Which place is cheaper, Pattaya or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra 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 Petra and Pattaya can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Pattaya?
Petra
Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Pattaya $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Pattaya is $66. 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 Petra and Pattaya in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Pattaya $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Pattaya $48
Compare Hotels in Petra and Pattaya
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Pattaya? 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.
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: Petra Hotel Prices and Pattaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Pattaya $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Petra to Sheikh Hussein Crossing Border Private Transfer: $180
- Petra to Madaba Private Transfer: $140
- Private Transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $135
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $118
- Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- Petra Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $105
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Petra to Wadi Rum Private Transfer: $80
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Ma'in Hotel and vice versa: $73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pattaya
Also for Pattaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Return hotel transfers to Gems Gallery Pattaya (Jewelry) : $2.13
- Bus transfer between Pattaya and Bangkok: $3.69
- Big Bee farm Pattaya ( Entry & Return Transfers): $11
- Art in Paradise Entry Ticket with Private Transfer: $16
- Pattaya City: Tappia Floating Cafe Pattaya Transfer & Drink: $16
- Mini Siam Miniature World in Pattaya with Transfer: $19
- Pattaya Art in Paradise Admission Ticket with Return Transfer: $19
- Mini Siam Miniature World in Pattaya with Return Transfer: $19
- Teddy Bear Museum in Pattaya with Return Transfer: $19
- Colosseum Cabaret Show Pattaya, Tickets & Transfers: $19
- Teddy Bear Museum in Pattaya with Return Transfer: $22
- Private U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya Airport Transfer to Pattaya City: $22
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Pattaya?
Prices for flights to both Pattaya and Petra 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
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Food Meals for one dayPetra $38Pattaya $22
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
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Dinner for Two$12
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Juice$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains. : $45
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $300
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
- Pattaya Night Guided Tour with Dinner: $47
- Thai Cooking Class in Pattaya: $67
- Islands Hopping Tour by Catamaran with Dinner Buffet in Chon Buri: $97
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Pattaya $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
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Entry to Petra for One$71
Tours and Activities in Petra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- 3-hour Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up.: $75
- Petra Back Entrance Private Walking Tour: $215
- Private Back Trail Tour of Petra starting from the Monastery : $276
- Private Full-Day Tour to Petra and Wadi Rum from Dead Sea: $269
- Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $120
- Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $90
- Private Petra Back Entrance Tour with Guide .: $140
- Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
- Wadi Rum Private Tour from Petra with Martian and Star Wars Film Site: $173
Tours and Activities in Pattaya
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Pattaya.
- Floating Market Entry Ticket: $3.18
- Pattaya sheep Farm Entrance Tickets: $3.60
- Skip the Line Ticket of Flower Land Pattaya at Sun Leisure World : $4.85
- FlowerLand Pattaya Admission Ticket (Optional Activities): $4.99
- Fairy Sweet Village Pattaya Entry ticket: $5.41
- Art in Paradise Pattaya Admission Ticket: $6.00
- Mini Siam Entry Ticket: $6.62
- LAZGAM Laser Game at Pattaya Admission Ticket: $7.10
- LAZGAM Laser Game in Pattaya Admission Ticket: $7.10
- Entry Ticket for Art in Paradise 3D Art Museum in Pattaya: $7.21
- Pattaya : Coral Island Tour by Speedboat with Indian Lunch & Pick Up from Hotel: $7.62
- Half-day Coral Island Join Tour with Lunch from Pattaya: $7.76
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Pattaya $8.18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Pattaya, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Pattaya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Pattaya is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Petra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Petra 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 Petra Expensive? and Is Pattaya Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Pattaya?
Pattaya has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Pattaya, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Petra 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 Petra or Pattaya in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Petra as well as Pattaya. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pattaya throughout the year.
Petra usually gets less rain in July than Pattaya. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the summer, Petra often gets more sunshine than Pattaya. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pattaya receives 176 hours of full sun.
Petra can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Petra is generally a little warmer than Pattaya. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 33°C (91°F), and Pattaya fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Pattaya 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Petra or Pattaya in the Autumn?
Both Pattaya and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra 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 Pattaya is December to April. The rainy season in Pattaya is June to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Pattaya. In October, Petra usually receives less rain than Pattaya. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 258 mm (10.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
It's quite sunny in Pattaya. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Pattaya during autumn. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Pattaya receives 206 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Petra is around the same temperature as Pattaya in the autumn. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Pattaya fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Pattaya 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Petra or Pattaya in the Winter?
Both Pattaya and Petra during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pattaya year-round.
Petra usually gets more rain in January than Pattaya. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Pattaya, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Petra. In the winter, Petra often gets less sunshine than Pattaya. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pattaya receives 276 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Petra is much colder than Pattaya. Typically, the winter temperatures in Petra in January average around 15°C (59°F), and Pattaya averages at about 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Pattaya 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Petra or Pattaya in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Pattaya. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Pattaya attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to April in Pattaya is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Pattaya. In April, Petra usually receives less rain than Pattaya. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Pattaya receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pattaya this time of the year. In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Pattaya during spring. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Pattaya receives 262 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Petra is generally cooler than Pattaya. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 25°C (76°F), and Pattaya fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Pattaya 30°C (86°F)
Typical Weather for Pattaya and Petra
| Petra | Pattaya | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 202 mm (7.9 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Aug | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 232 mm (9.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.