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 $64, 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 Bangkok and Pattaya in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Bangkok is $68. 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
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Luxurious Afternoon Tea or Dinner at the Erawan Tea Rooms:
$26
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Skip the Line: Baiyoke Sky Hotel Observation Deck Ticket with Lunch or Dinner:
$26
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Bangkok Thai Classical Dance with Thai Set Dinner Ticket:
$27
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2-Hour Dinner & Shows on White Orchid River Cruise:
$30
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Bangkok Calypso Cabaret Show With Optional Dinner & Transfers:
$31
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Bangkok Calypso Cabaret Show Tour With Optional Dinner.:
$31
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Skip the Line:Bangkok Calypso Cabaret Show Ticket w/(optional) Dinner &Transfers:
$32
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Dinner Cruise on Chao Phraya River in Bangkok (Optional Transfers):
$34
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Bangkok Dinner Cruise on Chao Phraya River:
$34
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Bangkok White Orchid Dinner Cruise:
$34
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Bangkok Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya River:
$34
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
The cost of a taxi ride in Bangkok is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $4.34 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:
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Private Transfer from Bangkok to Chiang Rai with 2h of Sightseeing:
$220
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Moto GP Private Transfer Bangkok To Chang International Circuit:
$218
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Private Transfer Laem Chabang/Bangkok:
$212
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Private Transfer from Bangkok to Krabi with 2h of Sightseeing:
$205
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Private Transfer from Don Muang Airport to Koh Chang Hotel:
$199
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Private Transfer from Bangkok Airport to Koh Chang hotel:
$193
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Elephant Haven Kanchanaburi with Private Transfer from Bangkok:
$192
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Elephant World Sanctuary with private transfer trip from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi:
$191
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Private Transfer from Bangkok to Chiang Mai with 2h of Sightseeing:
$190
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Bangkok Airport Private Transfer to Hotels in Trat:
$190
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Bangkok International Airport Private Transfer to Hotels in Koh Chang:
$190
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Thai Boxing Match including Tickets and Transfer in Bangkok:
$189
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pattaya
Also for Pattaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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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
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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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Bangkok: To/From Pattaya 1-Way Private Luxury Transfers:
$241
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Big Bee farm Pattaya ( Entry & Return Transfers):
$14
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Colosseum Show Pattaya VIP Seat with Transfer:
$39
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Coral Island Indian Lunch, Transfer, Hindi staff (India Travelers):
$11
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
$4.82
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Grand Palace Entrance Ticket
$11
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Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Ticket
$1.51
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Dusit Zoo Entrance Fee (for Two)
$6.03
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Club Cover Charge
$11
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Thai Boxing Tickets (for Two)
$72
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Fish Pedicure
$4.52
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Wat Pho entrance ticket
$3.01
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Siriraj Museum (2)
$12
Tours and Activities in Bangkok
Here are a few actual costs in Bangkok for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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"Phra Nakorn Khiri and Kui Buri adventure in 1 day" (Private trip):
$322
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"Two Day one Night for River Kwai Adventure" (Private):
$442
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04 DAYS CENTRAL HIGHLIGHTS - Joint Tour:
$692
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1-day Bangkok Old Town Tuk Tuk Tour - Sawasdee Tuk Tuk:
$102
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10 Hours Private Tour Ayuttaya:
$140
-
11-Day Thailand Tour to Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phuket:
$2,921
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12-Day Tour Through Cambodia from Bangkok to Saigon:
$1,165
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2 Days Private Tour To Ayutthaya' World Heritage Site:
$428
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2-Day River Kwai Experience from Bangkok:
$262
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2-Day River Kwai Floathouse Experience from Bangkok:
$346
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2-Day River Kwai Jungle Rafts Experience from Bangkok:
$231
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2-Day River Kwai and Kanchanaburi Tour from Bangkok:
$228
Tours and Activities in Pattaya
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Pattaya.
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Pattaya Floating Market Admission Ticket:
$6.99
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Pattaya Kids Special: Teddy Bear Museum Tickets & Optional Hotel Pickup:
$8.21
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Pattaya Swiss sheep Farm Entrance Tickets:
$8.21
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Join Half Day Pattaya City Tour with wat phra, view point (only Indian Passport):
$8.52
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LAZGAM Laser Game in Pattaya Admission Ticket:
$8.74
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Art in Paradise Pattaya Entrance (Ticket Only):
$9.09
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Skip the Line: Mini Siam and Mini Europe Admission Ticket:
$10
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Pattaya Coral Island tour + Indian Lunch + with Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off:
$11
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Mini Siam Miniature World at Pattaya Admission Ticket:
$12
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Mini Siam Miniature World at Pattaya Admission Ticket:
$12
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Mini Siam Miniature World in Pattaya Admission Ticket:
$12
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Pattaya Colosseum Cabaret Show Entrance Ticket:
$13
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Bangkok may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $7.19 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 $7.23.
Typical Alcohol prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bangkok are as follows:
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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