The Foreigners That Go Broke Fast in Pattaya

I moved to Pattaya 8 years ago thinking I had it all figured out. I’d sold my house back home, had decent money coming in every month, and figured life here would be cheap, simple, and peaceful but also exciting when I was in the mood for it.

I learned pretty quickly that Pattaya isn’t your average city, and if you’re not careful, this place will bleed you dry.

Some of it was my fault no one forced me to overspend or fall for certain traps. But a lot of it came from not knowing how Pattaya really works when you’re not just a tourist, but staying there long-term.

Moving here is more complicated than most guys think. I’ve watched a lot of expats go broke, and I nearly joined them.

I’ve listed out some mistakes and traps that I’ve seen expats fall for over the years a lot of them I fell into also.

These are the real reasons why so many foreigners move to Pattaya and end up flat broke and how to avoid becoming one of them.

Underestimating Monthly Expenses

Pattaya still gives off the illusion of being incredibly cheap. On the surface, it is: street food for 50 baht, motorbike rentals for a few thousand a month, and rooms that seem affordable compared to back home. But once you settle in and start living like a local expat, the real costs start adding up, and many foreigners aren’t ready for that.

You might come thinking you’ll live simply, but that quickly turns into dining out every day, bar hopping, dating, weekend trips, and enjoying all the “so-called cheap” luxuries Thailand offers.

Add in health insurance, motorbike repairs, mobile bills, and apartment deposits and suddenly, you’re spending way more than expected each month.

Another issue is inconsistency. Unlike back home where expenses are predictable, Pattaya can hit you with surprise costs: visa fees, emergency dental work, or having to move because the landlord sold the unit.

It’s not uncommon for foreigners to go through 60,000–80,000 baht a month without even living extravagantly.

The worst part? Many guys move here without budgeting properly. They think $1,000–$1,200 a month will cover everything, only to realize it barely keeps them afloat.

There are many videos on YouTube of expats claiming to live a very decent life on $500 a month, but I really can’t believe that. If I cut back on a lot of things, the cheapest I’d be able to do is $1,500 or something in that range.

To avoid going broke, treat Pattaya like real life not a discounted fantasy. Track your spending, be realistic about your lifestyle, and always plan for hidden costs. It might feel like paradise, but paradise still comes with a price tag.

Holiday Mode

This is a problem I see expats falling for over and over again.

A lot of people move to Pattaya with the same mindset they had while on holiday, but living here full-time is a totally different game.

When you’re on holiday, it’s normal to overspend: drinks every night, daily massages, constant partying, and eating out at every meal. The problem is, some people never switch off that lifestyle, and before they know it, their bank balance starts bleeding fast.

Living in “holiday mode” long-term is only going to hurt your finances. You’re not here for two weeks anymore you’re here long-term. But many foreigners keep burning through money like the party never stopped.

They forget about bills, visas, health insurance, and emergencies that come with expat life. Eventually, they find themselves dipping into savings or pensions just to keep up with a lifestyle they can’t realistically afford.

Many foreigners also stop budgeting or planning ahead, assuming Thailand is always “cheap.” But Pattaya has changed. Rents have gone up, prices aren’t what they used to be, and expat life isn’t as low-cost as it once was especially if you want to live a nice life there.

The key to not going broke is simple: treat Pattaya like your new home, not your endless holiday. Once the novelty wears off, it’s the ones who adjust their mindset cook at home, drink less, live within their means who stay afloat. The ones who don’t usually end up broke, bitter, and booking a one-way ticket back home.

Pattaya is a city that can eat you alive if you allow it to. Nobody is immune. That’s why you need to get out of holiday mode as soon as possible.

You’re living there now you’re not a two-week millionaire on holiday, so don’t keep acting like one. It’s not going to last long.

Getting Into the Wrong Relationship

One of the fastest ways foreigners go broke in Pattaya is by falling into the wrong kind of relationship often with a bar girl.

No matter how many people deny it, a lot of men choose Thailand not just because they think it’s cheap and has nice weather, but mainly because they’re attracted to Thai women.

And in my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with that. The problem is, a lot of guys get into a relationship with the first woman that shows them just a little bit of attention or even worse, get into a relationship with a bar girl.

