Bangkok Cost of Living: THB 20,868 Lean, THB 38,265.68 Comfortable
A lean month in Bangkok costs about THB 20,868 and a comfortable month about THB 38,265.68 for one adult, built from published prices. Rent decides the gap: THB 12,000 against THB 22,000 for a one-bedroom. Electricity costs THB 3.0000 a unit for the first 200 units.
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A lean month in Bangkok costs about THB 20,868. A comfortable month costs about THB 38,265.68.
Rent is the swing line, THB 12,000 against THB 22,000 for a one-bedroom. Each line below is a published price.
Monthly budget for one adult
Both budgets are for one adult living alone. Each line is a published price multiplied by an amount, so the totals are estimates.
| Line | Lean month | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Rent, one bedroom | THB 12,000 | THB 22,000 |
| Electricity | THB 600 | THB 1,431.68 |
| Water | THB 170 | THB 255 |
| Internet | THB 499 | THB 600 |
| Mobile | THB 599 | THB 699 |
| BTS rides | THB 1,000 | THB 1,280 |
| Food | THB 6,000 | THB 12,000 |
| Estimated total | THB 20,868 | THB 38,265.68 |
The lean month uses 200 units of electricity, 20 cubic metres of water, 40 BTS rides at THB 25 and 60 inexpensive meals at THB 100.
The comfortable month uses 400 units, 30 cubic metres, 40 rides at THB 32, 30 inexpensive meals and 15 mid-range dinners.
The comfortable month costs THB 17,397.68 more than the lean month.
AffordWhere’s own example month for one adult is THB 31,100, made of THB 12,000 rent and THB 19,100 of everyday costs. The lean month here sits THB 10,232 below it.
Rent: one-bedroom prices by area
A Bangkok one-bedroom rents for THB 12,000 to THB 55,000 a month, and a two-bedroom for THB 20,000 to THB 85,000.
On 18 October 2026 the median asking rent on a listing portal was THB 27,700 a month. One-bedroom condos listed there averaged THB 25,700, studios THB 17,400 and two-bedrooms THB 54,800. Those are asking prices from one portal on one day.
| Area | One-bedroom starts at | BTS from the centre |
|---|---|---|
| On Nut | THB 12,000 | 25 min |
| Ari | THB 15,000 | 12 min |
| Sukhumvit | THB 22,000 | 15 min |
| Silom-Sathorn | THB 25,000 | 10 min |
| Thonglor-Ekkamai | THB 28,000 | 18 min |
Starting rent in On Nut is THB 10,000 below Sukhumvit. The price of that saving is a 25-minute BTS ride against 15 minutes.
Electricity: tariff bands and bill
From the September 2026 bill, the energy charge for the first 200 units of a home is at most THB 3 a unit. MEA applies the revised rates from the September 2026 billing cycle.
PEA supplies 74 provinces and excludes Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan, so a Bangkok flat is billed by MEA.
Your category depends on the meter. A meter of up to 5 amps is MEA type 1.1; a meter above 5 amps is MEA type 1.2.
| Rate 1.2, meter above 5 amps | Energy charge per unit |
|---|---|
| Units 1 to 200 | THB 3.0000 |
| Units 201 to 400 | THB 4.1584 |
| Unit 401 onwards | THB 4.3583 |
On rate 1.1 the first 15 units cost THB 2.3488, units 16 to 25 cost THB 2.9882 and units 26 to 200 cost THB 3.0000.
The bands add up: only the units above a threshold take the next rate. On rate 1.2, 200 units cost THB 600, 300 units THB 1,015.84 and 400 units THB 1,431.68 in energy charge.
The final bill adds the monthly service charge, the Ft charge and VAT.
A home without a permanent house registration paid THB 6.8024 a unit as temporary electricity. From September 2026 such a home moves to the ordinary residential rate when it is used for living in and has at least 6 months of payment history.
Water: MWA tariff
MWA charges a home THB 8.50 per cubic metre for the first 30 cubic metres, with a minimum bill of THB 45, before VAT.
The table carries an effective date of December 1999. Twenty cubic metres cost THB 170 and 30 cubic metres THB 255 at that rate.
What your landlord may charge for power and water
A landlord may charge water and electricity no more than the state rate and may add no service fee or profit. Electricity must stay at or below THB 4.88 a unit.
The rule comes from the Contract Committee notice that made residential building rental a contract-controlled business, B.E. 2568.
| Units a month | Tariff energy charge | Ceiling at THB 4.88 |
|---|---|---|
| 300 | THB 1,015.84 | THB 1,464 |
| 400 | THB 1,431.68 | THB 1,952 |
The ceiling is a limit, not a price. The first 200 units cost THB 3.0000 on the tariff.
A tenant who is overcharged can call the OCPB hotline 1166 or complain through the OCPB Connect application. An operator who breaks the rule faces up to 1 year in prison or a fine of up to THB 200,000, or both.
