Should you visit Ao Nang or Pattaya?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Pattaya? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Ao Nang
If you're looking for a relaxing beach on the coast of Thailand, it might be time to make a trip to Ao Nang. This developed and "westernized" beach was once the place to be for backpackers, but is now quite popular with package tourist crowds, too, as prices have risen in recent decades. Here you'll find nice hotels, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities at the beach and nearby, too.
Pattaya
Go where the locals go. If that is your vacation motto, you will want to take a look at the popular weekend getaway of Pattaya, Thailand. This seaside resort on the Eastern Gulf Coast of Thailand is just outside of Bangkok, and full of resorts, beer bars and beaches.
Hosting more than five million visitors a year, Pattaya is easily accessed from the capital and the airport. Keep in mind, the sex tourism industry is still a large money earner for this city, but efforts by local authorities have created resorts and attractions for families and vacationers from all around the world.
Which city is cheaper, Pattaya or Ao Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $94, while the average daily cost in Pattaya is $58. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Ao Nang and Pattaya in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $92 in Ao Nang For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Travelers usually pay around $42 for a double occupancy room in Pattaya If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
Ao Nang food costs typically run travelers around $22 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
Food in Pattaya costs travelers about $20 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
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Food
Meals for one day
Ao Nang $22
Pattaya $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Evening Couse Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi:
$39
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Krabi 7 Islands Sunset with Luminescent Plankton Swim & BBQ Dinner:
$41
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Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi:
$43
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Krabi 4 Island & Sunset Tour By Long Tail Boat + Dinner:
$49
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Krabi 4 Islands Sunset Cruise Dinner:
$70
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Romantic Sunset Cruise from Ao Nang with BBQ Seafood Dinner:
$100
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pattaya
For Pattaya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Drink Drunk Drunk night & Sunset landmark selfie with Dinner:
$56
Local Transportation
Ao Nang's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $49 per person, per day on transportation in Ao Nang.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Pattaya than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $10 on transportation in Pattaya on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Phuket Airport to Krabi City or Hotel Private Transfer:
$119
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Krabi Transfer to Khao Lak:
$117
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Ao Nang Krabi Thai Boxing Stadium Admission Ticket with Return Transfer:
$111
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Aonang any hotel to Khao Lak Private transfer:
$110
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Krabi to Phuket: Private City Transfer:
$107
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Aonang any hotel to Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer:
$107
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Ao Nang Krabi Thai Boxing Stadium Admission Ticket with Return Transfer:
$99
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Ao Nang Krabi Thai Boxing Stadium Admission Ticket with Return Transfer:
$99
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Private Transfer Ao Nang Beach Krabi To Phuket Airport:
$90
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Full Day Jungle Tour With Elephan Trekking 30 Minutes + Tiger Cave + Transfers:
$73
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Private Transfer to Phuket with Jimmy Phuket Taxi:
$68
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Private Round Trip Transfer between Ao Nang and KBV Krabi Airport:
$44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pattaya
Also for Pattaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Tiffany's Show Pattaya Admission Ticket with Return Transfer:
$44
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Sanctuary of Truth at Pattaya Admission Ticket with Transfer:
$35
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Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum at Pattaya with Return Transfer:
$52
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Return hotel transfers to Gems Gallery Pattaya (Jewelry):
$2.56
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Ramayana Water Park Admission with Hotel Transfers from Pattaya:
$65
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Ramayana Water Park Admission Ticket with Return Transfer:
$55
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Private Transfer: Pattaya to Bangkok:
$82
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Private Transfer: DMK Airport to Pattaya hotel 100% All-Electric Car:
$85
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Private Transfer: BKK Airport to Pattaya hotel 100% All-Electric Car:
$100
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Private Transfer from Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi Airport:
$73
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Private Transfer from Pattaya Hotel to DMK Airport:
$73
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Private Transfer from Pattaya Hotel to Bangkok Airport or Don Muang Airport:
$60
Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Pattaya?
Prices for flights to both Pattaya and Ao Nang change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Ao Nang can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $9.65 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing expenses in Pattaya, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $18 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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2 Days 1 Night Khao Sok National Park Tour from Krabi:
$285
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2D1N Khao Sok National Park Tour from Krabi:
$285
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2D1N Khao Sok National Park Tour from Krabi:
$285
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2D1N Khao Sok National Park Tour from Krabi:
$285
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All day Krabi Jungle Tour (Hot Spring Water, Emerald Pool, Tiger Cave Temple):
$61
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Aonang wonder Cocktail testing tour:
$41
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Ban Bor Thor Kayaking Full-Day Tour from Krabi with Lunch:
$87
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Ban Bor Thor Kayaking Full-Day Tour from Krabi with Lunch:
$87
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Deep mangrove and canyon Kayak Tour in Krabi:
$36
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Four Island Half Day Tour From Krabi By SpeedBoat:
$75
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Full Day Rock Climbing Tour Railay Beach, Krabi:
$93
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Full day Rock Climbing Experience @ Railay, Krabi:
$109
Tours and Activities in Pattaya
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Pattaya.
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3-Hour Mini Siam Tour in Pattaya:
$55
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Admission Ticket to Ramayana Water Park in Pattaya:
$41
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Alcazar Cabaret Admission Ticket with Optional Hotel Pickup in Pattaya:
$16
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Alcazar Cabaret Admission Ticket with Optional Hotel Pickup in Pattaya:
$21
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Alcazar Cabaret Show Admission Tickets:
$19
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Alcazar Cabaret Show at Pattaya Admission Ticket:
$17
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Art in Paradise Pattaya Entrance (Ticket Only):
$9.09
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Art in Paradise at Pattaya Admission Ticket:
$15
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Art in Paradise in Pattaya Admission Ticket:
$15
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Bangkok Temples Private Tour from Pattaya – Full Day:
$150
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Coral Island (Koh Larn) & Sanctuary of Truth Private Tour from Pattaya –Full Day:
$85
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Coral Island (Koh Larn) Tours with Lunch:
$18
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Ao Nang spend on average $13 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Pattaya, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $7.23.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Pattaya, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Pattaya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pattaya would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pattaya and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Ao Nang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ao Nang than you might in Pattaya.
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