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Thailand Trip Cost: 10 Days In Thailand On A Budget

Thailand is a beautiful country in Southeast Asia and a popular destination for all types of travelers. This isn't surprising as Thailand has a lot going for it like friendly people, beautiful beaches, delicious food, and rich heritage.

If you are like me and like doing a little research before traveling to a country, you are probably interested in the approximate Thailand trip cost. Personally, I was very interested in how much money we would need to travel around Thailand.

It turned out that, despite being a tourist destination for many years, travel in Thailand is still pretty cheap! Or at least it can be, it all depends on your personal preference and choices.

You can go all out, stay in fancy 5-star hotels and resorts and go on interesting organized tours with private transport.

Or you can travel around Thailand on a budget, eat cheap (but delicious) street food and stay at budget (but quality) hotels and hostels.

Thailand trip budget

Wat Pho in Bangkok

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How much is a trip to Thailand?

In this Thailand budget article, you can find all our Thailand expenses. So if you are wondering how much money to bring to Thailand for your trip, this is the perfect post for you!

During our first trip to Thailand, we spent approximately 2200THB / €60 / $67 per day as a couple. We traveled to Thailand on a backpacker budget and tried to keep our expenses as low as possible.

We've returned to Thailand several times since then, and during these trips, our budget was higher. We stayed at several 4 and 5-star hotels, did a couple of organized tours and during our most recent Thailand trip, we traveled with our kids.

I wasn't as precise in budget keeping as during our first trip, but my estimate was that our daily average was closer to 3500THB / €100 / $107.

So is Thailand cheap or expensive? It can be both, but it's up to you and the choices you make! In the infographic below you can find more detailed information about the cost of a trip to Thailand.

Wat Arun Bangkok

How to travel Thailand on a budget?

The infographic gives you a quick overview of how much (or actually how little) you can spend during your trip to Thailand.

But it's important to remember that the amount you'll spend depends on your travel style, the length of your trip, and the type of accommodation you choose.

That being said, compared to countries such as Japan, New Zealand, Canada, and Europe, Thailand is still a very affordable destination.

Are you still wondering how much money to take to Thailand for 10 days?

Generally speaking, you can travel around Thailand on a budget of $35-$70 per day (per person). As you can see in the infographic, we spent $67 per day as a couple.

It's important to note that this infographic is based on the daily budget in Thailand for our first trip (the budget backpacker trip).

Further down in the post, you can find more details about the cost of accommodation, transport, food and drinks, and activities.

Curious to know how much it costs to travel around Thailand? We spent €60/$67 on an average day as a couple (€30/$34 per person). Check out this more details of this budget breakdown (costs for accommodation, transport, food & drinks and activities) on Phenomenal Globe Travel Blog. #Thailand #TravelBudget #TravelTips

Thailand travel budget: important facts and figures

  • I traveled around Thailand with my husband, all expenses are for the two of us together.
  • During our first trip to Thailand, we spent 10 days in the country.
  • I quote prices in Thai Baht as well as Euros (€) and US Dollars ($). When we were in Thailand, €1 was around 37THB and $1 around 33THB, but as the exchange rate varies this might be a little different now. You can check the current exchange rate on XE.com.
  • Thailand is one of the best cheap destinations for couples. In total, we spent 22220 THB (€600/$670) during the 10 days we were in Thailand. As such, our Thailand travel budget per day comes down to an average of 2222THB (€60/$67) and includes almost all expenses in Thailand. Please note that flights to Thailand are not included in the budget.
  • Also, as with my budget breakdowns for the Philippines and Malaysia, I excluded the costs of scuba diving on Koh Tao. I feel this would not be a fair representation of the average cost per day in Thailand. Diving is (relatively) expensive and not everyone will go diving in Thailand, therefore, I excluded these costs from the Thailand budget.
Grand Palace Bangkok Thailand

Thailand budget travel tips

When planning a Thailand budget trip, your total Thailand travel costs all depend on your way of traveling.

In general, the slower you travel, the lower your average daily costs. Street food is cheaper than European food or eating in restaurants.

Drinking alcohol will increase your Thailand budget per day. Tuk-tuks and taxis are more expensive than public transport. And so on.

This budget breakdown includes 2 flights, and even though they were very cheap flights it still increased the average daily costs.

