A Travel Price Comparison for Thailand Pattaya vs. Koh Pha Ngan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Pattaya or Koh Pha Ngan?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Pattaya and Koh Pha Ngan can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. 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 $56, while the average daily cost in Koh Pha Ngan is $38. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Pattaya and Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pattaya $20
    Koh Pha Ngan $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pattaya $40
    Koh Pha Ngan $40

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pattaya $9.88
    Koh Pha Ngan $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pattaya

Also for Pattaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Alcazar Cabaret Show in Pattaya with Hotel Transfer: $23
  • Alcazar Cabaret Show with transfers: $32
  • Alcazar Cabaret at Pattaya Admission Ticket with Return Transfer: $24
  • Alcazar Show (Normal Seat) - Round trip SIC Transfers: $23
  • Alcazar Show Pattaya - With Transfers.: $24
  • Alcazar Show in Pattaya with Optional Hotel Transfers: $16
  • Arrival Bangkok Airport Private Transfer : Hotel in Pattaya: $61
  • Art in Paradise at Pattaya Admission Ticket with Return Transfer: $23
  • Bangkok: To/From Pattaya 1-Way Private Luxury Transfers: $241
  • Big Bee farm Pattaya ( Entry & Return Transfers): $14
  • Colosseum Show Pattaya VIP Seat with Transfer: $39
  • 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:


  • Scooter Rental
    $8.64
  • Ferry Ride
    $14
  • Gas for Scooter
    $3.17

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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Pattaya $19
    Koh Pha Ngan $8.66

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pattaya

For Pattaya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • 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:


  • Noodle Lunch (for One)
    $1.15
  • Sit Down Dinner (for Two)
    $11
  • Smoothies (for Two)
    $1.15
  • Ice Cream
    $0.58
  • Juice
    $1.73
  • 3 Spring Rolls
    $0.86
  • 2 Pancakes
    $1.73

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pattaya $17
    Koh Pha Ngan $14

Tours and Activities in Pattaya

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Pattaya.

  • Pattaya Floating Market Admission Ticket: $6.99
  • Pattaya Kids Special: Teddy Bear Museum Tickets & Optional Hotel Pickup: $8.21
  • Pattaya Swiss sheep Farm Entrance Tickets: $8.21
  • Join Half Day Pattaya City Tour with wat phra, view point (only Indian Passport): $8.52
  • LAZGAM Laser Game in Pattaya Admission Ticket: $8.74
  • Art in Paradise Pattaya Entrance (Ticket Only): $9.09
  • Skip the Line: Mini Siam and Mini Europe Admission Ticket: $10
  • Pattaya Coral Island tour + Indian Lunch + with Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off: $11
  • Mini Siam Miniature World at Pattaya Admission Ticket: $12
  • Mini Siam Miniature World at Pattaya Admission Ticket: $12
  • Mini Siam Miniature World in Pattaya Admission Ticket: $12
  • Pattaya Colosseum Cabaret Show Entrance Ticket: $13

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pattaya $6.91
    Koh Pha Ngan $8.35

Typical Alcohol prices in Koh Pha Ngan

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:


  • Drinks at Irish Pub (for Two)
    $7.49

About these numbers

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.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
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Pattaya vs. Koh Pha Ngan Travel Comparison

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