1 minute ago, Rockyroad said:

Lets rank Pattaya by features

Nightlife 9

Food 9

Beach 2

Locals 2

Peace and harmony 1

Pollution 3

Traffic 2

Gyms 9

Golf 8

Malls 7

Weather 8

Cost 8

Safety 5

Women 3

I would rank Pattaya higher on safety, it is only if you are stupid and drunk and in small specific areas there is a slightly higher risk if you are as said stupid enough.

Women? How can you rank all women I Pattaya? Not possible

4 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I would rank Pattaya higher on safety, it is only if you are stupid and drunk and in small specific areas there is a slightly higher risk if you are as said stupid enough.

Women? How can you rank all women I Pattaya? Not possible

Well rankings are going to be difficult. You have ladyboy crime. Roid boys. Women in Patts are low class. Questionable morals.

21 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

What does Pattaya have that is unique?

The biggest nightlife scene in the world.

It's worth seeing at least once. It's mind-blowing just to witness the enormity and scale of it the first time you see it.

2 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

The biggest nightlife scene in the world.

It's worth seeing at least once. It's mind-blowing just to witness the enormity and scale of it the first time you see it.

Is it really the biggest? Bangkok has more. Ibiza, Las Vegas and Berlin have more.

Honorable Mentions by Category:

• The City That Never Sleeps: New York City, USA — From the underground warehouse scenes in Brooklyn (Williamsburg/Bushwick) to Manhattan's jazz bars and late-night 24-hour diners.

• The Late-Night Culture Capital: Buenos Aires, Argentina — Where the night doesn't even start until 1:00 AM or 2:00 AM, and dinner is routinely eaten at midnight.

• The Underground Dark Horse: Belgrade, Serbia — Famous for its splavovi (massive floating river clubs and barges permanently anchored along the Danube and Sava rivers) that rage all summer long.

16 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Lets rank Pattaya by features

Nightlife 9

Food 9

Beach 2

Locals 2

Peace and harmony 1

Pollution 3

Traffic 2

Gyms 9

Golf 8

Malls 7

Weather 8

Cost 8

Safety 5

Women 3

Ok, you've convinced all long term residents to sell up and move out of Pattaya.

That was an undeniably scientifically accurate rating.

Nail in the coffin.

4 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

The biggest nightlife scene in the world.

It's worth seeing at least once. It's mind-blowing just to witness the enormity and scale of it the first time you see it.

New York probably has the top, although others also have their events. Thailand is world known as a sex capital, and that's the night life most will think about when Thailand is mentioned. There are concerts here, but compared to NYC, with it's concerts, sports, plays and multiple other things, Thailand doesn't compare.

Edited June 11Jun 11 by fredwiggy

8 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

The biggest nightlife scene in the world.

It's worth seeing at least once. It's mind-blowing just to witness the enormity and scale of it the first time you see it.

I dont think you have ever been to spains hot spots ? Florida ? London? Even Dubai. Pattaya is relatively small compared most larger cities in the world

7 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

New York probably has the top, although others also have their events. Thailand is world known as a sex capital, and that's the night life most will think about when Thailand is mentioned. There are concerts here, but compared to NYC, with it's concerts, sports, plays and multiple other things, Thailand doesn't compare.

Feel free to compare Pattaya with every city in the world.

Pattaya beaches - 2 rating by Rocky Raccoon

New York and Berlin beaches - oops, they don't have beaches. lol.

New York is much less safe and 10 times more expensive and has winters.

11 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Ok, you've convinced all long term residents to sell up and move out of Pattaya.

That was an undeniably scientifically accurate rating.

Nail in the coffin.

People can do there own rankings.

40 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

What does Pattaya have that is unique?

Soi 500 where everything is 500

5 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I dont think you have ever been to spains hot spots ? Florida ? London? Even Dubai. Pattaya is relatively small compared most larger cities in the world

I would think Patts is outside the top 20. Toyko is 25m people. Their nightlight would dwarf Patts.

