Go with a plan.
Numbeo's Safety Index puts Pattaya at 55/100 for crime — that makes it read sketchier than Thailand's national picture overall (65/100 vs 74/100).
City page · part of Thailand
The one number a country page can't give you
What people who actually live in Pattaya report
Numbeo aggregates thousands of resident-submitted perception surveys into a per-city Crime Index (higher = worse) and its inverse, a Safety Index — the only real city-granularity crime signal feeding this page, alongside Thailand's national advisory, political, health, and police-trust data.
Crime Index
45.1
Safety Index
54.9
Sub-scores
Same real inputs as Thailand's national page, with crime swapped for Pattaya's own Numbeo number above.
Local know-how
Staying safe in Pattaya, specifically
- • Traffic: For most people, the most hazardous aspect of visiting Pattaya is the traffic. The top three accident black spots are:
- • Dolphin Roundabout (intersection of Beach Rd, Second Rd, North Pattaya Rd and Naklua Rd) junction of Beach Rd and Central Pattaya Rd junction of Beach Rd / Walking St and South Pattaya Rd
- • Most accidents in Pattaya involve motorbikes, and are especially common late at night and in the early hours of the morning, when drunk driving is a significant problem.
- • In the event of an accident, the injured are usually bundled into the back of the next available songthaew or pickup truck or even onto the back of a motorbike (now you know why Pattaya has…
- • A completely different genre of traffic-related accident was highlighted by a fatality in January 2006 when a surfacing diver was hit by a speedboat propeller near Ko Laan.
- • Scams: Some of the scams to be wary of:
Legal status (national law)
Legal since 1956. Thailand is one of Asia's most LGBTQ-friendly destinations and legalized same-sex marriage in 2025.
Source: Wikipedia — LGBTQ rights by country →Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
A / B / C / O · 230V
Driving side
left
Emergency
police: 191 / ambulance: 1669 / tourist_police: 1155
Tipping
Not obligatory but appreciated; round up or leave 20-50 THB for good service.
SIM / Data
Prepaid tourist SIMs (AIS, dtac, True) are available at the airport and 7-Elevens; eSIM options exist for most major carriers.
Cash vs. Card
Cash still rules for street food, markets, and tuk-tuks; cards fine in malls and hotels. Carry small bills.
How this compares to Thailand
Numbeo's Safety Index puts Pattaya at 55/100 for crime — that makes it read sketchier than Thailand's national picture overall (65/100 vs 74/100).
See the full Thailand page and all receipts →