How Much Does a Trip to Thailand Cost? 2026 Budget Breakdown

Thailand is still one of the best-value destinations in the world, but it is not as cheap as it was a decade ago, and prices vary enormously between a Chiang Mai guesthouse and a Phuket resort. Here is what a trip actually costs in 2026, with prices in Thai baht (THB), so you can build your own budget.

How much money do you need per day in Thailand?

Travel style	Per person per day	What you get
Backpacker	1,000 to 1,500 baht	Dorm or basic fan room, street food, local buses and songthaews
Mid-range	2,500 to 4,000 baht	Private air-conditioned room, mix of street food and restaurants, some tours, domestic flights
Comfort	6,000 baht and up	Resorts and boutique hotels, restaurants, private transfers, spa

Where you go matters as much as how you travel. Chiang Mai and the north are the cheapest. Bangkok is mid-priced with a huge range. The islands, especially Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samui and Phuket, cost the most, because almost everything arrives by boat.

Accommodation

Type	Bangkok / north (baht per night)	Islands (baht per night)
Hostel dorm bed	250 to 500	350 to 700
Guesthouse double	500 to 1,000	800 to 1,500
Mid-range hotel	1,200 to 2,500	2,000 to 4,000
Resort / upscale	4,000+	5,000+

Prices rise sharply over Christmas and New Year, around Songkran in mid-April and on Thai long weekends. In the green season, roughly May to October, island hotels often discount heavily.

Food and drink

Tuk-tuks in Bangkok: fun, but agree the fare first. Photo: Ossewa, CC BY-SA 4.0

Eating well is the easiest place to save in Thailand.

Item	Typical price (baht)
Street food dish (pad kra pao, noodle soup)	40 to 80
Meal at a local restaurant	80 to 200
Mid-range restaurant, main course	200 to 450
Bottle of water (7-Eleven)	10 to 20
Iced coffee at a cafe	60 to 120
Large local beer at a shop	60 to 90
Beer at a bar in a tourist area	100 to 200

Alcohol is where budgets quietly disappear. It is heavily taxed, and bar prices in tourist areas can be double shop prices. Our Thai street food guide covers the dishes worth eating.

Getting around

Journey	Typical price (baht)
Airport Rail Link, Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai	45
BTS / MRT ride in Bangkok	about 17 to 65
Grab across central Bangkok	100 to 250
Songthaew in Chiang Mai	30 to 60
Sleeper train Bangkok to Chiang Mai	about 770 to 1,650 depending on class and berth
Domestic flight, booked a few weeks ahead	1,200 to 2,500
Ferry Krabi to Koh Phi Phi	400 to 800
Scooter rental per day	200 to 300

Use Grab or Bolt instead of flagging tuk-tuks in tourist areas: the price is fixed upfront. Tuk-tuks are worth one ride for the experience; agree the price before you get in.

Sights and activities

Activity	Price for foreigners (baht)
Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, Bangkok	500
Wat Pho, Bangkok	300
Wat Arun, Bangkok	200
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep + national park fee, Chiang Mai	30 + 100
Maya Bay national park fee, Koh Phi Phi	around 400
Thai cooking class	1,000 to 1,500
Island-hopping boat tour	1,000 to 2,500
One-hour Thai massage	250 to 450

National parks charge foreigners much more than Thai residents. It’s normal, so budget for it.

How much does two weeks in Thailand cost?

Based on our two-week Thailand itinerary (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi and Koh Phi Phi), per person, excluding international flights:

	Budget (baht)	Mid-range (baht)
Accommodation, 13 nights	6,500 to 9,000	20,000 to 30,000
Food and drink	3,500 to 5,000	7,000 to 10,000
Transport (train, 2 flights, ferries)	5,500 to 8,000	7,500 to 11,000
Sights and tours	1,500 to 3,000	4,000 to 5,500
Total	17,000 to 25,000	40,000 to 55,000

Money: cash, cards and ATMs

• Carry cash. Markets, street food, songthaews, temples and even the Grand Palace are cash only.
• ATM fees are high. Thai banks charge foreign cards around 220 baht per withdrawal, on top of whatever your own bank charges. Withdraw larger amounts less often, and decline the machine’s offer to convert to your home currency.
• Cards work in hotels, malls, 7-Eleven and chain restaurants.

Hidden costs to plan for

• Entry requirements. Most Western passports enter visa-free; since 15 September 2026 the stay is 30 days. Everyone must complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card online within three days before arrival.
• A planned tourist fee. Thailand has announced a 300-baht fee for foreign visitors arriving by air, to be added to ticket prices. At the time of writing it had not started and had been postponed several times, so check before you fly.
• Travel insurance. Private hospital care in Thailand is excellent and expensive. Make sure your policy covers scooters if you plan to ride one.
• Laundry, SIM cards and tips. A tourist SIM with data costs roughly 300 to 600 baht; laundry is sold by the kilo, around 40 to 60 baht; tipping is appreciated but not expected.

How can you save money in Thailand?

1. Travel in the green season (May to October) for lower room prices, choosing the coast that’s drier in your month.
2. Eat where Thais eat: street stalls and food courts in malls are cheap and good.
3. Take the overnight train or bus on long routes and save a night’s accommodation.
4. Spend more time in the north, where the same money goes much further than on the islands.
5. Book internal flights a few weeks ahead, and check baggage rules on budget airlines.
6. Avoid travelling on Thai holidays and long weekends. Our Thailand holidays guide lists them.

Frequently asked questions

How much money do I need per day in Thailand?

About 1,000 to 1,500 baht a day on a backpacker budget, 2,500 to 4,000 baht for mid-range travel with private rooms and some tours, and 6,000 baht or more for resorts and private transfers. The islands cost noticeably more than Bangkok and the north.

How much does two weeks in Thailand cost?

Excluding international flights, roughly 17,000 to 25,000 baht on a budget and 40,000 to 55,000 baht for a comfortable mid-range trip with internal flights and tours.

Is there a tourist entry fee for Thailand?

Thailand has announced a 300-baht fee for foreign visitors, to be added to air tickets, but at the time of writing it had not come into force and its start date had been postponed several times. Check before you travel.

Should I bring cash or use cards in Thailand?

Both. Hotels, malls and chain restaurants take cards, but street food, markets, songthaews and many temples, including the Grand Palace, are cash only. Thai ATMs charge foreign cards around 220 baht per withdrawal, so take out larger amounts less often.

What is the cheapest time to visit Thailand?

The rainy or green season, roughly May to October, has the lowest hotel prices, especially on the Andaman coast. Christmas, New Year and Songkran in April are the most expensive times.

Useful links (4)

1. Thailand tourist entry fee delayed, Nation Thailand— nationthailand.com
2. Grand Palace entrance fee— grandpalacebangkok.org
3. Special Express No. 9 Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Thai Train Guide— thaitrainguide.com
4. Doi Suthep-Pui National Park entrance fees, Chiang Mai CityLife— chiangmaicitylife.com