Now, don’t get me wrong when people first move to Thailand, I know they might be looking for someone to start this new life with. But it’s still important to choose the right woman.

Personally, I would stay away from getting into a relationship with a girl that works in a bar. I’m not saying they’re bad people in fact, a lot of them are fun to be around but that’s it.

Getting into a relationship with a bar girl or a sweet local early on can be a disaster.

These girls are used to “two-week millionaires” spending their holiday money on them. They’re going to expect the same from you, whether you’re on holiday or not.

Many of these women are super beautiful, attractive, and know exactly how to make a man feel special. But you’ve always got to remember that this kind of attention is rarely free. What might feel like a real romance to the foreigner is often just part of her job.

You may even be one of those guys who think they’ve met a bar girl who’s different because she’s not asking for money straight away. But she’ll be playing the long game.

Eventually, you’ll be covering rent, sending money for her “sick grandma,” or even supporting her whole family. It adds up quickly, and it’s not uncommon to hear stories of men burning through their savings, pensions, or even selling property back home just to keep her happy.

Even if she quits the bar and moves in with you, the problems don’t always stop. Some of these relationships turn toxic fast. Arguments about money, trust issues, and pressure to keep providing can drain a man mentally and emotionally.

There are, of course, rare exceptions. But for most guys, these relationships are expensive lessons. They come to Pattaya thinking they’ve found love in paradise, but instead walk away with an empty wallet, broken heart, and sometimes even debt.

The hard truth is, when you mix fantasy with finances, someone always ends up paying the price and it’s usually the foreigner.

I’m not saying don’t get into a relationship when you come to Pattaya but don’t do it straight away.

At least date around and keep your options open. You know better than anyone else when you’ve met a woman worth keeping.

Starting a Business Without Knowing Thai Legal Restrictions

Starting a business in Pattaya might sound like a dream, but many foreigners jump in without fully understanding Thai legal restrictions, and it often ends in disaster.

When you’re living there on a fixed income, you can get bored, and the idea of starting a business might enter your head. But you have to think long and hard about this one.

Thailand has very clear (and strict) rules about what types of businesses foreigners can own or operate, how much control they can have, and how the company must be structured.

In most cases, a foreigner can’t legally own more than 49% of a Thai business unless they go through serious legal hoops. That means many foreigners end up putting the business in a Thai partner’s name leaving them with no real legal control.

If the relationship sours or trust breaks down, they can lose everything overnight, and there’s practically nothing they can do about it.

There are also rules about work permits, hiring locals, and a bunch of other stuff you have to do to set up a business in Thailand. A lot of foreigners either skip these steps or rely on dodgy “fixers” to fast-track paperwork, which might work in the short term but comes back to bite hard later on.

Once immigration finds out you’re up to shady business, you’re suddenly facing fines, shutdowns, visa cancellations, or even deportation.

My advice for this one: If you really want to start a business, do something online that doesn’t require you to register your business in Thailand.

It still may be on the grey side, so look into it but I guess it’s better than going through all the trouble here.

Not Having a Medical Plan

You really need to have a medical plan even if you come on holiday, you’re still going to want insurance, as anything can happen in Pattaya.

Many people come to Pattaya thinking medical care in Thailand is cheap. While basic treatments and check-ups can be affordable, one serious emergency can wipe out everything you’ve got.

Heart attacks, motorbike crashes, strokes, or even a bad infection can land you in a private hospital with a bill in the hundreds of thousands of baht. And if you’re not insured, that money comes straight out of your pocket.

Thai hospitals are modern and professional especially in Pattaya. But they’re not free. You get world-class treatment, but it comes with world-class costs.

Many expats end up in financial ruin simply because they never planned for the unexpected. They might be healthy now, but one bad fall or sudden illness changes everything overnight.

You see it all the time some family has set up a GoFundMe for someone because they had an accident, had no insurance, and are now lying in a hospital bed with the bills stacking up.

Without insurance or a medical emergency fund, you’re left with bad options: max out credit cards, borrow money, sell assets, or settle for underfunded public hospitals where the standard of care might be lower and the wait times longer.

