How Cheap or Expensive Is Pattaya During High Season

I arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport, and the weather was amazing: cool, breezy and comfortable. I was heading to Pattaya, so I booked my bus ticket online because buses are usually full in the high season. This was the peak of the season, with only five days to go before 2026.

The bus from Bangkok to Pattaya cost 143 Thai Baht, and it was still very cheap. It left at 12:30, and the journey from Suvarnabhumi Airport took two hours, with a little traffic along the way. I was sleeping and missed the second stop for South Pattaya, so I got off at Jomtien and took the cheapest transportation I could find to Central Pattaya. The first thing you hear when you arrive is someone offering a massage.

My hotel was on Second Road, not far from Walking Street and the beach, just behind Avani Hotel. The location was amazing, and this was my first time staying there. From outside, it looked like a very nice place, almost like Caesar Palace, but appearances can be deceptive.

What the Hotel Room Costs in Pattaya at New Year

The room was on the fifth floor, and I had to leave a 1,000 Thai Baht deposit at check-in. My room was number 533. The location was good, and the room seemed very nice for the price I paid.

The bed was not very soft, but there were two chairs, a couch and a place to work. The bathroom had a bathtub, and from there you could see into the main room. There was a kettle, two complimentary bottles of water, coffee, tea, a large refrigerator and a closet, but no safe box. Even though I was alone, I received two keys. There was also a balcony with a view, although you had to be careful because the railing was not very high.

I booked the hotel three days before arriving and had seen that several places were fully booked. With New Year only five days away, it was high season in Thailand, and hotel prices were behaving like concert tickets. I checked a few places and watched the prices jump while I was looking at them. The hotel also had a swimming pool on the opposite side, and some rooms had a pool view. I did not bring my swimming suit, so I did not swim. The reception was not perfect, and I did not check whether the hotel had a gym or other facilities.

Eating by the Beach and Feeling the High Season Crowds

The weather was windy, breezy and dry. You did not have to worry about rain, which was one of the best things about the high season and one reason prices went up. Even in the early hours, lots of people were already enjoying beers during happy hour. The action was starting around Soi 13/2, with the beach road on one side and Walking Street on the other.

I went to my favourite restaurant on the beach road and ordered noodles, fried rice with shrimp and a mango smoothie. There are many other nice places to eat in Pattaya, but I like this one because the food is good, the prices are fair and the location is nice. The meal came to exactly 234 Thai Baht.

From then until the beginning of the year, the area had music, food and shopping. If you come to Pattaya on New Year’s Eve and want to see the fireworks at Central Pattaya, the area is interesting because you can eat, drink and party, but it will be very crowded. At around five o’clock, one of the bars, Naka 95, already had no seats. It was almost sunset, and the beach was busy with umbrellas, jet skis, swimming and people making sandcastles. The pubs and bars I passed were full, even though it was not yet a special night.

Haircuts Massages and Everyday Prices in Pattaya

I walked along Soi Buakhao, where there were many places where you could get a haircut. You had to be careful because of the cars and motorbikes, but there were also pubs, bars and 7-Elevens everywhere. I found a small barber shop and got a haircut.

I used to pay 100 Thai Baht for a haircut in Pattaya. Later it became 120 Thai Baht, and nowadays it is around 150 to 160 Thai Baht. That is still very cheap and affordable compared with good places in Bangkok, where a haircut can cost 350 to 500 Thai Baht.

By night, the hotel looked more beautiful. After walking so much, I needed a massage, and a one-and-a-half-hour foot and head massage cost 300 Thai Baht. It was very relaxing.

Pattaya Nightlife Prices and the Final Verdict

It was time to explore the nightlife and see whether drinks in Pattaya were cheaper than in Bangkok. Cocktails were between 160 and 180 Thai Baht, while wine depended on the type but was around 160 Thai Baht. Along the way, there were many calmer places where you could sit, eat or drink, and I found a place called Beer Hop not far from Walking Street.

We had two cocktails and four beers, along with a large and healthy meal. We paid 586 Thai Baht, including a small Chang draft beer. The portion was large, and the food was good. For a comparison with Bangkok, these Bangkok nightlife prices are useful context.

Walking Street was extremely busy. You could barely walk, talk or hear anything, and those were the nightlife vibes at the peak of the high season.

Overall, the hotel was good and affordable. The downsides were the lack of a safe box, the dangerous balcony and the maid who was very loud in the morning and woke me up. Other than that, it was perfect. Pattaya is still cheap, and it is cheaper than Bangkok and Phuket. It is one of the cheapest places for a short vacation. It does not have the best beach, but for a short trip, I think it is okay.