Thailand Trip Budget: What the Fixed Costs Add Up To

Plan on about THB 3,800 in fixed costs for a week up north, before hotels, food and flights. It is built from lines like the THB 500 Grand Palace ticket and THB 250 per Visa withdrawal at KBank, and the sleeper train to Chiang Mai adds THB 768.

Plan on about THB 3,800 in fixed costs for a week up north, and a little more for the islands, before hotels, food and flights. That figure is just a handful of tickets, a sleeper train and a SIM added up. If you are staying for months, start with the Bangkok cost of living page instead.

What you will pay for

The prices below are for one foreign adult. Each links to the page with the details.

Sights and parks

If a national park is on your route, an adult at a Group 2 park pays THB 200 and at a Group 4 park THB 500. The rest are in the national park fee table.

Getting around, cash and SIM

From the airport into town, the Airport Rail Link is the cheap option at THB 15 to 45. A taxi starts at THB 35 or THB 40, with a THB 50 airport surcharge on top. The Suvarnabhumi to Bangkok page compares them.

If you need a visa on arrival, bring THB 2,000 in cash. An extension of stay is THB 1,900. The arrival card is free, and the visa-free stay page explains who qualifies.

Route A: Bangkok, Ayutthaya and the sleeper north

This route covers Bangkok’s big temples, a day trip to Ayutthaya, the sleeper to Chiang Mai and the White Temple.

The three Old City tickets alone come to THB 1,000. The Ayutthaya train page has the timetable.

Route B: Bangkok, then ferries south

Swap the north for the Gulf islands and the total is at least THB 4,644. It is a floor because the Samui ticket is a starting price. A bus and catamaran takes you from Bangkok to Samui for THB 1,200, then a catamaran to Koh Phangan for THB 350 and on to Koh Tao for THB 600. Compare the Samui ferry operators and plan the first leg with Bangkok to Samui.

Easy ways to spend less

Cash is the quickest win. KBank charges THB 250 per withdrawal, so one big withdrawal in place of three saves THB 500, and the limit is THB 30,000 each time. Visa also costs THB 100 less than Mastercard there.

On the train, a third class seat is THB 458 cheaper than the upper sleeper berth. At Ayutthaya, a single temple saves THB 220 over the combination ticket. And a 15-day SIM costs THB 500 less than the 30-day plan.

At an ATM, always refuse currency conversion, because it adds 4% of the amount withdrawn. The money guide has more on exchange.

The tourist entry fee is still only a proposal, a flat THB 450 per person. Watch the entry fee page before you book flights.

Last, put a line in the budget for insurance. Private hospitals here are of a high standard but can be expensive, so read travel insurance before you go.

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Not confirmed: Hotels, food and flights are not in these totals; price them on the booking site for your dates. Tourist entry fee: check the Ministry of Tourism and Sports for whether it applies on your travel dates. Check each fare with the operator before you book.

Prices, timetables and opening hours change; check with the operator before you travel. See how guides are checked.

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