Cheaper Cost of Living. The cost of living in Pattaya is 11% cheaper than Phuket, according to Expatistan. And the housing specifically is even 29% cheaper in Pattaya than Phuket. Indeed, when I’ve spoken to locals around Thailand, many of them told me that “Phuket is expensive!”.
3. From Bangkok to Phuket by Bus. Karon Temple Market in Phuket. There are both day and overnight buses from Bangkok to Phuket –all of them offering AC, on-board snacks and drinks, and free movies. Overnight buses are more popular and fill up quickly, so make sure you book well in advance, especially during high season. Book the ticket from Pattaya to Phuket in advance! The earlier you book, the cheaper usually the price is. Also, you will be sure to have a place on the bus from Pattaya to Phuket, compared instead if you buy it at the last moment, or directly at the station. If you can, avoid travelling at peak times. The dive sites close to Phuket are okay, and you can enjoy some good dives there, but the Krabi dive sites are much better. From Phuket, the best dives are at three sites clustered together, quite close to Phi Phi. The three dive sites are called Shark Point, Anemone Reef, and the King Cruiser Wreck. The hotels, restaurants, and entertainment are all cheaper than if you booked in Phuket. This means that Pattaya is a great option for large families traveling together. NOTE: Pattaya can be harder to maneuver with a big group since the city is so packed. This can make travel hard if you have impatient or anxious children who don’t like crowds. Bangkok and Pattaya are cheaper options than Phuket. (Bangkok has some good city transportation services that are probably cheaper than where you come from. ) Phuket not so cheap for local transportation. Pattaya is a cheaper city to visit. Good nightlife, cheap local transportation, good restaurants and easy to get to from Bangkok. A2TlXUe.