A Travel Price Comparison for Thailand Koh Lipe vs. Pattaya for Scuba Diving & Snorkeling, Beaches, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Koh Lipe or Pattaya?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Koh Lipe and Pattaya can help you decide which place is right for you.

Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe is a idyllic, small, and local island. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Visitors also love the hiking, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.

Pattaya

Pattaya is a vibrant, high energy, and colorful resort city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.

Koh Lipe and Pattaya: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Koh Lipe or Pattaya?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Pattaya. Although Koh Lipe and Pattaya are popular destinations, Pattaya has more sights and attractions for tourists. Pattaya is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, and shopping, while Koh Lipe attracts visitors for its scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty. Pattaya is more touristy than Koh Lipe and is popular for its beautiful beaches, plethora of amusement parks, and its party town reputation. It is also well known for the Sanctuary of Truth. Koh Lipe is famous for its world class scuba diving and snorkeling, as well as its small and local atmosphere.

How is Koh Lipe different from Pattaya?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Pattaya and Koh Lipe. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Koh Lipe or Pattaya?

Pattaya is very good for its museums and landmarks. However, Koh Lipe is a island with minimal options for its historical sights.

Pattaya is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several cultural attractions near town such as the Sanctuary of Truth, Wat Yansangwararam, and Wat Phra Yai (the Big Buddha).

If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Koh Lipe. The island is small and all about beaches and the undersea world, so you won't find any temples or museums here.

Is the Food Better in Koh Lipe or Pattaya? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Pattaya is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Koh Lipe is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Pattaya makes for a great culinary experience. Street food is what this city is all about. You'll find streets lined with restaurants, but you'll also find snacks and other culinary treats at every corner. Khao Gaeng (curried rice with meat or vegetables), Kai Jeow (omelet over rice), and Moo Ping (grilled pork) are among the favorites.

Koh Lipe has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There's enough of a restaurant selection that you'll find good local food and freshly caught seafood. The options change frequently as the tourist crowds have varied dramatically over the years, making it difficult for businesses to stay open.

Is Koh Lipe or Pattaya Better for Nightlife?

Pattaya is a must-visit destination for nightlife. However, Koh Lipe is a island with minimal options for nightlife and partying.

Pattaya is a world class party destination. Despite a promotional campaign to promote family vacations, this city still holds tight to its party hard reputation. You'll find live bands, international DJs, and rooftop parties any night of the week.

The nightlife scene is quiet in Koh Lipe This is a small island that attracts tourists who want nature, beauty, and a serene and tranquil environment. You won't find much of a nightlife scene here.

Is Koh Lipe or Pattaya Better for Resorts?

Luxury resorts are fairly comparable in Koh Lipe and Pattaya.

Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Koh Lipe. There are a number of locally owned hotels on the island. Many have snorkeling gear for rent.

Pattaya is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. If you're looking for built-up, all-the-frills, beach resorts, then this is your place. It's a touristy beach city with hotels are resorts that line the waterfront.

Is Koh Lipe or Pattaya Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Koh Lipe is terrific for its diving and snorkeling. Also, Pattaya is not as popular, but is still a nice resort city for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Koh Lipe is a world class destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. Although it is no longer the undiscovered island paradise that it once was, the snorkeling and diving on Koh Lipe remains some of the best in the country.

Grab a mask and fins and explore the underwater scenery in Pattaya. There are snorkeling and dive excursions that leave from town, or you could throw on a mask and snorkel and look for marine life right off the beach.

Is Koh Lipe or Pattaya Better for Beaches?

Koh Lipe is terrific for the beache. Also, Pattaya is not as popular, but is still a nice resort city for the beach.

Koh Lipe is considered to be a world-class beach destination. Despite the island's small size, the beaches are truly spectacular. They have white sand and the undersea world is just steps away, so don't forget your mask and snorkel.

Many people visit Pattaya for it's beautiful beaches. There are countless white sand beaches in the area that range from party-focused, to romantic, to family-friendly. The blue waters and silky sand have long made this one of the most popular beach areas in Thailand.

Is Koh Lipe or Pattaya Better for Hiking?

Koh Lipe is a great island for hiking. However, Pattaya is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Koh Lipe for the hiking trails. The island of Koh Lipe doesn't have any hiking, but nearby Adang Island has some impressive hikes that offer views and small waterfalls. You can take a longtail boat for just a short ride to the nearby island.

Pattaya is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Koh Lipe or Pattaya?

Pattaya is a great destination for shopping. However, Koh Lipe is a island with minimal options for its shopping opportunities.

Pattaya is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The city is filled with markets, malls, bazaars, and street vendors that sells everything from clothes and bathing suits, to Thai crafts or local foods.

If you're looking to go shopping, Koh Lipe has some nice offerings. The Walking Street is the main street through the island. Its where you'll find the island's shops and restaurants. Most are closed during the morning hours, but people begin to gather in the afternoon.

Is Koh Lipe or Pattaya Better for Families?

You'll find superb kid-friendly activities in either Koh Lipe or Pattaya.

