I am Start process next week. Will go to evo360 gym pattaya for do the needed document of muay thai ( 22.000 baht inkl. 2 days / week training 6 month ) , after it i have to fly back to germany to manage dtv online. You need Bank Statement that the is Minimum 500.000 baht in your Account. The rest what the they need is the normal visa paperwork
: condos aber more expensive as pattaya , motorbike more expensive, go out more expensive, and many things more... of the Islands much more. Patong is a District of phuket , not a City, but you are right , the prices grow up much and overcrowed with russians.
How long are you staying ? Bkk is much more expensive with everything. It s up to your term. Agoda, air bnb , etc... is expensive, there much more better options, but Minimum stay 1 month