For an extended time, Thailand has been one of the top destinations in Southeast Asia, drawing in millions of international travelers each year. Many people tend to think that in order to enjoy the beauty of Thailand – from stunning beaches, tasty street food to lively nightlife, it will cost a great deal. However, in reality, you can completely experience Thailand with flexible costs, suitable for many different budgets. So how much money do you really need to have a complete trip to Thailand without worrying about “burning a hole in your pocket”? Let’s explore the details in this Thailand travel budget guide.
About Thai Currency (Baht – THB)
Thailand uses the Thai Baht (THB) as its official currency. The exchange rate fluctuates, but you can estimate around 1 USD ≈ 35–37 THB. Having this quick conversion in mind will make it easier to calculate your daily expenses, whether you’re paying for street food, transportation, or a luxury resort. This will also help you understand the real cost of traveling in Thailand on a daily basis.
Factors Affecting the Budget for a Thailand Trip
Factors Affecting the Budget for a Thailand trip
Length of Stay
A short trip of about 3-4 days will help you save a lot of money on hotels, food and transportation. However, the downside is that you will hardly be able to explore many destinations. On the contrary, if you go for a long time (1-2 weeks), the basic cost will increase, but the average Thailand daily budget may be cheaper thanks to discounted long-term accommodation or cheaper intercity transport.
Travel Style
Travel style directly affects the amount of money you spend each day. If you travel like a backpacker, prioritizing hostels, street food, and public transportation, the cost will be low but in return there will be less amenities. On the contrary, mid-range travelers or those who choose more luxurious travel will spend more on comfortable hotels, diverse food and experience more high-end resort activities, raising the overall budget for a Thailand trip
Destinations within Thailand
The destinations you choose will greatly influence your Thailand travel budget, as each city or island has a very different price level. Bangkok and Chiang Mai are generally affordable: cheap hotels, public transport available, and a wide variety of street food, while Phuket, Koh Samui, and Krabi push up the cost of traveling in Thailand by 20–30% due to higher demand, as these areas cater to international tourists.
Tourist season
If you go during the peak season (November – February), you will enjoy cool weather, ideal for exploring the islands, but airfares and hotels increase quite sharply, possibly one and a half times higher than in the low season. Meanwhile, in the low season (May – October) you can plan a smaller Thailand daily budget, though the weather can be rainy, not favorable for outdoor activities.
Main expenses while travelling in Thailand
Flights
Transportation typically consumes the largest share of your trip budget for Thailand. Generally, the flight cost depends on your departure location. If you’re visiting from neighboring Southeast Asia, return fare with a low-cost airline will cost approximately $80-200 USD. If you’re coming from Europe or the USA, plan to spend between $500-1000 USD, which will take most of your trip budget. Thus, it is important to pay attention to promotions and book your tickets in advance to save money.
Accommodation
Thailand is known for having an abundance of accommodations for all budgets:
Accommodation options
- Hostels are around 8-15 USD/night for a low Thailand daily budget; hostels are well suited for younger individuals to backpack or those who are budget conscious as much as possible. Although, you will likely need to live with other’s in a dorm room, and minimal/private amenities.
- Midrange hotels are around 30-70 USD/night and usually have private rooms, or there is a good quality basic service and breakfast is often provided. This option is the most preferable option for travelers in Thailand.
- Luxury resorts can be from 120 and up for the cost of your stay and provide a comfortable and luxury experience for suitable beach vacations.
The variance is usually the experience; if you wish to focus on the outdoors, hostels is generally enough; if you want a comfort or service experience, the mid-range hotels work well.
Transportation
Transportation options
- Within a big city like Bangkok, the BTS/MRT system is very convenient and cheap, only from 0.5–1.5 USD/trip.
- Tuk tuk and taxi: Faster but add to the cost of travelling in Thailand, suitable for groups. If you prioritize privacy and want to be comfortable in your schedule, you can choose to rent a private car, but the cost will be higher than tuk tuk or taxi options. Regarding traveling between cities, you have three options:
- Night bus (15–25 USD): Taking a night bus (15–25 USD) is the cheapest way, and it even saves you a night of hotel costs, though the ride can be uncomfortable due to limited space.
- Train (20–30 USD): Sleeping on the train is more than correctly safe, it also provides the opportunity to watch the Thai countryside changing outside the window, which is all part of the adventure.
- Domestic plane (40–80 USD/way): The fastest and most convenient choice when you want to save time, especially on a tight schedule.
Travel costs can therefore vary widely, depending on whether you prioritize saving money or time.
Food
Thai cuisine is one of the strengths that makes your budget flexible.
Food Options
- Street food: Eating street cuisine goes beyond saving 1-3 USD/dish, especially when you can experience the buzzing culture and irreplaceable flavor at every corner.
- Mid-range restaurants: A great choice on days when you want something a bit more comfortable, costing about 10-15 USD/person
- Fine dining: Available in major cities, ranging from 30–60 USD per person, designed to cater to high-end travelers who want a refined culinary experience.
Thus, food can take up more or less depending on your choice, but even when traveling on a budget, you can still easily enjoy delicious food.
Sightseeing & Activities
Sightseeing & Activities options
This is the cost you can adjust according to your preferences. If you only visit temples and museums, you will spend very little (1–3 USD/ticket). But if you want to go on an island tour in Phuket or Krabi, the cost will be higher. For example, a Phi Phi Islands day tour usually ranges from 35–60 USD/person, depending on the package and boat type. Special experiences such as visiting an Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai (70–90 USD/day) or scuba diving in Koh Tao (100–120 USD/day) can push the cost even further. Therefore, depending on the level of participation in the activity, your daily budget for sightseeing can range from low to quite high.
