Should you visit Koh Lanta or Pattaya?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Koh Lanta and Pattaya can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Koh Lanta
Located on the southern coast of Thailand is a place populated by long beaches and diving hotspots. Consisting of several islands, Koh Lanta is a large island with nine beaches along the coast. The beautiful scenery makes this a quiet and relaxing spot for tourists. The crowds on this island tend to be older than the party-seekers on Ko Phi Phi so you'll find more activities like serene walks on the beach or travelers catching a sunset.
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 Koh Lanta?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lanta is $43, while the average daily cost in Pattaya is $60. 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 Koh Lanta and Pattaya in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Koh Lanta is $44. 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 $9.73 per day in Koh Lanta 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
Koh Lanta $9.73
Pattaya $20
Typical Food prices in Koh Lanta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Lanta:
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Casual Breakfast
$4.92
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Casual Lunch
$8.30
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Casual Dinner
$14
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)
$52
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 average price of local transportation around Koh Lanta is $5.11 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
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 $11 on transportation in Pattaya on average per day.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Koh Lanta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Lanta:
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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Big Bee farm Pattaya ( Entry & Return Transfers):
$14
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Catamaran Transfers between Hua Hin and Pattaya:
$49
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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 Koh Lanta or Pattaya?
Prices for flights to both Pattaya and Koh Lanta 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
Koh Lanta's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $28 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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 Koh Lanta
Here are a few typical costs in Koh Lanta for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Emerald Cave Tour
$22
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Yoga Session (1 Hour)
$11
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 in 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 at 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 Koh Lanta may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $3.42 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 $7.38.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Lanta and Pattaya, we can see that Pattaya is more expensive. And not only is Koh Lanta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Lanta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Lanta 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 Pattaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pattaya than you might in Koh Lanta.
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