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How Much Does it Cost to Live in Thailand and Other FAQ

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Is Thailand a place you see yourself living in one day? Do you want to come over to work? Travel long-term? Maybe you’re just going to be a here for a month but are curious on costs and have a few questions.

Well, I’ve been living here for about four years. On and off, but mostly on. I surely don’t know everything, nobody ever does, but I hope this answers some of your questions.

The Cost to Live in Thailand and Other FAQ


*Are things like… normal out there? Do they have malls? Real restaurants? Do you live in huts?

Yes. I live in a hut and wash myself using the collected raindrops from the previous night and shave my armpits with a blade from a prickly plant. I also set up rabbit traps to catch my dinner and the only “mall” in the area is in the jungle where people meet up and trade their most precious fortunes for something new that you might be willing to barter with.

I kid, I kid! Things are pretty regular out here in terms of having what I need to live. I have a roof over my head, stores in the area, restaurants, and other such things that common towns and cities have.

I really can’t go into great detail here, because it would take forever, but let’s say that yes, Thailand has everything you could possibly need, just like you have back home (“need” being the key word here). BUT…with that said… once you move out here, like me and many others, you will surely learn to live without many things. It’s a simpler life, unless you have more money to spend.

* Where do you eat?

There are plenty of restaurants and markets galore in this country. All are very accessible and plentiful. They love food. Like… Really love food. It’s never more than a few yards to the next eatery. Their malls often have a food court on every floor.

The local food is yummy and cheap, especially at the markets. Don’t be afraid to eat at the markets. Why do you think all the locals eat there?

Here’s more info about market food, and more specifically, where I love to eat in Krabi since I spent so much time there.

* Is it easy to get a job in Thailand?

Sure is, if you have the basic qualifications. Teaching English in Thailand the most common job foreigners obtain.

How to Teach Abroad - The Guide to Teaching Anywhere
Some of my fav students

* How are the people in Thailand? Do they speak English?

Generally speaking, they are amicable. Their English skills could be better considering the amount of tourism they have, but in the bigger cities and more touristy areas, yes, they speak enough English. Always smile, as that goes a long way, and never lose your cool. Here are a few basic rules to live by while staying in Thailand.

*Do I need a visa?

Yes and no. It depends on how long you want to stay. Many countries get a free 30 days, but anything after that you’ll need to pay for a visa. I have more info on that here. Another option for those wanting to integrate themselves into the culture better and wanting to say for a long period of time is to take Thai lessons. Not only will you be learning the language, but enrolling in a class give you an extended visa.

 *What’s up with the toilets?

They usually have regular western toilets, but sometimes you come across a “squatty potty.” Essentially it’s a ceramic hole in the ground. Crouch over it and do your business. Yes, you need to take that bucket and use the water to flush the toilet. There’s also a “bum gun” which is often used instead of toilet paper. Don’t put toilet paper in the toilets when it stays to NOT put it in there. The drains can clog.

* How’s the internet situation?

Wifi is everywhere, most guesthouses and cafes have it. It sometimes sucks, but more often than not it is decent enough.

The cost of living in Thailand
Living in Thailand rewards you with places like this!

How Much Does it Cost to Live in Thailand


* Gimme Estimates on What I Can Expect to Pay for Things…

Here is a rundown of things you might purchase out here and how much they are.
(Prices are an estimate only. The city you are in will make a difference in what you pay and how good your bargaining skills are- don’t be a douche, bargain nicely.)

FOOD:

You can eat a pad thai (fried noodle dish) or a fried rice for about a $1. (at a market)

If you eat these dishes at a regular restaurant, on the beach, or in a high tourist area, you might pay about $2-3+.

Fruit shake (with real actual fruit)- $.60-1.50

Veggies at the market- Pretty cheap. I can come home with a selection of veggies for about $3-4. Example: A head of lettuce, a carrot, some tomatoes, onions, a bulb of garlic, a few small potatoes, a lime, and even 10 eggs!

