Moving to Pattaya: my guide after 20 years here
I came to Pattaya over 20 years ago and never left. This is everything I'd tell a friend who was thinking of making the move, in the order I'd tell it.
By Shane Ruddle27 articles · 6 chaptersShort answers
The questions I'm asked most, answered in a sentence or two.
What's it really like living in Pattaya?
Slower, sunnier and friendlier than life in the West. As of 2026, a single person can live comfortably on about ฿50,000 to ฿60,000 a month.
Full answerHow much does it cost to live in Pattaya?
For a single person in a one-bed condo, roughly ฿50,000 to ฿55,000 a month, eating out every day: around ฿18,000 rent, ฿30,000 food and a few thousand to get around.
Full answerWhat's the best area to live in Pattaya?
It depends on your stage of life. Central Pattaya if you're young and want the buzz, Jomtien if you're retired and want the beach, Pratumnak for a bit of both, and East Pattaya if you have kids or pets.
Full answerIs Pattaya safe?
Day to day, I feel extremely safe here, and I'm raising a family here. The biggest danger isn't crime. It's the roads.
Full answerWhich visa do I need to retire in Pattaya?
A retirement visa, the Non-Immigrant O or the O-A. You need to be 50 or over and show ฿800,000 in a Thai bank account, an income of ฿65,000 a month, or a combination (as of October 2026).
Full answerDo I need health insurance in Thailand?
Yes. The private hospitals are first class, and a standard visit is around ฿2,000 to ฿3,000, but my main advice is simple: get health insurance.
Full answerIs Pattaya right for you?
What life here is really like, and how it compares with the alternatives.
What It's Really Like Living in Pattaya
After 20+ years here, my honest take on living in Pattaya: the pace, the weather, the people, what it costs, healthcare and the mistakes newcomers make.
6 min readPattaya's Old Reputation Is 20 Years Out of Date
Is Pattaya worth visiting now? I arrived at 23, surrounded by retirees. Twenty years on, it's a city of families, schools and beaches. Here's how it changed.
5 min readWhat I Wish I'd Known Before Moving to Thailand
Twenty years after arriving, a Pattaya business owner on what surprised him about Thailand, the real downsides of moving here, what he'd do differently, and his advice.
4 min readPattaya vs Phuket: Which Is Better? My Honest Take
Pattaya vs Phuket compared by someone who lives here: cost, golf, beaches, families, nightlife and how easy each is to reach from Bangkok.
3 min readPattaya vs Hua Hin: Which Is Better?
Pattaya vs Hua Hin compared by a Pattaya business owner: beaches, nightlife, golf, getting to Bangkok, and who should choose the quieter town.
2 min readPattaya vs Bangkok: Which Is Better to Live In?
A Pattaya business owner of over 20 years on choosing between Pattaya and Bangkok: cost, rent, getting around, air and traffic, and who each city really suits.
4 min readWhere Pattaya Is Heading: My View of the Next 10 Years
A Pattaya business owner of 20 years on where the city is heading: steady growth, why he's sceptical of big infrastructure promises, Jomtien as the growth area, a shift to Asian visitors, and whether to invest.
4 min readWhere to live and what it costs
Choosing an area, setting a budget and finding a place to rent.
The Best Area to Live in Pattaya Depends on Who You Are
Central Pattaya, Pratumnak, Jomtien, Wongamat or East Pattaya? Where I'd live at each stage of life, and what ฿20,000 a month rents in 2026.
5 min readIs Pattaya Expensive? What It Really Costs to Live Here
Is Pattaya expensive? Real monthly costs for a single person and a family, from rent and eating out to school fees, and what's cheaper or dearer than people expect.
3 min readRenting a Condo in Pattaya: What I Tell Every Renter
Renting a condo in Pattaya? Typical rents, contract lengths, deposits, who pays agency fees, utilities, and why the building matters more than the room.
3 min readVisas, money and healthcare
The paperwork and practicalities to sort out first.
