Pattaya vs Bangkok: Which Is Better to Live In?

If I had to choose, I'd pick Pattaya over Bangkok. Bangkok is hectic, there's a lot of traffic, and we have the beach here. But if you're a working professional, Bangkok might be the better choice. It's a much bigger city, with far more jobs and a lot of international companies. It really depends on what you're looking for.

Which is cheaper?

For everyday living, Pattaya is cheaper. Eating out, you're looking at around ฿450 for a meal in Bangkok against ฿300 to ฿350 here.

Rent is closer than people think. Bangkok has so many condos that oversupply has pushed rents down, and you can find good deals there. In the popular central areas, though, you'll still generally pay more than for the equivalent in Pattaya.

Getting around

This is the biggest difference. Pattaya has nothing like the BTS or the MRT, so you really need a car or a motorbike. You can walk the city, and I do, but it's spread out, it's hot and the pavements aren't great. It isn't a walking city.

Bangkok is. The pavements are much better, it's easy to get around, and the BTS and metro are cheap. You definitely don't need a car in Bangkok.

Bangkok is misunderstood

I think Bangkok gets a worse reputation than it deserves. The air is worse than in Pattaya, but it's not as bad as people think. Over the years, with emissions checks and more electric cars, Bangkok just doesn't feel as dirty and smoky as it used to. If you want bad air, it's Chiang Mai in the burning season.

People also complain about the traffic, but traffic only really matters if you drive, and you don't need to. Friends of mine who do drive there say you quickly learn which times and which areas to avoid.

How I use Bangkok

I go about once a month, usually for a reason: an embassy visit, checking out a restaurant, or an event. I've been to golf and hospitality events at BITEC, the Bangkok Motor Show, and most recently an awards ceremony. I often go to Mega Bangna, just outside the city, because the shopping is good and it makes a nice day out.

I want to go more. I like the vibe and the parks, and I like walking around. Once you've walked Pattaya, you've done it, but Bangkok is still undiscovered for me. A night or two in a hotel just walking the city appeals.

Why my businesses are all in Pattaya

I have thought about opening in Bangkok. I've stayed in Pattaya because opening a business is risky, and I've never been comfortable owning one I'm not close to. In Bangkok I'd really need a partner who was established there.

It's also a different market. Customers in Bangkok are mostly Thai, and I've always found it hard to attract Thai customers as a Westerner. The marketing naturally ends up in English, our own language.

Who should choose which?

Families: Pattaya, or Hua Hin. I wouldn't bring up a family in Bangkok myself, though it has a lot more to offer than skyscrapers and business districts.
Retirees: Pattaya. It's a slower pace of life, there's the beach, and there are a huge number of other retirees here.
Younger people: Bangkok, especially if you're working, enjoy trendy bars and nightclubs, or are looking for a partner.
Job seekers: Bangkok. It's much easier to find a job working for someone else.
Starting a business: Pattaya. Bangkok would be a lot more expensive to start a business in, and probably riskier.

For more comparisons, read Pattaya vs Phuket and Pattaya vs Hua Hin. For the practical side, read getting around Pattaya, is Pattaya expensive?, finding a job in Pattaya and why I'd buy a business rather than start one.