Pattaya vs Ayutthaya
The short answer
Ayutthaya is the cheaper trip, by roughly 36% a day โ $20โ45 against $30โ75 mid-range per person. Both are at their best in NovโFeb, so one trip can take in both.
Side by side
Mid-range, per person, in US dollars. Both guides were costed the same way โ see how we work these out.
| ๐น๐ญ Pattaya | ๐น๐ญ Ayutthaya | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budgetmid-range, per person | $30โ75 | $20โ45cheaper |
| Cheap meallocal staple | $1.50โ3.50 | $1.20โ2.50cheaper |
| Mid-range hotelper night | $35โ90 | $25โ55cheaper |
| Transit ridesingle trip | $0.30โ1 | $0.30โ1 |
| Avg. monthly salarylocal, for context | โ $450 | โ $400 |
When to go
Filled months are the ones each guide recommends; hollow ones it warns off.
What you'd actually do
A few of each guide's picks, one per category before seconds โ the full lists are on the guides themselves.
๐น๐ญ Pattaya
Thailand's original beach resort town, 90 minutes from Bangkok โ brash nightlife on one strip, family-friendly beaches and day trips a short ride away on the other.
- Hops Brew House$$Nightlife
- Mantra Restaurant & Bar$$$Restaurants
- Tiffany's Show$$Cabaret & shows
- Gulliver's (Red Car Bar)$Nightlife
- The Glass House$$Restaurants
๐น๐ญ Ayutthaya
The ruined former capital of the Siamese kingdom โ brick chedis and headless Buddhas scattered across a bicycle-friendly park, an easy 1.5-hour train ride from Bangkok's chaos.
- Wat Mahathat$Temples & culture
- Bann Kun Pra$$Restaurants
- Hua Raw Night Market$Markets
- Wat Chaiwatthanaram$Temples & culture
- Baan Mai Rim Nam$$Restaurants
Practicalities
| Pattaya | Ayutthaya | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Thai. English is very widely spoken given decades of tourism โ arguably the easiest Thai city to get by in without any Thai at all. | Thai. English is limited outside the main historical park and station area โ a translation app helps. |
| Tap water | Don't drink it โ bottled water is sold everywhere, often free at hotels | Don't drink it โ bottled water is cheap and sold everywhere |
The same in both:
- Currency
- Thai baht (เธฟ). US$1 โ เธฟ35
- Time zone
- ICT (UTC+7)
- Power
- 220V; outlets take most two-pin plugs (A/C hybrids)
- Emergency
- 191 police ยท 1669 ambulance ยท 1155 tourist police (English)