A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pattaya vs. Royal Chitwan National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pattaya or Royal Chitwan National Park?

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 Royal Chitwan National Park 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.

Where Should I go: Pattaya or Royal Chitwan National Park?

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.

Royal Chitwan National Park

The majestic elephant, the silly monkey and dozens of soaring birds call the Royal Chitwan National Park home. At the foot of the Himalayas, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is 932 square kilometers of animal and plant life preservation in Nepal.

Once the favorite hunting ground for Nepal's ruling class, the area began seeing the endangerment of all the area animals. So in 1957, Nepal passed its first conservation law to protect the rhinos and their habitat. At the end of the 1960s, however, DDT had cleared 70% of Royal Chitwan National Park jungles, thousands of people had created moved in on the land and only 95 rhinos were left. By 1977 the park was under complete protection, enlarged to the present-day size and is one of the last refuges of the Bengal tiger.

This park, also known as "the heart of the jungle," provides over 70,000 annual visitors with opportunities to get close and personal with animals they've only seen in movies. Fair warning, however, the weather is quite hot and humid for most of the year.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Pokhara, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Nepal.


Which place is cheaper, Royal Chitwan National Park or Pattaya?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Pattaya is $66, while the average daily cost in Royal Chitwan National Park is $35. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Pattaya and Royal Chitwan National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pattaya $24
    Royal Chitwan National Park $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pattaya $48
    Royal Chitwan National Park $22
Compare Hotels in Pattaya and Royal Chitwan National Park

Looking for a hotel in Pattaya or Royal Chitwan National Park? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Pattaya


Hotels in Royal Chitwan National Park


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Pattaya Hotel Prices and Royal Chitwan National Park Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pattaya $12
    Royal Chitwan National Park $22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pattaya

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

  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Pattaya HTL-APT (BKK): $59
  • Tiffany's Show Pattaya Admission Ticket with Return Transfer (SHA Plus): $61
  • Tiffany Show Pattaya with Transfer: $64
  • Tiffany Show Pattaya with Transfer: $64
  • Teddy Bear Museum in Pattaya with Return Transfer: $22
  • Surat Thani Hotel Transfer: to/from Bangkok Hotel Transfer: $419
  • Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum in Pattaya with Return Transfer: $45
  • Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum at Pattaya with Return Transfer: $43
  • Return hotel transfers to Gems Gallery Pattaya (Jewelry) : $2.12
  • Private Transfer from Sattahip to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $95
  • Private Transfer from Sattahip to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $102
  • Private Transfer from Rayong to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $112

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Royal Chitwan National Park

Also for Royal Chitwan National Park, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Chitwan to Kathmandu One Way Transfer by Private AC Car : $75

Is it cheaper to fly into Pattaya or Royal Chitwan National Park?

Prices for flights to both Royal Chitwan National Park 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 $22
    Royal Chitwan National Park $9.44

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pattaya

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

  • All Star Dinner Cruise, Cabaret Show & Beer Buffet: $32

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pattaya $21
    Royal Chitwan National Park $9.63

Tours and Activities in Pattaya

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

  • 2 Islands Full Day Tour Catamaran with Lunch in Pattaya: $102
  • 3 Days Thailand Motorcycle Coastal Tour: $1,054
  • 5 Days – Motorcycle tour to River Kwai and Khao Yai: $1,757
  • A Superstar Model Experience in Pattaya with Photo Expert: $112
  • ATV & Buggy Adventures Pattaya - Novice Rider 27km Basic Track: $99
  • Admission Ticket to Ramayana Water Park in Pattaya: $33
  • All Star Cabaret Cruise Pattaya with Indian Buffet Lunch: $42
  • Amazing Discovery Pattaya Tours with Floating Market & Lunch : $75
  • Art in Paradise Pattaya Admission Ticket: $6.00
  • Art in Paradise at Pattaya Admission Ticket: $12
  • Art in Paradise at Pattaya Admission Ticket (3D Art ): $12
  • Art in Paradise: 3D Art Museum Entry Ticket in Pattaya: $14

Tours and Activities in Royal Chitwan National Park

For Royal Chitwan National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Safari Tour: $118
  • 2 Nights 3 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour : $154
  • 3 Nights 4 Days Comfortable Chitwan Safari Tour: $195
  • Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour: $140
  • Chitwan Safari Tour : $160
  • Chitwan Tour Packages: $200
  • Experience the ride in Lowlands of Nepal: $62

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pattaya $8.18
    Royal Chitwan National Park $6.49


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pattaya and Royal Chitwan National Park, we can see that Pattaya is more expensive. And not only is Royal Chitwan National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Royal Chitwan National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Royal Chitwan National Park 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 Royal Chitwan National Park.

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