Koh Lipe is a very family-friendly place to visit. This is a perfect island to explore with kids. There are beautiful beaches, great snorkeling, and plenty of opportunities to check out wildlife. Your kids will also enjoy seeing the Sea la vie fire show.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Pattaya is very family-friendly. Kids will love the amusement parks, water parks, and cultural parks. Highlights for families include Columbia Pictures Aquaverse, Ramayana Water Park, and Mini Siam. For something totally unique, check out the ice sculptures at Frost Magical Ice of Siam and for something cultural and fun you can head to Legend Siam Pattaya. Despite local efforts to promote family-friendly activities, it's important to remember that the city does still has a party town reputation. There are areas that you should avoid with kids.

Is Koh Lipe or Pattaya Better for Couples?

Koh Lipe is terrific for its romantic activities. Also, Pattaya is not as popular, but is still a nice resort city for couples.

Koh Lipe is a great island for couples, as it has plenty to offer. With its stunning beaches and beautiful nature, this is a great couple's destination. The island has wonderful snorkeling and white sandy beaches that are perfect for exploring with a loved one.

Pattaya is a good island for couples to visit. There are many beach-oriented activities around town like boat rides and water sports. You could also enjoy a spa day or simply lounge on the beach and soak up the sun for the day.

Is Koh Lipe or Pattaya Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Koh Lipe and Pattaya are nice places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Koh Lipe is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. The island has become more popular than it was in years past, but it still offers a tranquil setting for those who are a bit jaded by the backpacker scene in Thailand.

It's common for backpackers to visit Pattaya. While it used to be a party town, these days Pattaya is more of a family destination that's filled with amusement parks and family-friendly resorts. Backpackers will still find hostels and budget accommodation, but that backpacker atmosphere isn't what it used to be.

Is Koh Lipe or Pattaya Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Pattaya is very good for its public transit. However, Koh Lipe is a island with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Pattaya, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The baht bus (songthaew) is the cheapest way to get around town. These are colorful pickup trucks with seats in the back. There are also motorbike taxis as well as regular taxis.

Public transit is mostly limited in Koh Lipe. There are longtail boats, motorbike taxis, and golf cart taxis that you can hire.

Is Koh Lipe or Pattaya a more walkable city?

Koh Lipe is a great island for its high level of walkability. However, Pattaya is not known for its ease of walking around.

Koh Lipe is a very walkable island. It's an easy island to explore on foot and you can walk from one end of the island to the other in about half an hour.

Pattaya is generally not very walkable. There's a walking street, as well as several walkable areas, but the city is relatively large and you'll likely want to catch a ride most places.

For even more information, also check out Is Koh Lipe Worth Visiting? and Is Pattaya Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Pattaya or Koh Lipe?

How long in Koh Lipe or Pattaya?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Koh Lipe and Pattaya. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Koh Lipe than in Pattaya. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Koh Lipe, and 2-3 days is enough time in Pattaya.

Families should spend more time in Koh Lipe than Pattaya. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Koh Lipe, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Koh Lipe than Pattaya. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Koh Lipe that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Pattaya than Koh Lipe if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Pattaya.

One day in Koh Lipe or Pattaya?

In Koh Lipe, you'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This island offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

The resort city of Pattaya offers museums and nightlife. Most people come for the beaches. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Koh Lipe or Pattaya?

In Koh Lipe, you'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Pattaya is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this resort city makes for a great vacation. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Pattaya, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Koh Lipe or Pattaya?

Koh Lipe is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Koh Lipe has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Pattaya is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Koh Lipe or Pattaya?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Koh Lipe. In Koh Lipe, you'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and food. It's also a relaxing resort destination. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.

Pattaya is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This resort city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Lipe and Pattaya, we can see that Koh Lipe 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 Koh Lipe would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Lipe than you might in Pattaya.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Lipe Expensive? and Is Pattaya Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koh Lipe or Pattaya?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Pattaya in the Summer?

Both Pattaya and Koh Lipe during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Lipe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pattaya year-round.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Lipe. Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in July than Pattaya. Koh Lipe gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the summer, Koh Lipe is around the same temperature as Pattaya. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Lipe in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Pattaya averages at about 29°C (84°F).

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Pattaya in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Lipe and Pattaya. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Lipe year-round. Pattaya attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

December to April in Koh Lipe is the dry season. Also, May to October is the rainy season in Koh Lipe. December to April in Pattaya is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Pattaya. Pattaya receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Lipe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Pattaya. Koh Lipe gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 258 mm (10.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In October, Koh Lipe is generally around the same temperature as Pattaya. Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 27°C (81°F), and Pattaya fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Pattaya in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Koh Lipe as well as Pattaya. Koh Lipe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pattaya throughout the year.

Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in January than Pattaya. Koh Lipe gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Koh Lipe is around the same temperature as Pattaya in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Lipe averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Pattaya fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Pattaya in the Spring?

Both Pattaya and Koh Lipe are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Lipe throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Pattaya because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Koh Lipe is December to April. The rainy season in Koh Lipe is May to October. The dry season in Pattaya is December to April. The rainy season in Pattaya is June to October. It's quite rainy in Koh Lipe. In April, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Pattaya. Koh Lipe gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

In the spring, Koh Lipe is around the same temperature as Pattaya. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Lipe in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Pattaya averages at about 30°C (86°F).

Typical Weather for Pattaya and Koh Lipe