What Does 50,000 Thai Baht (US$1,350) A Month Get You in Rayong?

Are you thinking about living in Rayong? 

It’s an underrated province that flies under the radar because many people only know about its industrial estates. 

But Rayong is actually a great province to live, work, retire, or raise a family in. It has a thriving city area and plenty of nature, including beaches, waterfalls, and mountains.  

Some Thais say that if you visit Rayong just once, you’ll probably want to buy a house and move here permanently. 

By the end of this guide, you’re going to find out everything there is to know about living in Rayong, including the overall quality of life, what kind of food it offers, places you stay, and much more. You’ll also get a breakdown of the kind of lifestyle you can afford here with a THB50,000 (US$1,350) monthly budget.

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About Rayong

Rayong is a province with a long coastline located on the east of Thailand. It’s next to Chon Buri and takes around two hours by car to get there from Bangkok.

More and more expats are moving from Pattaya to Rayong because the province offers quality of life and everything expats need to thrive in Thailand.

According to the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council of Thailand, Rayong has had the highest gross provincial product (GPP) in Thailand for more than 10 consecutive years.

Its GPP is even higher than Bangkok’s or Phuket’s. This means that Rayong is the richest province in Thailand because of many reasons.

• Rayong is home to many industrial parks, including:
  • Amata City Industrial Estate
  • Pinthong Industrial Estate
  • Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate
  • Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate
  • WHA Rayong 36 Industrial Estate
• Rayong has many travel attractions, from Koh Samed — which is one of the most famous islands on the east of Thailand — to botanical gardens, mangrove forests, an aquarium, beaches, and waterfalls.
• The fishing industry in Rayong is very large.
• Fruit markets in Rayong are huge. The province is known for its durians.

Because of this, Rayong is one of the most developed provinces in Thailand. In fact, unlike several other provinces around Bangkok, roads are well developed no matter where you go.

Rayong also has all the facilities you need to live here: international hospitals, supermarkets, shopping malls, international restaurants, and places to experience a variety of nightlife.

Quality of Life

Overall, the quality of life in Rayong is high. Much of the province is relaxed and provides a good balance between modern conveniences and plenty of outdoor activities.

To give you an idea, you can live in a beachfront condo or a house in a gated community that comes with similar facilities, amenities, and services that you would get in Bangkok. 

When you’re hungry, you have tons of restaurants to choose from. You can go to a cafe next to a beach and sip a cup of coffee while enjoying life. Food delivery is also available in Rayong. 

You can go to a local market or night market to eat cheap yet delicious food. You can enjoy fresh seafood from many restaurants. You can go to a rooftop bar and enjoy Western cuisine. 

If you need to exercise, you can jog by the beach in the morning, or you can run in a park in your gated community. You can jog at a public park or even kayak in a mangrove forest. 

Also, if you want to go shopping, you have many malls like Central Rayong.

If you get sick, you can find pharmacies, clinics, and dentists throughout the province, or you can go to Rayong Bangkok Hospital, which is one of the leading private hospitals in Thailand that treats all types of ailments.

All of these facilities are close to one another. And because traffic is light and roads are well maintained, you can easily travel from place to place within 10 to 15 minutes. 

You can’t find these perks in most parts of Thailand.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Rayong is slightly lower than in many popular provinces like Bangkok, Chon Buri, and Phuket. 

While the cost of food, utilities, and general expenses like shopping are basically the same, rent is much lower. On average, many expats live moderately in Rayong for THB35,000 a month without kids.

Many locals, on the other hand, live here on just THB20,000 a month.

However, for this guide, I’m going to show you what kind of life you get with THB50,000 a month when living in Rayong. 

Rent

Since Rayong is one of the most developed provinces in Thailand, many accommodations here are modern, furnished, and come with similar facilities you’d find in Bangkok, including convenient stores, laundry services, keycard security systems, and swimming pools. 

There are plenty of accommodations in Rayong. The two most popular options for expats are:

• Houses in gated communities with ample space
• Condos with amazing sea views 

For example, you can rent a three-bedroom house in Moo Ban Phloen Chai 2, a gated community located in the city center for THB16,000 a month. 

If you want to live in a beachfront condo, it’ll cost you THB12,000 a month for a 36-square-meter condo at The Ultimate River Beach Condominium in Moonlight Beach. Since the condo is in the city, you can still access the aforementioned facilities in just 15 minutes by car. 

