| 💰 Trip Cost | |
|---|---|
| 💵 Typical Budget | $35-$100/day |
| 🍀 My Budget | $77/day |
| ✈️ Trip Total | $920 |
| 🗓️ Trip Length | 12 days |
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Is Thailand Affordable To Travel To?
Thailand is a very affordable destination worldwide and is one of the cheapest destinations in Asia.
- The country has a low cost of living with affordable accommodations, even if you opt for nicer hotels.
- Street food is part of the everyday norm, so visitors have cheap local dining options.
- Public transport and domestic flights are inexpensive and widely available.
- Tourism has a well-developed infrastructure, keeping attractions competitive and affordable.
For comparison, here’s my daily budget for destinations in Asia:
| Destination | My Budget |
|---|---|
| 🇯🇵 Japan | $145 |
| 🇰🇭 Cambodia | $123* |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | $122 |
| 🇹🇼 Taiwan | $102 |
| 🇻🇳 Vietnam | $89 |
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | $77 |
*My Cambodia daily budget is high because I splurged on accommodation.
💰 What I Spent Traveling to 21 Destinations (2025 Update)
About My Trip
To give context to the expenses below, here’s what you need to know about my trip:
- I spent almost 2 weeks in Thailand, visiting Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Krabi (Ao Nang).
- My trip was in November, during the high season, when things are more expensive.
- I traveled with another person, which allowed us to split costs like housing.
- I’m a mid-range budget traveler. I don’t aim to travel on a budget, but I’m intentional about my spending.
- I finance my trips and don’t receive sponsorship.
- All expenses are per person and in US dollars, converted from the Thai baht.
🇹🇭 Planning A Trip To Thailand: 12 Practical Things To Know
Total Cost
- $1,138
- $920
- $77
A mid-range budget traveler can expect to spend $55–$100 per day in Thailand.
Budget Breakdown
Here’s a breakdown of my expenses by travel category:
| Category | Cost | % of Total | Daily Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Flights | $218 | 19% | – |
| 🏠 Accommodation | $211 | 18% | $18 |
| 🌶️ Food | $95 | 8% | $8 |
| 🚗 Transportation | $233 | 20% | $19 |
| ⭐ Entertainment | $381 | 34% | $32 |
| Total | $1,138 | 100% | $77 |
Flight Cost
- $82 (flight from Vietnam to Thailand)
- $136 (flight from Thailand to Cambodia)
A round-trip flight between the US and Thailand costing under $700 is considered cheap, as international flights typically cost between $800 and $1,200.
Be aware of bag weight limits on budget airlines that hop around Asia. I flew AirAsia and VietJet Air, and both had a combined carry-on and checked-bag limit of 7kg (about 15 lbs). If you pass this limit, you’ll have to pay an extra checked bag fee. I paid $14 per bag, but some fees were as high as $45.
Accommodation Cost
- $211
- $18
The accommodations I stayed at:
| Accommodation | Total Cost | Cost per Night |
|---|---|---|
| Bangkok hotel | $20 | $10 |
| Chiang Mai Airbnb | $111 | $22 |
| Krabi Airbnb | $80 | $16 |
Accommodations in Thailand are incredibly affordable. You can stay at a mid-range hotel for as low as $15 per night. A private room costs as low as $10 per night at a budget hotel. Even luxury hotels, which start at $150 per night, are relatively inexpensive.
Food Cost
- $95
- $8
My most affordable meals:
| Meal | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Hainanese chicken rice dish (“khao man gai”) | ร้านแม่บุปผา (Chiang Mai) | $1 |
| Noodle dish (“khao soi”) | Khao Soi Arak (Chiang Mai) | $2 |
| Braised pork with an egg dish | Chang Phuak Gate Night Market (Chiang Mai) | $3 |
Food in Thailand is extremely affordable. You can easily eat meals for $5 or less every day if you go to local restaurants, night markets, and street food stalls.
