Should you visit Bangkok or Pattaya?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Bangkok and Pattaya can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Bangkok
Bangkok: a name synonymous with all things exotic. The vibrant and exciting capital of Thailand is not just a hub for Southeast Asia, but also a destination into itself. Known for an active nightlife and party scene, as well as great food, historic temples, and busy markets, Bangkok offers a diversity to entertain even the most experienced travelers.
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 Bangkok?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangkok is $65, while the average daily cost in Pattaya is $59. 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 Bangkok and Pattaya in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Bangkok is $70. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
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
The average traveler spends about $16 per day in Bangkok for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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
Bangkok $16
Pattaya $20
Typical Food prices in Bangkok
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Bangkok:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangkok
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bangkok.
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Silom Village Authentic Thai Dinner and Performance Ticket:
$17
-
Thai Akha Kitchen Cooking Class & Local Market Tour:
$23
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Tom Yum Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour in Chiang Mai:
$23
-
Baiyoke Observation Deck with Lunch/Dinner Buffet:
$23
-
Asia Scenic Thai Cooking Class:
$25
-
Siamese Cookery House Thai Cooking Class in Bangkok:
$26
-
Luxurious Afternoon Tea or Dinner at the Erawan Tea Rooms:
$26
-
Skip the Line: Baiyoke Sky Hotel Observation Deck Ticket with Lunch or Dinner:
$26
-
InFusion Cooking Classes in Koh Samui:
$26
-
Bangkok Thai Classical Dance with Thai Set Dinner Ticket:
$27
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Sompong Thai Cooking Class:
$27
-
Galangal Cooking Class with Market Tour in Chiang Mai:
$28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pattaya
For Pattaya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Thai Akha Kitchen Cooking Class & Local Market Tour:
$23
-
Tom Yum Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour in Chiang Mai:
$23
-
Asia Scenic Thai Cooking Class:
$25
-
Siamese Cookery House Thai Cooking Class in Bangkok:
$26
-
InFusion Cooking Classes in Koh Samui:
$26
-
Sompong Thai Cooking Class:
$27
-
Galangal Cooking Class with Market Tour in Chiang Mai:
$28
-
Lanna Smile Thai Cooking Class in Chiang Mai:
$29
-
Pum Thai Cooking Class in Patong Beach:
$31
-
Chocolate Cooking Class at SO Sofitel Bangkok:
$31
-
Thai Cooking Course Hua Hin:
$31
-
Bangkok Thai Cooking Academy:
$31
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Bangkok is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $4.40 per person, per day, on local transportation in Bangkok.
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.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bangkok are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangkok
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangkok:
-
Kata Rocks Resort & Residences (8D7N) with free COE Application and Airport Transfers:
$2,321
-
To/From Pattaya 1-Way Private Luxury Transfers:
$257
-
Private Transfer from Bangkok to Chiang Rai with 2h of Sightseeing:
$220
-
Moto GP Private Transfer Bangkok To Chang International Circuit:
$218
-
Private Transfer Laem Chabang/Bangkok:
$212
-
Private Transfer from Bangkok to Krabi with 2h of Sightseeing:
$205
-
Private Transfer from Don Muang Airport to Koh Chang Hotel:
$199
-
Private Transfer from Bangkok Airport to Koh Chang hotel:
$193
-
Elephant Haven Kanchanaburi with Private Transfer from Bangkok:
$192
-
Elephant World Sanctuary with private transfer trip from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi:
$191
-
Private Transfer from Bangkok to Chiang Mai with 2h of Sightseeing:
$190
-
Bangkok International Airport Private Transfer to Hotels in Koh Chang:
$190
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pattaya
Also for Pattaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Krabi/Phuket Airport Transfers (KBV/HKT) for Krabi & More:
$15
-
Private Phuket Airport Transfers (HKT) for Phuket and Other Areas by Oriental Holiday:
$18
-
7 Spa Luxury Spa Treatments in Pattaya with Round Trip Transfers:
$26
-
Alcazar Cabaret Show in Pattaya with Hotel Transfer:
$23
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Alcazar Cabaret Show with transfers:
$32
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Alcazar Cabaret at Pattaya Admission Ticket with Return Transfer:
$24
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Alcazar Show (Normal Seat) - Round trip SIC Transfers:
$23
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Alcazar Show Pattaya - With Transfers.:
$24
-
Alcazar Show in Pattaya with Optional Hotel Transfers:
$16
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Arrival Bangkok Airport Private Transfer : Hotel in Pattaya:
$61
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Art in Paradise at Pattaya Admission Ticket with Return Transfer:
$23
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Big Bee farm Pattaya ( Entry & Return Transfers):
$14
Is it cheaper to fly into Bangkok or Pattaya?
