Fruit of the same kind is hard to compare at one price. Separate whole fruit per kilo, a bunch of bananas, one coconut and a tray of cut fruit. Then look at what to know when buying in each city, along with prices whose date, variety and unit are confirmed.
Bangkok retail prices · 14 October 2026
These are prices by variety and grade surveyed by Thailand's Department of Internal Trade. They do not apply at every street stall.
| Fruit and variety | Price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Mangosteen · smooth-skin grade | 40–60 baht | 1 kg |
| Rambutan · Rong Rian (โรงเรียน) | 50–60 baht | 1 kg |
| Longan · E-daw (อีดอ) | 50–60 baht | 1 kg |
| Longkong | 40–50 baht | 1 kg |
| Pineapple · Sriracha (ศรีราชา), grade 2 | 30–32 baht | 1 kg |
| Watermelon · Kinnaree (กินรี) | 25–30 baht | 1 kg |
| Papaya · Holland (ฮอลแลนด์) | 40–60 baht | 1 kg |
| Banana · Nam Wa (น้ำว้า) | 40–50 baht | 1 bunch |
| Mandarin orange · Sai Nam Phueng (สายน้ำผึ้ง), grade 5 | 60–65 baht | 1 kg |
Look separately at the price of a bag or tray of cut fruit and the per-kg price of whole fruit. Bananas are priced per bunch in this survey.
Below is guidance for choosing fruit on a trip to each city. The prices shown as numbers are Bangkok retail survey values, and we do not use them as typical street prices for other cities.
In Bangkok, look separately at the per-kg price of whole fruit and the price of a tray of cut fruit. Below we have included the official retail prices by variety and grade surveyed on the same day. They can differ from the prices at individual shops in tourist areas.
In Chiang Mai, also look at longan and lychee, which are linked to the north. For fruit sold on the stem, it helps to ask whether the stem is included in the weight. For dried longan and fresh fruit, look separately at the product and the packed weight.
In Phuket, choose prepared fruit or drinks to have right on the beach separately from whole fruit. If you convert the price of one bag or one cup into a per-kg price of whole fruit to compare, the amount you actually eat can differ.
On a day touring the ruins in Ayutthaya, first decide how much fruit you want to eat right away. Each fruit has its own unit, such as bananas by the bunch and whole watermelon by the kilo. For prepared products, look at the amount in the bag or tray and the price together.
In Khon Kaen, tell apart the ripe papaya you eat as fruit from the green papaya used in som tam. When you buy whole fruit, look at the kilo price and the total weight, and for prepared fruit, at the amount in one tray.
In Hat Yai, also look at the harvest period of southern fruit by growing area. Even the same rambutan or mangosteen is harvested at different times depending on the area. When you buy by the bag, ask for the packed weight and the total price together.
If you want to read more about the food and the regions behind it, these sources are a good next step. Ingredients and cooking methods can differ from one place to the next.
