Cost of Living

Bangkok, Thailand

Live cost-of-living data for Bangkok — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
25/ 10075% cheaper than New York
+52% rent since Jul 2026
$1,200/mo
Median Income
72/100
Safety
5%
Income Tax
tropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
55/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$690/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$410/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,380/month
Food & Groceries
35/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.85/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.2/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$0.65/kg
Transportation
25/100
Monthly Transit Pass$37/month
One-Way Ticket$0.82/trip
Taxi (1 km)$0.31/km
Utilities
30/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$55/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$19/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$12/month
Healthcare
50/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$40/visit
Dentist Visit$48/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$5/course
Education
40/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$250/month
International Primary School (yearly)$8,000/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$200/course
Entertainment
35/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$4.5/ticket
Theater Ticket$20/ticket
Museum Entry$7/ticket
Clothing
40/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$40/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$25/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$55/pair
Personal Care
30/100
Haircut (Men)$6/cut
Haircut (Women)$12/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$2/bottle
Dining Out
30/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$3/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$18/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$4.5/meal
Childcare
40/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$300/month
Babysitter (per hour)$4/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$8/pack
Fitness & Sports
35/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$25/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$10/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$3/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

95 Mbps
Internet Speed
$150
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
moderate
English Level
large
Nomad Community
60/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Thonglor, Ari, Ekkamai

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bangkok cheap to live in?

Bangkok has a cost of living index of 25/100, where New York = 100. It is 75% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $900–$1,260 per month.

How much does rent cost in Bangkok?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Bangkok costs approximately $690/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $410/month.

Is Bangkok good for digital nomads?

Bangkok has a large digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 95 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $150/month. English proficiency is moderate.

What is the average salary in Bangkok?

The median net monthly salary in Bangkok is approximately $1,200 USD. The income tax rate is around 5%.

How does Bangkok compare to New York for cost of living?

Bangkok (cost index 25) is 75% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,875/month by moving from New York to Bangkok.

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