We got to spend a fantastic 40 days exploring the beauty of Thailand. From ancient temples to breathtaking national parks and stunning beaches, Thailand’s nature and culture left us speechless. And let’s not forget the food! Thai cuisine stole our hearts with its delicious flavors and aromatic spices. Curious if we managed to explore Thailand without breaking the bank? In this budget breakdown, we’ll give you our budget breakdown for 40 days in Thailand. At the end of this blog post we also share some valuable tips for enjoying the best of Thailand on a budget.
How much did our trip to Thailand in February and March 2024 cost? Here’s our budget breakdown for 40 days in Thailand:
Flights
We booked our flight tickets nearly five months ahead with AirAsia. Our flight from Colombo to Bangkok lasted about 3 hours and 30 minutes. Departing at 11 PM, we landed in Bangkok around 4 AM due to the time difference. The total cost for both of us was € 305,39, covering seat selection, checked baggage, a meal, and water. Not the cheapest, but we were quite happy with the fare we scored!
Total cost of flights: € 305,39
Accommodation
During our time in Thailand, we were a bit more flexible with our accommodation budget. We opted for hostels in major cities like Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Krabi, enjoying both dorm beds and private rooms. For those curious, we spent approximately € 500 on hostels for 24 nights. This allowed us to treat ourselves to some luxurious stays too. For instance, we slept under the stars at The Three Bubble Houses, slept in a tree house at Our Jungle Camp, and enjoyed the ultimate glamping experience at Tanoshi Glamping.
However, we did learn the hard way that booking accommodations late on the islands can be costly, with us losing up to € 100 per night in Koh Phi Phi and Koh Tao. But if we look at the bright side, we can say that the “expensive” accommodation on Koh Tao is one of our favorites of our world trip (so far). Who could say no to a luxurious getaway at The Plantation?
We were in Thailand for 39 nights. One night was part of a tour, and we also spent one night on an overnight bus, which meant we only needed to book accommodations for 37 nights. We spent a total of € 1545,04 for 37 nights, averaging € 41,76 per night for both of us. While we could have saved more by sticking solely to hostels, we truly enjoyed our occasional splurges on more luxurious accommodations. It added an extra touch of magic to our entire journey. We think doing it this way gave us the perfect mix of money-savings and some extra luxury, just perfect.
Total cost of accommodation for 37 nights: € 1545,04
Transportation
We almost fell off our chairs when we added up our transportation costs – a whopping total of € 1068,40, averaging € 26,71 per day for the two of us. Upon careful review, we realized that our frequent changes in destinations and locations were the main reason for this. Hopping from one place to another every few days will add up quickly in transportation costs! We’ve divided the various modes of transportation to provide a clearer breakdown of costs for each.
Domestic flights
We took one domestic flight from Chiang Rai to Phuket. We had to fly to Bangkok first, and then continue to Phuket. The total cost of this flight was € 263,47 for the both of us, including checked baggage. We definitely could’ve saved a lot more money if we bought this ticket a few weeks in advance. Buying it only 1 week before departure was not a good idea.
Ferries and boats
As we’ve mentioned before, the high transportation costs are mainly because we visited numerous destinations. Getting to islands often requires taking a ferry, which can be quite expensive. In total, we spent a whopping € 340,50 on ferries and boats!
Night buses
We traveled to Chiang Mai from Kanchanaburi by night bus, which cost us € 57,90. While not the most affordable option, it saved us the cost of a night’s stay as well. Paying less than € 30 each to travel 700 km up north and your “accommodation” included is actually a great deal. Surprisingly, the night bus was quite comfortable. We both slept well and arrived feeling rested and on time. Additionally, we were provided with water, snacks, and blankets during the journey, couldn’t recommend more!
Minivans
We’ve used several minivans to travel between different mainland destinations. In total, we spent € 104,28 for six minivan trips. The best way to find these minivans is on 12go.asia. Use the handy widget below to find transportation from and to any place in Thailand!
Scooters
When we arrive in a new place, we usually rent a scooter. We rented a scooter seven times in Thailand, and the total cost, including refueling, was € 104,43. Super cheap if you ask us, and so much freedom!
Taxis
When we didn’t have a scooter and the distance was too far to walk, we opted for a taxi, especially when going to our hotel, the bus station, or the pier. In total, we took a taxi 29 times, costing us € 228,69. Most rides ranged from 3 to 6 euros, but the trip to Chumphon airport on our last day set us back a hefty € 20. Luckily, we had just enough Thai Bahts left to pay the driver!
