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You may have heard that the cost of traveling in Thailand has increased a lot in the past few years. You may also be trying to work out whether Thailand is still a cheap country to travel… Is Thailand an expensive country to travel around in 2025?
We have visited Thailand many times over the past 10 years, including several stints living in Thailand. We have traveled the country extensively from the north to the south. So we have a lot of firsthand experience living and traveling in Thailand as a family on a budget. In this article, we will chat about specific examples of prices for food, accommodation, and transportation. We hope that these prices give you an idea of what it is like to travel in Thailand at the moment.
We hope that our insight and experience help you to plan your own adventures and work out whether Thailand is an affordable country.
LEARN MORE – How to Travel Thailand for £20 per day
Is Thailand getting more expensive?
The quick answer is yes, Thailand is getting more expensive. However, the whole world is getting more expensive. We also have some good news for you: Thailand is not getting as expensive as people claim or think. It is still possible to travel Thailand very cheaply right now. Here is a summary of a few recent changes:
- Phuket and the Tourist Spots in the South – getting very expensive. Taxis, food and accommodation are generally up to double the prices in the north. Street food typically costs around 100 baht or more – which is also around £2 or $2.50. Taxis start at around 150 baht for short journeys – which is also around £3 or $3.50. Even taxi apps are expensive now. Accommodation starts around 800 baht per night (for simple cheap rooms) this is around £16 or $20
- Bangkok can be cheap – but some things are getting more expensive. Taxis and street food is still pretty affordable. Street food starts at around 50 – 60 baht and taxi apps like Grab and Bolt are very cheap.
- Chiang Mai is delightfully cheap – food, accommodation and taxis are all still very cheap. You can find plenty of great street food for 30 – 60 baht and you can travel a long way in a taxi for 100 baht (use Bolt). Accommodation is super cheap and you get a lot for your money in the north.
Although Thailand is getting more expensive, it is still one of the cheapest countries to travel in the world. Your money goes a long way in Thailand, and the quality is relatively high even at the low-budget end.
Thailand is also a fantastic country for a luxury holiday. Luxury accommodation in Thailand is surprisingly affordable relative to other parts of the world. You will be surprised how far your money goes.
Some general observations
1 The north is cheaper than the south
Firstly, the north of Thailand has always been cheaper than the south of Thailand. However, the difference is even bigger in recent years. The cost of food, accommodation, and transport has increased a lot in the south of Thailand over the past few years. This is particularly true on some of the more popular islands. In contrast, the north of Thailand has increased a little bit, but the increase is negligible. If you’re planning a low-budget trip in Thailand, we recommend focusing on the north of the country.
2 Thailand is cheap compared to most countries
Secondly, it is important to keep everything in perspective. Even the most expensive areas of Thailand are likely to be a lot cheaper than your home country (especially if you come from Europe, the UK, the USA, or Australia). Although Thailand is genuinely getting more expensive, the rate of price increase is probably not going to be as fast as in your home country. So, relative to the costs in your country, you will find Thailand delightfully cheap.
3 Online prices are a lot more expensive
Thirdly, and this is very important, the biggest increase in prices in Thailand has happened for online services. For example, if you are booking your hotel or guest house online, it will be significantly more expensive than arranging accommodation in person directly with a hotel or guest house. In fact, the cheapest way of finding accommodation in Thailand is arranging apartments directly with local agents or landlords. There is a similar pattern with tours and trips.
4 There are more expat-run businesses
There is another pattern to be aware of. Over the past 5 years, there is an increasing number of expats starting businesses in Thailand. Many of these businesses are directed at other expats or travelers. These expat-run businesses tend to be very expensive compared to local businesses in Thailand. Expats who start businesses in Thailand are generally aiming for a western wage and therefore they will charge western prices for products and services. If you’re traveling Thailand on a budget, we recommend avoiding expat-run businesses. Not only will this keep your budget down, but it also allows you to directly support local communities in Thailand.
Quick disclaimer: Some expat-run businesses do a lot to support local Thai communities by offering good wages and desirable employment, so some expat-run businesses are genuinely very ethical options.
