Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Thailand
Experience authentic local culture on a shoestring budget with hostels, street food, and public transport
Daily Budget: $24-75 per day
Complete breakdown of costs for budget/backpacker travel in Thailand
Accommodation
$8-25 per night
Dorm beds in hostels, fan-cooled rooms in basic guesthouses, or budget hotels in less touristy neighborhoods. You'll find shared bathrooms are common at this level, though some places offer private rooms with shared facilities.
Food & Dining
$8-20 per day
Street food stalls, local markets, and neighborhood eateries where Thai people actually eat. Think noodle soups for breakfast, rice dishes from food courts, and night market dinners. The occasional sit-down restaurant when you want air conditioning.
Transportation
$3-10 per day
Public buses, shared songthaews, metro systems in Bangkok, and plenty of walking. Occasional motorbike taxi for short hops when you're running late or it's brutally hot.
Activities
$5-20 per day
Free temple visits, public beaches, self-guided neighborhood walks, and the occasional paid attraction. Museums on free days, hiking trails, people-watching at markets. Maybe one organized tour per week if you're splurging.
Currency: ฿ Thai Baht (THB) - prices shown in USD for planning purposes, but you'll be spending in baht. Exchange rates fluctuate, so budget with a bit of cushion. Currently running somewhere around 30-36 baht per dollar, though that obviously changes.
Money-Saving Tips
Eat where you see Thai office workers eating lunch - typically 40-60% cheaper than tourist-zone restaurants with comparable quality, sometimes better
Use public transport for longer distances and save ride-hailing apps for short hops or late nights - you'll spend roughly $3-8 daily instead of $20-40
Visit temples and attractions early morning when it's cooler so you're not constantly ducking into air-conditioned cafes to escape the heat (those iced coffees add up quickly)
Book accommodation even a few neighborhoods away from main tourist strips - prices can drop 30-50% for similar quality, and you'll get a more authentic feel anyway
Buy drinks and snacks from 7-Eleven or local minimarts rather than hotel shops or tourist cafes - you're looking at 200-300% markups for the same bottled water
Travel during shoulder season (March-May or September-October) when you'll find accommodation deals running 25-40% below high season rates, though admittedly it might be hotter or wetter
Share organized tours or day trips with other travelers when possible - private tours often cost 3-5x more than joining a small group, and you might actually enjoy the company
Common Budget Mistakes to Avoid
Exchanging money at airport kiosks or hotels instead of using ATMs in the city - you're typically losing 5-8% to poor exchange rates, which adds up fast over a multi-week trip
Taking taxis or tuk-tuks without using a meter or ride-hailing app - unmetered rides often run 2-4x what the trip should actually cost, especially near tourist attractions where drivers know you don't know better
Eating every meal in your hotel area or along main tourist streets - restaurants near hotels and famous attractions routinely charge 100-200% more than equivalent spots two streets over where locals eat
Booking day tours or activities through your hotel concierge instead of directly or through comparison platforms - hotels understandably take commissions that typically add 20-40% to the actual cost
Underestimating how much you'll spend on air conditioning - whether it's upgrading from fan rooms, sitting in cafes to cool off, or taking rides instead of walking in the heat, temperature management can easily add $10-20 daily to your budget