Should you visit Pattaya or Koh Pha Ngan?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Pattaya and Koh Pha Ngan can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
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.
Koh Pha Ngan
Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.
Which city is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan or Pattaya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Pattaya is $58, while the average daily cost in Koh Pha Ngan is $40. 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 Pattaya and Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.
Accommodation
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.
Koh Pha Ngan's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $40. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $20.
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.
The average traveler spends about $9.06 per day in Koh Pha Ngan 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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Pattaya $20
Koh Pha Ngan $9.06
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
Typical Food prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:
Local 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 $10 on transportation in Pattaya on average per day.
The cost of a taxi ride in Koh Pha Ngan is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $11 per person, per day, on local transportation in Koh Pha Ngan.
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
Typical Local Transportation prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Scooter Rental
$9.04
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Ferry Ride
$15
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Gas for Scooter
$3.32
Is it cheaper to fly into Pattaya or Koh Pha Ngan?
Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan and Pattaya 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 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.
Entertainment and activities in Koh Pha Ngan typically cost an average of $15 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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
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.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Koh Pha Ngan may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $8.74 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typical Alcohol prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pattaya and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Pattaya is more expensive. And not only is Koh Pha Ngan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Pha Ngan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Pha Ngan 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 Pha Ngan.
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