The problem is, many people delay getting insured. They say, “I’ll sort it out later,” or assume nothing will happen to them.

But insurance companies won’t cover you for a pre-existing condition once something’s already gone wrong so by the time you need it, it’s too late. That’s when things spiral fast.

The smart move is to get private insurance that covers major issues or, at the very least, build an emergency medical fund and keep it untouched. In Pattaya, your health isn’t just a personal concern it’s a financial one too. And if you don’t plan ahead, your body won’t be the only thing that takes the hit your bank account will too.

Lending Money to Other Expats

Once you end up coming to Pattaya for a long time, you’re going to start meeting other expats whether it be in a bar or out and about.

You’ll soon find your group of people that you like to hang out with, go for beers, or whatever else you might be getting up to.

However, Pattaya attracts people from all walks of life and not all of them are good people. In fact, a lot of the expats there have some type of shady background.

If you’re one of those that like to spend time in the bars, you’ll probably end up chatting to other people who are out there solo. Just be aware if people are a bit too friendly with you and want to go out with you all the time.

It’s not just the bar girls that want your money a lot of these expats are on their last dollar and looking for a handout from their newfound friend.

One of the more overlooked reasons (and one that’s not spoken about often) that foreigners lose money in Pattaya is lending money to other expats.

At first, it feels like helping out a mate someone who’s in a tight spot, promises to pay you back next week, and probably throws in a sob story about a lost wallet, delayed pension, or being scammed by a girl. But more often than not, that money is never coming back.

There’s a surprising number of drifters, grifters, and “professional borrowers” who bounce from one foreigner to another, living off borrowed cash and too-trusting farangs.

They’re good talkers often older guys who know how to win your trust quickly, usually over a few beers.

Some even act like they’re financially well-off, just having trouble with their bank or something, to make it seem like you’ll get your money back if you lend them any.

The problem is, there’s no accountability. Here, once the money’s handed over, it’s usually gone for good. And confronting the guy rarely works he’ll either ghost you, deny it, or spin more excuses.

It can sour friendships and even start drama for you and that’s not really what you want after you’ve just decided to move there.

Even small loans add up, especially when you’re doing it more than once. Some guys give out thousands over time, thinking they’re just being helpful.

But in Pattaya, cash generosity often gets mistaken for weakness and once people know you’re willing to lend, word spreads fast. You’ve now become a walking ATM not just for bar girls, but for your so-called friends as well.

If you’re too generous and not careful, it won’t be long before you’re the one asking for help.

Getting Talked Into Investing in a Bar

You have no idea how many farangs fall for investing in a bar with little to no knowledge about how anything works in that world.

For some reason, foreigners think an easy way to make money in Pattaya is to open a bar that it’s going to be good and fast money.

The problem is, there are thousands and thousands of bars in Pattaya, and investing in one nowadays is just asking for failure.

Tourism in Pattaya has been on the decline for the last two years, so starting a new successful bar in the city would be pretty slim.

You have to watch out for these guys trying to get you to invest in a bar. They do not have good intentions and probably already know it’s a failing money pit.

A foreigner moves to town, makes a few friends, gets friendly with the bar staff or owners, and suddenly hears about a “great opportunity” to invest in a bar that’s “just about to take off.”

That bar has probably changed hands five times in the past three years and every new buyer thought they were the one who’d turn it around.

The appeal is obvious and can be easy to fall for when you think about it: the nightlife feels exciting, and owning a piece of it makes you feel like a local king.

In many cases, you’re not even buying the business you’re buying the right to take over someone else’s debt.

The numbers you’re shown are rarely the correct numbers, and after a few months of slow nights and rising costs, you realize you’ve been sold a fantasy. By then, your money’s gone, and the original seller is long gone onto the next buyer.

Worse yet, some foreigners let their girlfriends or “friends” pressure them into funding these ventures, thinking it will earn trust or long-term commitment. In reality, those relationships often vanish right after the money dries up. It’s a fast way to go from expat with a dream to broke and bitter on the sidelines.

If you really want to invest, spend a year on the ground first. Learn the business, the paperwork, the local scene, and who you can actually trust.

And even after all that, I still recommend not investing in a bar or 99% of other businesses here.