My most expensive meals:
| Meal | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Egg crepe with coffee | Fern Forest Cafe (Chiang Mai) | $8 |
| Pad Thai and papaya salad | Krabi restaurant (sadly closed) | $7 |
| Pad Thai and dessert | Ao Nang Landmark Night Market (Krabi) | $6 |
I recommend going on a food tour early on your Thailand trip. This is the easiest and best way to discover authentic, delicious food and restaurants you can try throughout your trip.
Transportation Cost
- $233
- $19
The transportation I used:
| Transportation | Total Cost | Cost Per Trip |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic flights (Bangkok to Krabi, Krabi to Chiang Mai) | $138 | $69 |
| Hiring a driver (Chiang Mai) | $24 | $12 |
| Taxi (Chiang Mai, Krabi) | $21 | $5 |
| Motorbike rental (for 3 days in Krabi) | $14 | – |
| Grab app (Bangkok, Chaing Mai, Krabi) | $12 | $2 |
| Boat trips (Krabi to Railay) | $11 | $5 |
| Tuk tuks (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi) | $21 | $5 |
| Metro (Bangkok) | $3 | $1 |
Grab rides are almost always more affordable than flagging down a taxi or tuk-tuk in Thailand. Pro tip: use Grab prices as a baseline for negotiating with taxis or tuk-tuks when they’re more conveniently available.
Entertainment Cost
- $381
- $32
The activities/attractions I did:
| Experience | Location | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 🍜 Old Siam Bangkok Food Tour | Bangkok | $65 |
| 🐘 Elephant Sanctuary | Several | $50 |
| 🍜 Chiang Mai Street Food Tour | Chiang Mai | $66 |
| 💆♀️ Thai Massage (3 sessions) | Anywhere | $30 |
| 💧 Sticky Waterfall | Chiang Mai | Free |
| 🏖️ Phi Phi Island Day Tour | Krabi | $50 |
| 👲🏻 Monk Chat | Chiang Mai | Free |
| 🏰 Grand Palace | Bangkok | Free |
| 🥾 Doi Suthep & Monk’s Trail | Chiang Mai | Free |
| 🏖️ Railay Beach Rock Climbing | Krabi | $62 |
| 🏮 Yaowarat (Chinatown) | Bangkok | Free |
| 🥾 Railay Lagoon Hike | Krabi | Free |
| 🏯 Wat Pho Temple | Bangkok | $6 |
| 🎤 Cabaret Show | Chiang Mai | $11 |
| 🛍️ CentralWorld | Bangkok | $6 |
| 🐠 SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World | Bangkok | $34 |
🏆 My Ratings for Thailand’s Attractions
Cost Breakdown by Destination
Below are my trip expense breakdowns for the places I visited during my trip.
Bangkok
- 3 days
- $170
- $57
Bangkok is one of Thailand’s most expensive cities but still relatively affordable for a typical visitor if they take public transit, eat local food, and take advantage of cheap attractions. Costs can add up with upscale hotels, rooftop bars, and luxury shopping or dining.
Chiang Mai
- 5 days
- $392
- $78
Chiang Mai is one of the most popular destinations in Thailand and is affordable. A mid-range budget traveler can expect to have a daily travel budget of $60, which is similar to Bangkok.
Krabi (Ao Nang)
- 4 days
- $357
- $89
Krabi is less popular than Phuket in terms of Thailand beaches. But it’s still one of the pricier destinations where a mid-range budget traveler can expect to have a daily travel budget of $60.
Do You Need Cash?
- Thailand’s economy heavily relies on cash transactions, so make sure to bring cash. I needed to use cash almost everywhere when I visited.
My tips on using cash:
- Thailand’s currency is the Thai baht. The US dollar is not widely accepted.
- Carry $30 to $50 worth of cash per day. It’s very rare for places to accept credit cards. I only used my card at touristy restaurants (especially in Bangkok), established massage places (they typically had a 3% fee), Grab rides, and shopping malls.
- Tipping is not customary in Thailand, but it’s appreciated. You can round up or leave small change at restaurants, tip $1 to $2 for drivers, and $3 to $5 for guides.
🏝️ 10 Epic Days in Thailand: An Active & Unique Itinerary
Thailand Trip Planner 2025
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