🙂A single person spends $788 per month in Saraburi vs $972 in Pattaya, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,456 per month in Saraburi vs $1,529 in Pattaya, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,123 per month in Saraburi vs $2,087 in Pattaya, rent included.
🙂Saraburi is about 19% cheaper than Pattaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Saraburi and Pattaya are more affordable than the global median – Saraburi41% lower, Pattaya27% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saraburi
Pattaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.14฿103
$3.61฿119
-13.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.67฿908
$30.97฿1,016
-10.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.83฿224
$9.38฿308
-27.19%
Cappuccino
$2.36฿77.4
$2.07฿68.0
14.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67฿21.98
$0.85฿27.87
-21.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27฿8.94
$0.37฿12.17
-27.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99฿65.2
$2.44฿80.0
-18.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30฿108
$2.44฿80.0
35.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saraburi
Pattaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.58฿51.9
$1.75฿57.5
-9.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11฿36.44
$1.42฿46.63
-21.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32฿43.36
$1.28฿41.87
3.13%
Eggs
$2.13฿70.0
$2.33฿76.3
-8.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.20฿597
$15.41฿506
18.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.00฿98.5
$3.43฿112
-12.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.83฿355
$11.20฿367
-3.30%
Apples(1kg)
$5.16฿169
$3.40฿112
51.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.84฿60.4
$1.32฿43.39
39.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94฿63.8
$1.88฿61.8
3.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.78
$1.47฿48.27
3.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52฿49.71
$1.46฿48.03
4.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.26฿41.26
$1.17฿38.31
7.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98฿32.02
$1.63฿53.4
-39.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51฿16.75
$0.53฿17.41
-3.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.43฿145
$4.71฿155
-5.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.22฿696
$16.93฿555
25.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.81฿59.4
$1.84฿60.4
-1.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68฿88.0
$2.37฿77.7
13.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Saraburi
Pattaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91฿29.80
$0.30฿9.83
203.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.57฿609
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10฿36.11
$1.36฿44.77
-19.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.16฿38.01
$1.29฿42.46
-10.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.28฿206
$3.29฿108
90.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25฿40.97
$1.28฿42.08
-2.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿913.2K
$25.9K฿848.7K
7.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4K฿897.8K
$26.8K฿878.4K
2.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saraburi
Pattaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.7฿2,549
$79.8฿2,618
-2.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.60฿446
$13.73฿451
-0.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47฿573
$18.71฿614
-6.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saraburi
Pattaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.35฿1,586
$45.23฿1,484
6.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.25฿402
$16.88฿554
-27.43%
Cinema Ticket
$7.14฿234
$7.80฿256
-8.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saraburi
Pattaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$302฿9,921
$293฿9,602
3.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,967฿228.6K
$9,198฿301.8K
-24.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saraburi
Pattaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.40฿1,096
$29.59฿971
12.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89฿1,145
$19.41฿637
79.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.7฿3,239
$99.1฿3,253
-0.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.5฿2,279
$43.68฿1,433
59.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saraburi
Pattaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$415฿13.6K
$545฿17.9K
-23.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$128฿4,213
$347฿11.4K
-63.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$811฿26.6K
$1,350฿44.3K
-39.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$661฿21.7K
$697฿22.9K
-5.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,753฿57.5K
$2,575฿84.5K
-31.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,315฿43.2K
$1,513฿49.6K
-13.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saraburi
Pattaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$455฿14.9K
$479฿15.7K
-4.86%
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 Saraburi: June 1, 2026
Last update for Pattaya: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $415 in Saraburi versus $545 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 5% 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 $31.00 in Pattaya. Groceries tell a different story – $269 in Saraburi vs $250 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 23% more than Saraburi, 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 Saraburi vs Pattaya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,183 per month in Saraburi and $1,458 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 $788 in Saraburi and $972 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 Pattaya?
Kindergarten costs $302 per month in Saraburi and $293 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 Pattaya?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Saraburi, where all-in costs run around $788, than in Pattaya at $972. 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 $788 versus $972 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 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.