Fresh Coffee- $1.25+

Western meal- $4-5+ (burger, spaghetti)

TRANSPORT:

Transportation Tip for Thailand:

While you can simply book at the pier, bus or train station, you may want to book ahead for certain legs of your journey to guarantee that you get a seat on the day you need to travel. 12go.asia is the best way to do this. Book your next trip ahead of time so you have one less thing to worry about.

Click here to book a ticket through 12go.asia

An overnight train/bus- average of $15 (depending on the class, could be cheaper/more expensive)

A minibus from Bangkok to Ayutthaya (about 1 hour)- $2

A motorbike taxi a few kilometers away- $1- $2

A bus + ferry ride from Bangkok to Koh Chang (Island about 6 hours away) – $12

Here are more specifics on Thailand’s transportation.

SHOPPING

A new dress- $5+

A new tank top –  $3-5

Flowy hippy pants – $4-5

Local markets are the best for food and shopping. You will always find cheaper prices there.

ACCOMMODATION

You can find room for $5, $15, $50, and even $500. What are your needs? What city are you in? Here are some averages.

$5-7 will probably get you your own room and bathroom, if you’re in a pricer area, you might be sharing a bathroom.

$15 will get you your own room, bathroom, and aircon.

$50 will get you a really nice spot, probably a view, definitely aircon, maid service daily, and some other perks like breakfast.

If you’re spending $500 a night on accommodation, you’re not reading this blog, that’s for sure.

Traipsing around on foot will find you your best deal, but you can get a preview of places and prices at Agoda.com.

RELATED: Work & Live in Thailand: How To Do It? Cost of Living? And More!

*What About the Cost of Fun Stuff?

It all depends! Here are some examples…

I paid $20 for a half day cooking course in Chiang Mai,  $30 for a half day rock climb in Railay with gear and guide, $12 for an Island tour in Krabi, an entrance fee to a national park ranges from $5-$15 or so, and a traditional Sak Yant tattoo will set you back anywhere from $100-$1000. No matter what, a Thailand travel guide can’t tell you how much you’ll spend on this, only you do. What fun things to you want to do and how you do them will all vary and therefore the cost!

rock climbing on Tonsai Beach is something you can do often when living in Thailand
Rock climbing on Tonsai Beach

*What’s the Cheapest Area?

The north is known for being the cheapest.

*What’s an Apartment like There and How Much?

Not bad actually! I have really liked all my apartments while living here. I was of course on a budget, so yes, you can get much nicer spots, but you will, of course, pay more.

So, How Much Does It Cost to Live in Thailand? There’s No One Price, but…

These are a few of my past apartments…They were located central, south, and north, respectively, in the country. So hopefully that gives you an idea of the different areas and what they offer, too. Prices include my water and electricity (average per month). I used a fan as opposed to aircon to save money as it can get pricey to cool a room, especially when it seeps outside the door and window framing! All places came furnished to some degree and had hot water, and wifi.

– This was a Thai house that was broken into smaller units. $150/ month in Ayutthaya.

I had “two rooms.” There was an entrance room/”kitchen”/ living area, and then when you walked around the half wall, there was the bedroom. I had a closet room right before the bathroom. There was a manual flush toilet (you pour water into the toilet) at this house which was the only small downfall. “Kitchen” meant a folding table and a fridge were included.

 

cost to live in thailand

–  This apartment was very centrally located. $180/ month in Krabi.

I had “two rooms” again. An area where there was a place for a kitchen (aka a counter with a sink), a small living area, and the other room (room separated by a shower curtain) was where my dresser, desk, and bed was. I had a huge bathroom here.

– This one is a house! My own Thai style house! $130/ month in Pai.