For those who are on a budget and still want to live in the Rayong city area, there are many condos available for rent for just THB6,000 to THB8,000 a month, including Parkland Rayong and Supalai City Resort Rayong.

Since the city area in Rayong is not big, you can access all necessary facilities from all of these places within 15 minutes by car most of the time, including Central Rayong, Moonlight Beach, Bangkok Hospital Rayong, Rayong Golf Driving Range, and the Mangrove Forest Learning Center. 

If you don’t want to live in a city area, you can rent a house in Bang Chang or a beachfront condo in Mae Ram Phueng Beach for less than THB8,000 a month. 

Food

One of the great things about Rayong is the food. There are many places you can go that provide quality food at good prices, especially at night.

Due to the nature of people living in Rayong, many come here for work. After work, they want to eat good food before going back home. 

Because of this, there are tons of nice restaurants you can visit at night, such as beachside seafood restaurants, rooftop bars, and Thai restaurants with live music.

It’s also good to know that many restaurants in Rayong offer more than a hundred choices of Thai food on their menus. This is because the people who work here want to have a nice selection of options for dinner. 

So, many Thai restaurants offer all types of Thai food so that everyone can enjoy their meals together. Naidol Thai Style Restaurant is a good example of this type of restaurant. Eating in a place like this costs you around THB150 to THB300, on average, per meal.

There are also many good Western restaurants. But your options in Rayong are still much more limited compared to Pattaya, Phuket, or Bangkok.

For example, this German Bierhaus provides great German food with excellent beer. The Bizarre Island offers a wide selection of Asian and Western food. Humstreak House and Bistro sell great steaks and are fantastically rated on Google Maps. 

Or you can go to a night market such as the Star Night Market and eat street food here.

For other meals, it can be less fancy. In many cases, you can go to a market that has a food court inside and eat food there. 

There are a variety of local foods in food courts like Mang Mee Market or 5D market. But prices tend to be slightly higher than prices for street food.

Or you can just find a restaurant to eat at. 

Alternatively, you can visit a shopping mall for more food choices or order something online from a food app such as LINE MAN or GrabFood and have it delivered to your door.

The cost of food in Rayong is similar to that in downtown Bangkok, but at a better quality.

For example, it costs only THB60 for beef noodles. You get a bigger portion with more meat and fresher ingredients. 

But keep in mind that breakfast options can be limited in Rayong. 

While you can eat at StarBucks or have a Thai-style breakfast such as rice and omelet, porridge, or noodles, sometimes you may want to prepare your own breakfast.

Because of this, you can order groceries online or shop from a nearby supermarket such as Tesco or Makro, both of which can be found throughout Rayong, to buy and then cook your own food for breakfast. 

Fruits are another perk of living in Rayong. There are many fruit farms here making it easy for you to enjoy seasonal fruits throughout the year. Rayong is especially known for durian, mangosteen, and rambutan. 

Having said that, your food budget in Rayong can be THB13,500 a month. With this budget you can:

• Eat out at restaurants once per day almost every day
• Cook your own food, eat at local vendors, or use food delivery services 

Transportation

Public transportation in Rayong is lacking. Only songthaews, which are modified pick-up trucks with two rows of benches in the back, are available on the main roads, primarily along Sukhumvit. 

If you want to take a taxi, you won’t be able to find them on the streets. You need to call or use a ride-sharing app such as Grab or Bolt instead. The cost for these services is similar to Bangkok. It shouldn’t cost you more than THB120 for a 10-kilometer ride. 

Therefore, if you live in Rayong, you should consider having your own car or motorcycle. This will make it easier to get around the city. You can buy a used scooter such as Honda Wave or Yamaha Scoopy for THB 25,000.

Roads in Rayong are among the best in Thailand. They’re spacious and in good condition. Traffic is also light most of the time. It’s also safe to drive here even at night. Drunk drivers are rare due to the lack of nighttime activities. 

Filling up on gas is also easy because there are many gas stations available throughout the city.

Combining the cost of fuel and maintenance, your transportation cost per year in Rayong could be THB36,000, or THB3,000 a month, if you go with this option.