9 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Feel free to compare Pattaya with every city in the world.

Pattaya beaches - 2 rating by Rocky Raccoon

New York and Berlin beaches - oops, they don't have beaches. lol.

New York is much less safe and 10 times more expensive and has winters.

Comparing the cost of living between Chumphon and Pattaya highlights the difference between a traditional, local Thai province and a major international tourism hub.

Overall, Chumphon is roughly 25% to 35% cheaper than Pattaya. While basic commodities like 7-Eleven items and gasoline cost the same nationwide, you will see massive price drops in Chumphon when it comes to rent, eating out, and everyday services.

16 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Feel free to compare Pattaya with every city in the world.

Pattaya beaches - 2 rating by Rocky Raccoon

New York and Berlin beaches - oops, they don't have beaches. lol.

New York is much less safe and 10 times more expensive and has winters.

Just talking about the night life. New York itself has many beaches, mostly in New York State on Long Island. It's safe if you use your head and stay out of dangerous areas, just like Thailand's dark areas. It's cheaper here but again, talking about night life. Pattaya is for sex. Take away the girls and the beaches there are plain, unlike the islands.

1 hour ago, Rockyroad said:

Overall, Chumphon is roughly 25% to 35% cheaper than Pattaya.

I dont know anything about that place.

There might be better places to live in Thailand than Pattaya.

But why do most expats stick to Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, or a village?

These places have conveniences that people like.

The village is because the wife's family is there. And some guys don't do well in villages. And if you get divorced, you have to move out of there. The villagers will chase you out.

Cost of living alone is generally not enough of a determining factor to choose a place to live.

Edited June 11Jun 11 by save the frogs

5 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

I dont know anything about that place.

There might be better places to live in Thailand than Pattaya.

But why do most expats stick to Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, or a village?

These places have conveniences that people like.

The village is because the wife's family is there. And some guys don't do well in villages. And if you get divorced, you have to move out of there. The villagers will chase you out.

Cost of living alone is generally not enough of a determining factor to choose a place to live.

Yeah fair points. Some farangs chase the woman others want farang food and sport.

On 6/10/2026 at 10:49 AM, Rockyroad said:

Don't have a heart attack!

Don't worry, perfect blood pressure and low resting heart rate... which is the point of doing plenty of exercise.

1 hour ago, Rockyroad said:

Lets rank Pattaya by features

Nightlife 9

Food 9

Beach 2

Locals 2

Peace and harmony 1

Pollution 3

Traffic 2

Gyms 9

Golf 8

Malls 7

Weather 8

Cost 8

Safety 5

Women 3

Your list and rankings are mostly for the tourist/entertainment areas and some of them are incorrect--but what can we expect since you've admitted you never visit Pattaya. Pattaya's beaches rank way higher than a 2. Peace and harmony might be low in the entertainment areas at 2am but not most places away from the tourist areas. I've never felt unsafe in Pattaya--ever.

Your most incorrect ranking was locals. You know nothing about the vast majority of the locals, most of whom, both Thai and expat, don't live anywhere near the nightlife/tourist zones. A ranking of 2 highlights your total ignorance.

If you actually ever get to Pattaya, sometime drive out in the early morning or in the evening around the time the sun is setting and observe the activity on the bike/jogging trail around Lake Mabprachan. You'll see the trail filled with both locals and expats. There's usually an aerobics group in the evening by the park pavillion. This is what normal, everyday life looks like in Pattaya for regular residents, not tourists.

For regular residents, in addition to your restaurants, malls, golf, and gyms, these things below are important, with Pattaya's ranking compared to other places to live in Thailand:

Public & private hospitals, health clinics, eye and teeth care 9

Supermarkets, grocers, speciality stores, fresh markets 9

Variety of big box home, electronics, sports stores, etc. 9

Variety of housing types at all price points, to own or rent 10

Variety of expat clubs and organizations for expats 8

Number and variety of private schools available 9

Recreation, including racket sports, snorkeling, etc. 9

Variety of new car dealers and car servicing 9 Service industry 9

Connectivity and nearness to intl. airports & major city 9

1 hour ago, Rockyroad said:

Comparing the cost of living between Chumphon and Pattaya highlights the difference between a traditional, local Thai province and a major international tourism hub.