Other costs
Other expenses like SIM cards and shopping can also affect your Thailand daily budget.
- SIM cards are very cheap and easy to buy, only about 7–10 USD/7 days (10–15GB of data), 15–30 day packages from 12–20 USD. You can buy them right at the airport at AIS, DTAC, TrueMove counters or pre-order through apps like Klook to save more. SIM cards are usually pre-activated, easy to insert and use, convenient for looking up maps, booking Grab or communicating. Compared to international roaming, this is the most economical and flexible option for tourists.
- If you like shopping, the night market is a paradise with a variety of goods, but it is easy to overspend if you do not control it.
Sample Budget for Each Type of Traveler
Cheap itinerary (25–40 USD/day)
Cheap Itinerary
- Accommodation: If you are an adventure lover and want to save as much as possible, choosing to stay in a dorm at a hostel or guesthouse will be very reasonable, with prices ranging from only 8–12 USD/night.
- Food: Street food, food at night markets or cheap and delicious restaurants, each meal costs only 2–4 USD on average, a total of about 10 USD/day for all three meals.
- Transportation: Optimized by using BTS, MRT or public buses, only about 3–5 USD/day.
- Entertainment activities: Mainly visiting temples and museums (many places are free or have very low ticket prices), plus some small experiences such as cheap massages, ranging from 5–10 USD/day. In addition, exploring local markets such as Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok or Warorot Market in Chiang Mai is completely free, while giving you the chance to immerse yourself in Thai culture and observe local daily life.
With hostels, street food, and public transport, the Thailand daily budget is very low. This budget for a Thailand trip suits young travelers who want authentic experiences without overspending. Although not luxurious, this is the way for you to clearly feel the daily life of Thai people.
>>> Explore Ancient Villages In Northern Thailand For 5 Days on a budget-friendly adventure.
Mid-range Itinerary (80-100 USD/day)
For those who want to save money and have comfort, the mid-range budget is the most popular choice.
Mid-range itinerary
- Accommodation: you would stay in a 3-star or boutique hotel starting from 35-50/night. These accommodations will have basic amenities and a private room.
- Food: You will have more options for dining than just street food options: in addition to street food, you could dine in mid-range restaurants for 5-10 USD/meal. Your total for food will be around 15-25/day.
- Transportation: in addition to BTS/MRT, you can sometimes use taxis or Grab to save time, plus the cost of traveling between cities if available, averaging 10–15 USD/day.
- Entertainment activities: More options are available, for example, you can book day tours (island hopping in Phuket, city tours in Bangkok, Ayutthaya day trip), visit famous attractions with quite low entrance fees, or experience guided cultural activities such as participating in culinary or art workshops. You can even book a private tour for 1-2 days to have a personal guide and more flexibility in your schedule.
With this level of Thailand travel budget, the total cost per day is 80–100 USD. This is a balanced budget for a Thailand trip between saving and comfort, suitable for most international travelers. You can enjoy certain amenities while having the opportunity to experience a variety of things from local culture to modern tourism services.
Luxury itinerary (200 USD/day or more)
If you want to turn your vacation into a luxury resort, a comfortable budget will be the ideal choice.
Luxury itinerary
- Accommodation: The biggest expense is usually accommodation, when you choose a 4-5 star resort or hotel with prices ranging from 120-150 USD/night, in return you enjoy high-class service, swimming pool, spa and convenient location.
- Food: you can enjoy luxury restaurants or even fine dining, averaging about 40-60 USD/day.
- Transportation: is also not limited, you can freely use taxis, Grab or domestic flights to save time, with a cost of about 30-40 USD/day. For those who prefer more privacy and flexibility, renting a private car with a driver is also a convenient option, though it comes at a higher cost.
- Entertainment activities: With the luxury budget, you get high-end experiences such as private island tours (Phi Phi Islands or James Bond Island by private yacht), luxury spa & wellness retreats, scuba diving or snorkeling with a private guide, enjoying sunset cruise, or attending exclusive cultural performances.
With a budget of about 200-250 USD/day, you almost do not have to worry about costs and can fully enjoy your vacation. This is the choice for those who want to be pampered, completely relaxed and turn their trip to Thailand into a memorable luxury resort experience.
>>> Experience 9 days of luxury beach relaxation in Thailand with the Southern Thailand 9 Days Beach Relaxation.
Estimated daily cost per person
Ideas for Planning an Affordable Trip to Thailand
- Book tickets and hotels in advance: This is the easiest way to save 20-30% on costs.
- Use public transportation: BTS/MRT are also cheap and the best as you can avoid traffic jams and taxi scams.
- Eat street food: It is cheap and it offers a glimpse into the local culture.
- Join a group tour: Group tours are significantly cheaper than private tours especially for activities like island hopping.
- Use a booking application: Applications such as Klook, Traveloka will have promotions on sightseeing tickets and tours.
Thailand is not only attractive but also flexible when it comes to costs. You can plan a budget for Thailand trip of just 25 USD/day as a backpacker, or spend 200 USD/day for luxury comfort. By clearly defining your travel style and estimating your Thailand daily budget, you can enjoy a complete and memorable journey while keeping the cost of traveling in Thailand under control. If you are still confused about planning your upcoming trip, contact us to discover itineraries that have been perfectly designed for your budget.
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