Travel budget in Thailand

Thailand: calculate your travel budget

Thailand: sample budgets by traveller type

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Thailand for 2 people.

Low budget
(backpacker)

Daily budget:

  • $ 22 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 5.1 per person
  • $ 3.8 per person
  • Free activities

Total budget:

$ 551* (17136 ฿)

Average budget
(traveller)

Daily budget:

  • $ 41 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 16 per person
  • $ 10 per person
  • $ 7 per person

Total budget:

$ 1461* (45430 ฿)

High budget
(tourist)

Daily budget:

  • $ 89 for 2 ppl.
  • $ 23 per person
  • $ 23 per person
  • $ 15 per person

Total budget:

$ 2889* (89852 ฿)

* Estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks. This represents an average across the country (budget may vary depending on the city or region visited).



Cost of living in Thailand in 2023

Cost of living: Thailand VS United States

Compare with the average cost of living in:

On average, the cost of living in Thailand in 2023 is 50% less than in the United States (USA).

The graphic below shows the percentage of variation between prices United States in in the United States (USA) and United States by types of expenses:

Cost of living in Thailand by city

See the table below for the variation in the cost of living in different cities in Thailand compared to the national average.

Cities /Thailand View Details
Phuket 28% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Phuket
Koh Phangan 19% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Koh Phangan
Trang 18% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Trang
Ko Samui 17% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Ko Samui
Krabi - Ao Nang 16% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Krabi - Ao Nang
Bangkok 12% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Bangkok
Chanthaburi 5% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Chanthaburi
Pattaya 4% moreTravel budget and cost of living in Pattaya
Chiang Mai 2% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Chiang Mai
Nakhon Ratchasima 7% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Nakhon Ratchasima
Hua Hin 9% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Hua Hin
Khon Kaen 10% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Khon Kaen
Chiang Rai 19% lessTravel budget and cost of living in Chiang Rai

Show all cities (26 more)




Local prices in Thailand by expense type

Thailand: Restaurant budget

On average, budget for eating in a restaurant in Thailand costs 62% less than in the United States (USA).
Lunch
Lunch
$ 2.6/person
($ 1.3 to $ 6.5)

88% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23
3 course dinner
3 course dinner
$ 15/person
($ 8 to $ 27)

65% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 42
McDonald's meal
McDonald's meal
$ 6.5/person
($ 5.1 to $ 8)

42% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12
Local beer
Local beer
$ 2.3 for 500ml
($ 1.6 to $ 3.8)

66% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 6.7
Imported beer
Imported beer
$ 3 for 330ml
($ 1.6 to $ 4.8)

21% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.7
Cappuccino
Cappuccino
$ 2.2/cup
($ 1.1 to $ 4.1)

58% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3
Fizzy drink
Fizzy drink
$ 0.7/can
($ 0.5 to $ 1.3)

73% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 0.4/bottle
($ 0.2 to $ 0.6)

81% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2

Thailand: Hotel and accommodation budget

On average, hotel and accommodation budget in Thailand costs 63% less than in the United States (USA).
1-star hotel
1-star hotel
$ 34/night
($ 29 to $ 42)

73% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 126
2-star hotel
2-star hotel
$ 28/night
($ 16 to $ 65)

81% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 147
3-star hotel
3-star hotel
$ 53/night
($ 26 to $ 158)

75% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 211
4-star hotel
4-star hotel
$ 125/night
($ 75 to $ 256)

60% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 316
5-star hotel
5-star hotel
$ 248/night
($ 141 to $ 459)

63% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 684
Hostel/Youth Hostel
Hostel/Youth Hostel
$ 27/month
($ 20 to $ 45)

79% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 131
Room with kitchen
Room with kitchen
$ 132/month
($ 65 to $ 257)

36% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 208
Hotel with swimming pool
Hotel with swimming pool
$ 81/month
($ 35 to $ 219)

58% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 193
Cottage or guest house
Cottage or guest house
$ 39/month
($ 21 to $ 75)

85% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 257
Family room
Family room
$ 149/month
($ 63 to $ 364)

25% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 199

Thailand: Supermarket food budget

On average, the price of supermarket food in Thailand costs 51% less than in the United States (USA).
Milk
Milk
$ 1.8/litre
($ 1.3 to $ 3)

57% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1
Bread
Bread
$ 1.4/500g
($ 1 to $ 3.8)

62% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9
Rice
Rice
$ 1.3/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 2.6)

70% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.7
Eggs
Eggs
$ 1.9/12 eggs
($ 1.3 to $ 2.9)

61% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1
Chicken
Chicken
$ 2.7/kg
($ 1.4 to $ 4.8)

79% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14
Apples
Apples
$ 3/kg
($ 1.3 to $ 4.8)

46% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.4
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
$ 1.6/kg
($ 0.6 to $ 2.7)

69% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.1
Potatoes
Potatoes
$ 1.6/kg
($ 1 to $ 2.3)

49% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.1
Water bottle
Water bottle
$ 0.5
($ 0.4 to $ 0.8)

78% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.4

Thailand: Public and private transport budget

On average, the price of transport in Thailand costs 43% less than in the United States (USA).
Bus ticket
Bus ticket
$ 1/ticket
($ 0.4 to $ 1.7)

65% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.8
Taxi (per km)
Taxi (per km)
$ 1.3/km
($ 0.7 to $ 1.6)

32% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.9
Petrol
Petrol
$ 1.3/litre
($ 1.1 to $ 1.6)

20% more than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
Taxi (initial pick-up charge)
$ 1.1
($ 1.1 to $ 1.6)

71% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.9
Car hire
Car hire
$ 12/24hrs
($ 6 to $ 36)

67% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

Thailand: Leisure activity budget

On average, budget for leisure activities in Thailand costs 48% less than in the United States (USA).
Cinema
Cinema
$ 7/ticket
($ 4.8 to $ 12)

47% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 14
Tennis
Tennis
$ 10.3/hr
($ 4.8 to $ 17)

49% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 21

Thailand: Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes

On average, shopping budget in Thailand costs 31% less than in the United States (USA).
Cigarettes
Cigarettes
$ 4.5/pack
($ 3.2 to $ 5.1)

55% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10
Levi's jeans
Levi's jeans
$ 51
($ 16 to $ 97)

13% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 58
Summer dress
Summer dress
$ 35
($ 17 to $ 65)

24% less than in the United States (USA)United States Average price in the United States (USA): $ 46

Plane ticket budget

London → Bangkok
London → Bangkok
London → Bangkok
$ 666
(fair price: $ 597)
Sydney → Bangkok
Sydney → Bangkok
Sydney → Bangkok
$ 700
(fair price: $ 527)
London → Phuket
London → Phuket
London → Phuket
$ 850
(fair price: $ 766)
Manchester → Bangkok
Manchester → Bangkok
Manchester → Bangkok
$ 760
(fair price: $ 673)
Melbourne → Bangkok
Melbourne → Bangkok
Melbourne → Bangkok
$ 635
(fair price: $ 505)
Sydney → Phuket
Sydney → Phuket
Sydney → Phuket
$ 619
(fair price: $ 498)


About the information on the cost of living in Thailand

The information about the cost of living in Thailand shown on this page comes from multiple sources, including : Numbeo, Easyvoyage and Hotels.com.

Information about cost of living in Thailand updated on 30-05-2023.

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