Everything You Need to Know About the Cost of Living in Thailand

Thailand is fast becoming an expat must-go destination for the international community. From young ambitious entrepreneurs to relaxed retirees, you will find Thailand to be a lovely melting pot of diverse and engaging visitors and locals.

If that isn’t enough to recommend Thailand as a destination (whether temporary or permanent), the average cost of living is also a major draw. Experienced travelers estimate it costs as little as one-third what it would cost to live in the States to live – and live well – in Thailand.

Of course, where you live (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, et al) can influence overall costs somewhat, with Bangkok being slightly higher than more rural surrounding provinces. But even accounting for the Thailand newbie learning curve, you can still look forward to a high standard of living for a relatively low average cost of living when in Thailand.

And now, let’s explore what it costs to live in the city areas in Thailand whether you are taking a trip or vacation or moving there.

The Thailand currency is the Baht. If you have a specific expense, you can use this easy Baht converter to find out what it will cost in the currency of your home country.

 

Perhaps the priciest part of your vacation trip to Thailand is the flight costs. Flight costs can range from $350 on up to $1,000 depending on the time of year, your home city and your itinerary.

The Thai Embassy maintains a list of the 55 countries that can travel to Thailand and stay for 30 days maximum without having to present a visa. If you plan to stay longer than that, check to see what the requirement and visa cost is for traveling from your country of origin.

For a 60 day maximum stay, prepare to pay around $25 US dollars for visa cost. And if you want to stay 9 months, you will pay $200 US dollars for the new METV (multiple entry tourist visa).

If this is your first trip to Thailand, you will probably want to stay in a hotel. The average hotel cost house can vary quite a bit depending on your preferences.

A hostel-type shared space might run you $3-$5 hotel cost house. A Westernized hotel is more likely to cost around $40-$50 per night.

Transportation options in Thailand include car, train, bus, Uber, regular taxi or scooter. To get around in the central city area typically costs between $1 and $5. A month-long train pass is around $45. The cost of petrol will run you about $1.

If you want to purchase a car, you can do so for under $20,000 plus a varied assortment of taxes, registration and fees. A scooter will cost around $1,000 new and the cost of petrol will be less than with a car given you will be using less. You can also rent a scooter – the per day cost is about $15 including insurance.

The cost of housing can vary greatly depending on the style of accommodation you are seeking. Western-style housing (apartment, condo or house) will be more expensive than Thai-style housing of the same.A simple studio will run less than $500 per month. However, a modern two-bedroom condo with all the conveniences will run around $1,300. Also expect to pay about $75 in utilities and $20 for internet.

The food in Thailand is very cheap and good, which makes the cost of eating dinner as low as $1 or $2 a meal. If you want Western food (pizza, imported goods, coffee, et al) the cost of eating dinner can double.Depending on how much you eat, you can get by on anywhere from $50 to $150 per month for groceries and eating out. This may work out to as little as $5 or $6 a meal daily. This doesn’t include drink (alcohol, beer, et al). Alcohol and beer drink costs about what it does in the States: $5 to $10.

What you pay for healthcare in Thailand is often largely determined by what your existing home country provider may cover and by the length of your stay. If you plan to live in Thailand for an extended period of time, however, obtaining local health insurance can be a wise choice.

Dental costs are around $50 for a simple checkup and cleaning out of pocket. Dental costs for procedures like veneers, crowns and bridges start around $300 and work their way up to $2,500 or more for multiple implants.

If you are reasonably healthy, you can expect to pay around $2,500 per year for a policy. If you want to pay out of pocket, it will cost between $60 and $90 to see a doctor for a general purpose visit.

If you don’t want to purchase an apartment or condo in Thailand but you wish to stay for a longer period of time, you can sign a longer-term lease (six or 12 months) and expect to pay around $450 for a one-bedroom apartment.

You may also be able to sublet for around $500 per month, again for a one-bedroom.

However, if you want to share space or rent a room, you can do so for $150 or less per month.

For general comparison purposes, you can live at the same standard of living in Thailand for about one-third the average cost of living for you to live in the United States.

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