Where do people in Bangkok buy groceries?
Many Bangkok households buy fresh food at neighbourhood markets, which are busiest in the early morning. Or Tor Kor Market near Chatuchak is known for high-quality produce at higher prices, while Khlong Toei Market is a large, wholesale-style fresh market with lower prices and a more hectic atmosphere.
Chatuchak Weekend Market is mainly for clothing, homeware and souvenirs rather than groceries. Supermarkets in shopping centres carry imported goods, and convenience stores fill the gaps day and night. Some supermarkets mark down bakery items and ready meals in the evening, shortly before closing.
How do you pay for transport and small daily spends in Bangkok?
Bangkok's Skytrain and underground lines charge by distance. Each system has its own stored-value card, and several lines now also accept contactless bank cards at the gates, which saves queuing for single tickets. Buses are a low-cost option, motorbike taxis cover short hops, and taxis should run on the meter.
Street food and simple noodle shops keep meals inexpensive, while a coffee in a shopping-centre café can cost several times more than a drink from a street cart. Tipping is not expected at food stalls. Leaving small change is common in sit-down restaurants, and upscale venues often add a service charge.
How do Bangkok prices differ from the rest of Thailand?
Bangkok has a far wider choice of imported food and international shops than provincial towns, and prices for imported goods and Western-style cafés tend to be higher. Tourist districts such as Sukhumvit, Silom and the area around Khao San Road often charge more for the same snacks and services than residential neighbourhoods a few stations away.
To stretch a budget, eat where office workers eat at lunchtime, buy fruit at markets rather than in shopping-centre supermarkets, and check the price table on this page to see what everyday items cost in local shops.
What things cost in Bangkok
| Product | Local product name | Price per unit | Pack sizes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk - 1 L | UHT milk, full fat | THB 50.00 / 1 L | 1 L |
| Eggs - 10 pieces | Standard eggs | THB 71.00 / 10 pieces | 10 pieces |
| Rice - 1 kg | Jasmine rice (Hom Mali) | THB 48.90 / 1 kg | 5 kg |
| Pasta - 500 g | Dried pasta | THB 65.50 / 0.5 kg | 500 g |
| Bread - 500 g | White sliced bread | THB 42.83 / 0.5 kg | 480 g, 500 g |
| Chicken - 1 kg | Whole fresh chicken | THB 89.00 / 1 kg | 1 kg |
| Beef - 1 kg | Boneless beef (cubes / cuts) | THB 265.00 / 1 kg | 1 kg, 250 g |
| Ground beef - 1 kg | Ground beef | THB 319.00 / 1 kg | 1 kg |
| Potatoes - 1 kg | Potatoes | THB 50.00 / 1 kg | 500 g, 1 kg |
| Tomatoes - 1 kg | Tomatoes | THB 87.50 / 1 kg | 1 kg |
| Onions - 1 kg | Onions | THB 42.00 / 1 kg | 1 kg |
| Shampoo - 400 ml | Shampoo | THB 189.00 / 0.4 L | 400 ml |
| Shower gel - 400 ml | Shower gel | THB 146.32 / 0.4 L | 400 ml, 450 ml, 380 ml |
| Bar soap - 100 g | Bar soap | THB 56.00 / 0.1 kg | 400 g, 100 g |
| Liquid soap - 500 ml | Liquid soap | THB 89.00 / 0.5 L | 500 ml, 485 ml |
| Toothbrush - 1 piece | Toothbrush | THB 37.00 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Deodorant - 150 ml | Deodorant | THB 135.00 / 0.15 L | 150 ml, 135 ml |
| Toilet paper - 4 rolls | Toilet paper | THB 14.68 / 4 pieces | 6 pieces |
| Paper towels - 2 rolls | Paper towels | THB 46.00 / 2 pieces | 2 pieces |
| Laundry detergent - 1.5 L | Laundry detergent | THB 214.13 / 1.5 L | 1,250 ml, 1,300 ml |
| Dishwashing liquid - 500 ml | Dishwashing liquid | THB 29.00 / 0.5 L | 500 ml |
| Multi-purpose cleaner - 1 L | Multi-purpose cleaner | THB 110.00 / 1 L | 1,000 ml |
| Trash bags - 20 pieces | Trash bags | THB 62.00 / 20 pieces | 20 pieces |