Overall, Chumphon is roughly 25% to 35% cheaper than Pattaya. While basic commodities like 7-Eleven items and gasoline cost the same nationwide, you will see massive price drops in Chumphon when it comes to rent, eating out, and everyday services.

Is there a Chumphon forum you could grace with your presence?

How massive is the drop in prices? How much does it cost to rent a basic room there? What everyday services are cheaper, and how much do they cost? I'm calling BS, but let's get some data to compare to see if there's any truth to your stats.

2 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

Comparing the cost of living between Chumphon and Pattaya highlights the difference between a traditional, local Thai province and a major international tourism hub.

Overall, Chumphon is roughly 25% to 35% cheaper than Pattaya. While basic commodities like 7-Eleven items and gasoline cost the same nationwide, you will see massive price drops in Chumphon when it comes to rent, eating out, and everyday services.

14 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

I dont know anything about that place.

There might be better places to live in Thailand than Pattaya.

But why do most expats stick to Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, or a village?

These places have conveniences that people like.

The village is because the wife's family is there. And some guys don't do well in villages. And if you get divorced, you have to move out of there. The villagers will chase you out.

Cost of living alone is generally not enough of a determining factor to choose a place to live.

I didn’t think Chumphon was that much cheaper. If you live like a Thai, eat like a Thai, and shop at typical Thai markets, then yes. But I want some Western food and facilities, as well as quiet surroundings. Once you add a good view, you are not far from a Pattaya budget.

AI-oversikt

A basic single person’s budget could look like this:

Chumphon, mainly local lifestyle:

Rent: 4,000–7,000 baht
Electricity, water and internet: 2,000–3,500
Food and groceries: 7,000–10,000
Motorbike and transport: 2,500–4,000
Phone, household items and miscellaneous: 2,000–3,000

Total: around 17,500–27,500 baht per month.

Chumphon, comfortable mixed Thai and Western lifestyle:

Rent for a better apartment or small house: 8,000–15,000 baht
Electricity, water and internet: 3,000–5,000
Thai and Western food: 10,000–15,000
Motorbike, fuel and transport: 3,000–5,000
Health, household items and leisure: 4,000–7,000

Total: around 28,000–47,000 baht per month.

Pattaya, comfortable single lifestyle:

Rent for a decent studio or one-bedroom condo: 10,000–18,000 baht
Electricity, water and internet: 3,000–5,000
Thai and Western food: 11,000–17,000
Songthaews, Bolt or motorbike: 2,000–5,000
Health, shopping and leisure: 5,000–10,000

Total: around 31,000–55,000 baht per month.

Pattaya offers far more Western restaurants, supermarkets, hospitals, shopping centres, public transport and expat facilities. Chumphon offers less traffic, fewer crowds and a more local coastal lifestyle, but you will probably need your own transport.

And asked about Rayong, many nice places down there as well and also neighbouring provinces

AI says

Rayong fits between Chumphon and Pattaya. It has more Western food, hospitals, shopping and modern condos than Chumphon, but is quieter and generally cheaper than Pattaya. Current listings range from simple apartments around 3,000–5,500 baht to modern condos around 8,000–15,000 baht, although better coastal properties can cost more.

For your lifestyle, Rayong may offer the best balance. It is quieter than Pattaya, has enough Western facilities, and can still be slightly cheaper. But once you demand a modern place near the coast with a good view, the budget can again approach Pattaya levels. Rayong is also spread out, so owning a motorbike or car is more important than in Pattaya.

7 minutes ago, JensenZ said:

Is there a Chumphon forum you could grace with your presence?