Tuktuks
We took a tuktuk four times, which cost us € 15,63. Unlike in Sri Lanka, where tuktuks are an affordable way to get around, in Thailand they’re more of an experience than a budget-friendly option. They provide more comfort than the ones in India or Sri Lanka as they’re bigger, but the drivers definitely make you pay extra for it!
Trains
During our time in Bangkok, we used the BTS Skytrain seven times, and it only cost us € 14,43. We were pleasantly surprised by how affordable it was! Although, prepare for some ultra-cold A/C.
Bikes
Lastly, believe it or not, we even went cycling once. That’s right, Thysia conquered her fear and gave cycling a try after all. We rented two bikes in Ayutthaya for the entire day, and it only cost us € 3,07. What a great deal! On top of that, it was a fun way of getting around the city.
Total cost of transportation: € 1085,38
Food
Food… one of our favorite things to spend money on! Even though food in Thailand is generally affordable, we still managed to spend € 22,57 on food every single day. Looking back at it, this seems like… quite a lot! The main culprits were our extravagant dinner at Cru in Krabi, where we spent a hefty € 97,29, including a bottle of prosecco. Our second most expensive meal was at Day & Night in Phuket, a restaurant featured in the 2024 Michelin Guide Thailand, where we paid € 60. Of course, we also enjoyed countless servings of Pad Thai, Pad Kra Pao, and Khao Soi, as well as exploring various night markets.
Total cost of food: € 902,78
Drinks
During our time in Thailand, we occasionally enjoyed cocktails, and Kelvin couldn’t resist sipping on a Singha beer now and then. This added up to a total of € 174,20 for drinks. Surprisingly, this averages out to just € 4,36 for both of us – not bad at all! Our priciest cocktail experience was at Nophaburi Bar in Chiang Mai, where we spent about € 50 over two nights. At Bar Bohem in Koh Samui, we reunited with a Dutch couple we met in Khao Sok National Park and enjoyed cocktails totaling around € 30. Rounding out our top three was our visit to Octave Rooftop & Lounge in Bangkok, where we spent just under € 30. Honestly, all three cocktail bars were worth every penny, and we’d do it again in a heartbeat! Well, maybe just one less cocktail next time (looking at you, Kelvin). 😉
Total cost of drinks: € 174,20
Sightseeing
The one thing we were determined not to cut back on was sightseeing and activities. Thailand is such a stunning country, and we wanted to fully enjoy our 40 days there! We explored numerous temples, attended a cooking class in Chiang Mai, and went on private longtail boat tours to the Phi Phi Islands and Hong Islands. Additionally, we enjoyed an overnight tour of Cheow Lan Lake in Khao Sok National Park and visited the Similan and Surin Islands. Yes, we really visited all those places!
Our most expensive activity was the overnight tour of Cheow Lan Lake, which cost approximately € 250 including entrance fees and an overnight stay in a floating bungalow. The tours to the Similan Islands and Surin Islands were also significant expenses, costing € 200 and € 180 respectively. We also spent € 100 on the early bird tour of James Bond Island. Lastly, the private longtail boat tours to the Phi Phi Islands and Hong Islands cost € 77 and € 64 respectively. All other expenses were quite reasonable. Temple visits were typically ranging between 2 and 5 euros for the both of us.
Total cost of sightseeing: € 1086,49
▶️ Read all about the top 5 day tours in South Thailand.
Other
In our previous Budget Breakdowns, we haven’t detailed the “Other” category. However, during our 40 days where we spent a total of € 500, we realized this category deserves an in-depth breakdown to clarify the expenses.
Visa
Since we were staying in Thailand for over a month, we applied for an e-Visa to extend our stay to 60 days. That way we didn’t have to do a visa run, or visit the country with a stop in between. These visas cost us € 80 in total.
Drone registration
If you plan to fly a drone in Thailand, you need to register and insure it beforehand. Flying without doing so could lead to legal trouble, even jail time. To avoid this risk, we opted to use FEIC to handle the process for us. They took care of everything, and we paid € 82,11 for their services.
Sim card
We purchased a 30-day sim card at the airport for € 25,82. Since our stay in Thailand was 40 days, we extended it twice. In total, we spent € 33,26 on sim cards. Not too bad, although buying a different sim card instead of topping up credit would’ve been even cheaper.
Laundry
We had our laundry done six times, it cost us a total of € 33,79. The average price of laundry is around € 1/kg.
7-Eleven
7-Eleven: the go-to spot for toasties and mosquito repellent! We’re not sure which one we bought more of here. What we do know is that we visited 7-Eleven a whopping 42 times, that’s an average of once a day. Overall, we spent € 135,59 there. Would do it again in a heartbeat!
