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"How much money should I take to Pattaya?" – this is probably the most important question after choosing a hotel or buying a tour. The answer heavily depends on the format of your trip. We've been to Pattaya multiple times and are ready to share our experience: in this article, you'll find two separate calculations – for those going on a package tour and for independent travelers.
Our main takeaway: Pattaya is one of Thailand's most affordable resorts, but the cost structure in a package tour versus an independent trip is completely different. In the first case, the main expenses are already covered; in the second, you'll need to plan and think through every aspect.
While you're calculating your budget, remember the golden rule of Pattaya: you can and should haggle almost everywhere, except supermarkets and chain stores. We always politely ask for a "discount" – it works great when renting a bike, buying souvenirs, or even checking into a hotel. Aggressive bargaining is frowned upon here, but a polite request with a smile often gets you a 10–20% discount.
How much money to take if you're on a package tour
This is the easiest option to plan for. Your tour already includes flights, accommodation, breakfasts (and sometimes lunches), and transfers. Your task is to budget for "pocket money": additional meals, tours, souvenirs, and entertainment.
Tours usually last 10-14 days. We'll give a per-day breakdown, and you can simply multiply by the length of your trip or use the more flexible calculator at the end of the article.
| Expense item | Budget | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| Lunch and dinner (cafes/restaurants) | 200 – 300 | 400 – 600 |
| Drinks (water, juices, coconuts, beer) | 50 – 100 | 100 – 200 |
| Local transport (songthaew/taxi/bike rental) | 50 – 100 | 120 – 200 |
| Additional tours and entry tickets | 100 – 200 | 300 – 500 |
| Souvenirs, small purchases | 50 – 100 | 150 – 300 |
| TOTAL per day | 450 – 800 baht ≈ 13.43 – 23.87 USD |
1,070 – 1,800 baht ≈ 31.92 – 53.7 USD |
| For 10 days | 4,500 – 8,000 baht ≈ 134 – 239 USD |
10,700 – 18,000 baht ≈ 319 – 537 USD |
| For 14 days | 6,300 – 11,200 baht ≈ 188 – 334 USD |
15,000 – 25,200 baht ≈ 448 – 752 USD |
Conclusion: for a standard 10-day tour, we recommend bringing from 5,000 to 18,000 baht (149 – 537 USD) per person, not counting money for big purchases like silk or jewelry if you decide to treat yourself to some shopping. This amount is enough to enjoy good food, a couple of tours, and nice little things without limiting yourself.
How much money to take for an independent trip
This is more complex and more interesting. You need to account for everything: from accommodation and intercity transport to daily small expenses. This format gives you incredible freedom but requires more careful planning. Our calculation is a framework that you can adapt to your own route.
Accommodation: from hostels to nice hotels
- Hostel dorm bed – from 250 baht/night / 7.46 USD.
- Budget guesthouse with AC for two – from 500 baht/night / 14.92 USD.
- Comfortable hotel with pool and AC for two – from 800 baht/night / 23.87 USD.
- First or second-line hotel with breakfast for two – from 1,500 baht/night / 44.75 USD.
Useful tip: you can save a lot by booking accommodation with online payment – we always do this. Even the most budget options for 1-2 days in Pattaya are available on booking platforms. You can pay with a Russian card on these sites:
Food: street food and restaurants
- Simple dish (Pad Thai, rice with chicken) at a local cafe or night market – from 80 baht / 2.39 USD.
- Seafood dish or at a tourist cafe – from 120 baht / 3.58 USD.
- Hearty dinner at a good restaurant with seafood and a drink – from 300 baht / 8.95 USD.
- Bottle of water 1.5L in a store – 10 baht / 0.3 USD (at a street vending machine – 1 baht/liter).
- Beer in a store (0.6L) – from 55 baht, in a cafe – from 80 baht.
Transport: bikes, taxis, and intercity travel
- Motorbike rental per day – from 200 baht / 5.97 USD.