Buying Instead of Renting

Another financial mistake foreigners make in Pattaya is rushing to buy a condo too soon.

The idea of owning a piece of paradise sounds appealing no more rent, your own space, and a place you can call your own.

But many guys sign the paperwork within their first few months, only to regret it not long after. They realize they don’t like the building, the neighborhood, the neighbors, or in some cases, Pattaya itself.

Now, if you don’t like it, you’re stuck with it because you rushed in too fast. Unlike renting, buying ties you down. You can’t just pack up and move.

Some buildings have terrible management, high maintenance fees, or questionable legal issues around foreign ownership and once you buy, you’re stuck dealing with it all.

Reselling a condo in Pattaya isn’t always easy either. The market is saturated, prices are unpredictable, and if you’re desperate to leave, you might have to take a huge loss just to offload it.

The smarter move? Rent first. Take your time to explore different neighborhoods, test out buildings, and see if Pattaya really fits your long-term goals. The guys who rent before they buy almost always make better and safer decisions.

There’s something else that expats will tell you to rent and not buy. I can’t say it here because of YouTube’s rules, but I’m sure you can figure it out.

Drinking Every Day

Drinking every day might seem like part of the lifestyle in Pattaya after all, bars are everywhere, beer is cheap, and there’s always someone around for “just one more.”

But over time, daily drinking quietly becomes one of the biggest money drains for foreigners living here.

It’s not just the alcohol itself though that’s expensive enough if you’re doing it daily. There’s also the social pressure: buying rounds, tipping bar staff, paying lady drinks, maybe even bar fines.

A “cheap night” in Pattaya can easily turn into a few thousand baht gone before you realize it. Multiply that by 30 days, and you’re burning a massive hole in your wallet each month without anything to show for it.

Beyond money, drinking every day also takes a toll on your health.

Guys who drink too much often fall into other traps bad relationships, fights, or even legal trouble. And when your life becomes centered around the bar, everything else starts slipping: work, routines, long-term goals.

It’s easy to spot these guys too. They’ve been sitting at the same stool for years broke, bitter, and stuck in the same loop.

Drinking in moderation? No problem. But if you move to Pattaya and turn every day into a party, the money and your life will disappear fast. The successful long-term expats are the ones who know when to call it a night.

You have to learn to say no when asked to go out whether it be by a friend or a local girl. Get it out of your head that if you don’t go out, you’re missing out.

If you can afford it and you really want to go out drinking and having fun, just try to go out on a Friday or Saturday and then spend the rest of the week doing something else.

Buying Land or Property Through a Girlfriend

Let’s say you’ve come to Pattaya or you’re coming to Pattaya and you already have a girlfriend here waiting for you.

Whether you trust her or not, it’s a huge red flag if she’s wanting you to buy land or property.

Another financially devastating mistake foreigners make in Pattaya is buying land or property through a Thai partner usually a girlfriend or wife.

Because foreigners can’t legally own land in Thailand, some try to work around the law by putting everything in their partner’s name.

If you trust her, then that’s your choice but do you really want to give someone full legal ownership of your biggest investment, with zero protection if things go south?

Many foreigners fall into this trap thinking, “She’s different,” or “We’re in love, she’d never do that to me.” But breakups happen. And once the relationship ends so does your claim to the land.

You can’t fight it in court because the property was never yours to begin with. There are countless horror stories of guys being kicked out of the home they paid for, with nothing to show for it but a bruised ego and an empty bank account.

Even worse, some women know exactly what they’re doing from the beginning. They play the long game win your trust, get you to pay for the house or land, and then slowly push you out once everything is in their name. And because the law is on their side, not yours, there’s very little you can do unless you have ironclad contracts (which most guys don’t).

Some foreigners try to use shady workarounds like setting up shell companies or fake leases but these are risky, legally grey, and often fall apart under scrutiny.

The bottom line is this: if you can’t legally own it, don’t buy it.

No Long-Term Financial Planning

It’s a mistake to think that your pension or savings will magically stretch forever. Many come here with a fixed income, think it’s enough, and never stop to ask questions like: What if I need major surgery? or What if visa rules change and I need to spend more?

Without a proper plan, it’s not a matter of if the money runs out it’s when.

