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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $781 per month in Ubon Ratchathani vs $972 in Pattaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,408 per month in Ubon Ratchathani vs $1,529 in Pattaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,034 per month in Ubon Ratchathani vs $2,087 in Pattaya, rent included.

Ubon Ratchathani is about 20% cheaper than Pattaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Ubon Ratchathani and Pattaya are more affordable than the global median – Ubon Ratchathani 42% lower, Pattaya 27% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubon Ratchathani
Pattaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.99 ฿98.0
$3.61 ฿118
-17.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.81 ฿814
$30.97 ฿1,016
-19.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.35 ฿208
$9.38 ฿308
-32.30%
Cappuccino
$1.95 ฿63.9
$2.07 ฿68.0
-5.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 ฿35.99
$0.85 ฿27.85
29.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.32
$0.37 ฿12.16
43.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.39 ฿78.4
$2.44 ฿79.9
-2.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 ฿93.8
$2.44 ฿80.0
17.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubon Ratchathani
Pattaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 ฿54.9
$1.75 ฿57.4
-4.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.40 ฿45.93
$1.42 ฿46.60
-1.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.26 ฿41.22
$1.28 ฿41.85
-1.56%
Eggs
$2.24 ฿73.4
$2.33 ฿76.3
-3.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.18 ฿596
$15.41 ฿505
17.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿102
$3.43 ฿112
-9.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.98 ฿360
$11.20 ฿367
-1.96%
Apples (1kg)
$3.21 ฿105
$3.40 ฿112
-5.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿40.00
$1.32 ฿43.37
-7.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 ฿64.3
$1.88 ฿61.8
4.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 ฿52.5
$1.47 ฿48.24
8.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 ฿48.80
$1.46 ฿48.00
2.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.58
$1.17 ฿38.29
3.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.41
$1.63 ฿53.4
-39.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 ฿15.89
$0.53 ฿17.40
-9.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 ฿141
$4.71 ฿154
-8.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.02 ฿460
$16.93 ฿555
-17.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 ฿57.6
$1.84 ฿60.4
-4.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ฿90.5
$2.37 ฿77.6
16.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubon Ratchathani
Pattaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿31.48
$0.30 ฿9.83
220.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.57 ฿609
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.06 ฿34.66
$1.36 ฿44.74
-22.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.16 ฿37.88
$1.29 ฿42.43
-10.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.00 ฿197
$3.29 ฿108
82.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿40.62
$1.28 ฿42.05
-3.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K ฿904.0K
$25.9K ฿848.2K
6.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K ฿896.8K
$26.8K ฿877.9K
2.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubon Ratchathani
Pattaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75.1 ฿2,464
$79.8 ฿2,616
-5.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 ฿423
$13.73 ฿450
-6.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.15 ฿497
$18.71 ฿613
-19.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubon Ratchathani
Pattaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.88 ฿1,603
$45.23 ฿1,483
8.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.13 ฿398
$16.88 ฿554
-28.14%
Cinema Ticket
$7.24 ฿238
$7.80 ฿256
-7.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubon Ratchathani
Pattaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$302 ฿9,915
$293 ฿9,597
3.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,663 ฿316.9K
$9,198 ฿301.6K
5.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubon Ratchathani
Pattaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.14 ฿1,119
$29.59 ฿970
15.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.44 ฿1,129
$19.41 ฿637
77.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 ฿3,243
$99.1 ฿3,251
-0.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.9 ฿2,290
$43.68 ฿1,432
59.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubon Ratchathani
Pattaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$248 ฿8,143
$545 ฿17.9K
-54.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$163 ฿5,341
$347 ฿11.4K
-53.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$825 ฿27.1K
$1,350 ฿44.3K
-38.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$666 ฿21.8K
$697 ฿22.9K
-4.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,725 ฿56.6K
$2,575 ฿84.4K
-33.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,338 ฿43.9K
$1,513 ฿49.6K
-11.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubon Ratchathani
Pattaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$371 ฿12.2K
$479 ฿15.7K
-22.52%
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 Ubon Ratchathani: May 31, 2026

Last update for Pattaya: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $248 in Ubon Ratchathani 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 29% 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 $25.00 in Ubon Ratchathani versus $31.00 in Pattaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $250 – 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
Ubon Ratchathani vs Pattaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubon Ratchathani or Pattaya?
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 Ubon Ratchathani vs Pattaya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,172 per month in Ubon Ratchathani 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, 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 $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 Ubon Ratchathani and Pattaya?
Kindergarten costs $302 per month in Ubon Ratchathani 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 Ubon Ratchathani or Pattaya?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ubon Ratchathani, where all-in costs run around $781, than in Pattaya at $972. 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 $972 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 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.

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