
Cappuccino
$2.08฿67.7
$2.09฿67.9
-0.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81฿26.41
$0.67฿21.93
20.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.05
$0.27฿8.71
37.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿77.8
$1.96฿63.7
21.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53฿82.2
$3.61฿117
-29.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pattaya
Nonthaburi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74฿56.6
$1.52฿49.52
14.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36฿44.16
$1.35฿43.80
0.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.27฿41.18
$1.20฿39.08
5.83%
Eggs
$2.35฿76.4
$2.27฿73.9
3.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.41฿501
$18.60฿605
-17.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.27฿106
$2.80฿91.1
16.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.07฿360
$9.33฿303
18.65%
Apples(1kg)
$3.36฿109
$3.55฿115
-5.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28฿41.71
$1.74฿56.5
-26.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94฿63.2
$1.89฿61.3
2.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.47฿47.79
$1.52฿49.51
-3.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.55
$1.66฿53.9
-8.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21฿39.29
$1.45฿47.11
-16.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.65฿53.5
$1.11฿35.99
48.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.26
$0.49฿16.07
8.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.61฿150
$4.45฿145
3.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.44฿599
$15.56฿506
18.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78฿57.7
$1.80฿58.5
-1.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28฿74.2
$3.36฿109
-32.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Pattaya
Nonthaburi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32฿10.56
$0.89฿29.09
-64.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.81฿612
$36.34฿1,181
-48.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42฿46.29
$1.06฿34.37
33.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31฿42.57
$1.16฿37.57
12.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.36฿109
$4.10฿133
-18.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33฿43.24
$1.28฿41.58
3.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9K฿840.6K
$36.7K฿1.2M
-29.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K฿884.3K
$28.0K฿909.8K
-2.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pattaya
Nonthaburi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.1฿2,540
$90.6฿2,946
-13.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.91฿452
$13.31฿433
4.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.20฿592
$17.04฿554
6.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pattaya
Nonthaburi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.87฿1,426
$53.4฿1,737
-17.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.13฿557
$12.27฿399
39.61%
Cinema Ticket
$7.48฿243
$6.29฿204
18.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pattaya
Nonthaburi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$294฿9,560
$434฿14.1K
-32.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,071฿294.9K
$13.1K฿426.8K
-30.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pattaya
Nonthaburi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.33฿986
$30.64฿996
-1.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.90฿647
$39.45฿1,283
-49.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.8฿3,244
$105฿3,418
-5.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.74฿1,422
$87.9฿2,857
-50.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pattaya
Nonthaburi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$553฿18.0K
$730฿23.7K
-24.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347฿11.3K
$187฿6,069
85.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,321฿43.0K
$846฿27.5K
56.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$674฿21.9K
$443฿14.4K
52.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,998฿97.5K
$2,346฿76.3K
27.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,658฿53.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pattaya
Nonthaburi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$479฿15.6K
$772฿25.1K
-37.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.45
5.84
-6.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pattaya: April 27, 2026
Last update for Nonthaburi: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $553 in Pattaya versus $730 in Nonthaburi. 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 61% higher in Nonthaburi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Pattaya versus $22.00 in Nonthaburi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $249 – making Nonthaburi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Nonthaburi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nonthaburi cheaper than Pattaya?
Yes – Pattaya is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,482 per month in Pattaya and $1,292 in Nonthaburi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Nonthaburi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Pattaya vs Nonthaburi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $988 in Pattaya and $861 in Nonthaburi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 93% less in Nonthaburi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Pattaya or Nonthaburi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nonthaburi, where all-in costs run around $861, than in Pattaya at $988. In Nonthaburi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pattaya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Pattaya or Nonthaburi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Nonthaburi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Pattaya or Nonthaburi?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Nonthaburi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Pattaya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.