Also, despite the fact that we were budget travelers, we spent the final two nights of our 10 days in Thailand at the luxurious Tarna Align Resort on the tropical island of Koh Tao.

This was by far the most expensive accommodation of our 5-month trip, however, it was worth every bath because we wanted to end our trip in style. And who doesn't like a semi-private pool with a beautiful view…

Daily travel expenses in Thailand

Now that you know the most important facts and figures of our Thailand budget, it's time for a deep dive into our Thailand travel expenses. Our daily travel budget can be divided into four categories:

  1. Accommodation: 39% of our daily travel costs
  2. Transportation: 20% of our daily travel costs
  3. Food&Drinks: 39% of our daily travel costs
  4. Paid activities: 2% of our daily travel costs

Plan your Southeast Asia trip like a pro with these tools:
✈️ Find the best flight deals on Kiwi.com.
? Book your transport tickets (train, bus, ferry, minivan, and more) via 12Go.Asia
?️ Find your dream accommodation on Booking.com or Agoda.
? Book the best tours with Klook and Get Your Guide.
? Plan your journey with the Lonely Planet.
?️ Travel safely and get reliable travel insurance from Safety Wing.

1. How much does accommodation cost in Thailand?

Of the 10 days, I spent in Thailand I only slept in hotels for 8 nights. I spent one night on the boat from Koh Tao to Surat Thani and allocated these costs to transport.

On my last day in Thailand, I took a flight home in the middle of the night so we didn't have accommodation costs for that night either.

We stayed in a private room (no dorm rooms) at 5 different hotels and spent 850THB / €23 / $25,50 on accommodation on an average travel day. The total amount we spent on accommodation was 8500THB / €230 / $255.

In the table below you can find 3 of the 5 hotels, I stayed at. I only included the places I recommend, so I haven't included the 2 hotels that I wouldn't return to myself.

LocationHotelPrice per nightAgodaBooking
BangkokAu Bon hostel€16/$18Click here
Koh TaoJomthong Guesthouse€23/$26Click here
Koh TaoTarna Align resort€88/$98Click hereClick here

2. How much does transportation cost in Thailand?

Let’s take a closer look at transportation in Thailand. There are many ways to travel around the country, such as trains, buses, taxis, tuk tuks, minivans, ferries, and of course the BTS and MRT trains in Bangkok.

One of the most popular and cost-effective ways to travel in Thailand is taking a night train.

You'll save money on accommodation because you're taking a sleeper train. Plus, you'll save valuable time by covering (large) distances at night, so you can see more of Thailand.

bangkok-to-koh-samui-by-train-phenomenalglobe.com

Another budget-friendly way to travel in Thailand is by catching a local bus. Bus services are available in all of the major cities and most of the smaller towns as well.

This is a great way to explore parts of Thailand where there aren't any train tracks (such as the more rural areas of the country).

A quick note: when traveling in Thailand (and Southeast Asia in general), you need to be prepared for delays.

Most of these delays will be relatively short but sometimes your train, bus or minivan can be delayed for hours (without anyone offering an explanation).

The easiest way to get from A to B in Thailand is by booking your transportation ticket via 12Go Asia. This is an online platform where you can book tickets for trains, buses, ferries, minivans, and private transfers all around Southeast Asia.

I've used 12Go Asia several times and had great experiences with both the ease of booking on the platform itself as well as their fast and friendly customer service when I needed to amend our booking.

For example, you can use 12Go Asia to book tickets from:

How much did we spend on transportation in Thailand?

Our average transportation costs were 450THB(€12/$14) per day and the total cost of transport was 4500THB (€120/$140).

3. How much does food cost in Thailand?

Thailand is renowned for its delicious and diverse cuisine! The key to Thai cuisine is its balance of five essential flavors: sweet, sour, salty, spicy, and bitter.

This balance of flavors is achieved through a careful blend of herbs, spices, and other ingredients. Each dish is a unique combination of these flavors and ingredients, making Thai cuisine both complex and delicious.

Some of the best things to try are the various curries, Pad Thai, Som Tam (spicy green papaya salad), Khao Man Gai (chicken and rice), Tom Yum soup, and mango sticky rice.

How much did we spend on food and drinks in Thailand?

