Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubon Ratchathani and Pattaya

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubon Ratchathani: $781 a month against $1,041 in Pattaya, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubon Ratchathani
🇹🇭 Thailand
$781
/mo nomad
Pattaya
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,041
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubon Ratchathani and in Pattaya

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubon Ratchathani and in Pattaya actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $781 per month in Ubon Ratchathani vs $1,041 in Pattaya, rent included.

  • Ubon Ratchathani $781
  • Pattaya $1,041

A couple spends around $1,444 per month in Ubon Ratchathani vs $1,665 in Pattaya, rent included.

  • Ubon Ratchathani $1,444
  • Pattaya $1,665

A family of three spends $2,106 per month in Ubon Ratchathani vs $2,288 in Pattaya, rent included.

  • Ubon Ratchathani $2,106
  • Pattaya $2,288

Ubon Ratchathani is about 25% cheaper than Pattaya, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Ubon Ratchathani and Pattaya are more affordable than the global median – Ubon Ratchathani 42% lower, Pattaya 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubon Ratchathani
Pattaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66 ฿156
$3.37 ฿113
38.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.60 ฿689
$35.40 ฿1,183
-41.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.41 ฿248
$8.86 ฿296
-16.37%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿60.3
$2.06 ฿68.7
-12.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 ฿43.60
$0.71 ฿23.64
83.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ฿17.99
$0.31 ฿10.40
74.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.40 ฿80.2
$2.36 ฿78.9
1.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 ฿121
$2.64 ฿88.1
37.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubon Ratchathani
Pattaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 ฿60.6
$1.78 ฿59.6
1.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.84
$1.46 ฿48.90
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 ฿46.15
$1.40 ฿46.70
-1.43%
Eggs
$2.05 ฿68.6
$2.19 ฿73.2
-6.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 ฿571
$15.22 ฿509
12.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.35 ฿78.6
$2.61 ฿87.2
-9.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.02 ฿368
$10.15 ฿339
8.57%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 ฿99.9
$3.43 ฿114
-12.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.01 ฿33.59
$1.22 ฿40.71
-17.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 ฿71.2
$1.88 ฿62.7
13.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 ฿68.9
$1.98 ฿66.2
4.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.42 ฿47.54
$1.20 ฿40.24
18.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.58
$1.03 ฿34.43
2.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.12 ฿37.44
$1.26 ฿42.21
-11.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ฿16.51
$0.45 ฿14.97
8.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.25 ฿142
$4.42 ฿148
-3.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.55 ฿453
$18.04 ฿603
-24.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 ฿55.4
$1.76 ฿58.8
-5.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 ฿95.1
$2.99 ฿100
-4.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubon Ratchathani
Pattaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 ฿28.51
$0.63 ฿20.89
34.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$19.40 ฿648
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 ฿40.40
$1.30 ฿43.48
-6.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 ฿34.82
$1.13 ฿37.63
-7.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.56 ฿219
$3.55 ฿119
84.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 ฿40.86
$1.48 ฿49.47
-17.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K ฿939.2K
$46.4K ฿1.5M
-39.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4K ฿1.1M
$26.3K ฿878.9K
19.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubon Ratchathani
Pattaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.4 ฿2,719
$93.7 ฿3,132
-13.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.16 ฿407
$11.55 ฿386
5.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.40 ฿481
$19.15 ฿640
-24.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubon Ratchathani
Pattaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.95 ฿1,603
$41.86 ฿1,399
14.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.14 ฿439
$21.27 ฿711
-38.22%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70 ฿224
$7.64 ฿255
-12.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubon Ratchathani
Pattaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$497 ฿16.6K
$613 ฿20.5K
-19.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.4K ฿413.4K
$14.4K ฿480.0K
-13.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubon Ratchathani
Pattaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4 ฿1,885
$51.3 ฿1,714
9.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.54 ฿954
$29.14 ฿974
-2.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.2 ฿2,847
$94.6 ฿3,160
-9.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.8 ฿2,534
$75.0 ฿2,507
1.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubon Ratchathani
Pattaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,843
$564 ฿18.8K
-58.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$143 ฿4,785
$374 ฿12.5K
-61.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,049 ฿35.1K
$1,521 ฿50.8K
-31.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 ฿24.2K
$791 ฿26.4K
-8.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,096 ฿70.0K
$2,560 ฿85.6K
-18.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,243 ฿41.5K
$1,428 ฿47.7K
-12.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubon Ratchathani
Pattaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$353 ฿11.8K
$453 ฿15.1K
-21.96%
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 Ubon Ratchathani: October 19, 2026

Last update for Pattaya: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Ubon Ratchathani
$240
Pattaya
$245 1.9% $4.6
Accommodation & Living
Ubon Ratchathani
$143
Pattaya
$374 161% $231
Clothing & Footwear
Ubon Ratchathani
$111
Pattaya
$113 1.7% $1.8
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubon Ratchathani
$108
Pattaya
$124 15.3% $17
Eating Out
Ubon Ratchathani
$108
Pattaya
$99 7.8% $8.4
Sport & Entertainment
Ubon Ratchathani
$61
Pattaya
$57 6.9% $4.2
Getting Around
Ubon Ratchathani
$9.8 *
Pattaya
$29 193% $19

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $235 in Ubon Ratchathani versus $564 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 28% 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 $21.00 in Ubon Ratchathani versus $35.00 in Pattaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $245 – making Ubon Ratchathani the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Ubon Ratchathani
🇹🇭 Pattaya
🕒 Local time
09:30 9:30 AM
09:30 9:30 AM
Same time as Ubon Ratchathani
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,977
119,532
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubon Ratchathani Pattaya 500 km
From you
  • Ubon Ratchathani
  • Pattaya

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Ubon Ratchathani vs Pattaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubon Ratchathani or Pattaya?
Pattaya costs about 33% more than Ubon Ratchathani, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. 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 Ubon Ratchathani and in Pattaya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,171 per month in Ubon Ratchathani and $1,562 in Pattaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubon Ratchathani or Pattaya?
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 Ubon Ratchathani compared to Pattaya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $781 in Ubon Ratchathani and $1,041 in Pattaya. That's a gap of about 33%.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubon Ratchathani and in Pattaya?
Kindergarten costs $497 per month in Ubon Ratchathani and $613 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 Ubon Ratchathani or in Pattaya?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ubon Ratchathani, where all-in costs run around $781, than in Pattaya at $1,041. 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, Ubon Ratchathani or Pattaya?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubon Ratchathani costs $781 versus $1,041 in Pattaya. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubon Ratchathani 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 Ubon Ratchathani or to Pattaya?
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.

Ubon Ratchathani vs other spots: cost of living compared

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