As a side note, Rayong is only 45 minutes away from U-Tapao International Airport, which has direct flights to many major provinces in Thailand, including Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, Phuket, and Koh Samui. It also offers international flights to China, Malaysia, and Russia.

Healthcare

When it comes to healthcare in Rayong, it has its pros and cons.

Here’s the good part: there are many outdoor activities available, making it easy to exercise. For example, you can jog by the beach next to your condo or inside your gated community. 

Additionally, food and fruits are generally fresh, and it’s easy to find healthy options.

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Whenever you are sick, you can simply go to Bangkok Hospital Rayong. The hospital uses modern medical equipment and employs many experienced doctors. 

In fact, the treatment quality and facilities provided here are among the best in Thailand.

Bangkok Hospital Rayong is the leading private hospital here. Treatment quality and facilities are among the best in the country.

Here’s the bad part: the cost of treatment at Bangkok Hospital Rayong is generally higher than other private hospitals. The hospital is under the Bangkok Hospital chain, which is a premium private hospital chain in Thailand, on par with Bumrungrad Hospital. 

So, if you want to live in Rayong, it can be a good idea to get comprehensive health insurance such as Cigna Global. This way, you won’t have to worry about breaking the bank should something serious happen.

It can cost you THB 6,000 a month if you are around 40 years old. But the cost of health insurance depends on various factors. You should read our in-depth guide to health insurance in Thailand to find out more.

If you want to pay for healthcare costs yourself, expect to shell out around THB2,500 to THB3,500 per doctor’s visit. If you need to be admitted to a hospital, though, expect to pay at least THB40,000 per night.

Aside from Bangkok Hospital Rayong, there are other hospitals here. But the treatment quality isn’t as good. 

Many dentists, pharmacies, and clinics can be found throughout Rayong as well. 

Social Life

Your social life may be limited in Rayong due to the lack of expat communities. Based on my observation, there are mainly three types of expats that live in Rayong:

• Retirees who want to live a quiet life near the beach
• Those who marry a Thai national and raise a family
• Those who work at one of the industrial estates

However, as the province grows, more expats should be moving to Rayong in the near future.

Still, you can add THB1,000 to your monthly budget for social activities a few times per month. 

Fixed Expenses 

No matter where you live in Thailand, fixed expenses stay in the same including, on average:

• THB 3,000 per month for utilities such as Internet, phone service, electricity, and water
• THB 500 per month for Thai visa related matters
• THB 5,000 per month for travel
• THB 2,000 per month for personal care, laundry, haircut, and other personal services

You can find out how we estimated these costs from this article. 

Lifestyle with a THB50,000 Monthly Budget

To summarize, with a THB50,000 a month budget, you can live a comfortable life in Rayong. 

• You can rent a house with ample space in the city center or a 50-square-meter beachside condo that allows you access to all facilities and amenities within a 15-minutes drive. 
• You can eat at a nice restaurant at least once per day. 
• You’ll have to cook breakfast at home and eat local food for other meals.
• You can buy a premium health insurance plan from Cigna Global that covers hospitalizations at premium private hospitals, in full.
• You can buy a used motorcycle to get around in Rayong.
• You can turn on your air conditioner whenever you want.
• You still have THB5,000 left for travel. 

Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll spend living in Rayong:

Expense	Cost (Baht)
Rent	16,000
Food	13,500
Transportation	3,000
Health	6,000
Utilities	3,000
Social Activities	1,000
Visa	500
Travel	5,000
Misc.	2,000
Total	50,000

Trade-offs

• If you have less of a budget, you can cut the accommodation cost in half by staying in a condo or living in a less expensive area such as Ban Chang or Mae Ram Phueng Beach.
• If you want to own a car, you’ll need to live in a cheaper place and limit the amount of times you eat out to only once or twice per week.
• If you have school-aged children, your monthly budget should be at least THB100,000 a month. School fees in Rayong are similar to many parts of Thailand. Bilingual schools in Rayong can cost you at least THB250,000 a year. For international schools, you should expect to pay at least THB400,000 a year. 
• If you have younger children, you should plan for a monthly budget of at least THB70,000. With this amount, you can send your children to a bilingual daycare, which costs between THB5,000 to THB10,000 a month.

More About Rayong 

Let’s take a look at other important factors to help you get to know more about Rayong. 