Prices for flights to both Pattaya and Bangkok 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
Entertainment and activities in Bangkok typically cost an average of $12 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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.
Typical Entertainment prices in Bangkok
Here are a few typical costs in Bangkok for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Movie Ticket
$4.89
-
Grand Palace Entrance Ticket
$11
-
Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Ticket
$1.53
-
Dusit Zoo Entrance Fee (for Two)
$6.12
-
Club Cover Charge
$11
-
Thai Boxing Tickets (for Two)
$73
-
Fish Pedicure
$4.59
-
Wat Pho entrance ticket
$3.06
-
Siriraj Museum (2)
$12
Tours and Activities in Bangkok
Here are a few actual costs in Bangkok for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
4 Island Day Tour by Speedboat or Longtail Boat from Lanta Island:
$31
-
ATV Half Day Adventure in Pattaya:
$28
-
Ancient Ayutthaya Tour: Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, Bang Pa-In Royal Palace & More by AK Travel:
$33
-
Aquaria Phuket Ticket:
$4.95
-
Ayutthaya Day Tour from Bangkok with Bang Pa In and Night Market Visit by TTD:
$31
-
Ayutthaya Day Tour from Bangkok with Bang Pa-In Summer Palace and Market Visit:
$35
-
Bangkok Floating Markets Day Tour from Siam Paragon by TTD:
$28
-
Dii Wellness Med Spa Experience by Divana at Central Embassy BTS Ploenchit:
$62
-
Go Bangkok e-Scooter Tour:
$46
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Indoor Go Karting Experience by EasyKart Bangkok:
$13
-
Krabi Koh Klang Cultural Day Tour by TTD:
$74
-
Krabi Sunrise Tour with Breakfast and Kayaking at Klong Nam Sai:
$33
Tours and Activities in Pattaya
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Pattaya.
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SHOCK PRICE!! Only at THB10 for Airport Rail Link (ARL) Single Journey Ticket with FREE EMS:
$0.30
-
Pattaya Pipo Pony Club Admission Ticket in Pattaya:
$1.55
-
Pattaya Sheep Farm Ticket:
$2.19
-
Ramayana Water Park Ticket in Pattaya:
$3.75
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Nails, Eyelash, and Waxing Beauty Experience at Ju's Nail:
$3.75
-
Wakeboarding Experience at Thai Wake Park in Pattaya:
$4.19
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Pong Yang Adventure Park Experience:
$4.49
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Aquaria Phuket Ticket:
$4.95
-
Rejuv Salon Beauty Experiences at Sathon Bangkok:
$5.85
-
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden Ticket in Pattaya:
$5.89
-
Sleep Salon & Nails Experience in Bangkok:
$6.15
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For Art's Sake Ticket Hua Hin:
$6.19
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Bangkok may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $7.29 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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 $7.34.
Typical Alcohol prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bangkok are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Bangkok
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bangkok:
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4-Hour Sukhumvit Bar Crawl:
$7.50
-
4-Hour Thonglor Bar Crawl:
$20
-
Guided Bar Crawl:
$21
-
PB Valley Vineyard and Wine Tasting Tour in Khao Yai:
$22
-
Bangkok Pub Crawl by Pub Crawls Thailand:
$22
-
From Khao Yai Wine Tasting by Bike:
$359
Sample the Local Flavors in Pattaya
Also in Pattaya, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
PB Valley Vineyard and Wine Tasting Tour in Khao Yai:
$22
-
Bangkok Pub Crawl by Pub Crawls Thailand:
$22
When comparing the travel costs between Bangkok and Pattaya, we can see that Bangkok is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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