Thailand remains excellent value for many international visitors—especially street food, local transport, and mid-range hotels outside peak weeks. Your style (hostel vs five-star, islands vs Bangkok only) swings the total more than any single “daily rate” blog post claims. We give realistic per-person per-day ranges excluding international flights.
Daily budget (per person, THB)
| Style | Approx. daily total | Typical includes |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | 1,200 – 2,000 | Hostel/guesthouse, street food & food courts, public transport, 1 modest activity |
| Mid-range | 2,500 – 5,000 | 3-star hotel, mix of local restaurants & cafés, Grab/taxi, paid temples & tours |
| Luxury | 8,000+ | 4–5 star hotel, fine dining, private tours, domestic flights, spa |
Add roughly 30–50% on peak dates (late December–January, Songkran, Loy Krathong weekends in popular cities). Islands and Phuket often sit one tier higher than inland cities for the same comfort level.
Major expense categories
Accommodation
Bangkok has everything from 300 THB dorm beds to 15,000+ THB suites. See hotel bands in our airlines & hotels guide and overview cost table.
Food & drink
- Street plate or food court: 50–80 THB
- Casual restaurant: 120–250 THB per dish
- Tourist-area or rooftop dinner: 400–1,500+ THB
- Bottled water (600 ml): about 10–20 THB at 7-Eleven
Transport
- BTS/MRT single ride Bangkok: about 17–47 THB
- Grab short hop in city: often 80–200 THB
- Bangkok–Chiang Mai flight (book early): often 1,500–3,500 THB one way
- Island speedboat: highly route-dependent; book official piers
Activities
- Major temple (foreigner fee): 100–500 THB common
- National parks: 200–400 THB (foreigner rates higher than Thai rates at many parks)
- Day tours: 800–3,000+ THB depending on inclusions
Money-saving tips we actually use
- Eat where office workers queue at lunch—quality and price beat tourist-only strips.
- Use BTS/MRT in Bangkok rush hour instead of sitting in traffic.
- Book domestic flights and inter-city buses early; avoid last-minute peak-holiday fares—see domestic travel.
- Withdraw THB from ATMs attached to major banks; decline dynamic currency conversion (pay in THB).
- Exchange cash at reputable booths (e.g. Superrich branches in Bangkok)—compare rates on their boards.
- 7-Eleven and supermarkets for snacks, sunscreen refills, and phone top-ups—airport convenience prices are higher.
- Travel in shoulder season (May–June, September) if rain fits your plans—see climate and seasons.
For ATMs, cards, and immigration fund checks, read our money & payments guide, checklist, and visa guide for declared fund amounts.
Sources & references
Content reviewed against the sources below on 24 May 2026. Rules, fees, and phone numbers can change—confirm critical details with official agencies before you travel.