Internet and mobile
AIS BROADBAND24 is the cheapest fibre line on the operator’s page: THB 499 a month for 300 Mbps down and up on a 12-month contract.
| Speed, download and upload | Contract | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| 300 Mbps and 300 Mbps | 12 months | THB 499 |
| 500 Mbps and 500 Mbps | 12 months | THB 600 |
| 1 Gbps and 500 Mbps | 12 months | THB 700 |
Monthly fees exclude VAT. The THB 4,800 installation fee is billed in the first monthly bill and discounted over a continuous 24-month cycle.
True 5G Super Gamer includes 50 GB of data and 250 minutes of calls for THB 599 a month, excluding VAT. True 5G Super Value includes 60 GB plus 20 GB bonus data and 250 minutes for THB 699.
For your first weeks, a tourist SIM is simpler: see the eSIM guide.
Getting around by BTS and MRT
From Siam the adult Rabbit fare is THB 17 to a neighbouring station and steps up to THB 25, 28, 32, 35, 40, 43 and 47 along the line. From Khu Khot the longest journeys cost THB 62 and THB 65.
The MRT Blue Line fare runs THB 17, 20, 22, 25, 27, 29, 32, 34, 37, 39, 42 and 44 for 1 to 12 or more stations.
On the Purple and Red lines a general passenger pays at most THB 40 a day with unlimited journeys. That cap runs from December 2025 to November 2026.
A new Rabbit card costs a THB 120 issuance fee. Stored value starts at THB 100 and goes up to THB 4,000. Line-by-line fares are in the BTS and MRT fare guide.
Food: crowd-sourced prices
A meal at an inexpensive restaurant in Bangkok costs THB 100. The prices are crowd-sourced from 196 contributors and were last updated on 15 October 2026.
| Item | Numbeo price |
|---|---|
| Meal, inexpensive restaurant | THB 100 |
| Three-course meal for two, mid-range | THB 1,200 |
| White rice, 1 kg | THB 46.12 |
| Eggs, a dozen large | THB 85.82 |
| Milk, 1 litre | THB 63.70 |
Crowd-sourced basic utilities for an 85 m2 apartment come to THB 3,610.63 a month, covering electricity, heating, cooling, water and garbage.
Minimum wage in Bangkok
The minimum wage in Bangkok is THB 400 per day. Bangkok shares that top rate with Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Phuket, Rayong and the Koh Samui district of Surat Thani.
Wage Committee notification No. 14 sets the rate. It applies from 1 July 2025.
What the budget leaves out
- Visa: a tourist extension of stay costs THB 1,900. See Thailand immigration fees.
- Health: see the guide to expat health insurance and hospital costs.
- Cash: ATM fees on a foreign card are in the ATM fee guide.
- Bank account: see how foreigners open one.
- Other cities: see Thailand cost of living by city.
Not confirmed: The MEA monthly service charge and the Ft charge are not in this guide; they print on your bill, and the MEA Call Center answers on 1130. Supermarket prices from Makro or Lotus were not readable, so food rests on crowd-sourced Numbeo prices.
Common questions
How much does it cost to live in Bangkok per month?
A lean month costs about THB 20,868 and a comfortable month about THB 38,265.68 for one adult. Both are estimates built from the unit prices on this page.
How much does electricity cost per unit in Bangkok?
The energy charge is THB 3.0000 a unit for units 1 to 200 and THB 4.1584 for units 201 to 400 on residential rate 1.2. The bill adds a service charge, the Ft charge and VAT.
How much does water cost in Bangkok?
MWA charges THB 8.50 per cubic metre for the first 30 cubic metres, with a minimum bill of THB 45, before VAT.
Can my landlord charge extra for electricity?
Electricity must not exceed THB 4.88 a unit, and the landlord may add no service fee or profit. A breach carries up to 1 year in prison or a fine of up to THB 200,000, or both.
How much is a BTS ride?
From Siam the adult Rabbit fare is THB 17 to a neighbouring station and steps up to THB 47. From Khu Khot the longest journeys cost THB 65.
What is the minimum wage in Bangkok?
The minimum wage in Bangkok is THB 400 per day. Wage Committee notification No. 14 applies from 1 July 2025.
How much is home internet in Bangkok?
AIS BROADBAND24 costs THB 499 a month for 300 Mbps and THB 600 for 500 Mbps on a 12-month contract, before VAT.
What does a restaurant meal cost in Bangkok?
A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs THB 100 on the crowd-sourced Numbeo list. A three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant costs THB 1,200.
Which Bangkok area has the cheapest rent?
On Nut starts at THB 12,000 for a one-bedroom, 25 minutes from the centre by BTS. Thonglor-Ekkamai starts at THB 28,000.
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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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