Cost of Living Comparison Between Saraburi and Pattaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Saraburi and Pattaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $815 per month in Saraburi vs $1,072 in Pattaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,507 per month in Saraburi vs $1,697 in Pattaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,198 per month in Saraburi vs $2,322 in Pattaya, rent included.

Saraburi is about 24% cheaper than Pattaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Saraburi and Pattaya are more affordable than the global median – Saraburi 41% lower, Pattaya 22% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saraburi
Pattaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.37 ฿210
$3.41 ฿112
86.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.71 ฿911
$36.00 ฿1,183
-23.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.69 ฿220
$8.96 ฿295
-25.33%
Cappuccino
$2.26 ฿74.2
$2.13 ฿70.1
6.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 ฿24.61
$0.71 ฿23.21
5.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ฿8.93
$0.32 ฿10.65
-15.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 ฿64.2
$2.46 ฿80.8
-20.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 ฿104
$2.76 ฿90.8
14.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saraburi
Pattaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 ฿49.50
$1.73 ฿56.8
-12.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.10 ฿36.03
$1.51 ฿49.69
-27.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.27 ฿41.70
$1.42 ฿46.61
-10.56%
Eggs
$2.22 ฿73.0
$2.16 ฿71.1
2.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.49 ฿542
$15.53 ฿511
6.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.75 ฿90.4
$2.71 ฿89.0
1.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.93 ฿359
$10.39 ฿342
5.20%
Apples (1kg)
$5.12 ฿168
$3.40 ฿112
50.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.83 ฿60.2
$1.27 ฿41.90
44.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ฿75.7
$1.94 ฿63.8
18.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.78 ฿58.5
$1.97 ฿64.8
-9.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿51.2
$1.25 ฿41.11
24.80%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.79
$1.06 ฿34.71
14.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 ฿37.21
$1.29 ฿42.39
-12.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 ฿17.67
$0.46 ฿14.97
17.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 ฿144
$4.29 ฿141
2.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.73 ฿714
$17.94 ฿590
21.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.8
$1.78 ฿58.5
-1.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 ฿97.5
$2.95 ฿97.1
0.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Saraburi
Pattaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿30.72
$0.62 ฿20.25
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.88 ฿654
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.20 ฿39.37
$1.39 ฿45.83
-13.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.11 ฿36.48
$1.15 ฿37.80
-3.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.96 ฿130
$3.57 ฿117
10.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 ฿45.43
$1.47 ฿48.19
-6.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K ฿804.2K
$46.5K ฿1.5M
-47.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K ฿909.2K
$26.6K ฿875.5K
3.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saraburi
Pattaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.0 ฿2,793
$94.5 ฿3,107
-10.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.71 ฿418
$11.77 ฿387
7.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.12 ฿563
$19.06 ฿626
-10.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saraburi
Pattaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.72 ฿1,602
$42.20 ฿1,387
15.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.47 ฿476
$21.33 ฿701
-32.16%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 ฿217
$7.54 ฿248
-12.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saraburi
Pattaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$569 ฿18.7K
$622 ฿20.4K
-8.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,956 ฿228.6K
$14.3K ฿468.5K
-51.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saraburi
Pattaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.8 ฿1,703
$51.4 ฿1,689
0.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.51 ฿970
$30.23 ฿994
-2.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.5 ฿2,514
$94.1 ฿3,092
-18.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.3 ฿2,541
$76.8 ฿2,525
0.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saraburi
Pattaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$469 ฿15.4K
$585 ฿19.2K
-19.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$129 ฿4,233
$389 ฿12.8K
-66.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,246 ฿41.0K
$1,487 ฿48.9K
-16.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$714 ฿23.5K
$764 ฿25.1K
-6.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,989 ฿65.4K
$2,527 ฿83.1K
-21.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,635 ฿53.7K
$1,445 ฿47.5K
13.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saraburi
Pattaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$461 ฿15.2K
$465 ฿15.3K
-0.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
5.96
-6.54%

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

Last update for Saraburi: August 31, 2026

Last update for Pattaya: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $469 in Saraburi versus $585 in Pattaya. 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 1% 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 $28.00 in Saraburi versus $36.00 in Pattaya. Groceries tell a different story – $267 in Saraburi vs $247 in Pattaya – so Pattaya wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Saraburi vs Pattaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Saraburi or Pattaya?
Pattaya costs about 32% more than Saraburi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Saraburi and in Pattaya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,222 per month in Saraburi and $1,607 in Pattaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Saraburi or Pattaya?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Saraburi, 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 Saraburi compared to Pattaya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $815 in Saraburi and $1,072 in Pattaya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Saraburi and in Pattaya?
Kindergarten costs $569 per month in Saraburi and $622 in Pattaya. 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 Saraburi or in Pattaya?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Saraburi, where all-in costs run around $815, than in Pattaya at $1,072. In Saraburi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Pattaya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Saraburi or Pattaya?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Saraburi costs $815 versus $1,072 in Pattaya. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Saraburi compared to Pattaya?
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 Saraburi or to Pattaya?
If budget matters most, go with Saraburi. 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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