- Car rental for a short period – from 800 baht/day, weekly or longer – from 600 baht/day.
- Taxi ride via app (Grab/Bolt) around town – from 80 baht / 2.39 USD.
- Moto-taxi – from 30 baht / 0.9 USD.
- Songthaew (shared taxi) – fixed price – 15–20 baht per ride.
- Taxi to a neighboring area (Jomtien – center) – from 200 baht.
- Intercity bus (e.g., Pattaya – Bangkok) – from 148 baht / 4.42 USD.
Entertainment and shopping
- Full-day group tour – from 1,000 baht / 29.84 USD.
- Massage (1 hour traditional) – from 250 baht / 7.46 USD.
- Entry tickets to attractions:
- Nong Nooch Tropical Garden – from 445 baht (online) / 600 baht (at the box office)
- Sanctuary of Truth – 500 baht
- Mini Siam (miniature park) – 300 baht
- Underwater World – 550 baht
- 3D Art Museum – 400 baht
- Tiffany Show – from 900 baht (online)
- Ramayana Water Park – 1,099 baht
- Souvenirs: magnet – from 20 baht, keychains – from 50 baht for 5 pcs., baseball cap – 100 baht, synthetic t-shirt – 100 baht, cotton – 200 baht.
| Expense item | Budget traveler | Standard option | Comfortable vacation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 250 – 400 | 500 – 800 | 1,500 – 2,500+ |
| Food | 200 – 300 | 400 – 600 | 700 – 1,000+ |
| Transport (local) | 50 – 100 | 120 – 200 | 200 – 500 |
| Entertainment/shopping | 50 – 100 | 150 – 300 | 400 – 800+ |
| TOTAL per day | 550 – 900 baht ≈ 16.41 – 26.85 USD |
1,170 – 1,900 baht ≈ 34.91 – 56.69 USD |
2,800 – 4,800+ baht ≈ 83.54 – 143 USD |
Important for independent travelers: This table is just a baseline for your calculation. You must add the cost of flights, insurance, and transport for moving between cities to the indicated amounts. If you plan to visit 2-3 cities in 2 weeks, budget an additional 500–1,500 baht for buses or trains. Every independent trip is unique, so we recommend using our prices as a guide but creating your own detailed budget that accounts for all the nuances of your route.
Budget calculator for a trip to Pattaya
Final budget tips
- It's best to bring dollars or euros and exchange them for baht on the spot. Pattaya has many exchange booths with good rates, for example, the T.T. Exchange chain – we recommend checking their rates on their website.
- Bank cards are accepted in large supermarkets, shopping malls, and some restaurants, but Pattaya's world is mostly cash-based. Always have some baht on you.
- Don't rely solely on your bank card – Russian MIR cards don't work at all, UnionPay cards work well but not at 100% of stores, and ATM withdrawals have high fees (200–220 baht per transaction + your bank's fee).
- Download the Grab, Bolt, Maxim, and InDrive apps – this will save you from inflated taxi prices and help you quickly call a car. Payment in the apps without a foreign card is only in cash.
- Book and pay for hotels online – this means you won't need to carry a lot of cash, and in many cases, it saves time and money (Russian cards are accepted on Trip.com, Yandex.Travel, Ostrovok).
- For independent trips, don't rely on rough estimates – everything needs to be carefully planned depending on your route. Be sure to budget for unexpected expenses (about 50% of your budget, or better yet, 100%).
- If you plan to spend part of your budget with a UnionPay card, it's better to also have that amount in cash, as the card could stop working at any moment due to the political situation.
- Don't forget about laundry services – washing 1 kg of laundry costs from 40 baht – it's convenient and cheap, allowing you to pack fewer clothes.
We hope our experience helps you plan your trip without worrying about finances. Pattaya is a city where you can have an incredibly rich vacation for a reasonable price, no matter how you choose to travel. Have a great trip!