Thailand Trip Costs 2023 – How Much

Will It Cost Per Day?

-- Last Updated on February 29, 2024 by Jonesy

Thailand trip costs are going to vary quite a lot in terms of the place or places you’re planning to stay and various other factors….

There are so many variables in regards to the person (do you booze and party…or have a glass of wine with a meal?), places (cities more options – Islands less), visiting various places or primarily one, and many others that it’s tricky to give an exact amount of travel expenditure required, but an estimate always helps.

I thought it best to keep it simple and then include within other articles more specifics based on destinations and touristic things to do. Whatever your plan there are always great options and value for all budget types in Thailand – from the backpacker to those wishing to have an extravagant holiday.

Three weeks is probably the most common amount of time tourists spend in Thailand that I have met and makes sense in terms of seeing, doing, and relaxing plenty after and before returning on a long-haul flight.

Budgets based on three weeks it is then!

All figures will be in USD as it’s the most stable and common currency, at the moment. 100 THB is around 3 USD and 1000 THB – 30 USD which is approximate based on rounding it off and today’s exchange.

Alcohol & Cigarettes- Partying & Ladies

For some visitors to Thailand there primary purpose is to enjoy drinking, partying or the lady bar scene. If that’s the plan Stan then Thailand surely provides the right setting and conditions to fulfill this purpose in style. This is a separate budget on it’s own, and the sky is the limit on what cash can leave your wallet….and it can leave in abundance.

Alcohol Costs

• Wine: Wine is expensive usually as it’s imported, a bottle 1200 THB (36 USD) + or 250 THB (7.5 USD) + a glass.
• Beer: Anything from 80 – 150 THB (2.5 – 4.5 USD) for small bottles of local beer (i.e., Leo, Singha, Tiger, and a couple of others).
• Spirits & Cocktails: From 80 – 300 THB (2.5 – 9 USD) a glass. If you’re going out to nightclubs it pays to order a bottle and just pay for mixers if there is a group of you. At some places especially the beer gardens you can take your own bottle or buy theirs and order mixers and ice (check for corkage charge though).

A quick mention about cigarettes…they’re cheap as chips. Approx 40 – 120 THB (1 – 4 USD).

Nightclubs

Nightclubs require an entrance fee that differs for each venue and you might find offers may be available. If you’re a boozer and on a budget the nightclubs are going to sting you for cash that are worth avoiding or at least limiting. Even mixers are expensive so there’s no way of budgeting.

For those sensible people that drink 2 or 3 drinks and dance for a couple of hours or so then you can get away with spending about 1000 THB (30 USD).

GoGo and Lady Bars

Drinks are more expensive in the lady bars and it’s polite to buy a hostess a drink (an extra 100 THB on top of the normal price), but you don’t have to buy drinks for hostesses unless you wish. Many of them will ring you dry if possible. Happy hours are the best times to go to save on cash.

Drink costs for small bottles of local beer and spirits are anything from 80 – 250 THB (2.5 – 7.5 USD) and buying a bar girl a drink will cost you about 160 – 350 THB (5 – 10 USD).

Guys taking a lady out for the night from the bar will cost them a bar fine (charge for the lady not continuing to work that night) of 300 – 700 THB (7.5 – 21 USD). The lady in question has her evening charge for her company which could be anything from 1500 – 2500 THB + (45 – 90 USD).

You were told Thailand is cheap to booze right? Not so, but some places are still reasonably priced. If you’re a happy hour person you’ll save quite a few baht. Visiting beer gardens is also budget-friendly.

I can drop most of the dollar converting out now….you’ve probably got the idea if you’ve followed so far.

Food, Rehydration & Eating Out Budget

In Thailand, you can buy a meal from 45 THB – 500 THB +. Really good deals on the food in Thailand. Even fine dining and 5-star buffets can still be value for money compared to the UK, my home country, Europe, and beyond.

Three meals a day, rehydration drinks and snacks are going to cost around….

• Low budget backpacker 400 THB or less.
• Budget friendly but still not too tight 600 THB +/-.
• Mid range 600 THB and above.

For a budget day without being tight you can still spend 100 THB for breakfast, 100 THB for lunch, 250 THB for an evening meal, and 150 THB for rehydration and cheap snacks, totaling 600 THB for the day. Take advantage of the street stalls selling fruit, coconut water, sweetcorn, and other great healthy snacks that are cheap.

