Thailand Cost of Living by City: Rent, Power, Wages

Electricity costs the same in all five cities: THB 3.0000 a unit for the first 200 units under both MEA and PEA. Rent separates them. AffordWhere's example month runs from THB 20,250 in Chiang Mai to THB 31,100 in Bangkok. Phuket has the highest one-bedroom asking rent at THB 29,300.

By Vincent Nguyen and team

Electricity costs the same in all five cities. Rent is what separates them: AffordWhere’s example month runs from THB 20,250 in Chiang Mai to THB 31,100 in Bangkok.

Wages, water and transport differ too, and the sections below put each side by side.

Rent and total monthly cost

AffordWhere builds one example month for one adult from a lower-end one-bedroom rent plus everyday costs. Its figures carry a January 2026 data date.

Listing prices are what landlords ask on the day of checking. Treat them as a ceiling for a negotiation, not a lease price.

Phuket has the highest one-bedroom asking rent at THB 29,300 a month. Chiang Mai has the lowest at THB 17,500.

Electricity: one rate, two utilities

MEA bills Bangkok and PEA bills the provinces. PEA supplies 74 provinces and excludes Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan. Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya and Hua Hin are not on that exclusion list, so PEA bills them.

A home with a meter above 5 amps sits in PEA type 1.1.2 and in MEA type 1.2. Both use the same three unit rates.

PEA adds a monthly service charge of THB 24.62 on type 1.1.2. The MEA bill adds a service charge, the Ft charge and VAT.

Water: Bangkok costs less per cubic metre

MWA charges THB 8.50 per cubic metre for the first 30 cubic metres, with a minimum bill of THB 45. MWA tariffs exclude VAT.

Take a month of 20 cubic metres. In Bangkok that costs THB 170.

PWA residential rates are THB 10.20 per cubic metre up to 10, THB 16.00 up to 20 and THB 19.00 up to 30. The same 20 cubic metres cost THB 262.00.

All three PWA tables carry the same residential rates.

Minimum wage by province

Wage Committee notification No. 14 sets the minimum wage by province. It applies from 1 July 2025.

Getting around in each city

Airport taxis add costs on top. Chiang Mai taxis add THB 50 as a driver gratuity. The EVme airport taxi in Phuket starts at THB 150 for the first 2 kilometres, plus a THB 100 airport fee.

Food and utilities: crowd-sourced prices

Numbeo prices are crowd-sourced, and the last update was 15 October 2026.

The utilities line covers electricity, heating, cooling, water and garbage for an 85 m2 apartment.

Which city fits which budget

Chiang Mai has the cheapest example month at THB 20,250, which is THB 10,850 below Bangkok. Hua Hin sits THB 9,275 below Bangkok, Pattaya THB 7,320 below and Phuket THB 5,350 below.

Phuket costs most in the provinces for rent at THB 29,300 and for a meal at THB 150. Bangkok has the lowest water price per cubic metre.

Go deeper on each city

• Bangkok: the Bangkok cost of living guide builds a lean and a comfortable month line by line.
• Chiang Mai: the Chiang Mai overview and the sister guide at chiangmaijao.com (opens in a new tab).
• Phuket: the Phuket overview and the sister site phuketanchor.com (opens in a new tab).
• Pattaya: the Pattaya guide.
• Hua Hin: the Hua Hin guide.

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Not confirmed: Rents are listing-portal asking prices and an aggregator estimate dated January 2026, not signed leases. Pattaya and Hua Hin bus fares come from a news report and a travel guide; ask the driver the fare before you board.

General information checked against the sources listed above, not financial or tax advice for your situation. Rules and fees change; confirm with your bank, the Revenue Department or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.

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