😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,075 in Pattaya versus $954 in Pak Kret.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,684 in Pattaya versus $1,567 in Pak Kret.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,293 in Pattaya versus $2,179 in Pak Kret.
🌍Living in Pattaya is roughly 13% more expensive than in Pak Kret, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Pattaya21% lower, Pak Kret30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pattaya
Pak Kret
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33฿111
$3.06฿102
8.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.36฿1,210
$36.20฿1,204
0.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.99฿299
$7.75฿258
16.00%
Cappuccino
$2.16฿71.9
$2.11฿70.3
2.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69฿22.93
$0.64฿21.43
7.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32฿10.67
$0.30฿9.82
6.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿79.5
$2.45฿81.6
-2.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿89.1
$2.78฿92.6
-3.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pattaya
Pak Kret
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿59.6
$1.78฿59.4
0.56%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50฿49.95
$1.52฿50.5
-1.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.43฿47.45
$1.44฿47.82
-0.69%
Eggs
$2.20฿73.3
$2.27฿75.6
-3.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.48฿515
$15.62฿520
-0.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.71฿90.2
$2.72฿90.6
-0.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.43฿347
$10.43฿347
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.58฿119
$3.52฿117
1.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.23฿41.05
$1.25฿41.64
-1.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89฿62.7
$1.95฿65.0
-3.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97฿65.4
$2.00฿66.5
-1.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.21฿40.42
$1.27฿42.11
-4.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08฿36.06
$1.05฿35.04
2.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.28฿42.46
$1.09฿36.13
17.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.24
$0.49฿16.35
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.33฿144
$4.51฿150
-3.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.16฿604
$15.06฿501
20.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71฿57.0
$1.79฿59.6
-4.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03฿101
$3.03฿101
-
🚌 Getting Around
Pattaya
Pak Kret
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61฿20.41
$0.93฿31.00
-34.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.58฿651
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.32฿43.76
$1.07฿35.67
23.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.12฿37.28
$1.15฿38.37
-2.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.50฿117
$3.68฿123
-4.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52฿50.6
$1.38฿45.88
10.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.4K฿1.5M
$31.8K฿1.1M
45.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K฿890.5K
$27.4K฿911.9K
-2.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pattaya
Pak Kret
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$93.4฿3,108
$93.3฿3,103
0.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.78฿392
$11.61฿386
1.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.22฿640
$18.41฿612
4.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pattaya
Pak Kret
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.81฿1,391
$47.97฿1,596
-12.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.36฿711
$14.14฿470
51.06%
Cinema Ticket
$7.72฿257
$7.65฿254
0.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pattaya
Pak Kret
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$630฿20.9K
$553฿18.4K
13.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.6K฿486.8K
$14.7K฿488.8K
-0.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pattaya
Pak Kret
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.6฿1,718
$52.0฿1,728
-0.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.28฿974
$29.62฿985
-1.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.7฿3,119
$95.6฿3,181
-1.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.8฿2,588
$79.0฿2,628
-1.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pattaya
Pak Kret
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$580฿19.3K
$460฿15.3K
26.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$382฿12.7K
$309฿10.3K
23.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,510฿50.2K
$1,423฿47.3K
6.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$762฿25.3K
$765฿25.4K
-0.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,518฿83.8K
$2,002฿66.6K
25.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,455฿48.4K
$1,586฿52.8K
-8.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pattaya
Pak Kret
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$473฿15.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.96
5.38
10.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pattaya: September 12, 2026
Last update for Pak Kret: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $580 in Pattaya and $460 in Pak Kret. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Pattaya vs $36.00 in Pak Kret. Groceries flip the comparison at $249 vs $244, with Pak Kret cheaper for home cooking.
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 Pak Kret: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pak Kret cheaper than Pattaya?
Pak Kret is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,612 in Pattaya and $1,431 in Pak Kret to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Pattaya and Pak Kret?
Rent for a central apartment: $580 in Pattaya versus $460 in Pak Kret. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Pattaya and in Pak Kret?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Pattaya. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Pattaya and in Pak Kret?
All in, you'll spend $1,075 per month in Pattaya versus $954 in Pak Kret – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Pattaya or in Pak Kret?
At $954 in Pak Kret versus $1,075 in Pattaya, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pak Kret but tight or insufficient in Pattaya. The gap between the two cities makes Pak Kret the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Pattaya or Pak Kret more family-friendly?
For families, Pak Kret 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 Pak Kret?
Safety-wise, Pattaya and Pak Kret 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 Pak Kret gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Pattaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.