What it costs to live in Phuket, Pattaya and Samui depends on your housing, area and habits. We did not find official expense statistics for newcomers, so we use Numbeo’s crowdsourced data, check separately what can be verified against primary sources (electricity, internet), and say plainly where the figures are shaky. All sums are in baht; roubles are converted at the Bank of Russia rate for 17 October 2026: 10 baht = 24.93 roubles.
How much one person needs a month
Numbeo gives an estimate of one person’s monthly expenses excluding rent. We added the rent of a one-bedroom flat from the same service. This is our calculation, not a Numbeo figure.
| Item | Phuket | Pattaya |
|---|---|---|
| One person’s expenses excluding rent (Numbeo estimate) | THB 21,401 | THB 20,073 |
| Rent, 1 bedroom outside the centre | THB 15,600 | THB 12,333 |
| Total, housing outside the centre | about THB 37,000 (about RUB 92,000) | about THB 32,400 (about RUB 81,000) |
| Rent, 1 bedroom in the centre | THB 24,467 | THB 18,750 |
| Total, housing in the centre | about THB 45,900 (about RUB 114,000) | about THB 38,800 (about RUB 97,000) |
Numbeo has no summary estimate of expenses for Samui: the service says the island drew 38 contributors in 18 months and some prices are estimated.
What things cost: Numbeo data as of 15 October 2026
Ranges in brackets are the minimum and maximum the service shows.
| Item | Phuket | Pattaya | Samui |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | THB 150 (100-300) | THB 110 (65-200) | THB 150 (90-300) |
| Dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant, three courses without drinks | THB 1,085 (800-3,000) | THB 1,200 (600-2,000) | THB 1,000 (900-2,800) |
| Cappuccino | THB 93 | THB 68 | THB 72 |
| Draft beer, 0.5 l | THB 85 | THB 78 | THB 80 |
| Taxi, 1 km | THB 35 | THB 37 | THB 35 |
| Petrol, 1 litre | THB 49 | THB 49 | THB 48 |
| Utilities for an 85 sq m flat | THB 3,300 | THB 3,101 | THB 3,300 |
| Mobile plan with 10 GB or more | THB 377 | THB 389 | THB 377 |
| Unlimited internet at 60 Mbps or more | THB 577 | THB 640 | THB 577 |
| Rent, 1 bedroom outside the centre | THB 15,600 (10,000-28,000) | THB 12,333 (10,000-18,000) | THB 13,180 (8,500-30,000) |
| Rent, 3 bedrooms outside the centre | THB 40,525 | THB 26,489 | THB 51,125 |
| Gym membership, month | THB 1,758 | THB 1,430 | THB 1,350 |
Several Samui lines match Phuket to the satang (utilities, mobile plan, internet), which looks like an estimate made for lack of data, as Numbeo itself warns. The wide ranges on Samui (for example a one-bedroom in the centre at THB 15,000-78,300) also point to a small sample.
What we checked against primary sources
Electricity. The regulator ERC approved a new progressive tariff for homes at its meeting on 5 August 2026 (press release of 13 August), and it applies from September 2026 bills. The first 200 kWh cost no more than THB 3 per unit, 201-400 kWh THB 4.1584, and from the 401st unit THB 4.3583. On top come Ft of 16.23 satang per unit for September to December 2026 and 7% VAT. In a flat rented from a landlord the contract sets the price of electricity. How to protect yourself from a «THB 7-8» rate is in the rental guide.
Internet. AIS Fibre: THB 269 for 50/20 Mbps, THB 500 and THB 599 for 500/500 Mbps (two separate packages, conditions not shown on the page), THB 899 for 1/1 Gbps. True Online: THB 499 for 500/500 Mbps on a 24-month contract. Contract and installation terms are in the guide on phones in Thailand. Numbeo’s market estimate for internet (THB 577-640) is in the same range as these prices.
Mobile. A tourist SIM with unlimited data for 30 days costs THB 1,199 (AIS, October 2026), while a regular plan with 10 GB or more is about THB 377-389 a month by Numbeo’s estimate.
A family with a child
Numbeo estimates a family of four’s expenses excluding rent at THB 77,783 in Phuket and THB 72,790 in Pattaya (about RUB 194,000 and 181,000). Schools and kindergartens are the main variable in these estimates:
| Item | Phuket | Pattaya | Samui |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private kindergarten, month per child | THB 18,694 (11,667-32,000) | THB 20,897 (10,000-36,379) | THB 18,694 (11,667-32,000) |
| International primary school, year per child | THB 385,600 (281,800-600,000) | THB 480,367 (263,550-600,000) | THB 266,642 (170,000-494,868) |
School prices differ several times over, so look at the price list of the particular school. Medical and insurance costs are not included; see the insurance guide.
