😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $972 in Pattaya versus $878 in Pak Kret.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,529 in Pattaya versus $1,438 in Pak Kret.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,087 in Pattaya versus $1,997 in Pak Kret.
😐Living in Pattaya is roughly 11% more expensive than Pak Kret, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Pattaya27% lower, Pak Kret34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pattaya
Pak Kret
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.61฿118
$3.06฿99.9
17.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.97฿1,012
$31.17฿1,018
-0.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.38฿306
$6.20฿202
51.29%
Cappuccino
$2.07฿67.7
$2.17฿70.8
-4.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85฿27.74
$0.73฿23.80
16.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37฿12.11
$0.29฿9.48
27.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44฿79.6
$2.40฿78.3
1.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44฿79.6
$2.48฿81.1
-1.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pattaya
Pak Kret
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75฿57.2
$1.70฿55.6
2.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42฿46.41
$1.34฿43.83
5.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.28฿41.68
$1.40฿45.75
-8.57%
Eggs
$2.33฿76.0
$2.25฿73.4
3.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.41฿503
$15.38฿502
0.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43฿112
$3.34฿109
2.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.20฿366
$9.22฿301
21.48%
Apples(1kg)
$3.40฿111
$3.33฿109
2.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32฿43.19
$1.28฿41.89
3.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88฿61.5
$1.91฿62.4
-1.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.05
$1.41฿46.13
4.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46฿47.81
$1.46฿47.69
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.17฿38.14
$1.17฿38.25
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.63฿53.1
$1.02฿33.23
59.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.33
$0.50฿16.32
6.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.71฿154
$4.67฿153
0.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.93฿553
$15.44฿504
9.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84฿60.2
$1.83฿59.9
0.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37฿77.3
$2.32฿75.6
2.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Pattaya
Pak Kret
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30฿9.79
$0.89฿29.21
-66.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.57฿607
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36฿44.56
$1.05฿34.22
29.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿42.26
$1.14฿37.34
13.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.29฿108
$3.49฿114
-5.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28฿41.88
$1.30฿42.35
-1.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9K฿844.9K
$25.7K฿840.9K
0.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K฿874.4K
$27.4K฿894.4K
-2.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pattaya
Pak Kret
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.8฿2,606
$79.6฿2,599
0.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.73฿448
$12.54฿409
9.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.71฿611
$17.23฿563
8.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pattaya
Pak Kret
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.23฿1,477
$49.98฿1,632
-9.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.88฿551
$12.13฿396
39.16%
Cinema Ticket
$7.80฿255
$7.77฿254
0.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pattaya
Pak Kret
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$293฿9,559
$295฿9,618
-0.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,198฿300.4K
$9,336฿304.9K
-1.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pattaya
Pak Kret
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.59฿966
$29.74฿971
-0.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.41฿634
$19.76฿645
-1.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.1฿3,238
$100฿3,274
-1.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.68฿1,427
$43.73฿1,428
-0.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pattaya
Pak Kret
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$545฿17.8K
$419฿13.7K
29.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$347฿11.3K
$289฿9,436
20.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,350฿44.1K
$804฿26.3K
67.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$697฿22.8K
$662฿21.6K
5.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,575฿84.1K
$1,757฿57.4K
46.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,513฿49.4K
$1,271฿41.5K
19.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pattaya
Pak Kret
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$479฿15.6K
$781฿25.5K
-38.74%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Pak Kret: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $545 in Pattaya and $419 in Pak Kret. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pak Kret pays 63% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $31.00 in Pattaya vs $31.00 in Pak Kret. Groceries flip the comparison at $250 vs $236, 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 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Pattaya or Pak Kret?
On paper, Pak Kret earns 63% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Pattaya and Pak Kret?
Rent for a central apartment: $545 in Pattaya versus $419 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 Pak Kret?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Pattaya. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Pattaya vs Pak Kret?
All in, you'll spend $972 per month in Pattaya versus $878 in Pak Kret – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Pattaya or Pak Kret?
At $878 in Pak Kret versus $972 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 11% less than in Pattaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.