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What it really costs to live in Chonburi.

Rent by district — from Chonburi City to Sriracha and the industrial estates — food, company shuttles and transport, utilities, healthcare and international schooling, with three realistic budgets for the EEC's corporate core. Figures are 2026 guide ranges in Thai baht (≈ THB 35–36 = USD 1).

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By Kirby Scofield
Founder of BAANLYY · International real estate broker, investor & relocation specialist
Last updated 7 July 2026 · Last reviewed 7 July 2026
Overview

The short version

Chonburi is a working province, not a resort, and its cost of living reflects that: a relocating professional lives comfortably on THB 35,000–55,000 a month, a couple on THB 65,000–100,000, and a family of four on THB 150,000–280,000 once a car and school fees are counted — though many corporate assignments come with an employer housing allowance that changes the maths. Rent is the biggest lever, swinging between value-priced Chonburi City and corporate-premium Sriracha, and international or Japanese-school tuition is the biggest swing factor for families. For live rent by district and building, use the BAANLYY Chonburi hub and its areas guide.

01

Rent — monthly, by district tier

Furnished condo and serviced-apartment units, the standard for relocating staff. Local Thai apartments in Chonburi City go lower; Sriracha's newest executive towers and Bang Saen's sea-view stock go higher. Prices are monthly rent in THB.

TierExample areasStudio1-bed2-bed
Value / provincial capitalChonburi City (Mueang Chonburi), Bang Saen, older local apartments5,500–9,0008,000–14,00012,000–20,000
Corporate functional / near the estatesAmata Nakorn perimeter, Laem Chabang town, Bang Phra7,000–12,00010,000–17,00016,000–26,000
Corporate premium / SrirachaSriracha town, Bo Win, Nong Kham — serviced apartments favoured by relocating staff9,000–16,00013,000–24,00022,000–40,000
Executive / Sriracha prime & Bang Saen sea-viewSriracha's newest condo towers, Bang Saen beachfront24,000–42,00036,000–70,000

Browse the Chonburi areas guide →

02

Food & groceries

ItemTypical cost
Local Thai meal at a street stall or marketTHB 40–80
Casual Thai restaurant, mainsTHB 100–220
Japanese restaurant in Sriracha (izakaya, ramen, sushi)THB 250–700
Mid-range restaurant for twoTHB 500–1,100
Café latte / specialty coffeeTHB 65–140
Beer at a local restaurant or bar (large)THB 80–180
Monthly groceries, couple (mix of local + Japanese/imported)THB 9,000–17,000

Sriracha's large Japanese community supports a real cluster of izakaya, ramen and sushi restaurants and Japanese supermarkets — a genuine draw for residents, but priced above standard Thai dining. Chonburi City and the areas around the estates stay closer to typical provincial Thai pricing.

03

Transport

Chonburi has no BTS or MRT. Most staff relocating for a manufacturing or logistics role either use an employer shuttle to the plant or estate, or keep a car or motorbike; Grab and Bolt work well in Sriracha and Chonburi City but thin out around Laem Chabang and Amata Nakorn's more industrial stretches.

ModeTypical cost
Company shuttle bus to the estate (where provided)Often free — employer-arranged
Songthaew / local shared truckTHB 10–20
Long-term motorbike rental, per monthTHB 2,500–3,500
Grab / Bolt short hop (Sriracha, Chonburi City)THB 70–160
Grab across town or to a neighbouring districtTHB 150–350
Long-term small-car rental, per monthTHB 11,000–19,000
Drive time to Bangkok / Suvarnabhumi Airport60–90 minutes
Drive time to U-Tapao International Airport45–60 minutes

Full Chonburi getting-around guide →

04

Utilities, internet & lifestyle

ItemTypical cost / month
Electricity, 1-bed apartment running ACTHB 1,600–3,400
WaterTHB 130–300
Home fibre internet, 300–1000 MbpsTHB 550–900
Mobile plan with generous dataTHB 300–600
Serviced-apartment common fees (where applicable)THB 1,500–4,000 / month
Gym / fitness membership (mid-range)THB 1,000–2,800

Electricity runs a similar range to the rest of the eastern seaboard — a comfortable one-bed with regular AC use typically costs THB 1,600–3,400 a month. Fibre internet is fast and cheap across Sriracha and Chonburi City, and serviced-apartment fees are generally lower than equivalent buildings in Bangkok or Phuket.

