What it costs to run an apartment in Pattaya: building fees, utilities and taxes

Pattaya Navigator · updated 2026-10-13

General information, not legal or tax advice. Laws, rates and procedures can change and depend on your individual situation; confirm the details with a licensed lawyer or accountant before you buy.

Besides the price of the apartment, an owner pays for building maintenance, utilities and small taxes. The good news is that in Pattaya these costs are usually more modest than buyers expect.

Building maintenance (common fee)

A monthly payment to the management company for security, cleaning, the pool, the gym, lifts and repairs of common areas. It is calculated per square metre of the apartment.

Across the 163 condominiums in our database with a known rate:

the median is 40 baht per m² per month;
for half of the buildings it is between 30 and 45 baht per m²;
in new buildings with rooftop pools and a wide range of amenities, it is higher.

For a 30 m² studio that is about 1,200 baht a month, and for a 38 m² one-bedroom apartment about 1,500 baht. It is usually paid a year in advance.

Sinking fund

A one-off contribution when buying from a developer - in our buildings usually 400 to 800 baht per m². It pays for major repairs to the building. On the resale market it has usually already been paid by the previous owner.

Utilities

Electricity is the main item, especially with air conditioning. If the meter is registered directly to the owner, the tariff is the state tariff; in rented apartments owners often charge a higher rate.
Water is cheap, usually a few hundred baht a month.
Internet costs roughly 600-1,000 baht a month.

Owner's taxes

Land and building tax on residential property is small - for a typical apartment, hundreds of baht a year.
Rental income is subject to income tax.

Example: a 38 m² one-bedroom apartment

Item	Per month
Building maintenance (40 ฿/m²)	≈ ฿1,500 (≈ $45)
Electricity (when lived in)	≈ ฿1,500-3,000 (≈ $45-90)
Water	≈ ฿200-400 (≈ $6.0-12)
Internet	≈ ฿700 (≈ $21)
Total	≈ ฿4,000-5,500 (≈ $120-166)

If the apartment stands empty, mainly the building maintenance and minimum bills remain.

How to compare buildings

The page for each condominium on the site shows the maintenance rate (common fee) where it is known, along with the sinking fund and amenities. Compare not just the price of the apartment but the running costs - in a building with a low rate, ownership is cheaper for years.

This material is for general information only and does not replace professional advice on your own transaction.