When you have decided to travel to Thailand, you naturally want to know what the costs are and what kind of budget you should have in mind. With any budget, you can make a trip to Thailand, whether you’re looking for luxury or want to keep it nice and cheap, Thailand has it all. In this article, we describe the average costs for every type of traveler. In Thailand, you pay with Thai Baht, but for convenience, we have converted everything to dollars in this article so you don’t have to do it yourself. At the bottom of this article, we also describe an average daily budget for Thailand.
Costs for food and drinks in Thailand
In Thailand, you have a huge variety of options when it comes to food and drinks. You can enjoy delicious Thai food, but on popular destinations, there are also many good Western restaurants. You will always pay a bit more when you choose to eat Western food. For a Western meal, you pay an average of $6. A Thai dish in a restaurant costs around $4, and at a street stall, you can already score a meal for $2. A nice cappuccino at a hip cafe costs an average of $2, and if you buy a coffee to go at a 7-Eleven, it will cost you about half the price.
Transportation costs in Thailand
Traveling between destinations in Thailand is very easy and well organized. There is usually a bus or train between every destination. If you take the bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, it will cost you around $22. If you prefer a bed in the night train, expect to pay about $26 for a bed in the 2nd class. You can often find a domestic flight for $39 to $56. Renting a scooter costs between $7 to $9 per day excluding fuel. In addition, taxis in Bangkok that run on a meter are very cheap, while tuk-tuks are more expensive.
Costs for hostels & hotels in Thailand
As Thailand has been a popular tourist destination for years, there is a huge selection of accommodations throughout the country in various price ranges. It’s entirely up to you how much money you want to spend on a hostel or hotel. You can sometimes find a bed in a dorm for $5 per night. In popular hostels, prices are often a bit higher, with a bed in a dorm costing $11 to $13, and a double room costing around $28. Popular hostels often offer more facilities such as a hot shower, a comfortable bed, a cozy atmosphere, and, with some luck, a nice breakfast. If you are looking for more luxurious hotels during your trip to Thailand, a nice room in a good hotel costs an average of $34 to $45 for a double room. If you really want to pamper yourself, you can expect to pay around $67 to $90 for a luxury room in a beautiful resort. We have already listed our favorite hostels and hotels in Thailand for you here.
Also, keep in mind that everything is a bit more expensive during high season. These are the months of December to January & July to August.
Average daily costs for Thailand
A real low-budget backpacker can travel through Thailand for around $28 per day. This includes sleeping in cheap hostels in a dorm, eating at street food stalls, and traveling by bus. If you want to do a lot of fun activities, sleep in cozy hostels, and eat at popular restaurants, expect to spend around $39 per day. If you stay in a good mid-range hotel in a double room with an en-suite bathroom, you should expect to pay around $56 per person. Of course, it can also be much more expensive if you want more luxury.