Pad Thai Bangkok
Nothing beats a delicious plate of Pad Thai (for just 35 Baht)

Good news: the food in Thailand is not only really tasty, but it’s also very cheap! That is if you eat local food at local restaurants.

Eating Western Food always triples the price of dinner when traveling around Southeast Asia.

So when it comes to food, explore the local markets to find inexpensive meals and try delicious street food whenever you have the chance.

Anyway, let’s talk numbers.

On an average day, we spent 870THB (€23,60/$26) on food and drinks. Our total costs for food and drinks were 8700THB (€236/$260).

Also read: 10 best places to eat in Maenam

4. How much do tours and activities cost in Thailand?

View from Red rooftop bar in Bangkok

When you’re in Thailand, make sure to take advantage of all the free activities the country has to offer, like exploring Buddhist temples, local markets, National Parks, and pretty beaches.

Doing so will help you make the most of your vacation while still sticking to a tight budget.

When planning your Thailand trip, it's also worth looking into tour companies that offer (discounted) activities that can help you save money while still getting the best experience.

Klook is the largest tour operator in Southeast Asia, but Get Your Guide has been working really hard on growing their SEA offers as well so be sure to check out those websites as well when you're planning your Thailand activities.

Some of the most worthwhile tours and activities in Thailand are:

ang-thong-national-park-phenomenalglobe.com
Angthong Marine Park

How much did we spend on activities in Thailand?

We did an Advanced PADI Open Water Course on Koh Tao, but as I mentioned above, I didn't include the costs of this course in this Thailand budget breakdown as most people won't go scuba diving.

Besides diving, our only paid activities in Thailand were a visit to Wat Pho, home to the famous Reclining Buddha, and going to a movie at the SF cinema.

The entrance fee for Wat Pho was 100THB per person and the SF Cinema at Terminal 21 was 160THB per ticket. We did many more activities, such as exploring Bangkok and Chiang Mai, but these were all free!

Our average activity costs per day were 52THB (€1,40/$1,50), and the total for activities comes down to 520THB (€14/$15).

5. Travel insurance costs

I didn't include the cost of travel insurance in our Thailand budget breakdown because we use our travel insurance for all our trips, not just for our Thailand itinerary.

However, that doesn't take away the fact that making sure you have proper travel insurance is super important.

It helps protect you and your belongings in the event of a mishap during your travels. Furthermore, it provides coverage for medical expenses, trip cancellation, lost or stolen items, and more.

Also, having good travel insurance will provide you peace of mind, knowing that if something goes wrong, you have a safety net in place.

With so much to consider when planning a trip, having the right travel insurance can help ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey without stressing out about things that can go wrong.

How to save money when planning a trip to Thailand

Now that you know the costs of a trip to Thailand, here are some practical tips about how to stretch your travel budget.

When it comes to saving money in Thailand, it's important to plan carefully, look for discounts, and be flexible with your itinerary to make the most of your travel budget for Thailand.

Avoid peak season (travel during the low season instead)

Start by researching the best time of year to visit Thailand as flight costs and hotel prices vary throughout the year.

The high season in Thailand is from November until February. During these months accommodation prices are at their highest.

So if you have the option to be flexible with your travel dates and able to travel during shoulder season, this is a great way to save money on your Thailand trip.

intercontinental-resort-koh-samui-phenomenalglobe.com_

Save money on flights

You can look for the cheapest flight to Thailand on websites like Kiwi.com. Try different travel dates and see how this affects the price of your flight.

Generally, the cheapest days to fly are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Airlines often offer discounted fares on these days, so it's worth checking the booking sites and comparing prices on different days of the week.

You’ll get a better deal by booking your flight in advance. For domestic flights 1-3 months before your trip is ideal.

That being said, I booked our tickets from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and from Surat Thani to Bangkok last minute (only a couple of days before our flight) and still managed to find a great deal (around $25 per person including luggage).

Reputable low-cost airlines in Thailand are Air Asia, Lion Air, Nok Air, and Thai Smile. It's often cheaper to fly to Don Mueang International Airport for domestic flights than to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

budget-airline-phenomenalglobe.com

For international flights, it’s best to book 2-8 months in advance. Tickets to Bangkok are pretty much always the cheapest option but keep an eye open for tickets to Chiang Mai and Phuket as well.