Activities

Locals love to say that Rayong provides everything like beaches, rivers, mountains, waterfalls, and city life. So, when you live here, there are plenty of things to do, including:

• You can enjoy water activities such as surfing, kayaking, fishing, and snorkeling near Laem Mae Phim Beach or Koh Samet.
• You can raft down a river mouth and watch hawks in the Prasae River at sunset.
• You can hike along the mountain and beach at Khao Laem Ya–Mu Ko Samet National Park.
• You can visit many fruit farms, such as Suphattraland, and enjoy fresh fruits right from the trees. 
• You can camp in the mountains at Phutawan Camping View.
• You can go to the Rayong Botanic Garden and spend your whole day kayaking and cycling.
• You can walk along the Star Night Market and eat local street food.
• If you’re looking for city activities, you can go to Central Rayong to shop or watch movies.

Because of all these activities, Rayong is becoming more popular among expat families. They can easily find a place for their kids to hang out on weekends.

Beaches

Living by the beach is another great perk of living in Rayong. The province has a long coastline. If you live here, most of the time you can get to a beach within 15 minutes by car. This is a great benefit if you are one of those who love to be at the beach. 

There are many beaches in Rayong, and each is known for different things. For example: 

• Moonlight Beach and Laem Charoen Beach: Beaches in the city area that have many restaurants. Beachside music festivals are also held here regularly. 
• Mae Ram Phueng Beach: This beach has many affordable seafood restaurants. It’s about 15 minutes away from the city. It’s also a favorite location for retirees who want to live in an affordable beachfront condo. 
• Suan Son Beach: You’ll find many nice beachside restaurants here.
• Phala Beach, Phayun Beach, and Nam Rin Beach: Quiet beaches in the Ban Chang area. 

While Rayong’s beaches may not be as beautiful as those in the southern part of Thailand, they are much more peaceful, less crowded, and more relaxed. Also, prices are very cheap. You can rent a table and chairs for only THB20 and enjoy your lunch or dinner by the beach. 

In addition, beachside restaurants in Rayong offer more authentic tastes. They can be more spicy and sour than restaurants you find in places such as Pattaya or Phuket. 

Education and Family Life

If you have children, you’ll be happy to know that Rayong is a good province to raise a family in.

• You can rent a house with plenty of space for your children for less than THB16,000. 
• There are many outdoor family-friendly activities you can take your children to during weekends.
• There are international schools here including Singapore International School Rayong and Garden International School Rayong. Tuition fees start at THB400,000 a year. 
• If your children can speak Thai, you can send them to study at Assumption Rayong School, which is one of the leading private schools in Thailand. You should expect to pay at least THB250,000 a year for your child to study in a bilingual program at a private school in Rayong.
• Daycare and nursery schools can be found throughout Rayong. However, they are mainly for Thai kids age 1 or older. Bilingual daycares are still limited.
• There isn’t much nightlife activity in Rayong, making it easy for families to spend time together in the evenings.

Because of this, we have seen an increasing number of expats move from Pattaya to Rayong, especially those who marry Thai nationals. 

This is because they want their kids to live in a safer environment.

Job Opportunities

This is a disadvantage of living in Rayong. 

Job opportunities are mainly limited to the industrial sector, such as engineering, factory management, and logistics. Aside from that, some teaching jobs and hotel positions are available here.

But there are plenty of opportunities for business owners. Rayong is part of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), which is Thailand’s exclusive economic zone aiming to transform Thailand into a leading economic hub of Southeast Asia. 

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Foreign investors get additional perks from the Board of Investment, including corporate tax exemptions. 

In addition, Rayong hosts over 3,000 factories and numerous shipping ports, making it a significant logistics hub. 

There are other opportunities even if your business is not related to manufacturing. Being the richest province in Thailand, people living in Rayong have significant spending power. 

Nightlife

If you love partying at night, Rayong might not be a good place for you due to the limited nightlife activity. 

As mentioned earlier, many people come to Rayong for work and business. After work, they enjoy food at a good restaurant and go back home to spend time with their families.

People

Rayong people are quite friendly and well educated. They are generally open-minded and happy to make new friends.

Since Rayong has many industrial estates, many business owners from various parts of Thailand move to Rayong to run their businesses here. So, it’s a good opportunity if you want to network with Thai business owners. 

Because of this, many people living in Rayong can speak English well, especially in tourism or city areas. 

