Chachoengsao
Some would say that this small town is in the perfect location - halfway between Bangkok and Pattaya. There are also plenty of teaching jobs on offer if you can go without your Western food fix.
The Lonely Planet guidebook says......?
Chachoengsao is described as a city that “barely qualifies as such,” which is a bit of a backhanded compliment if there ever was one. They suggest it makes for a decent enough day trip from Bangkok but don’t seem overly excited about what the place offers beyond that. The town’s layout is explained using a square-shaped mental map, with landmarks like the train station, bus terminal, and hospital forming some kind of functional rectangle. You’ve got a couple of Big C stores plonked on either side, a Robinsons shopping mall in one corner, and a rooftop bar hiding somewhere to the east. The old town, with its Chinese influence and cluster of family-run clinics and dentists, gets a small nod, as do the riverside restaurants. But overall, Lonely Planet plays it pretty safe—dry, factual, and very much through the lens of a traveller looking for a pit stop rather than a destination.
In general, what are the pickings like for an EFL teacher?
The town has a handful of government secondary schools, a couple of private language centres, and maybe the odd bilingual program here and there. The big shiny international school campuses you get in Bangkok? Forget it. This isn’t where parents are shelling out half a million baht a year to have their kids taught drama by someone with a minor in interpretive dance. It’s more your classic 35,000 baht-a-month jobs, depending on how generous (or desperate) the school is. Many teachers who find themselves working here end up in government high schools, where the classes are large, the air-con is optional, and you’re a bit of a novelty for the students, especially if you bring some personality to the classroom.
How far from Bangkok or civilization?
One of the best things about Chachoengsao is its location. It's between Bangkok and Pattaya. By bike or van, it's 90 minutes to Bang Na and just over two hours to central Pattaya. The bus station in Chachoengsao is well run and timely and will probably take you where you need to go (especially eastward bound) with a choice of bus or van. Anywhere far afield and you can go to Mo Chit bus station or Don Mueng airport, both about two hours away.
There's also a train that goes regularly to Hua Lamphong station (the main Bangkok train hub) for around 25 Baht. However, the ride though is uncomfortable, you generally don't get to sit and it takes about two hours.
, eating out etc?
Western food in Chachoengsao is limited but not hopeless. You’ve got a few solid spots like Sadudee 23 for steaks and pasta, Fat Lamb for Mediterranean-style dishes, and Sweet Loft Café for burgers and sandwiches. There are also a couple of shabu places like Mushrooms Suki and Teddy Shabu if you’re craving hotpot with a Japanese twist. For something healthier, Greenville Farm to Table just outside town offers fresh café fare in a peaceful setting. And if you’re really jonesing for a proper Philly cheesesteak, Mano’s Cheesesteaks & Burgers about 14 km out is the real greasy deal. You won’t be spoiled for choice, but you won’t be stuck eating Pad Krapow every day either.
Nightlife is low-key. A few pubs, karaoke joints, and riverside beer spots. Live music here and there, but not much for party animals. Most teachers make their own fun or head to Bangkok on weekends. It’s more “Leo and grilled squid” than “neon and nightclubs.”
How much to rent a house or basic apartment?
A furnished house will run you 7-10K per month. There are plenty on the market, especially in the area south of Robinsons. For apartments, there are all types and almost all prices. Most of the foreign teachers in Chachoengsao (including those working for agencies and government schools) stay at either Meesuk or JK Living. Meesuk is around 6K for a standard room, 8K for a deluxe partitioned room. JK Living is 7K for a standard room and 9K for a VIP suite. JK also tends to whack you more on utilities, due to the larger room sizes, but is more modern and more popular among the foreigners.
Shopping malls, department stores?
There are two Big C malls known, creatively, as Big C 1 and Big C 2. There's a Macro about five minutes north of the city and there is a Robinsons with a Tops market with higher quality goods. But, as Stalin taught us, some Tops markets are more equal than others. This is a less equal one. Fortunately there's a more equal one 40 minutes away in Chonburi Central Festival. Also, again you're not too far from Bangkok and Pattaya.
The Robinsons store does show one English movie every other week, but generally only if it's a big deal internationally and then only for a week or two before they're back to all Thai. But if you keep an eye on what's showing, you can see most major releases without travelling further afield. Otherwise there's Mega Bangna and Pattaya Central.
There is a big market every Thursday near to the White Temple, and a smaller one every Thursday near Big C 2.
How is mobile / internet coverage?
Perfect.
Will you be stared at? and what's the likelihood of a good beating?
In the city, people will notice you in the same way that people in Bangkok would. Outside the city in the towns, you get a lot more of the 'staring at you while pretending they're not' vibe. As for beatings, it's far more likely you'll run into trouble in Pattaya.
Taxis, buses....or horse and cart?
There are motorcycle taxis, which are okay for short distances, songthaews, which are hard to catch, and tuktuks, who follow the time-honoured tradition of charging absurd rates - especially to foreigners. You might see the odd meter taxi, but only because someone took it from Bangkok or Pattaya. Most people will use taxi apps like Grab or Bolt. Basically this is another spot that often requires you driving your own vehicle or renting a motorcycle.
Main advantages of living there?
You get most of the advantages of living in a city without having to deal with the smell, traffic and crowds of Bangkok. While there are a few bad sections of road, especially on the interchange going to and from Macro, generally the roads are good. And while there is a bit of traffic on the Robinsons highway, especially on Saturdays, it never comes close to Bangkok levels. The area around the city, while not North Thailand levels of beautiful, is still lush and green and pleasant to drive through and isn't as dominated by rice fields as the mid-lands.
It's cheaper to live here than in Bangkok or Pattaya, rooms are comfortable and cheaper, food is very good quality as long as you're prepared to eat Thai style, people are friendly and due to the geography tend to speak more and better English than most Thais. Frankly, it's a great place to stay.
And what are the downsides?
There's not too much to do in Chachoengsao itself, so if you've only got one day for relaxation you'll get bored. That's it really. Every other downside is very situational, like having no meter taxis might suck if you're determined not to ride a motorcycle.
Any local attractions?
There's the White Temple, Wat Saman Rattanaram, which can be a mild annoyance since every weekend hundreds of Thais come from Bangkok off the cheap train and clog up the road. Fortunately, once you are aware this happens, you can just make your way around the area. Some people go boating down the river, and on the riverside there's a nicely paved area that's good for evening walks. There's also a nice and well maintained park.
Where's the best place to meet other farangs or are they best avoided?
The best spots to meet fellow expats are usually the riverside bars or cafes where teachers and long-term residents hang out, like Sweet Loft Café or some of the quieter pubs downtown. Sometimes you’ll stumble into expat meetups or informal football games, but nothing official or flashy. If you want a bigger, livelier expat crowd, Bangkok is just an hour away, so most farangs come and go from there. As for avoiding them? Nah - most are friendly enough, just don’t expect wild parties or endless networking. It’s more like a chilled community where everyone knows your name and your preferred beer.