5 Flight prices are increasing
Finally, it’s important to be aware that flight prices have increased significantly in the past few years. Flights are likely to be the most expensive part of your trip. So, even if Thailand itself is a relatively cheap country, you may find it difficult to get to Thailand on a low budget. If you’re able to take a longer trip to Thailand, the price of flights becomes less significant relative to the low cost of living in the country.
What are prices like in Thailand?
In this section, we’re going to share some specific prices to help you get a feel for your budget in Thailand. We will share some of the lower-end prices; you can always find things that are more expensive than this.
Accommodation Prices in Thailand
In the south of Thailand, you can occasionally find budget double rooms starting at around £10 per night. However, it is not easy to find accommodation in this price range in most places. This will get you a simple fan room and you may need to take a shared bathroom. More realistically, we recommend budgeting £20 for accommodation in the south of Thailand. For this price, you can normally find places with nice rooms, facilities like outdoor swimming pools, and they may also include a simple breakfast. If this is your budget, you will also have a lot more choice, so it will be a lot easier to find accommodation. In the north of Thailand, you can still find rooms starting for as little as £5 per night (at these prices, rooms are extremely basic). In the north of Thailand, we recommend budgeting around £15-£20 per night.
Top tip: The cheapest way to find accommodation in the north of Thailand is to take an apartment rental. You can still find apartments for as little as £300-£400 per month, including great facilities like swimming pools. The cheapest way to find apartments is to book directly (rather than finding an apartment online).
Transportation Prices
Interestingly enough, in recent years, transportation has actually got cheaper for travelers in Thailand. In the past, you had to barter with local taxi drivers and Tuk Tuk drivers (and they would typically charge extortionate prices to tourists). With the emergence of online booking systems like Grab and Bolt, you can now book affordable taxis online, getting a fair local price. Taxis in Thailand are remarkably cheap. You can travel around most towns and cities by taxi for as little as 50-200 baht (£1-£4 or $1.20-$5).
Long-distance transport in Thailand is also relatively cheap. You can find long-distance buses across the length of the country for as little as £20 or $25. Alternatively, you can take sleeper trains across the length of the country for around £30 or $35. Thailand also has a lot of budget airlines offering cheap domestic flights. If you need to take an internal flight, we recommend AirAsia, Scoot, and VietJet.
Food prices in Thailand
Food in Thailand is impressively affordable, fresh, healthy, and tasty. If you’re willing to try local street food, you can eat very cheaply in Thailand. Food is widely available, so it is very easy to find places to eat. In the south of Thailand, most street food starts at around 80 baht (around £1.60 or $2). And in the north of Thailand, most street food starts for around 40 baht (around £0.80 or $1).
In the south, dishes include barbecue chicken, barbecue fish, sticky rice, and papaya salad. In the north of Thailand, common dishes include noodle soups, barbecue pork, barbecue sausage, curries, and sticky rice. If you are struggling to find affordable street food, 7-Eleven is also a great option. You can buy sandwiches, sushi, snacks, and drinks with prices ranging between 30-100 baht for most things. You can find 7-Eleven stores all around Thailand (including some more remote villages and islands). On average, 7-Eleven prices are a little higher in the south, particularly on remote islands.
Experiences, tours and trips in Thailand
Tours, trips, and experiences in Thailand have definitely become more expensive in the past few years. Sadly, the increased trend of booking tours and trips online has monopolized prices. Fortunately, you can still find plenty of local tour operators and travel agents who can help you book trips. If you’re looking for low-priced tours, trips, and experiences, the best way is to speak to a local tour operator and barter for the best possible price. Generally speaking, it is more expensive to book your tours and trips online. It is also important to be aware of the increased number of expat-run tours and trips. These are typically a lot more expensive than local experiences.
Where possible, we recommend doing activities independently. You can still find very cheap bike rentals in Thailand (generally starting for as little as 200 baht per day – roughly £4 or $5). You can use your motorbike to explore areas and visit attractions. It is much cheaper to arrange your own transport this way and pay for your ticket on arrival. Doing activities independently like this is also more fun, adventurous, and flexible. You can depart when you want and go at your own pace.
