The real downsides of Bangkok are the traffic and, above all, the air pollution. The black dust that keeps on accumulating on my balcony and on my windows (and I live on a high floor) constantly reminds me of how bad is the PM 2.5 in the city.

 

With regards to Pattaya the only good thing I can say is that it’s hell.

And as Mark Twain famously said: “Go to Heaven for the climate, (go to) Hell for the company”.

Came here 20 years ago moved to the islands the last place I would want to live is Bangkok 

19 minutes ago, AndreasHG said:

The real downsides of Bangkok are the traffic and, above all, the air pollution. The black dust that keeps on accumulating on my balcony and on my windows (and I live on a high floor) constantly reminds me of how bad is the PM 2.5 in the city.

 

With regards to Pattaya the only good thing I can say is that it’s hell.

And as Mark Twain famously said: “Go to Heaven for the climate, (go to) Hell for the company”.

 

Bangers has the finest poontang though.

80 year old Yankee, married

 

2 years Pattaya

3 years Bangkok

( We have BKK condo also )

7 years in Korat now

 

Renting a 2BR Unfinished house,  indoor kitchen, fenced yard, veggie garden (4500bt a month ) in gated community - 3 years. Living expenses including 2 mobile's, 5g WiFi and cable TV, electric, water, garbage, AVERAGES under 10,000bt a month - FOOD NOT INCLUDED.

 

4 major stores within 10 - 12  minutes on electric tricycle

( Bike cost 10,100bt )

 

7-11 and 6 mom and pop stores, 2 restaurants, laundry 3 to 12 minutes. Truck delivered drinking water when called.

 

Immigration 14 minutes away, usual visit under 5 minutes after 13:30.  7-11 stop ( munchies ) on way home.

 

Fishing lake 2 minutes from front door. ( Free )

 

20 minutes from center city and Korat bank, 260bt round trip via grab, 1 time a month to bank.

 

2 foreigners in area ( married to Thai ), basically a 30 house Thai community, friendly neighbors, 1 great friendly female Soi dog, several Soi cats.

 

Couldn't live in BKK for this kind of lifestyle.

Fine accomodation, friendly people, good food, fun nightlife.

It has more and better of everything.  

Best part is...no salt water and no sand.

 

The Thai are seem more refined, and somewhat international.

 

I find the locals are more attractive and on the slimmer side.

23 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Is it more expensive?

If you like nightlife I am guess the drinks are more expensive than say Pattaya ???

It depends how you plan your night life. My budget is 100k baht each month 

I've always lived in Bangkok but never in the city center. Close to Chatuchak where I go cycling, and a short distance from Nonthaburi for countryside. 

I do go into Bangkok city for dinner with friends but not often. The British club is fine for food and swimming. 

Other than that, I have a three bedroom house in a quiet lane that is peaceful.

Find somewhere where you can get the best of both worlds. Pattaya is just too busy and messy for me.

I'm currently at Wongamat Beach, but every once in a white I think about moving to Bangkok, just for a change.  On the other hand, every time I go up there and spend a week, it's really nice to finally get back here.  Much less hectic and I can always go up there any time I want.  That was my original plan when I came to Thailand this time.  Find a small condo as a base of operations, and then travel around wherever.  

 

That' still best for me, I think..  

Bangkok is good as a base. I do live in Bangkok since 30 years but leave the city at least twice a month for a few days, mostly Hua Hin or Kanchanaburi. I also spend a lot of time riding my motorbike in the upper Northeast and North of Thailand. I would prefer Hua Hin

instead of Pattaya. 

I'm not a city person, and Bangkok is the last place i would want to live, Crowded, traffic bad, air pollution and relatively expensive. Rural life just outside an urban centre best - can get into town in 15 minutes by car, hospitals and supermarkets the same. I have a Fair sized garden at the house, farm and fishponds 200 metres away. have internet and Netflix. Socialise once a week, too busy for more often!