It’s easy to get comfortable in the moment. Pattaya feels affordable, and the laid-back lifestyle can make people forget they’re still aging and life still throws curveballs.

Costs rise. Emergencies happen. Currency exchange rates fluctuate. And if you haven’t factored in what the next 10 or 20 years might look like, you could end up in serious financial trouble later on.

Some guys burn through their savings early, thinking their pension will catch up or the savings will last but without long-term planning, many expats end up broke.

Planning ahead doesn’t mean living in fear. It means making sure you can enjoy Pattaya today and tomorrow.

The guys who stay here successfully long-term aren’t just lucky they’re prepared. They budget, plan smartly, and watch what they spend.

Trying to Maintain Western Standards of Living

Another great way to go broke in Pattaya is by trying to live the Western lifestyle here down to every detail.

That means imported food, super nice apartments, private gyms, brand-name groceries, and all the comforts they were used to back home.

While all of that is available in Pattaya, it comes at a price that adds up very quickly.

Thailand is affordable if you adapt to the local lifestyle. But if you insist on eating imported cheese, drinking craft beer, shopping at foreign supermarkets, and living in a Western-style condo in a trendy area, you’ll find yourself spending more than you ever expected sometimes even more than you would back home.

This is especially common among retirees or digital nomads who don’t want to “rough it” and want to stay comfortable. But they forget that the affordability of Thailand only works if you live like a local or at least meet it halfway.

Trying to replicate a Western life in a Thai city is like importing your old expenses into a new country and expecting different results.

Long-term success in Pattaya isn’t about downgrading your life it’s about adjusting your expectations. The foreigners who thrive here financially are the ones who adapt to the Thai way of life and don’t try to live like a king every chance they get.

Getting Bored and Overspending to Fill the Void

For many foreigners, especially retirees, the move to Pattaya is supposed to be the start of an easy, stress-free life. But once the excitement fades and the routines disappear, boredom sets in.

With no job, no responsibilities, and all the time in the world, a lot of guys struggle to find something to do during the day just to feel busy.

When they think there’s nothing more to Pattaya than just the bar scene, then that’s what they’re going to be doing.

It’s especially risky for guys who came here with a fixed income or limited savings because once it’s gone, there’s rarely a plan to rebuild.

The best way to avoid this trap is to get a hobby. Join a gym, volunteer, learn Thai, teach English, start a blog, or learn something you’ve always wanted to do but never had the time.

Pattaya doesn’t have to be all bars and beaches.

This was actually some advice an expat gave me when I first moved here in a bar, of course. He said I needed to get a hobby, or Pattaya would eat me up and spit me back out. And he was right.

Not Having an Exit Plan

One of the riskiest moves someone can make is coming to Pattaya with no backup plan.

A lot of guys sell everything house, car, furniture burn bridges with family or employers, and move here thinking they’ll never look back.

They’ve probably planned out moving to Pattaya over and over again and think they have everything sorted out. But things can go wrong and they often do. Then they’re left with no way out and no safety net to fall back on.

Pattaya isn’t always what people expect. Some struggle to adjust to the slower pace, find it hard to make real connections, or just drink away all their savings.

Others face health problems, visa issues, or just lose interest after the initial novelty wears off. But when you’ve cut all ties to your old life, going back becomes incredibly difficult and expensive.

You’ve got no job waiting, no home to return to, and often no savings left to restart. This leads to desperation.

Some guys end up stuck here, living in budget rooms, counting every baht, and trying to survive on shrinking pensions or handouts from friends. The dream becomes a nightmare.

They can’t afford to live comfortably, but they also can’t afford to leave. That’s why you see so many broken expats hanging around the same area on Beach Road with their Chang bottles from 7-Eleven.

It’s fine to start fresh, but it’s smarter to keep doors open. Hold onto assets, stay in touch with people back home, and maybe even keep a small base in your home country for a while.

Life changes, and so do you. Pattaya might feel like paradise today, but six months or two years down the road, you might want out. I know plenty of people who moved here and decided to leave by choice because it just wasn’t for them in the end.

So, just be careful when moving here. It might seem like a dream when you think about it, but in reality, you might hate it here.