| Basic cotton T-shirt - 1 piece | Basic cotton T-shirt | THB 390.00 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Jeans - 1 pair | Jeans | THB 944.50 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Casual sneakers - 1 pair | Casual sneakers | THB 369.00 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Towel - 50 x 90 cm | Towel | THB 85.00 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Pillow - 1 piece | Pillow | THB 79.00 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Blanket - 1 piece | Blanket | THB 119.00 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Cooking pot - 24 cm | Cooking pot | THB 249.00 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| LED bulb - 9W | LED bulb | THB 129.00 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Individually packaged cake - 1 piece | Individually wrapped cake | THB 39.00 / 1 piece | 45 g |
| Biscuits - 1 pack | Biscuits | THB 29.00 / 1 piece | 105 g, 100 g |
| Chocolate bar - 1 bar | Chocolate bar | THB 40.00 / 1 piece | 40 g, 47 g |
| Shirt - 1 piece | Basic long-sleeve shirt | THB 1,890.00 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
| Women's dress - 1 piece | Women's everyday dress | THB 1,690.00 / 1 piece | 1 piece |
Compared with the other cities
US dollar prices for 35 products that we also have in at least three other cities. The percentage shows the difference from the average of those cities.
Lower in Bangkok
- Toilet paper - 4 rolls$0.44-74%
- Beef - 1 kg$7.90-66%
- Pillow - 1 piece$2.35-59%
- Casual sneakers - 1 pair$11.00-56%
- Towel - 50 x 90 cm$2.53-53%
- Cooking pot - 24 cm$7.42-49%
Higher in Bangkok
- Shirt - 1 piece$56.33+152%
- Women's dress - 1 piece$50.37+131%
- Pasta - 500 g$1.95+49%
- Laundry detergent - 1.5 L$6.38+42%
- Basic cotton T-shirt - 1 piece$11.62+37%
- Bar soap - 100 g$1.67+36%
Local product types can differ between cities. The comparison tool only matches the same product type.
Compare Bangkok with another country
Same budget, same products: see where your money goes further.
Insights and guides about Bangkok
All articles →Travel and life in Bangkok
Pictures of Bangkok
How these prices were read
Prices come from public shop pages and haven't been independently verified. The Data & methodology page has the details. Data & methodology
Try your own budget
Pick a budget and two countries to see the same comparison with your own numbers.
Questions people ask
What is the price of milk in Bangkok?
The local shop price we read on November 8, 2026 was THB 50.00 per 1 L, about $1.49 at that day's reference rate.
What is the price of eggs in Bangkok?
The local shop price we read on November 8, 2026 was THB 71.00 per 10 pieces, about $2.12 at that day's reference rate.
What is the price of rice in Bangkok?
The local shop price we read on November 8, 2026 was THB 48.90 per 1 kg, about $1.46 at that day's reference rate.
How much is US$100 in Thai baht?
At the reference rate of November 8, 2026, US$100 comes to about THB 3,355.03.
Which products cost less in Bangkok than in the other cities?
By dollar price, the clearest gaps are toilet paper (-74%), beef (-66%), and pillow (-59%).
When is Chatuchak Weekend Market open?
Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok opens on Saturdays and Sundays from morning until early evening, and some stalls also trade on Friday evenings. It mainly sells clothing, homeware, plants and souvenirs, and bargaining is usual at many stalls.
Do you tip in Bangkok?
Tipping in Bangkok is not obligatory. Leaving small change in sit-down restaurants, after a massage or for hotel staff is appreciated, and many upscale restaurants in Bangkok already add a service charge to the bill.
Where do these prices come from?
Prices come from public shop pages and haven't been independently verified. The Data & methodology page has the details.