Visas in Pattaya: What 20 Years Here Has Taught Me
A Pattaya business owner's experience of Thai visas: the business visa, retirement visas, the DTV for remote workers, and the costly mistake of choosing the wrong one.
3 min readBanking and Money in Thailand: A Foreigner's Guide
A Pattaya business owner of 20 years on banking in Thailand as a foreigner: opening an account after the crackdown, which bank to try, sending money from home, transfer limits, QR payments and why you should still carry cash.
3 min readHealthcare in Pattaya: Hospitals, Costs and Why You Need Insurance
A Pattaya resident of 20 years on the hospitals his family uses, what a visit costs, and why health insurance is essential, even for short stays.
2 min readSettling in
Fitting in, and what changes if you're retiring or working online.
Learning Thai: My Honest Experience After 22 Years
A Pattaya business owner of 22 years on learning Thai: where he's at, why the tones are so hard, why he gave up and regrets it, and what a newcomer should learn first.
2 min readThe Cultural Mistakes Foreigners Make in Thailand
After 20 years in Pattaya, a business owner on the cultural mistakes foreigners make in Thailand: losing your temper, indirect communication, what Thais will forgive, and his one piece of advice for fitting in.
3 min readRetiring in Pattaya: Advice From 20 Years Here
Why retirees choose Pattaya, what really catches them out, and the one thing a Pattaya business owner of 20 years advises every retiree to do.
2 min readPattaya for Digital Nomads and Remote Workers
A Pattaya business owner of 20 years on whether Pattaya suits remote workers: internet, cost of living, how it compares with Bangkok and Chiang Mai, where nomads base themselves, and making friends.
3 min readGetting around
Arriving, driving, and whether to rent or buy a car.
Bangkok Airport to Pattaya: How to Get There
Getting from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya, from the owner of Pattaya Rent a Car: taxi, Grab and Bolt, airport car hire, and why he'd always take a taxi first.
3 min readDriving in Pattaya: What a Car Rental Owner Tells Every Customer
Driving and renting a car in Pattaya: how the roads differ from the West, which licence you need, the real risks, and what to do if you have an accident.
3 min readScooter or Car in Pattaya? Advice From a Rental Company Owner
Should you rent a scooter or a car in Pattaya? The owner of Pattaya Rent a Car on safety, scooter insurance, police checks and fines, and where beginners should ride.
3 min readBuying or Renting a Car in Thailand: Advice From a Rental Company Owner
Should you buy or rent a car in Thailand? The owner of Pattaya Rent a Car on the one-year rule, buying as a foreigner, second-hand pitfalls, insurance, monthly rentals and selling up.
4 min readLife outside work
Where I eat, play and spend my evenings.
The Best Time to Visit Pattaya, From Someone Who Lives Here
When to visit Pattaya: why February and March suit first-timers, which weeks to avoid, and why repeat visitors often prefer the low season and its rain.
2 min readStaying Fit and Active in Pattaya: Padel, Running and Why I Quit Drinking
A 45-year-old Pattaya business owner on staying active: the growing padel scene, running in the heat, why he fell out of love with golf, and what giving up alcohol changed.
3 min readGolf in Pattaya: A Former PGA Pro's Honest Guide
A former PGA teaching pro on golf in Pattaya: the must-play courses, best-value rounds, real costs, caddie tips, and why low season is the best time to play.
3 min readWhere a Restaurant Owner Eats in Pattaya
A Pattaya restaurant owner's own favourite places to eat, from Italian on Thappraya Road to steak in Pratumnak, plus the three things he checks to judge any restaurant.
3 min readA Night Out in Pattaya Beyond Walking Street
A Pattaya business owner who no longer drinks on his kind of night out: the best steak restaurants, Tiffany's show, and where he'd go instead of Walking Street.
2 min readWhere to Watch the Football in Pattaya: Tips From a Sports Bar Owner
The owner of three Hemingways sports bars on watching the Premier League in Pattaya: what makes a good sports bar, late kick-offs, how multi-screen bars work, and when to book a table.
2 min readAsk Shane
Ask me anything about Pattaya.
What are you planning? I read every question myself and reply personally.
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