Hairdresser
Kelvin got a haircut in Bangkok, which cost € 14,02. More expensive than anticipated!
Shopping sessions
Thailand is a fantastic shopping destination! There are numerous markets where you can find great deals. Thysia purchased a lovely white skirt, but unfortunately, it got caught in the chain of her bicycle the next day. So… she bought another white skirt! She also bought a hair clip and a wallet. And after wearing out his slippers over the years, Kelvin finally bought a new pair! In total, we spent € 55,10 on our shopping sessions.
Non-alcoholic drinks
Altogether, we spent € 53,01 on water, soft drinks, and smoothies.
Tips
We did quite a few tours, so we tipped our tour guides. In total, we spent € 15,20 on tips.
Toilet visits
In the most random category: toilet visits! We had to pay to use the restroom a few times, totaling € 1,22.
Total cost of other expenses: € 503,30
Total of our 40 days in Thailand
Here is our budget breakdown for 40 days in Thailand in February and March 2024:
Total per category for the two of us
✈️ Flights: € 305,39
🛏️ Accommodation: € 1545,04 (€ 41,76 per night)
🚌 Transportation: € 1085,38 (€ 27,13 per day)
🍛 Food: € 902,78 (€ 22,57 per day)
🍸 Drinks: € 174,20 (€ 4,36 per day)
🛕 Sightseeing: € 1086,49 (€ 27,16 per day)
🛒 Other: € 503,30 (€ 12,58 per day)
💰 Total excluding flights: € 5297,19 | € 132,43 per day for 2 | € 66,21 per day per person
💰 Total including flights: € 5602,58
Excluding our flight expenses, we averaged € 132,43 per day for both of us, or € 66,21 per person per day. This was quite a bit more than we expected! Compared to our time in Sri Lanka where we spent € 77,24 per day, our daily expenses nearly doubled in Thailand. Our biggest expense was accommodation. Booking accommodations late resulted in higher costs than we had anticipated. Additionally, our fast-paced travel between different destinations increased our daily expenses quite a bit, too. Looking back, we realize we could have visited fewer places.
For budget travelers in Thailand, a reasonable daily budget per person, covering food, accommodation, transport, and other expenses, would range from € 50 to € 60. This estimate assumes you mainly eat local food, limit moving between places frequently, and book accommodations in advance.
Nevertheless, our trip was incredible! We checked off some major bucket list items, met wonderful people, and enjoyed numerous delicious Thai dishes. Thailand, we’ll definitely be back!
Tips and tricks for saving money in Thailand
During our time in Thailand, we ended up spending almost twice as much per day (€ 132,43) compared to our time in Sri Lanka (€ 77,24). Accommodation was our biggest expense. Booking accommodations late resulted in higher costs than we had anticipated. Additionally, our fast-paced travel between different destinations increased our daily expenses. Nonetheless, we had an amazing trip filled with unforgettable experiences! Here are some practical tips for exploring Thailand on a budget.
1. Accommodation
Flexible travelers will not like this, but the best way to save money on accommodation is to book your accommodation (well) in advance. Thailand is highly popular, so unless you’re willing to explore less touristy areas, last-minute bookings might not meet your preferences. We found that booking early secured us decent prices for our stays. However, for islands like Phi Phi Don and Koh Tao, we only booked a few days ahead, and all hostels were already booked. This left us with only low-quality or expensive options, causing us to exceed our budget a few times!
We booked most of our accommodations on Booking.com, but do know that it is definitely worth it to check out other sites as well. We often found Agoda to be cheaper for the same hotel, when that was the case we booked through them. The only thing about Agoda is that their availability is limited and more keen to be sold out.
2. Transportation
To save money on transportation, consider staying longer in one place instead of moving around frequently like we did. We made the mistake of trying to see too much in a rather short time, which led to high transportation costs and a little less enjoyment. That being said, there’s not much we’d change if we had to do it again! Especially if we’re talking about destinations like Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Chiang Mai, Pai, Chiang Rai, Krabi, Khao Sok National Park, and Koh Tao. However, we wouldn’t revisit Koh Phangan and Phuket, just not our cup of tea.
3. Food
We’ve mentioned it in other Budget Breakdowns as well, but it’s worth saying again: eat local! Thai cuisine is one of our favorites for good reason. It’s incredibly diverse and delicious. With so many options, you won’t get tired of Thai food even after a month. The best way to enjoy local dishes is by visiting a night market, where you’ll find a wide variety of affordable options!
Read our other budget breakdowns:
6 days in India: Budget Breakdown
3 weeks in Sri Lanka: Budget Breakdown
26 days in Vietnam: Budget Breakdown
16 days in the Philippines: Budget Breakdown
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