@Paul ******
I stayed there last year for a month and found it cheap. Phuket before, was much more expensive. Comparing airbnb prices here. So, if its nice its expensive, nicer = more expensive. Can stay in rural isan almost for free = not nice. Thats where i am coming from. Hua Hin is perfect, not far from bkk and not a pattaya shithole. Phuket / Rawai area is my favourite but to far from bkk where i need to be a few times a month. At the airport in around 2.5hrs. Thats what it might make it more expensive. You have beach, you have bangkok close, intern. airport and so on without Pattayas low quality.