Roi Et vs Chon Buri: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Chon Buri scores higher for long-term retiree livability. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Chon Buri is approximately 3.5x more expensive than Roi Et based on cost of living including rent. This makes Roi Et a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Roi Et has a FIRE Score of N/A/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 72, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Roi Et is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.
About Roi Et
Roi Et is dirt cheap and safe, with a 1-bedroom in the center at $149/mo and a safety index of 72, but the expat community is very few and English proficiency is limited, so expect to learn some Thai fast. The nearest airport is 158 km away in UBP, which makes weekend escapes a chore, and an air quality index of 68 plus fair healthcare are real trade-offs. For a retiree on a local salary of $891/mo, the numbers work beautifully, but digital nomads and social butterflies will find 35 thousand people and 60 Mbps internet a bit thin.
About Thailand
Thailand is best for retirees seeking low costs, with a Retirement Visa requiring only a $30,000 foreign exchange deposit or monthly income. Living costs are a third of US norms: a single person spends $603/month excluding rent, and a 1-bedroom in a city center is $475. However, the main trade-off is no clear pathway to citizenship, and political stability is weak perceptions remain weak.
$2,705/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Chon Buri
Chon Buri is a small, practical base rather than a glamorous one, and that is exactly its appeal for anyone watching costs. A one-bedroom outside the center runs $252/mo against $520/mo in the center, and a mid-range single life lands at $548/mo, which is remarkable for a place 15 km from UTP airport. The catch is local wages: an average net salary of $594/mo means many expats here live on outside income, and with limited English and a medium expat community clustered around the Amata City area, you will need to be comfortable being a minority. Come for the cheap living and good healthcare, not for a built-in social scene.
About Thailand
Thailand is best for retirees seeking low costs, with a Retirement Visa requiring only a $30,000 foreign exchange deposit or monthly income. Living costs are a third of US norms: a single person spends $603/month excluding rent, and a 1-bedroom in a city center is $475. However, the main trade-off is no clear pathway to citizenship, and political stability is weak perceptions remain weak.
$2,452/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Roi Et | Chon Buri |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $148.5 | $519.75 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $59.4 | $252.45 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $222.75 | N/A |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $148.5 | N/A |
| Safety Index | 72 | 68 |
| Internet Speed | 60Mbps | 55Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Roi Et | Chon Buri |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $305/mo | $565/mo |
| Excluding rent | $246/mo | $313/mo |
| Rent | $59.00/mo | $252/mo |
| Groceries | $91.00/mo | $88.00/mo |
| Dining out | $19.00/mo | $19.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $62.00/mo | $91.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $74.00/mo | $115/mo |
| Transport | N/A | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Roi Et vs Chon Buri -- Frequently Asked Questions
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