In this Thailand travel guide, we will tell you everything you need to know to budget for your trip to the Land of Smiles. This article is filled with up-to-date prices for accommodation in Thailand, food and drinks in Thailand, and activities and transport.
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Planning Your One-Month Budget for Thailand
In the ten years between my first and most recent trip to the Land of Smiles, the prices have massively gone up. But I guess that’s the state of the world all over, isn’t it?
Even though things aren't as cheap as they once were, it is still possible to keep your purse strings tight during a trip to Thailand, and I am going to tell you how!
Let’s first talk about seasonality...
When to Visit Thailand
March, April:
High season & Very hot
May, June, July, August, September, October:
Low Season, many businesses close.
[Monsoon hits north Thailand and south-west Thailand in May - October, but rainfall is heaviest in south-east Thailand from September - December]
November & early December:
Shoulder with mixed rainy and sunny days
Late December, January, February:
Peak high season
The prices for most things will be a lot lower in the off-season. Half the cost, if not more, so you can definitely save money here. However, it can be difficult to get around (especially between islands) as a lot of businesses will be closed, and you may encounter intense heat and humidity, very heavy rain, and tropical storms. If you don't mind any of this, props to you, but for the sake of this post let's say we’re travelling in high season.
*Please keep in mind prices vary from place to place, especially when you reach certain islands*
A One-Month Travel Budget for Thailand
Accommodation
Super budget: 2500THB (£60) per month if you strike a long-term deal for an unfurnished bungalow or a bed in a dormitory.
Budget: 6000THB (£150) per month for a nice bungalow or guesthouse by the beach or another desirable location, if you book far in advance.
Mid Range: 30,000THB (£750) per month for a furnished villa with a pool, or a nice hotel.
As you can see above, accommodation prices vary hugely, and things can get a lot more expensive than that! You can check for more options on booking.com.
IMO dorms can get a little tiring long term, so I think you will be super comfy in a budget bungalow. They don't normally have cooking facilities, but you can often wangle yourself a kettle if you ask nicely.
FOR TRAVEL INSURANCE - do what I do, and have a browse on Travel Supermarket - choosing a cheap policy with a high Defaqto rating.
Food
Thai food is delicious, with fresh flavours and lots of variety. After three months in India, I was getting a little bit sick of all the rich sauces and fried snacks, but in Thailand, I did not have the same problem. Thai cuisine has plenty of healthy options, it's vegetarian-friendly, and always flavourful. When travelling on a budget food is my Achilles heel. I find it difficult to stick to a routine as I like to eat what I feel in the moment, but with some discipline, it can be done.
I recommend trying to prepare some meals at home, and you don't need a proper kitchen to do this. If breakfast and lunch are homemade, then you can enjoy dinner out at different places each night, experimenting with different Thai dishes!
A typical dinner in a local restaurant is 100THB. Mix that up with some 7/11 noodles and fruits and street food, and you can expect to spend 200THB (£5) a day on food.
That's £150 a month for food in your travel budget.
Another thing to think about is water.
Most restaurants and guesthouses in Thailand now have filtered water dispensers, so bring along your own bottle and you will save a lot of money and plastic! However, while this water is safe to drink, it has all of its salts and other minerals stripped out, so it will not hydrate you!
Many people don’t know this and they travel through Thailand with unexplained headaches and nausea, often blaming the heat.
To avoid dehydration you can buy electrolyte sachets from any 7/11 at (5THB) a pop. NOTE - These are packed with sugar. If you prefer sugar-free, you can stock up before you go, these are the ones I use and they taste pretty good.
Food and accommodation make up your base budget. But unless you're just going to stroll around one neighbourhood for a month there will be other expenses...
Getting Around
Renting a scooter is easily the best way to explore Thailand - they are cheap to rent and even if you have never driven one, most places will be kind enough to give you a 5-minute orientation.
There are many, many moped accidents. Have you ever sat in a Thai A&E for a week? I have! The number of people who came in every day with smashed-up faces and bodies from scooter crashes was insane. So yeah, don't be a twat, wear a helmet, and drive carefully.
Scooter Rental - approximately £75 a month.
Are you travelling to different parts of Thailand? Transfers can be costly too. Here are some examples of average transfer costs:
Overnight train class 2AC for 15 hours = £25
Minivan for 2.5 hours = £8
Speedboat for 2 hours between islands, one-way = £22
Domestic flight from Bangkok to Phuket not including luggage = £30
Moto-taxi for a 20-minute ride = £3
Overnight bus for 13 hours = £15
I would suggest booking everything on 12Go Asia.
Think about how many stops you’ll be making during the month. If I was visiting Thailand for the first time I would absolutely include:
Some time in Bangkok.
North Thailand (Chang Mai, Pai, or somewhere more remote)
Some time on the islands (Koh Lanta and the Trang Archipelago if you’re asking me!)
Of course, there are a zillion other amazing places in Thailand to visit, I would just prefer to spend a little longer in each place as opposed to zipping through on a highlights reel. Slow travel is the best travel.
Not sure what to pack for your trip to Thailand? Check out the I Dream of Mangoes article:
Activities
You can fill a lot of time with free things; mostly just walking around looking at stuff. Hiking is often free, temples are mostly free, and the beach is always free!
Other things you may want to do with average prices:
(These vary from place to place, even island to island, so use this as a ballpark only!)
Scuba 3500THB per day (£85)
Paddle Board 200THB per hour (£5)
Snorkel 750THB for a day tour (£20)
Kayak 200THB per hour (£5)
Yoga 400THB per class (£10)
Drink beer Small Chang 80THB (£2)
Enjoy the newly regulated cannabis scene 500THB per gram (£15)
Visit an elephant Sanctuary (don’t ride them ever please) 2500THB (£60) for the day including a guide and a donation.
Watch a Muay Thai boxing match 500THB+ (£15)
Thai cooking class 2000THB (£50)
Your One-Month Budget for Travelling Thailand
Budget: (Travel around, do some tours and activities, but eat cheaply and have some nights in) £1000 per month. |
[Accommodation: £150/Food: £150/Getting around: £200/Activities: £500]
I have budgeted £1000 per month for all of the countries in Asia I have visited except for Japan, and even though I was careful with money, I never felt like I was missing out on anything. Yeah, you can’t party every night with £1000 per month, but Thailand has more to offer than that anyway!
Thank you for reading my one-month travel budget for Thailand. If you enjoyed the read, please consider subscribing to my blog where I post articles once every week about my current travels around the world.
Do you want to know which islands to visit on your trip around Thailand? Read my post on Koh Lanta and the beautiful Trang Archipelago for more inspiration!
Happy Travels
xx
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