On 12/13/2024 at 4:45 PM, Briggsy said:

I worked in Bangkok. I retired to Pattaya.

 

The reasons were simple.

Traffic and people congestion making it take hours to get anywhere particularly if off the mass transit routes but often on the mass transit routes.

Noise, everywhere.

And the big one, air pollution.

It all added up to a sense of claustrophobia.

 

On the plus side, you had

every imaginable product and service.

more cosmopolitan culture like film festivals.

a wider range of foreigner.

avoiding the tourist ghetto.

 

Each to their own.

 

I think I have just persuaded myself to leave Pattaya! 🤔

 We have lived on the very northern edge of Bangkok for 20 years.  Our house in located between the 1st and 2nd stage motorways, so easy to escape.   Some traffic, but not like the CBD, and neither is the pollution.  Our small gated village is quiet, safe, peaceful and has lots of trees and scrubs.  I fully agree with Briggsy's "plus aspects", and would like to add, you can get the best medical care in Thailand!  And I'm talking about gov't hospitals, not private.  The gov't doc who did both my shoulder surgeries is one of the very best in Thailand, and I could have had him do it at a famous private hospital for 4x the price.  No, thanks.  Remember, when you get older, excellent medical care becomes even more important.  Also, note that from Bangkok you can easily drive to Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai.  Also, the best flight connections.   We are very happy here.

19 hours ago, rickudon said:

I'm not a city person, and Bangkok is the last place i would want to live, Crowded, traffic bad, air pollution and relatively expensive. Rural life just outside an urban centre best - can get into town in 15 minutes by car, hospitals and supermarkets the same. I have a Fair sized garden at the house, farm and fishponds 200 metres away. have internet and Netflix. Socialise once a week, too busy for more often!

Sounds a bit ....spooky !

Trees ? Darkness ? 

22 minutes ago, donmuang37 said:

 We have lived on the very northern edge of Bangkok for 20 years.  Our house in located between the 1st and 2nd stage motorways, so easy to escape.   Some traffic, but not like the CBD, and neither is the pollution.  Our small gated village is quiet, safe, peaceful and has lots of trees and scrubs.  I fully agree with Briggsy's "plus aspects", and would like to add, you can get the best medical care in Thailand!  And I'm talking about gov't hospitals, not private.  The gov't doc who did both my shoulder surgeries is one of the very best in Thailand, and I could have had him do it at a famous private hospital for 4x the price.  No, thanks.  Remember, when you get older, excellent medical care becomes even more important.  Also, note that from Bangkok you can easily drive to Pattaya, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai.  Also, the best flight connections.   We are very happy here.

I had no idea you as a farang can get FREE public hospital in Thailand?

Sounds good to me 

13 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

I had no idea you as a farang can get FREE public hospital in Thailand?

Sounds good to me 

You can't, unless you are married to a Thai who is a government employee and you are enrolled and insured under her health care insurance.

22 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

I had no idea you as a farang can get FREE public hospital in Thailand?

Sounds good to me 

where did Donmuang mention free ?

4 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Sounds a bit ....spooky !

Trees ? Darkness ? 

So many solar lights around these days it is hard to see the stars. Trees? they clean the air, provide shade, fix carbon and produce a useful product - wood. Maybe I am lucky that my entire life, apart from University, was spent in small rural towns and villages or suburbia - always had a garden (and trees). Cities are for work, not play.

 

I also spent a year in a camp in the Kakadu national park. I saw animals you never will.

7 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

I had no idea you as a farang can get FREE public hospital in Thailand?

Sounds good to me 

 

You can, if you have Thai social security, which is not hard to get

On 12/20/2024 at 3:33 PM, AndreasHG said:

The real downsides of Bangkok are the traffic and, above all, the air pollution. The black dust that keeps on accumulating on my balcony and on my windows (and I live on a high floor) constantly reminds me of how bad is the PM 2.5 in the city.

 

Air pollution in Pattaya is pretty much the same, maybe just a little bit better