How massive is the drop in prices? How much does it cost to rent a basic room there? What everyday services are cheaper, and how much do they cost? I'm calling BS, but let's get some data to compare to see if there's any truth to your stats.

Get off your ass and go look.

1 minute ago, Hummin said:

And asked about Rayong, many nice places down there as well and also neighbouring provinces

AI says

Rayong fits between Chumphon and Pattaya. It has more Western food, hospitals, shopping and modern condos than Chumphon, but is quieter and generally cheaper than Pattaya. Current listings range from simple apartments around 3,000–5,500 baht to modern condos around 8,000–15,000 baht, although better coastal properties can cost more.

For your lifestyle, Rayong may offer the best balance. It is quieter than Pattaya, has enough Western facilities, and can still be slightly cheaper. But once you demand a modern place near the coast with a good view, the budget can again approach Pattaya levels. Rayong is also spread out, so owning a motorbike or car is more important than in Pattaya.

Mae Phim is a nice spot.

10 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I didn’t think Chumphon was that much cheaper. If you live like a Thai, eat like a Thai, and shop at typical Thai markets, then yes. But I want some Western food and facilities, as well as quiet surroundings. Once you add a good view, you are not far from a Pattaya budget.

AI-oversikt

A basic single person’s budget could look like this:

Chumphon, mainly local lifestyle:

Rent: 4,000–7,000 baht
Electricity, water and internet: 2,000–3,500
Food and groceries: 7,000–10,000
Motorbike and transport: 2,500–4,000
Phone, household items and miscellaneous: 2,000–3,000

Total: around 17,500–27,500 baht per month.

Chumphon, comfortable mixed Thai and Western lifestyle:

Rent for a better apartment or small house: 8,000–15,000 baht
Electricity, water and internet: 3,000–5,000
Thai and Western food: 10,000–15,000
Motorbike, fuel and transport: 3,000–5,000
Health, household items and leisure: 4,000–7,000

Total: around 28,000–47,000 baht per month.

Pattaya, comfortable single lifestyle:

Rent for a decent studio or one-bedroom condo: 10,000–18,000 baht
Electricity, water and internet: 3,000–5,000
Thai and Western food: 11,000–17,000
Songthaews, Bolt or motorbike: 2,000–5,000
Health, shopping and leisure: 5,000–10,000

Total: around 31,000–55,000 baht per month.

Pattaya offers far more Western restaurants, supermarkets, hospitals, shopping centres, public transport and expat facilities. Chumphon offers less traffic, fewer crowds and a more local coastal lifestyle, but you will probably need your own transport.

Western food is not cheap. Chumphon has cheaper gyms, cheaper rooms, cheaper haircuts.

4 minutes ago, Hummin said:

And asked about Rayong, many nice places down there as well and also neighbouring provinces

AI says

Rayong fits between Chumphon and Pattaya. It has more Western food, hospitals, shopping and modern condos than Chumphon, but is quieter and generally cheaper than Pattaya. Current listings range from simple apartments around 3,000–5,500 baht to modern condos around 8,000–15,000 baht, although better coastal properties can cost more.

For your lifestyle, Rayong may offer the best balance. It is quieter than Pattaya, has enough Western facilities, and can still be slightly cheaper. But once you demand a modern place near the coast with a good view, the budget can again approach Pattaya levels. Rayong is also spread out, so owning a motorbike or car is more important than in Pattaya.

Spouse and I started in Rayong in 2010 when we moved to Thailand. We had a beachfront condo at Royal Rayong--actually two, which we quickly fixed up and sold. We soon found there wasn't enough of anything near where we were living to keep us interested and it was a long drive from the beach to get to anything. One weekend we drove to Pattaya and quickly decided Pattaya was more to our liking and this is where we wanted to be. Turned out to be a great move for us.

32 minutes ago, newnative said:

Your list and rankings are mostly for the tourist/entertainment areas and some of them are incorrect--but what can we expect since you've admitted you never visit Pattaya. Pattaya's beaches rank way higher than a 2. Peace and harmony might be low in the entertainment areas at 2am but not most places away from the tourist areas. I've never felt unsafe in Pattaya--ever.

