Cost to travel to Thailand

Last Updated on March 5, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

The Kingdom of Thailand or Siam, as it was known until 1949, is located in the Indochina Peninsula and is the most popular tourist destination in Southeast Asia. It borders Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Over 64 million people live in Thailand, and the capital is Bangkok, a cosmopolitan city. Although there have been many political crises in this part of the world, currently there is peace in Thailand, and the Kingdom is continuously developing and paying a lot of attention to the tourism industry.

How much does it cost to travel to Thailand?

If you are planning to travel to Thailand, you should be prepared to spend around $90 per day. According to past travelers, you should budget around $15 per day for meals, while local transportation will cost you around $10 per day. Also, the price of a hotel room for two persons in Thailand is around $60. So, a couple will spend around $1,300 for a one-week trip to Thailand.

In case you are traveling alone, you will spend around $610 for one week in Thailand, while the costs for one month in Thailand would be almost $2,600. The costs may get lower if you are traveling as a family of three or four members because the hotel rooms can be shared and the price of the tickets for children is cheaper. Also, if you are traveling for a longer period of time, you will spend less per day.

In order to get a better idea about how much you should budget for your trip in Thailand, we broke down the cost by category.

Accommodation costs

The price of a hotel or hostel for one person in Thailand is around $30, while a typical double-occupancy room costs almost $60. However, the prices will depend on the level of luxury, season, date, and location.

Transportation costs

Be prepared to spend around $10 per day for local transportation in Thailand. For instance, the train tickets to the airport cost around $4.50, the airport taxi is $13, the river ferry crossing is $0.60, the longboat taxi from town is around $6, and the gas for a scooter is $3.

In case you want to travel between cities in Thailand, you should budget around $340 for intercity transportation. For instance, a ticket bus from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi costs around $3, while the train to Kuala Lumpur is $30 and the ferry tickets to Bangkok for two persons are $46.

You might also like our articles on the cost of a trip to the Maldives, Maui, or Monte Carlo.

The price of a flight ticket to Thailand depends on the airport you are living from and the one you are arriving at, the period, the company you buy it from, and other factors. For example, the price of a flight ticket both ways from New York to Bangkok is around $1,200.

Food costs in Thailand

Expect to spend around $15 per day for meals in Thailand. For example, lunch for two people costs around $20, breakfast for two people is $10 and for a pancake, you will have to pay around $2.

Water costs

It is considered safe to drink public water in Thailand, but if you want to have bottled water, plan on spending around $1.50 per day. Also, a coffee costs around $1.50, and a fruit shake is almost $2.50.

Alcohol costs

Expect to spend at least $7 per day on alcohol in Thailand. It is up to you and if you want, you can spend much more. For instance, a beer costs around $2.50, a bottle of wine is $10 and a cocktail is $5.

Entertainment costs

You should budget around $15 per day for different sightseeing experiences, admission tickets to museums, day tours, and other fun activities.

For example, the entrance at the Siriraj Museum is around $12, the temple entrance tickets are around $1.50, for snorkel and kayak you will have to pay around $3, a fish pedicure will cost you almost $5 and the Thai boxing tickets are around $35.

Handouts and tips costs

Plan on spending around $3 per day for handouts and tips in Thailand. In general, the amount for a tip is anywhere between 5% and 15%.

When is it best to visit Thailand?

The best time to visit Thailand is from November to April (with the least chance of rain in January and February) and the worst time is during the rainy season, from May to October. However, the weather can be unpredictable and short showers can often occur.

In Thailand, there are 3 seasons, hot, cold, and rainy and the weather differs from one region to another.

Where to go in Thailand on holiday?

Thailand is a collage of animated scenes encompassing bustling modern cities full of motorbikes and tuk-tuks, Buddhist temples tended by orange-robed monks, locals selling handicrafts, lush landscapes dotted with traditional farming villages, ancient ruins and stunning coastlines dotted with wonderful beaches and blue lagoons.

Those looking to spend a few weeks exploring tropical islands should head to the picture-perfect Thai islands. If the exciting energy of a capital city is more your style, Bangkok will offer more than just an unforgettable experience. To understand nature and understand more about the different ethnicities of Thailand, the city of Chiang Mai serves as the perfect starting point for the mountainous landscapes of the north.

Holiday destinations in Thailand

Phuket

Known for its gorgeous beaches, excellent diving, and abundance of luxurious spas, Phuket is Thailand’s premier tourist destination. Located in southern Thailand, Phuket is the country’s largest island, connected to the mainland by two bridges.

Khao Sok National Park

Surrounded by towering limestone mountains and lush rainforests, Khao Sok National Park contains some of Thailand’s most spectacular scenery. It dates back 160 million years, making Khao Sok National Park considerably older than the Amazon rainforest.

Kanchanaburi

Located in western Thailand and admired for its beautiful scenery and accessibility to national parks and waterfalls, Kanchanaburi is best known for its iron bridge that is linked to the historic “Death Railway” to Burma, where thousands of Asian laborers and prisoners of war died during its construction under Japanese rule.

Phi Phi

Located off the southeast coast of Phuket in Krabi Province lies the idyllic archipelago of Phi Phi Island. The largest island is Ko Phi Phi Don, a popular holiday destination renowned for its sunny beaches, beautiful limestone cliffs, and laid-back atmosphere.

Khao Yai National Park

Located in the Sankamphaeng mountain range, Khao Yai National Park is the third largest park in Thailand. Despite the high altitude, the park’s landscape is a diverse mix of tropical evergreen forests and rolling grasslands.

What to do and what not to do in Thailand

What to do

Always respect their religion. Any statuette depicting the Buddha, whether large or small, shining or damaged, is considered holy. Do not lean on her or make signs or gestures that could be considered offensive. Great care also with regard to clothing! Wear conservative clothing, especially in temples (long pants or skirts, long-sleeved blouses).

Before entering a Thai home, don’t forget to take off your shoes and leave your shoes at the door. The same thing happens in the case of beauty salons, cosmetics, etc.

Always speak respectfully and honorably about the king and queen, and give respect and attention to elders in absolutely every situation. Even if you haggle in the market with a seller who is older, do it as politely as possible, always with a smile on your face.

What not to do!

When you have dinner in a restaurant, forget the old ways of calling the waiter with a raised finger sign. It is a very big insult here. Raise your hand, but with your fingers pointing down.

Do not put your hand on the children’s heads, even if you do it as a friendly greeting! The head is considered the most important part of the human body and only close people can have the privilege of patting a child on the head.

Don’t be very affectionate in public, not even with your spouse! Gestures of affection in public are considered impolite.

Don’t accept help from strangers when you go shopping! Many of those who will offer to direct you to the “trendiest” stores actually receive commissions for each customer brought into the store, a commission that is included in the price you pay for the items you buy.

Stay away from illegal substances or dealers! Those who are caught trying to transport illegal substances from Thailand receive the death penalty or life in prison!

Forget gambling! Gambling is illegal here, so don’t accept any invitation to participate in such a thing!