The downstairs has a bathroom, a kitchen area, and living space. Upstairs has a small balcony and the bedroom. It came complete with critters like tokays, snakes, and baby geckos that fuck on my ceiling. It’s like living in a Nat Geo special, but I really like this house!

house in pai thailand - cost to live in thailand

I have had other apartments that were all similar to the one’s mentioned above. Kitchens are not a standard thing. You might get a small fridge. You usually have to supply the hot plate/gas stove, dishes, toaster, and other kitchen supplies. Don’t even think about an oven or stove top, dishwasher, or a proper kitchen in general. You might not even have a kitchen sink. In my first studio apartment, I had to crouch down like a monkey on my balcony and wash my dishes under an outside water-spout. Either that or wash them in the bathroom sink.

Another thing to mention, most of the bathrooms here are actually wet-rooms. Everything gets wet. The toilet, the sink, and the shower are all enclosed in one room and it’s all open.  Say goodbye to bathtubs and shower curtains.

Of course, if you’re only willing to live it up in luxury there are plenty of places to choose from. A Bangkok condo will surely offer you the most luxury, but it won’t be on a backpacker budget, that’s for sure! It will also be the most expensive place to live in the whole country. If you just want to visit, here’s a shortcut guide to Bangkok so you can see it but save your money to live elsewhere.

*Omg… Can You Just Give Me a Damn Number? How Much Does It Cost to Live in Thailand?!

There were times where I was living on $10 a day! That’s food and room only.

It would be more like $15-20 if I were to average in random activities.

A Safe Number to Average per Day Would Be $30.

Remember renting a house or apartment will get you more for your money and average less. I would pay nothing more than $6 a day for my apartments and you can’t really get much under $5 at a guesthouse. My places always were way better than a guesthouse room.

Here are some more tips on being budget conscious in general.

Hopefully, this helped in figuring out “how much does it cost to live in Thailand,”and any other questions you may have had, but remember everyone lives differently and different cities offer different prices.

Where will you go after Thailand?

Laos | Malaysia | Singapore | Indonesia | Philippines | Cambodia | Vietnam

Feel free to ask questions about living in Thailand in the comments!

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12 Comments

  1. I lived in Bangkok as a student for 2 years. Spent 700$/month & I was staying at hostels eating from 7/11, street and fast food. You can easily live for much less in Thailand 🙂 Enjoy

  2. I am living in Thailand for more as 15 years and I do not think you can live her for 20us$ per day. Yes you can survive but that is not living.

    1. If you’re not moving around too much its 100% possible. Just lived there for nearly four years and I was just fine. Depends on the person. If you need a burger and three beers per day then no, you can’t make it on that budget. Eat local and don’t drink? Totally possible. Not every person lives the same way. Traveling around a lot would require a bit more in the budget.

  3. Pingback: How Much Money Do I Need to Travel SE Asia
  4. Hi Nina

    I love the way you write, straight to the point, especially about the baby geckos that fuck on your ceiling. However, as much as it’s relatively inexpensive to live in Thailand, I have to tell you that though I write about Thailand, I currently live in Cape Town, South Africa, where the prices here are better, if not the same as Thailand. Rent, food, transport and Wi-Fi costs me less than $700 per month and I live well. South Africa is one of the cheapest places to live.

    1. Nice! I didn’t think CT was that cheap. I visited for a few days but stayed with a friend. Enjoy your life there, it’s a place I want to go back to!

  5. I loved this budget guide! They’re always my favourite!
    The beginning of the article made me chuckle! 😀

  6. Hi

    I arrive I Bangkok in September. I am hoping to work during my time in Thailand, doing pretty much anything. I have a variety of bar experience, and have a-levels in English literature and language- however no degree. What kind of work is popular out there and can you advise the best paid?

    Thanks 🙂

    Ellie.

    1. You still might be able to find work with a degree. Most of the people I know have been here a while and own a business or are an English teacher. If money is not really important, there are places that accept work in exchange for room and board. People do have other jobs but I can’t speak about whether it’s legal or not! So I’d say come with a saving and see what you can get during your travels. An English teacher makes an average of 30,000B a month if they are a NES.