But to live in Thailand long-term, you should still learn some Thai. It helps make life easier and helps you connect with the country even more, making your life in Thailand more comfortable. 

Weather and Air Quality

Since it’s only an hour apart, the weather in Rayong is similar to that in Pattaya. 

Being a coastal city, Rayong is hot and humid throughout the year, with occasional heavy rainfall during the rainy season between June and October.

According to the Thai Meteorological Department, Rayong has an average temperature throughout the year of 28.4 degrees Celsius (83.12 degrees Fahrenheit).

Like many cities in Thailand, Rayong also has regular air pollution problems from January to February, with an average AQI of 35.5 to 55.4 μg/m³ according to IQAir.com.

These two months are also the only time of the year Rayong has an air pollution problem. For other months, the air quality is quite good thanks to the sea breeze.

Pollution

Air quality in Rayong is better than more northern parts, but due to industrial activity there is a risk of pollution or environmental accidents.

For example, there were two major oil leaks in 2022 and 2013. In 2024, a chemical storage tank exploded resulting in one death and heavy smoke in nearby areas. 

Aside from those incidents, according to the Thailand Pollution Control Department, air pollution levels in Rayong generally remain within safe limits.  

Popular Neighborhoods

If you want to live in Rayong, there are three areas of the province you should check out: 

• City Area
• Mae Ram Phueng Beach
• Ban Chang 

City Area

This is the most popular neighborhood in Rayong. 

Living in the city area of Rayong is like living in Bangkok’s suburbs. You get all of the facilities, amenities, and conveniences you need to live your life. And everything is only a 15-minute drive away. 

It’s by far the most convenient area to live in Rayong and good for those who still want that city lifestyle. You can choose to live inside a gated community in the city, or you can rent a beachfront condo. 

There are also plenty of things to do in a city, including beaches, driving ranges, mangrove forest trails, floating markets, night markets, and much more. 

A majority of great restaurants in Rayong can also be found in its city. 

That said, it’s the most expensive area to live in as well. For example, the cost of rent here can be almost twice as high than other areas. And the beaches here aren’t as beautiful as other areas in Rayong.

Mae Ram Phueng Beach

Mae Ram Phueng Beach is about 15 minutes away from the city area and known for its beautiful, relaxing atmosphere and affordable beachfront condos. It’s a popular area for retirees.

Beachfront condos here are much cheaper than in the city area. It’s possible to buy a beachfront studio condo for less than THB2 million. 

This area is also known for its affordable local seafood. You can find plenty of restaurants near the jetties. There’s also a big fruit market where you can shop for fresh fruits that come straight from the farms.

The downside is that it can be too quiet, especially at night. And you need to go into town whenever you want to do some shopping. 

Ban Chang

Ban Chang is a small beach town that’s only 10 minutes away from U-Tapao International Airport. 

It’s a good area for those who want to live in a quiet atmosphere but still want some access to modern conveniences. 

You’ll find lots of Western restaurants, bars, gyms, tennis courts, and golf courses here. 

Whenever you want to go shopping or need a taste of the city life, you’re only about 40 minutes away from either Pattaya or Rayong’s city center.

Many expats live here because of work. Some choose to stay here because they want to live near the beach with a more sedate environment than Pattaya or Rayong’s city center. 

Also, the cost of housing here is pretty affordable. You can find a house to rent for less than THB10,000. 

Should You Live in Rayong?

To summarize, here’s a quick list of the pros and cons that come with living in Rayong.

Pros

• The province offers great work-life balance.
• You can find most of the things you need for your daily life within a 15-minute drive if you live in downtown Rayong.
• You can take part in plenty of activities, from visiting the beach to hiking to shopping.
• You have plenty of restaurants to choose from at nighttime. 
• Beachfront condos are much more affordable than those in many other Thai cities.
• It’s a good province to raise a family in.
• There are plenty of business opportunities here.

Cons

• Cost of living can be a bit higher than other places in Thailand.
• You have limited choices in hospitals.
• You need your own car or motorcycle to get around.
• Pollution can be a problem sometimes.
• Expat communities are quite small.

Because of these reasons, in my opinion, Rayong is a good place to live if you want to:

• Live in a province that offers a good work-life balance.
• Run your own business or work online.
• Retire in a quiet province but still want access to good facilities and healthcare.
• Raise a family in Thailand.
• Work at one of the industrial parks.