How to read these figures
- Numbeo collects data from users, not from statistics offices. Phuket has 479 entries from 41 contributors over 12 months, Pattaya 599 entries from 50 contributors
- The estimate leaves out visas, insurance, flights and large purchases. For long-stay visas see the DTV guide
- Rent in and out of season differs, and an advertised price is not a contract price. Numbeo against listings on 19.10.2026: Phuket THB 15,600 at Numbeo (outside the centre) against a median of THB 25,000 on Thailand-Property and THB 28,000 on FazWaz, Pattaya THB 12,333 against THB 25,000 and THB 17,000. Details in the guides to renting in Phuket and in Pattaya
- We compare the two cities for holidays and living in Pattaya or Phuket
What we could not find
- Official rent statistics for newcomers. We collected Thailand-Property and FazWaz listings on 19.10.2026, but they change daily, and DDproperty and Hipflat are blocked by a Cloudflare check and an access denial
- A summary Numbeo estimate for Samui and a sufficient sample for the island
- Official prices for health insurance and private hospitals not tied to a particular policy
FAQ
How much money does one person need a month in Phuket?
By our calculation about THB 37,000 (roughly RUB 92,000) with a one-bedroom outside the centre: THB 21,401 of expenses by Numbeo's estimate plus THB 15,600 rent. In the centre rent is THB 24,467 by the same data, and the total comes to about THB 45,900. Using today's listings for rent (Thailand-Property median THB 25,000) the total is about THB 46,400: Numbeo may understate rent for new contracts. This is a guide for October 2026, not a price list.
Is Pattaya cheaper than Phuket?
By Numbeo, yes: Pattaya is 6.1% cheaper than Phuket excluding rent, and a one-bedroom outside the centre rents for THB 12,333 against THB 15,600. The gap in expenses without rent is small: THB 20,073 against THB 21,401 a month for one person. The data is crowdsourced and affected by season and area.
How much do internet and phone cost a month?
AIS Fibre starts at THB 269 for 50/20 Mbps, 500/500 Mbps is from THB 500 (packages at THB 500 and THB 599), and True Online offers THB 499 for 500/500 Mbps on a 24-month contract. For a regular mobile plan with 10 GB or more Numbeo gives about THB 377-389 a month, while a tourist SIM with unlimited data for 30 days costs THB 1,199. Details and contract terms are in the guide on [phones in Thailand](/en/living/connectivity/).
How much does electricity cost?
From September 2026 for homes on the progressive tariff the first 200 kWh cost no more than THB 3 per unit, 201-400 kWh THB 4.1584, then THB 4.3583, plus Ft 16.23 satang and 7% VAT. In a rented flat the contract often sets the price, and the rules for landlords with three or more properties are in the guide on [long-term rental](/en/living/rent/long-term-rental/). Numbeo puts utilities for an 85 sq m flat at THB 3,100-3,300 a month.
What does life cost for a family with a child?
Numbeo estimates a family of four's expenses excluding rent at THB 77,783 in Phuket and THB 72,790 in Pattaya. Private kindergarten is about THB 18,700-20,900 a month per child, and an international primary school costs THB 385,600 a year in Phuket and THB 480,367 in Pattaya. School prices vary widely (ranges in the table below), so check the prices of the school you choose.
Sources
- Numbeo. Cost of Living in Phuket (updated 15.10.2026)
- Numbeo. Cost of Living in Pattaya (updated 15.10.2026)
- Numbeo. Cost of Living in Koh Samui (updated 15.10.2026, some data estimated)
- ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission). New home electricity tariff structure from September 2026 (13.08.2026, PDF attached to the news item, in Thai)
- Thailand-Property and FazWaz. Rental listings for one-bedroom condos in Phuket and Pattaya (collected 19.10.2026, cross-check with Numbeo)
- AIS Fibre. Home internet packages
- True Online. Home internet packages
- AIS. Tourist SIM and eSIM prices
- Bank of Russia. Official exchange rates (10 baht = 24.93 roubles on 17.10.2026)
Found an error or outdated fact? Tell the editors, we will fix it and update the check date.