Yes I know there are many cons of living in Bangkok for older foreigners, but I just watched a video about On Nut and had a thought for the first time that maybe I'd be better off and happier living in Bangkok. (Not necessarily On Nut.)

Why?

Heck. It's Bangkok.

One of the most amazing and interesting cities on the planet.

Much wider options for good more affordable medical care than the Pattaya area.

I think Chiang Mai is better than Pattaya though.

Restaurant variety. I'm very much into food and over the years Pattaya has progressed dramatically to the point of being very good. But there's always stuff missing such as Ethiopian, Malaysian, Indonesian, etc. etc. Of course things like better value European food is more available in Pattaya.

Cultural stuff. There is so much in Bangkok and so little in Pattaya expect tourism schlock. While Bangkok is in striking distance I find I only travel to Bangkok for absolutely necessary reasons such as at my embassy,

Transportation. Riding the Pattaya baht buses feels less safe and comfortable getting older. The Bangkok mass transit options during non-rush times seem better.

Malls (dare I say it). Yeah Pattaya has great malls now but very few places compare to the mall scene in Bangkok.

Am I crazy? (Don't answer that, ha ha.)

Edited July 11Jul 11 by Jingthing

On balance, having lived in both places and aging, albeit gracefully, I'd go for BKK for living and visit Pattaya as the 'urge' arises.

Edited July 11Jul 11 by MIke B Bad

On Nut is a nice area. Biggest gym in Thailand there too.

Bangkok's air pollution, when averaged over a year, is worse than Chiang Mai's. I can afford a nicer and larger place in Pattaya, or near Pattaya. Cost of living is less. They have four top-tier hospitals and BKK is just 2+ hours away.

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Bangkok vs. Jomtien

My whole life I've lived a close distance to the coastline.

I couldn't do Bangkok long time

4 minutes ago, Ebumbu said:

Bangkok's air pollution, when averaged over a year, is worse than Chiang Mai's. I can afford a nicer and larger place in Pattaya, or near Pattaya. Cost of living is less. They have four top-tier hospitals and BKK is just 2+ hours away.

Well I didn't get into the cons of Bangkok but may as well.

Comparing air quality Jomtien to Bangkok. Bangkok obviously loses.

General cost of living, Bangkok obviously loses.

For health care I personally think Bangkok wins on that. Why? In Pattaya, you choose the rip off private hospitals or the public places most expats can't handle.

In Bangkok you have a better choice of private hospitals that aren't as bad a rip off and also of course the most of the best specialists in the country.

I think considering that, overall Bangkok might actually win.

Personally I own a condo in Jomtien so if I moved to Bangkok I would sell it and be ready to pay a high prices for a very nice rental in Bangkok but likely on the smaller side.

Obviously personal budget is a big factor. I feel I can easily afford spending double or even triple what I spend in Jomtien, so that favors Bangkok as there is so much more on offer there.

Cheers

Edited July 11Jul 11 by Jingthing

1 minute ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

My whole life I've lived a close distance to the coastline.

I couldn't do Bangkok long time

Most of my life too including the Great Lakes.

That would be a con but I think not as big a need as you have.

In Jomtien/Pattaya the usual story is a move to the sticks in Isaan. May as well shoot me before i did that. I don't recall hearing about older expats moving FROM Jomtien/Pattaya to Bangkok. More often hearing about the opposite direction. But that doesn't mean we always have to follow the typical crowd.

Happy to see that some people are discussing this.

It's weird that I've never thought about this before.

Previously I did think about renting a tiny place there to enjoy Bangkok much more often though never considered a full move.

Edited July 11Jul 11 by Jingthing

Go spend a week in On Nut then a week in Chiang Mai. You can't judge places from videos. I stayed in On Nut 10 years ago and liked it. I normally stay near Bang Sue now. Cool area mainly Thais.

The area near Ibis Riverside is cool too. I think in Bangkok being near the skytrain or ferry is key.

2 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

Go spend a week in On Nut then a week in Chiang Mai. You can't judge places from videos. I stayed in On Nut 10 years ago and liked it. I normally stay near Bang Sue now. Cool area mainly Thais.

Well I totally won't move to Chiang Mai because of the burning season so that's out for me.

As far as where in Bangkok IF I did move there, I know Bangkok well enough to know it wouldn't be in the very central tourism areas, needs mass transit access probably Skytrain, and would need a wide variety of international restaurants in reasonable Grab delivery range. On Nut seems an option for that but I reckon there are a number of other ones.

4 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

In Jomtien/Pattaya the usual story is a move to the sticks in Isaan. May as well shoot me before i did that. I don't recall hearing about older expats moving FROM Jomtien/Pattaya to Bangkok. More often hearing about the opposite direction. But that doesn't mean we always have to follow the typical crowd.

