Cost comparison — Thailand (2 people, ~3L/day)
| Option | Cost | Safety |
|---|---|---|
| Tap water (drink directly) | Almost free | Not safe |
| Boiled tap water | Electricity ~฿20/mo | Bacteria ok, heavy metals not |
| Vending machine (coin-op) | ฿1 per 2 litres | If well maintained |
| Large jug (19L delivery) | ฿20–40 per jug | Trusted brand |
| Bottled (0.5L shop) | ฿7–20 per bottle | Safe / microplastics |
| Home RO filter | ฿3,000–8,000 + upkeep | If filters on schedule |
| Rental filter (e.g. Coway) | ฿599–900/mo incl. service | Maintenance included |
2 people, 3L/day = 180L/month
- Bottles (0.5L at ฿12): 360 × ฿12 = ฿4,320/mo
- Vending machine: 180L × ฿0.50 = ฿90/mo
- 19L jugs (฿30/jug): 9–10 jugs = ฿270–300/mo
- Rental filter (Coway etc.): ฿599–900/mo (all-in)
Bottles are ~48× more expensive than the vending machine
At 180 litres a month, a vending machine costs about ฿90. Bottles cost ฿4,320 — about 48 times more. For longer stays a rental filter is the most stable choice: predictable cost, no hassle, professional maintenance included.