Should you visit Pattaya or Railay Beach?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Pattaya and Railay Beach 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.
Railay Beach
If you're looking to scale great heights and add more achievements to your list during your vacation, consider a trip to the peninsula of Rai Leh, or more commonly Railay Bay or Railay Beach, in the Krabi region of Thailand. This swimming and rock climbing hotspot is known for its towering limestone peaks and gorgeous surrounding scenery.
Which city is cheaper, Railay Beach or Pattaya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Pattaya is $60, while the average daily cost in Railay Beach is $95. 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 Railay Beach 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.
Railay Beach's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $114. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $57.
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.
In Railay Beach travelers spend around $19 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Pattaya $20
Railay Beach $19
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 Railay Beach
Some typical examples of dining costs in Railay Beach are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)
$6.15
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Pizza
$5.23
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 $11 on transportation in Pattaya on average per day.
The cost of a taxi ride in Railay Beach is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $23 per person, per day, on local transportation in Railay Beach.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pattaya
Also for Pattaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Return hotel transfers to Gems Gallery Pattaya (Jewelry):
$2.56
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Coral Island Indian Lunch, Transfer, Hindi staff (India Travelers):
$11
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Coral Island by Speed Boat Pattaya (LUNCH & A/C TRANSFERS):
$12
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Big Bee farm Pattaya ( Entry & Return Transfers):
$14
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Alcazar Show in Pattaya with Optional Hotel Transfers:
$16
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Alcazar Cabaret Show in Pattaya with Hotel Transfer:
$23
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Alcazar Show (Normal Seat) - Round trip SIC Transfers:
$23
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Art in Paradise at Pattaya Admission Ticket with Return Transfer:
$23
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Pattaya Alcazar Cabaret Show Admission Ticket with Return Transfer:
$24
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Alcazar Cabaret at Pattaya Admission Ticket with Return Transfer:
$24
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Alcazar Show Pattaya - With Transfers.:
$24
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Frost Magical Ice Of Siam at Pattaya with Return Transfer:
$27
Is it cheaper to fly into Pattaya or Railay Beach?
Prices for flights to both Railay Beach 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 Railay Beach typically cost an average of $21 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 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
Typical Entertainment prices in Railay Beach
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Railay Beach are as follows:
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Rock Climbing (for Two)
$22
Tours and Activities in Railay Beach
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Railay Beach are as follows:
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Crystal Clear Kayak Tour in Krabi:
$30
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 $7.38.
The average person spends about $13 on alcoholic beverages in Railay Beach per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typical Alcohol prices in Railay Beach
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Railay Beach are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Railay Beach
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Railay Beach:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pattaya and Railay Beach, we can see that Railay Beach 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 Railay Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Railay Beach than you might in Pattaya.
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