Rayong City Vs. Other Popular Beach Cities In Thailand

Let’s look at how Rayong city compares to other popular beach cities in Thailand, including Phuket, Pattaya, and Hua Hin.

Rayong Vs. Phuket

Although both are coastal cities, you get a totally different style of life between Rayong and Phuket.

• Phuket has some of the most famous beaches in the world. The province is packed, and many facilities are catered to tourists. 
• The beaches in Phuket are much more beautiful than those in Rayong, but they are also much busier and more expensive as well. 
• Water activities in Phuket are also better than those in Rayong in every aspect.
• Phuket is becoming like Bangkok — it’s bustling, busy, and expensive. 
• There are many more restaurant choices in Phuket than in Rayong. 
• The cost of living in Phuket is higher than that of Rayong. In fact, Phuket is the most expensive province to live in, in Thailand. Food prices, especially at popular restaurants, can be especially high.
• Public transportation in Phuket is poor and expensive. You need to have your own transportation to live there. 
• Driving in Phuket can be challenging. Traffic can be chaotic, with motorcycles everywhere and people constantly changing lanes. Additionally, some roads can be narrow and steep.

With all that said, if you want to live in a beach area with tons of things to do, don’t mind living in a packed city or tourist area, and are okay with higher prices, Phuket is a good choice.

On the other hand, if you want a more relaxed lifestyle but still be near a beach with modern conveniences, it’s better to live in Rayong.

Rayong Vs. Pattaya

Rayong is only an hour away from Pattaya, but the lifestyle you get is totally different.

• Pattaya is busier than Rayong. There are more things to do in Pattaya both during the day and at night.
• Pattaya has a reputation for its red-light district and is notorious for its nightlife. In contrast, nightlife in Rayong is much more limited to certain streets and night markets.
• When it comes to food, restaurants in Pattaya mainly cater to tourists. It’s easier to find Western food in Pattaya, but these places are also more expensive. 
• It is around 10 percent to 20 percent more expensive to live in Pattaya.
• The beaches in Pattaya are busier than those in Rayong.
• Healthcare in Pattaya is slightly better because there are more choices, but the overall quality of treatment is the same.
• Since Pattaya can be a tourist trap, you are more likely to get scammed in Pattaya than in Rayong.
• Pattaya can be dangerous to drive in, especially at night, due to many drunk drivers. Meanwhile, Rayong is safer to drive in, and traffic is much better than traffic in Pattaya.

To conclude, if you want to live a busier life with tons of things to do, especially partying at night, it’s better to live in Pattaya.

On the other hand, if you want to live a simple life with access to modern conveniences, it’s better to live in Rayong.

Rayong Vs. Hua Hin

Hua Hin is a quiet beach town about three hours away from Bangkok. Rayong and Hua Hin are similar in many regards. Both are peaceful and quiet yet still offer access to modern facilities.

• Hua Hin has a bigger expat community than Rayong. So, it’s easier to find expat services, food, and activities.
• Hua Hin can be even quieter than Rayong, especially on weekdays.
• On the other hand, Hua Hin can be much busier than Rayong during weekends since locals love to travel there.
• While Hua Hin can be quiet, its nightlife is better than Rayong’s. There are many bars where you can enjoy drinks in the evenings.
• Rayong offers a better city life than Hua Hin.
• Healthcare facilities in Rayong are also better.
• There are many golf courses and spas in Hua Hin.
• The cost of living in these two provinces are similar.
• Hua Hin’s air quality can be better than Rayong’s. In addition, there are no factories there.
• There are more options for international schools, nursery schools, and daycare in Hua Hin than in Rayong. 

To conclude, Hua Hin is a sleepier version of Rayong. It’s more relaxed there, except on weekends. 

But Hua Hin does have better nightlife than Rayong. Modern facilities and amenities, however, can be limited, and Hua Hin has significantly more tourists than Rayong.

When it comes to raising a family, Hua Hin might be a better option. While family-friendly activities are similar between Rayong and Hua Hin, the latter offers more education options. 

In addition, Hua Hin has a bigger expat family community. For example, there is a Facebook group Parents in Hua Hin with thousands of members. 

On the other hand, if you still need modern facilities for your life and want to maintain a relaxed lifestyle, Rayong is better in this regard.