Cost of Living Comparison Between Pattaya and Ubon Ratchathani Cost of Living Comparison Between Pattaya and Ubon Ratchathani

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $981 per month in Pattaya vs $790 in Ubon Ratchathani, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,564 per month in Pattaya vs $1,425 in Ubon Ratchathani, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,148 per month in Pattaya vs $2,060 in Ubon Ratchathani, rent included.

Pattaya costs about 24% more than Ubon Ratchathani, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Pattaya and Ubon Ratchathani are more affordable than the global median – Pattaya 27% lower, Ubon Ratchathani 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pattaya
Ubon Ratchathani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.76 ฿121
$3.01 ฿96.6
24.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.03 ฿995
$24.29 ฿779
27.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.05 ฿290
$6.39 ฿205
41.63%
Cappuccino
$2.08 ฿66.6
$1.86 ฿59.5
11.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 ฿27.81
$1.06 ฿34.00
-17.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.13
$0.49 ฿15.82
-28.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.45 ฿78.5
$2.53 ฿81.1
-3.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 ฿79.4
$2.84 ฿91.2
-12.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pattaya
Ubon Ratchathani
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 ฿56.0
$1.74 ฿55.9
0.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.39 ฿44.60
$1.33 ฿42.61
4.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 ฿40.88
$1.31 ฿42.15
-2.29%
Eggs
$2.29 ฿73.4
$2.16 ฿69.2
6.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.56 ฿499
$18.38 ฿589
-15.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.39 ฿109
$3.09 ฿99.0
9.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ฿355
$10.60 ฿340
4.43%
Apples (1kg)
$3.25 ฿104
$3.10 ฿99.4
4.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 ฿40.89
$1.26 ฿40.55
1.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 ฿60.9
$1.89 ฿60.6
0.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.47 ฿47.17
$1.59 ฿50.9
-7.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 ฿47.46
$1.48 ฿47.30
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿38.78
$1.21 ฿38.65
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.63 ฿52.2
$1.03 ฿32.96
58.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.06
$0.48 ฿15.34
10.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53 ฿145
$4.19 ฿134
8.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.46 ฿592
$13.98 ฿448
32.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81 ฿57.9
$1.72 ฿55.1
5.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ฿74.1
$2.67 ฿85.6
-13.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Pattaya
Ubon Ratchathani
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 ฿9.54
$0.95 ฿30.51
-68.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.46 ฿592
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 ฿44.17
$1.11 ฿35.49
24.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.29 ฿41.22
$1.15 ฿36.74
12.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.31 ฿106
$6.17 ฿198
-46.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ฿41.27
$1.28 ฿41.11
0.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K ฿850.2K
$27.7K ฿888.5K
-4.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿855.7K
$27.0K ฿865.8K
-1.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pattaya
Ubon Ratchathani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.1 ฿2,505
$75.9 ฿2,432
3.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.76 ฿441
$13.05 ฿418
5.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.15 ฿582
$15.08 ฿483
20.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pattaya
Ubon Ratchathani
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.93 ฿1,440
$49.50 ฿1,587
-9.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.67 ฿534
$12.28 ฿394
35.75%
Cinema Ticket
$7.57 ฿243
$6.91 ฿222
9.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pattaya
Ubon Ratchathani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,426
$294 ฿9,438
-0.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,187 ฿294.5K
$9,474 ฿303.7K
-3.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pattaya
Ubon Ratchathani
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.40 ฿942
$33.84 ฿1,085
-13.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.70 ฿631
$34.40 ฿1,103
-42.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 ฿3,268
$97.4 ฿3,122
4.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.05 ฿1,380
$70.6 ฿2,264
-39.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pattaya
Ubon Ratchathani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$561 ฿18.0K
$242 ฿7,750
131.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$350 ฿11.2K
$166 ฿5,307
111.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,339 ฿42.9K
$809 ฿25.9K
65.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$677 ฿21.7K
$652 ฿20.9K
3.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,037 ฿97.4K
$2,288 ฿73.4K
32.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,663 ฿53.3K
$1,520 ฿48.7K
9.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pattaya
Ubon Ratchathani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$478 ฿15.3K
$400 ฿12.8K
19.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.45
5.45
-

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

Last update for Pattaya: April 13, 2026

Last update for Ubon Ratchathani: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $561 in Pattaya versus $242 in Ubon Ratchathani. 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 20% higher in Pattaya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31 in Pattaya versus $24 in Ubon Ratchathani. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $252 vs $244 – making Ubon Ratchathani 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 Ubon Ratchathani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pattaya or Ubon Ratchathani?
Pattaya costs about 24% more than Ubon Ratchathani, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Pattaya vs Ubon Ratchathani?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,471 per month in Pattaya and $1,185 in Ubon Ratchathani. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Pattaya or Ubon Ratchathani?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubon Ratchathani, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Pattaya compared to Ubon Ratchathani?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $981 in Pattaya and $790 in Ubon Ratchathani. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Pattaya and Ubon Ratchathani?
Kindergarten costs $294 per month in Pattaya and $294 in Ubon Ratchathani. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Pattaya or Ubon Ratchathani?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ubon Ratchathani, where all-in costs run around $790, than in Pattaya at $981. In Ubon Ratchathani it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pattaya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Pattaya or Ubon Ratchathani?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubon Ratchathani costs $790 versus $981 in Pattaya. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Pattaya compared to Ubon Ratchathani?
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.
Should I move to Pattaya or Ubon Ratchathani?
If budget matters most, go with Ubon Ratchathani. 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.

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