Cost of Living Comparison Between Pattaya and Rayong Cost of Living Comparison Between Pattaya and Rayong

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,010 per month in Pattaya vs $837 in Rayong, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,584 per month in Pattaya vs $1,403 in Rayong, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,159 per month in Pattaya vs $1,970 in Rayong, rent included.

Pattaya costs about 21% more than Rayong, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Pattaya and Rayong are more affordable than the global median – Pattaya 24% lower, Rayong 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.76 ฿125

$3.06 ฿102

22.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.32 ฿1,045

$18.38 ฿613

70.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.24 ฿308

$6.12 ฿204

50.98%

Cappuccino

$2.18 ฿72.7

$2.47 ฿82.4

-11.74%

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

$0.84 ฿28.07

$0.54 ฿17.97

55.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.62

$0.29 ฿9.68

20.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.52 ฿84.0

$1.80 ฿60.2

40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 ฿80.3

$2.99 ฿99.8

-19.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 ฿58.5

$1.78 ฿59.5

-1.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 ฿45.51

$1.26 ฿42.12

7.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 ฿43.85

$1.20 ฿39.87

9.17%

Eggs

$2.24 ฿74.8

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.46 ฿516

$18.78 ฿626

-17.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.37 ฿112

$2.11 ฿70.4

59.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.40 ฿380

$9.60 ฿320

18.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 ฿114

$2.49 ฿83.2

37.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 ฿44.56

$1.22 ฿40.56

9.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.98 ฿66.0

$2.10 ฿70.0

-5.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 ฿48.31

$1.11 ฿37.02

30.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.69

$1.20 ฿40.06

21.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.48

$1.20 ฿40.16

0.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.76 ฿25.23

114.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.77

$0.42 ฿13.87

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.71 ฿157

$4.34 ฿145

8.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.67 ฿589

$17.94 ฿599

-1.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 ฿59.3

$1.84 ฿61.3

-3.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 ฿79.3

$3.35 ฿112

-28.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ฿10.79

$0.90 ฿30.17

-64.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.52 ฿618

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.37 ฿45.65

$1.11 ฿36.95

23.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿43.12

$1.20 ฿39.87

7.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 ฿112

$6.22 ฿207

-46.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿43.12

$1.20 ฿40.00

7.50%

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

$26.2K ฿873.8K

$37.4K ฿1.2M

-29.90%

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

$27.5K ฿915.8K

$29.1K ฿969.6K

-5.55%

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

$77.3 ฿2,579

$55.9 ฿1,864

38.33%

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

$13.73 ฿458

$12.44 ฿415

10.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.13 ฿605

$17.51 ฿584

3.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.84 ฿1,496

$69.4 ฿2,314

-35.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 ฿571

$18.32 ฿611

-6.55%

Cinema Ticket

$7.48 ฿250

$7.92 ฿264

-5.56%

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

$287 ฿9,571

$611 ฿20.4K

-53.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,182 ฿306.3K

$9,302 ฿310.3K

-1.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.58 ฿987

$49.59 ฿1,654

-40.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.05 ฿669

$38.60 ฿1,288

-48.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 ฿3,406

$78.2 ฿2,609

30.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.21 ฿1,475

$59.4 ฿1,981

-25.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$546 ฿18.2K

$415 ฿13.9K

31.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 ฿11.4K

$233 ฿7,786

46.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,332 ฿44.4K

$800 ฿26.7K

66.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$690 ฿23.0K

$664 ฿22.1K

3.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,513 ฿83.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,453 ฿48.5K

$2,033 ฿67.8K

-28.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$460 ฿15.4K

$757 ฿25.2K

-39.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.45

5.5

-0.91%

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

Last update for Pattaya: July 28, 2026

Last update for Rayong: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $546 in Pattaya versus $415 in Rayong. 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 64% higher in Rayong, 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 $31.00 in Pattaya versus $18.00 in Rayong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $239 – making Rayong 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 Rayong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pattaya costs about 21% more than Rayong, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,515 per month in Pattaya and $1,255 in Rayong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Rayong, 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 $1,010 in Pattaya and $837 in Rayong. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $287 per month in Pattaya and $611 in Rayong. 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 Rayong, where all-in costs run around $837, than in Pattaya at $1,010. In Rayong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pattaya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rayong costs $837 versus $1,010 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 Rayong. 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.