Of course, you could eat three 45 THB meals a day, have a couple of snacks and bottles of water which may cost a person 200 THB, but it’s not most people’s idea of a fun holiday.

Hotels, Guesthouse & Resort Costs

Backpacker & Budget: Hostels and guesthouses are the main option that attracts those on a tighter budget. The hostels have dorms like many other countries. Dorms cost from as little as 100 – 350 THB. Budget room with a fan only and shared bathroom 300 – 600 THB. Budget room with air con 600 – 900 THB.

Budget to Mid Range: Hotels within the price range of 900 – 1500 THB. Once you get over the 1000 baht mark rooms become much nicer and the facilities. Around 1300 THB I have found great places to stay without breaking the bank.

Mid Range: Mid-range of 1300 – 3000 THB is the best option for most people for a good room and facilities. Really nice and peaceful resorts start to become available after the 1800 THB level.

Top Range: From 3000 ++. The resort and hotel world of Thailand is your oyster.

Most places in Thailand have lush and lavish accommodation options at reasonable rates, great mid range hotels at good rates and super budget friendly shacks and guesthouses or dorms. It really is open to all budgets.

Transportation Costs

Transport costs are fairly cheap across the board in Thailand, although there are differences in various places. Every place has their own main modes of transport and options.

Taxis, motorbike taxis, tuk tuks, songthaews, buses, or the Bangkok subway (MRT) and skytrain (BTS) will cost anything from 10 THB – 300 THB, although certain places and situations could cost a bit more (always research the place and route you’re taking). More about transport in Thailand here.

Examples of Transport Costs

You can use the below examples as a good transport estimated guide if traveling a bit further south to Krabi or Phuket and other places. Other islands like Samui cost more, although there are other options (e.g. fly Bangkok – Surat Thani then Bus then Boat) you may consider.

Bangkok to Chiang Mai

• Flight: Minimum 85 USD with hand luggage only and 150 USD return flight with 20 KG checked baggage. The domestic flights all have baggage restrictions (Bangkok Airways allows 32 KG) and costs that you must check before booking.
• Train: Second class overnight train 1050 THB each way. There are many other train ticket options to Chiang Mai but the overnight is popular. More about Thailand trains here.
• Bus/Coach: The long 10 hour journey to Chiang Mai on the bus costs around 450 THB.

Add a bit more on top for transport costs to and from airports or other transportation hubs.

Boat Trips & Island Hopping

There are many boat trips and island hopping options in Thailand and different costs, with speed boat trips and better services costing more. Approx costs 700 – 2500 + THB.

Activities & Sightseeing

Activities and sightseeing can bump up costs and they’re not always that revealing at first to the budget plan. Visiting temples in Bangkok or any other tourist attractions will stick another 100 – 500 + THB on the days budget, for entrance fees.

If you like your jet skiing, banana boating, paragliding, snorkeling, or diving…….or any other water, air or land sports then you will need to add an extra 500 – 2500 THB + for each activity.

Gifts & Shopping

Buying gifts for others and personal shopping is the same as shopping anywhere else in the world. including our home countries. You can buy cheap or expensive gifts in Thailand and it’s particularly good for those that buy copies. In terms of clothing and other brand stuff buying back home in the UK is much cheaper, but the duty free is good.

You will need to add to your spending budget the amount you’re willing to spend on shopping as there are too many variables to give anyone a reasonable clue to how much it’s going to cost.

Three Week Trip – 21 Day Guides

This is a basic guide for three budget levels. Budget, budget with some luxuries and closer to mid-range or above. These exclude alcohol, partying, shopping and smokes.

Pace Yourself

Taking it easy on the spending budget the first week in Thailand is a smart move, especially when you have never visited before. Thailand can seem very cheap and it is in many ways, however, before you know it a travel budget can drop drastically within a blink of an eye.

Keeping the budget a bit tight the first week or few days will help you get familiar with the costs here. Keeping it tighter the first week could enable the last week of your stay to be spent in much more luxurious accommodation before heading home, by being smart the first week.

Related

• Thailand Currency Exchange Guide & Tips
• Thailand ATM’s Guide & Tips
• Visiting Super Rich Money Exchange Silom Branch Bangkok