Quote:
Originally Posted by PokerSpiv
I think we can all agree that BKK has more stuff in it than PP does.
That's not what you wrote in your post though. You were saying that Thailand is cheaper than Cambodia, which it isn't.
It's also not true that expats living in Cambodia have a lower standard of living. You don't have to live in a big city with shopping malls and movie theaters to have a high standard of living. Some people don't actually enjoy those things at all. Pretty much all the things I quoted I couldn't care less about. Skyscrapers, trains, multiplexes and malls are things I actively avoid. That's why I live in Samui. If that's what you're into then I agree, Bangkok is definitely a better choice. But it will still be more expensive than PP, there's no getting around that.
I'm just trying to make people aware of what PP is like , compared to Thailand. I was shocked at the poverty , the smell , and that they don't have garbage collection as such etc. There was a family living under a tarpaulin in the same street as my guesthouse, The Flamingo.
Anyway. I can never get the numbers down in PP, compared to Pattaya. I would be happy if you could show me otherwise.
Transport in Pattaya is negligible if you stay on the baht bus route.
Thai food at foodcourts and little Thai places is 30 - 50 baht and sometimes includes water.
Happy hours and two for one deals makes the drink cheap, or use one of the cheap bar complexes.
Sex can be similar cost.
Non prostitute girlfriends are easier to find
Accommodation is harder to compare. In PP, you get a bigger apartment for the money, but security isn't great , and you would need transport. In Pattaya, you would need to stay over Sukhumvit in East Pattaya to get a cheaper house , but would need transport. Or stay in a studio nearer the baht buses and nightlife.
Saving on visa costs is big.
But if you have money, you can have a better lifestyle in Thailand than Cambodia.
It's hard to way it all up. But , imho, I have never managed to get PP to work out cheaper , except for the visa. What draws me towards PP is being able to work there. Otherwise, I wouldn't consider PP over Thailand.
Even for stays of a few months, I still find Thailand cheaper. Although Snooky sounds like it might be cheaper, but looks a bit lame. PP guesthouses are poor value.