Living

Bangkok or Pattaya? A family comparison

Some families who move to Thailand for work in the Eastern Seaboard choose between living in Bangkok and living in Pattaya. Others choose Pattaya for the beach and commute to Bangkok now and then.

The distance

Pattaya is about 150 km south-east of Bangkok. The drive on Motorway 7 takes around two hours without traffic. Suvarnabhumi Airport is on the Pattaya side of Bangkok, which makes flights easier than from the far side of the city.

Schools

Bangkok has far more international schools, which gives more choice of curriculum and fees. Pattaya has fewer schools, but competition for some places can be lower. Compare the lists on the International Schools Database for Bangkok and Pattaya.

Housing

Families in Pattaya can often rent a house with a garden for what a smaller condo costs in central Bangkok. The difference shrinks in Bangkok's outer suburbs.

Daily life

Pattaya is smaller and closer to the sea, and the school run is shorter for many families. Bangkok has more museums, more activities and clubs for children, and more choice of everything else.

Working on the Eastern Seaboard

Many industrial estates are between Pattaya and Bangkok, or south towards Rayong. For a parent who works there, living in Pattaya can mean a shorter commute than living in Bangkok.