Lastly, you may be able to find cheaper flights if you're willing to be flexible with your departure and arrival times.

Sure, it’s not ideal to arrive in the middle of the night, but if it saves you hundreds of dollars it’s worth losing one night of good sleep.

✈️ Click here to find the best ticket deals

Book your accommodation in advance

Once you've got your flights booked, it’s time to research accommodation options. I always use Agoda and Booking to find the best value-for-money accommodation for our trips.

I recommend checking both platforms before you book to make sure you get the best deals on hotel rooms.

What's great about accommodation in Thailand is that there are so many options for any budget.

There are luxurious 5-star resorts (such as the Kimpton Kitalay on Koh Samui), family hotels with a playground (like the Kokotel Dheva Thonglor in Bangkok), modern boutique hotels (like the Owl Poshtel in Kanchanaburi) and affordable budget accommodation (like the Au Bon hostel in Bangkok)

Please note that Agoda includes taxes in their price whereas Booking doesn't always include this. Make sure to check this before finalizing your booking.

Also, Thailand charges a hefty ATM fee and has a limit on how much cash you can withdraw per transaction. Therefore, it can be better to book with Agoda as you can often pay online with your credit card (and reduce your need for cash).

Travel cost per day in Thailand: in conclusion

I hope this post has given you an insight into the costs of a trip to Thailand. If you have any questions, leave a comment or send me a message.

Also check out my travel budget posts for Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam!

This post was updated in December 2022.

Curious to know how much it costs to travel around Thailand? We spent €60/$67 on an average day as a couple (€30/$34 per person). Check out this more details of this budget breakdown (costs for accommodation, transport, food & drinks and activities) on Phenomenal Globe Travel Blog. #Thailand #TravelBudget #TravelTips
Curious to know how much it costs to travel around Thailand? We spent €60/$67 on an average day as a couple (€30/$34 per person). Check out this more details of this budget breakdown (costs for accommodation, transport, food & drinks and activities) on Phenomenal Globe Travel Blog. #Thailand #TravelBudget #TravelTips

ayala

Monday 2nd of October 2017

awesome information here,you go with husband , what if one go alone ,how much it will cost, thanks

Lotte

Tuesday 3rd of October 2017

Hi Ayala,

Thank you, happy to hear you enjoyed the post! Well, that depends if you want to stay in a private room or a dorm. If you prefer a private room you'll probably spend around €50 per day. Accommodation costs will be similar to ours, but you'll spend a little less on transport, food and activities. If you stay in a dorm I think €35-40 per day would be doable. Hope this helps! Enjoy your trip:-).

Lotte

Deep

Tuesday 15th of November 2016

Its Indeed very helpful to plan my trip with your post which will start on 25th Nov 2016 for 10 nights...can you suggest few more (must try) Thai street food ...

P.S:Thank you Miss Pad Thai..hahahaaaa

Lotte

Wednesday 16th of November 2016

Thank, happy to help:-). Green Curry is one of my favorite dishes, as is green papaya salad. Kai Jeow is another great dish and mango sticky rice is a divine dessert... Basically, pretty much all Thai food is delicious! Enjoy your trip!

Andrea Leblang

Monday 7th of March 2016

This is such an informative post - love it! We are headed to Thailand for a few months this spring. Definitely bookmarking this for our time there. Great tips, thanks!

Lotte

Monday 7th of March 2016

I am so happy to hear that Andrea, you are very welcome:-). I wish you an amazing trip in Thailand!

Vicky

Monday 7th of March 2016

You're making me miss Thailand so bad!! I loved my time there and the fact that everything was so cheap. Especially the food. Mmm... pad thai...

Lotte

Monday 7th of March 2016

I know... Pad Thai! I was dreaming about Pad Thai after writing this post;-P

Carol

Sunday 6th of March 2016

I've done Thailand on a budget so many times, but now I've fallen in love with its luxury side, and the bargain prices that go with it. Thailand really is a country for every traveller.

Lotte

Sunday 6th of March 2016

True, Thailand is very versatile and I loved our stay at the luxurious Tarna Align:-). But my travel funds are not sufficient to stay only in high-class resorts. And I actually don't mind, I like budget travel, particularly using public transport because it's how the locals get around as well.