Cost of Living Comparison Between Pattaya and Phetchabun Cost of Living Comparison Between Pattaya and Phetchabun

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $972 per month in Pattaya vs $882 in Phetchabun, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,529 per month in Pattaya vs $1,456 in Phetchabun, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,087 per month in Pattaya vs $2,030 in Phetchabun, rent included.

Pattaya costs about 10% more than Phetchabun, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Pattaya and Phetchabun are more affordable than the global median – Pattaya 27% lower, Phetchabun 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.61 ฿118

$1.87 ฿61.2

93.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.97 ฿1,012

$27.86 ฿910

11.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.38 ฿306

$6.51 ฿212

44.09%

Cappuccino

$2.07 ฿67.7

$1.27 ฿41.37

62.99%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.85 ฿27.74

$0.72 ฿23.47

18.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 ฿12.11

$0.24 ฿7.85

54.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 ฿79.6

$2.45 ฿80.0

-0.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 ฿79.6

$3.66 ฿120

-33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ฿57.2

$1.70 ฿55.5

2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 ฿46.41

$1.33 ฿43.57

6.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 ฿41.68

$1.26 ฿41.10

1.59%

Eggs

$2.33 ฿76.0

$2.14 ฿70.0

8.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.41 ฿503

$18.70 ฿611

-17.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 ฿112

$2.96 ฿96.6

15.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.20 ฿366

$10.58 ฿346

5.86%

Apples (1kg)

$3.40 ฿111

$3.22 ฿105

5.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.19

$1.27 ฿41.36

3.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 ฿61.5

$1.89 ฿61.7

-0.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 ฿48.05

$1.51 ฿49.44

-2.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿47.81

$1.49 ฿48.60

-2.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.14

$1.21 ฿39.38

-3.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 ฿53.1

$0.98 ฿32.06

66.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.33

$0.48 ฿15.64

10.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.71 ฿154

$4.45 ฿145

5.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.93 ฿553

$15.35 ฿501

10.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 ฿60.2

$1.82 ฿59.3

1.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 ฿77.3

$2.75 ฿90.0

-13.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 ฿9.79

$0.90 ฿29.45

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.57 ฿607

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.56

$1.09 ฿35.75

24.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.26

$1.18 ฿38.55

9.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 ฿108

$6.01 ฿196

-45.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.88

$1.23 ฿40.26

4.07%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.9K ฿844.9K

$27.9K ฿910.1K

-7.17%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K ฿874.4K

$27.7K ฿904.0K

-3.28%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$79.8 ฿2,606

$77.6 ฿2,533

2.89%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.73 ฿448

$13.91 ฿454

-1.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.71 ฿611

$18.85 ฿616

-0.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.23 ฿1,477

$48.94 ฿1,598

-7.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.88 ฿551

$12.38 ฿404

36.35%

Cinema Ticket

$7.80 ฿255

$6.89 ฿225

13.21%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$293 ฿9,559

$296 ฿9,668

-1.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,198 ฿300.4K

$9,735 ฿318.0K

-5.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.59 ฿966

$33.96 ฿1,109

-12.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.41 ฿634

$34.20 ฿1,117

-43.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.1 ฿3,238

$101 ฿3,303

-1.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.68 ฿1,427

$70.8 ฿2,311

-38.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ฿17.8K

$429 ฿14.0K

27.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 ฿11.3K

$281 ฿9,190

23.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,350 ฿44.1K

$799 ฿26.1K

68.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$697 ฿22.8K

$646 ฿21.1K

7.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,575 ฿84.1K

$1,725 ฿56.4K

49.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,513 ฿49.4K

$1,300 ฿42.4K

16.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$479 ฿15.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.45

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

Last update for Pattaya: May 30, 2026

Last update for Phetchabun: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Pattaya versus $429 in Phetchabun. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Pattaya versus $28.00 in Phetchabun. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $250 vs $247 – making Phetchabun 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 Phetchabun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pattaya costs about 10% more than Phetchabun, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,458 per month in Pattaya and $1,323 in Phetchabun. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Phetchabun, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $972 in Pattaya and $882 in Phetchabun. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $293 per month in Pattaya and $296 in Phetchabun. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Phetchabun, where all-in costs run around $882, than in Pattaya at $972. In Phetchabun it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pattaya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Phetchabun costs $882 versus $972 in Pattaya. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Phetchabun. 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.