Your most incorrect ranking was locals. You know nothing about the vast majority of the locals, most of whom, both Thai and expat, don't live anywhere near the nightlife/tourist zones. A ranking of 2 highlights your total ignorance.

If you actually ever get to Pattaya, sometime drive out in the early morning or in the evening around the time the sun is setting and observe the activity on the bike/jogging trail around Lake Mabprachan. You'll see the trail filled with both locals and expats. There's usually an aerobics group in the evening by the park pavillion. This is what normal, everyday life looks like in Pattaya for regular residents, not tourists.

For regular residents, in addition to your restaurants, malls, golf, and gyms, these things below are important, with Pattaya's ranking compared to other places to live in Thailand:

Public & private hospitals, health clinics, eye and teeth care 9

Supermarkets, grocers, speciality stores, fresh markets 9

Variety of big box home, electronics, sports stores, etc. 9

Variety of housing types at all price points, to own or rent 10

Variety of expat clubs and organizations for expats 8

Number and variety of private schools available 9

Recreation, including racket sports, snorkeling, etc. 9

Variety of new car dealers and car servicing 9 Service industry 9

Connectivity and nearness to intl. airports & major city 9

I went there before. It was mostly a dump then. No desire to go back. Apart from gyms and restaurants I saw no appeal. Given the poor beach, trashy people and traffic it is not for me. My rankings are correct for me. Your rankings are correct for you. You have a very narrow mind.

7 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Western food is not cheap. Chumphon has cheaper gyms, cheaper rooms, cheaper haircuts.

Those who actually live in Pattaya know there are places with inexpensive western food. Yesterday spouse and I ate in an air-conditioned restaurant and I had a teriyaki chicken breast, french fries, and a salad for 85 baht. Another indoor restaurant we like has several spaghetti dishes for 100-120 baht and chicken or pork dishes with salad, roll, and fries for 100 and 120 baht. We eat more Asian food than western but when we feel like western there are inexpensive choices.

4 minutes ago, newnative said:

Those who actually live in Pattaya know there are places with inexpensive western food. Yesterday spouse and I ate in an air-conditioned restaurant and I had a teriyaki chicken breast, french fries, and a salad for 85 baht. Another indoor restaurant we like has several spaghetti dishes for 100-120 baht and chicken or pork dishes with salad, roll, and fries for 100 and 120 baht. We eat more Asian food than western but when we feel like western there are inexpensive choices.

80 baht western dishes I have eaten. I was talking about supermarket items.

8 minutes ago, newnative said:

Those who actually live in Pattaya know there are places with inexpensive western food. Yesterday spouse and I ate in an air-conditioned restaurant and I had a teriyaki chicken breast, french fries, and a salad for 85 baht. Another indoor restaurant we like has several spaghetti dishes for 100-120 baht and chicken or pork dishes with salad, roll, and fries for 100 and 120 baht. We eat more Asian food than western but when we feel like western there are inexpensive choices.

For a Western eating expat, Pattaya has by far the best value Western food in Thailand. It is a real draw for many and understandably so......I really don't know how f+b operators manage to offer such great deals. It's as if it's a spiralling race to the bottom to compete for many, which is a real pity as many put alot of effort into trying to offer decent fayre................Survival of the fittest..it's a tough gig, only pros really need apply....................

27 minutes ago, newnative said:

Spouse and I started in Rayong in 2010 when we moved to Thailand. We had a beachfront condo at Royal Rayong--actually two, which we quickly fixed up and sold. We soon found there wasn't enough of anything near where we were living to keep us interested and it was a long drive from the beach to get to anything. One weekend we drove to Pattaya and quickly decided Pattaya was more to our liking and this is where we wanted to be. Turned out to be a great move for us.

That is the good thing about being flexible and having the resources to make those changes. Not everyone is that lucky.

Freedom of choice is something