05

Healthcare, insurance & schools

Sriracha is well served by Bangkok Hospital Sriracha, an international-standard private facility with English- and Japanese-speaking staff reflecting the local community, alongside Samitivej Chonburi and other private hospitals across the province; a private GP visit runs about THB 650–1,300, and Bangkok's flagship hospitals are under two hours away for complex treatment. Comprehensive health insurance is standard for relocating employees and required for several long-stay visa categories, typically costing THB 35,000–110,000 a year depending on age and cover level. For families, Sriracha's dedicated Japanese School serves that community directly, while the broader international-school field across the province is smaller than Bangkok's — tuition runs roughly THB 200,000–650,000 a year depending on the school, with some families choosing to base toward Bangkok or Pattaya for a deeper school selection.

Budgets

Three realistic monthly budgets

Relocating professional (solo)

THB 35,000–55,000$1,000–1,550 / month

The range the Chonburi hub quotes for a comfortable single-professional budget — a furnished one-bedroom near Sriracha or the estates, mostly Thai and Japanese food, and a motorbike or company shuttle.

  • 1-bed near Sriracha or an estate: THB 10,000–24,000
  • Food, mixing Thai and Japanese: THB 10,000–16,000
  • Motorbike + occasional Grab, or company shuttle: THB 2,500–5,000
  • Utilities, internet, mobile: THB 2,600–4,500
  • Gym, leisure, weekend trips to Pattaya: THB 5,000–9,000
  • Health insurance (amortised, if not employer-covered): THB 4,000–7,000

Couple

THB 65,000–100,000$1,850–2,850 / month

A corporate-standard 1–2 bed in Sriracha or near the estates, a car or motorbike plus regular Grab, and a mix of home cooking and dining out.

  • 1–2 bed, Sriracha or corporate-standard area: THB 17,000–35,000
  • Food & groceries for two: THB 18,000–28,000
  • Car or motorbike + Grab: THB 6,000–14,000
  • Utilities, internet, two mobiles: THB 3,800–6,000
  • Leisure, weekend beach trips, gym: THB 9,000–14,000
  • Health insurance for two (amortised): THB 7,000–13,000

Family of four

THB 150,000–280,000$4,200–8,000 / month

Many families relocating for a manufacturing or logistics assignment receive an employer housing allowance; this is the open-market equivalent with a car and international or Japanese-school tuition.

  • 2–3 bed apartment or house, family-friendly area: THB 30,000–65,000
  • Food & groceries for four: THB 30,000–46,000
  • Car (running costs, fuel, insurance): THB 9,000–15,000
  • Utilities, internet, mobiles: THB 5,500–8,500
  • Japanese or international school — the swing factor: THB 200,000–650,000 / child / year
  • Family health insurance (amortised): THB 14,000–28,000

Ranges are guides, not quotes; your number depends most on district, employer housing allowance and (for families) school choice.

FAQ

Chonburi cost-of-living questions

How much does it cost to live in Chonburi per month?

A relocating professional living comfortably typically spends THB 35,000–55,000 (about USD 1,000–1,550) a month, a couple THB 65,000–100,000, and a family of four THB 150,000–280,000 once a car and school fees are included. Many corporate relocations to Chonburi come with an employer housing allowance, which changes these numbers significantly — the ranges above assume paying the open market rate.

Is Chonburi cheaper than Bangkok or Pattaya?

Yes, generally. Rents in Chonburi's industrial core sit well below Bangkok and are broadly in line with or slightly below Pattaya, with Sriracha's corporate-facing serviced apartments commanding the local premium for proximity to the estates and the Japanese-community amenities. Food follows the same pattern, with Japanese dining in Sriracha priced closer to a mid-range restaurant than street food.

How much is rent for an apartment in Sriracha or near the industrial estates?

A one-bedroom corporate-standard serviced apartment in Sriracha runs roughly THB 13,000–24,000 a month, dropping to THB 10,000–17,000 near Amata Nakorn or Laem Chabang, and THB 8,000–14,000 in the more local, value-priced Chonburi City. Executive units in Sriracha's newest towers or Bang Saen's sea-view stock start from THB 24,000. See the BAANLYY Chonburi areas guide for current listings by district.

Do I need a car in Chonburi?

Chonburi has no BTS or MRT, and most relocating staff either use an employer-provided shuttle to the estate or keep a car or motorbike for day-to-day life — Grab and Bolt cover Sriracha and Chonburi City well but coverage thins out around the more industrial parts of Laem Chabang and Amata Nakorn. Many company relocation packages include transport as part of the assignment.

What does food cost in Chonburi, and why is Sriracha different?

A local Thai meal is THB 40–80 and a casual restaurant THB 100–220, similar to other Thai provincial cities. Sriracha is the exception: its large Japanese community supports genuine izakaya, ramen and sushi restaurants priced at THB 250–700 a head, noticeably higher than standard Thai dining but still well below equivalent Japanese food in Bangkok or back home.

Turn a budget into an address.

Match your monthly number to the right Chonburi district and apartment, then let our Concierge team handle the corporate housing paperwork.

Corporate housingChonburi hubCompare with other cities

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