Long-Term Stay in Pattaya — Visas, Costs, and Where to Live
A long-term stay in Pattaya starts at three months and goes up from there. The visa options are manageable, the cost of living is low, and Pratumnak Hill is where most people who stay longer than a holiday end up wanting to be.
How Long Can You Stay in Pattaya?
It depends on the visa.
Tourist stamp on arrival: 30 days. Extendable once at Jomtien immigration for another 30 days. Total: 60 days without leaving Thailand.
With one border run: Exit Thailand, re-enter, get another 30-day stamp. Extend again at immigration. Total: 90 days. The run from Pattaya to the Cambodian border takes about four hours each way. Agents run it for around ฿1,500-2,000. The immigration extension costs ฿1,900.
Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): 180 days per entry, five-year validity. Designed for remote workers and freelancers. No bank balance requirement. Apply online or at a Thai consulate before arrival. The cleanest route for anyone working remotely who wants to stay six months.
Non-Immigrant O-A (Retirement Visa): For those aged 50 and over. Requires ฿800,000 in a Thai bank account maintained throughout the visa period, or ฿65,000 per month in demonstrated income. One-year visa, renewable annually. No border runs required. First application at a Thai consulate before arrival. Renewals handled at Jomtien immigration.
Thailand Elite Visa: Paid programme from ฿600,000 for five years of access. Worth considering at the ten-year horizon.
What Does It Cost Per Month?
At Grosvenor House on Pratumnak Hill, a realistic monthly budget:
| Item | Monthly |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom apartment (pool, cleaning, Wi-Fi included) | ฿45,000 |
| Food | ฿15,000-20,000 |
| Transport | ฿3,000-5,000 |
| Healthcare buffer | ฿5,000 |
| Miscellaneous | ฿5,000 |
| Total | ฿73,000-80,000 |
Studio rooms start at ฿35,000 per month. The penthouse is ฿65,000.
Where to Stay
Pratumnak Hill. Most long-stay visitors and expats end up here. Central Pattaya has everything but the noise is difficult to live with long-term. Jomtien is quieter but more spread out.
Pratumnak Hill is elevated, quiet, and self-sufficient. Within walking distance of Grosvenor House at 338/6 Pratumnak Road:
- Lotus’s supermarket: 486 metres
- Mini Big C: 490 metres
- 7-Eleven: directly across the road
- Lemon Laundry: 256 metres
- DR.JEN Pharmacy: 347 metres
- Deutsche Dental Clinic: 322 metres
- Pilates Pattaya: 309 metres
- Rage Fight Academy: 379 metres
- Dongtan Beach: 800 metres on foot
- Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai): 150 metres
Central Pattaya is five minutes by car or Grab.
Grosvenor House Rates
| Room | Size | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Studio (Room 1) | 48 sqm | ฿35,000 |
| 1-Bed Apartments (Rooms 2-6) | 64 sqm | ฿45,000 |
| Penthouse (Room 7) | 110 sqm, 2-bed/2-bath | ฿65,000 |
Every room includes cleaning every three days, fresh linens and towels, 1Gb/s Wi-Fi, pool access, fully equipped kitchenette, smart TV, and air conditioning throughout.
For enquiries on stays of three months or longer: thelunchboxpattaya.com/contact.
The Cafe Downstairs
The Lunch Box Cafe is directly below Grosvenor House. Open 8am-5pm daily. Breakfast from ฿195, Full English at ฿295, cold-pressed juice from ฿115.
Full menu at thelunchboxpattaya.com/menu.
The Lunch Box Cafe
Address: 338/6 Moo 12, Nongprue, Bang Lamung, Chon Buri 20150
Open: Daily 8:00am – 5:00pm
Phone: 083 212 5996
150m from Big Buddha · 5 min by car to Walking Street · Dongtan Beach walkable