They follow the gf out there. If you are a city dwelling restaurant fan you could not cope. Bangkok and CM are probably your only real options.

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Well I totally won't move to Chiang Mai because of the burning season so that's out for me.

As far as where in Bangkok IF I did move there, I know Bangkok well enough to know it wouldn't be in the very central tourism areas, needs mass transit access probably Skytrain, and would need a wide variety of international restaurants in reasonable Grab delivery range. On Nut seems an option for that but I reckon there are a number of other ones.

March and April are the only bad AQI months in CM. Bangkok is worse the other 10 months.

1 minute ago, Rockyroad said:

March and April are the only bad AQI months in CM. Bangkok is worse the other 10 months.

I also hate the transport situation in CM. Really it's not for me. That's settled.

Just now, Jingthing said:

I also hate the transport situation in CM. Really it's not for me. That's settled.

Bolt is dirt cheap in CM. Half price of Bangkok. But Bangkok has more restaurants by far. Lots more malls.

Just now, Rockyroad said:

Bolt is dirt cheap in CM. Half price of Bangkok. But Bangkok has more restaurants by far. Lots more malls.

I used to love the vibe there but haven't been in a long time.

Hasn't it been ruined by the digital nomads?

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

I used to love the vibe there but haven't been in a long time.

Hasn't it been ruined by the digital nomads?

I was there last year and still good. The pollution is terrible in April though.

The restaurants are great for northern food but not so much foreign.

Only a few malls.

If you crave foreign food and like malls Bangkok is way better.

As far as Bangkok, there seems to be a consensus that On Nut would be a good choice.

Any other suggestions?

In my case as stated my priorities are not being in the central tourism area, good access to mass transit, and a good mix of nearby international restaurants or close enough for Grab.

Clearly being out of the central tourism areas, rents would generally not be the highest, but I'm not really looking for the cheapest rent (not willing to be way out there).

Victory to Chautchak area

Ratchada

Lumpini/Sathorn

Edited July 11Jul 11 by Rockyroad

1 hour ago, Rockyroad said:

Victory to Chautchak area

Ratchada

Lumpini/Sathorn

thonburi

A few more downsides for Bangkok:

As we age, generally a calmer environment is more beneficial.

Jomtien ain't exactly calm, but it is compared to Bangkok.

If you make it, I can see sooner or later aging out of Bangkok either to a care facility or some really calm location such as Isla La Mujeres, Mexico or similar provincial area of Thailand. There is that youtuber news guy who loves Turtle Beach down south,

Dress

(This is kind of a big deal for me).

In Jomtien you can pretty much always dress casual or even like a total slob with shorts, t-shirts, and sandals.

Bangkok is the big city.

Such dress is not really respectable there in most contexts.

Bangkok for retirement?

Who knew?
OK this is a marketing piece but has some practical suggestions for the oldsters.

www.superagent.co/en/blog/senior-expats-renting-in-bangkok-best-neighborhoods-and-condos

Bangkok vs. Jomtien

Neither choice is better for all.

www.superagent.co/en/blog/bangkok-vs-pattaya-for-retirement-which-makes-more-sense-in-2026

Edited July 11Jul 11 by Jingthing

4 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Dress

(This is kind of a big deal for me).

In Jomtien you can pretty much always dress casual or even like a total slob with shorts, t-shirts, and sandals.

Bangkok is the big city.

Such dress is not really respectable there in most contexts.

You can wear the same clothes anywhere in Thailand. The Thais do.

What about air pollution in Bangkok? Wouldn't that take a heavy toll on one's health over the years?

Pattaya is much more laid-back than Bangkok, generally, which is a positive. No-one looks twice at you in Pattaya is you're in beachwear but in Bangkok, people do notice things like that even if they won't say anything.

Bangkok is a more "serious" place insomuch that most people are actually going about their lives, many are working long hours and a lot of people are in career work (whereas in Pattaya a lot of jobs are in tourism, hospitality and other work which is somewhat "temporary").

I know Pattaya can be busy over high season and holiday weekends, but Bangkok is generally a lot more congested - from the electric trains to the traffic to the malls, to popular restaurants etc.

If you want a more laid-back lifestyle and / or money is a bit tight, I think Pattaya is a great option. If you want more to do, more places to go and have a higher budget, Bangkok might be the better option.

Wherever you go,

there you are.

4 hours ago, papa al said:

Wherever you go,

there you are.

What goes around the corner comes around the bend

17 hours ago, Jingthing said:

but I just watched a video about On Nut

Can you please link to the video about On Nut?

37 minutes ago, Woke to Sounds said:

Can you please link to the video about On Nut?

I think it was called Deez Nuts ?

Life in Bkk is hell if you enjoy the outdoors and that cool ocean breeze.

I walk around in flip flops. Don't bother with shoes.