Bangkok and Pattaya are two popular Thai cities that are often visited by lots of tourists and foreigners that want to live in Thailand. If you are to pick between these two cities, you may find yourself in a dilemma as they are relatively similar in some of their features. Nevertheless, they are different and, as such, you should be able to pick one over the other.
Based on our experience and the experience of other travelers on Trip Advisor and Quora, Bangkok is a better choice between these two cities. This is especially true if you are looking for a modern city that can give you an all-encompassing experience of Thailand. Nevertheless, Pattaya is a great place if you like living in a beach city with great nightlife and entertainment.
You should understand that each of these two cities has some pros and cons. Therefore, the kind of experience you want will go a long way in determining the city that you should stay in. Given this, this article will use different criteria to compare Bangkok and Pattaya to help you choose the right place to stay.
Bangkok vs. Pattaya: overview
Bangkok is an old city with lots of modern amenities. Known as the capital city of Thailand, Bangkok is a leading tourist destination around the world. According to the 2019 Global Destination Cities Index of MasterCard, Bangkok had 22.7 million tourists in 2019. As a result of this, Forbes ranked Bangkok as the most visited city in the world in the same year.
The capital city of Thailand covers a landmass of 1285.7 square km. In Bangkok, you will experience rainy, cold, and hot climates. However, the city is hot for most parts of the year.
It has several night markets, shopping malls, temples, nightclubs and bars, Thai and Western restaurants, and street food vendors. These amenities make the city a great place for anyone to stay.
Comparatively, Pattaya is a small city with about 1 million residents. Although it is also a hotspot for tourists, it doesn’t welcome as many people as Bangkok. In addition, the city is less noisy than Bangkok; hence, you will likely enjoy a more peaceful time in Pattaya than in the capital city.
It is noteworthy that the climate in Pattaya is tropical as it can be both wet and dry. From May to November, the climate is usually rainy and humid whereas it is hot and dry in December, January, and February. However, in March and April, the climate is hot and humid in Pattaya. As a consequence, the climate is good for various tourists as they can schedule their visit to the specific climate they prefer.
Bangkok vs. Pattaya: cost of living
Bangkok is suitable for all kinds of people – the rich, average, and poor. This shows that the cost of living of the city varies significantly. There are various options that can help you to enjoy luxury in the city. However, if you want to live cheap, the city allows it.
If you are enjoying the same lifestyle in these two cities, you will spend less in Pattaya than in Bangkok. The nightlife, rent, restaurants, groceries, and other things in Bangkok cost more than in Pattaya. Take a look at the comparison of the cost of living in Pattaya and Bangkok done by Numbeo.
Your money will have a better value in Pattaya than in Bangkok. Therefore, for anyone looking for an affordable place to stay, Pattaya is a better choice than Bangkok.
Bangkok vs. Pattaya: overall beauty
As they say, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Both Pattaya and Bangkok are beautiful; hence, there are usually arguments on which of these cities is more beautiful than the other. Since Bangkok is a leading industrial center in Thailand, it has more gigantic buildings than Pattaya and other cities in the country.
But if you prefer the views of beaches and other natural things, Pattaya is a better place to stay.
Bangkok vs. Pattaya: cultural experience
Would you like to experience the culture of Thailand? Thailand should be your preferred option out of these two cities. The city combines various cultural items with modern buildings, music, and art. Besides, there are lots of temples, museums, ancient ruins, and other things you can check out to learn more about the people and culture of Thailand.
Pattaya also has some amenities that can help you to explore Thai culture. The city offers several street meals, markets, and a handful of Buddhist temples. Nevertheless, Bangkok is better than Pattaya in this regard.
Bangkok vs. Pattaya: safety
Here, there is no clear winner as both cities are relatively safe. You will hardly encounter any theft, violent crime, and other issues as long as you are cautious throughout your stay in Pattaya or Bangkok. Wherever you choose to stay in Thailand, make sure you stay out of trouble with the locals, especially at the bars and nightclubs. Also, don’t walk in unlit or poorly lit places at night as such places are usually dens of criminals.
Bangkok vs. Pattaya: transportation
When it comes to transportation, Bangkok seems to rank above Pattaya. This is because the capital city has taxis, tuk-tuks, buses, Skytrain, motorcycles, subways, trams, and other transportation options. Therefore, moving from point A to B cannot be an issue for you in Bangkok. However, you should be ready to deal with traffic jams when going out during rush hours.
Pattaya, on the other hand, does not have many transportation options. Buying or renting a car or motorcycle is the best way to get around this small city. Otherwise, you may be frustrated by buses and other less functional transportation options in the city. But Pattaya’s traffic is hardly as bad as that of Bangkok.
Bangkok vs. Pattaya: the verdict
As you can see from the points above, each city has its pros and cons. If you want to live at a slow pace in a relatively quiet city with great nightlife, Pattaya is good. But for a good experience of diversity, different kinds of lifestyles, and access to commercial centers, you should stay in Bangkok.
