Quick Answer
Budget travellers can do Thailand on $25-35/day. Mid-range comfort costs $50-80/day. These are realistic 2026 figures including accommodation, food, transport, and activities — not theoretical minimums.
Accommodation
Hostel dorm: ฿200-400 ($6-12). Budget private room with AC: ฿400-800 ($12-24). Mid-range hotel: ฿1,000-2,500 ($30-75). Boutique/luxury: ฿3,000+ ($90+). Bangkok is priciest. Islands (Koh Tao, Koh Lanta) and Chiang Mai offer better value. Book on Agoda for Thailand-specific deals — it consistently beats Booking.com here.
Food
Street food meal: ฿40-80 ($1.20-2.40). Restaurant meal: ฿100-250 ($3-7.50). Western food: ฿200-400 ($6-12). Beer (local): ฿60-100 ($1.80-3). You can eat incredibly well for $10-15/day if you eat where Thais eat. Pad thai from a street cart (฿50) is better than any restaurant version.
Transport
Bangkok BTS/MRT: ฿16-59 ($0.50-1.75). Tuk-tuk (short ride): ฿100-150 ($3-4.50). Grab taxi: cheaper than tuk-tuks for longer distances. Overnight bus (Bangkok-Chiang Mai): ฿400-700 ($12-21). Domestic flights: ฿800-2,000 ($24-60) with AirAsia or Nok Air if booked ahead. Trains: ฿300-1,200 ($9-36) depending on class.
Activities
Temple entry: ฿0-500 ($0-15). Grand Palace: ฿500 ($15) — the most expensive. Thai cooking class: ฿800-1,500 ($24-45). Full-day island snorkelling tour: ฿800-1,500 ($24-45). Thai massage (1 hour): ฿200-400 ($6-12). Diving certification (Koh Tao): ฿9,000-12,000 ($270-360). Muay Thai class: ฿300-500 ($9-15).
Sample Daily Budgets
Backpacker ($30/day): Hostel dorm, street food 3x, local transport, one free temple. Mid-range ($65/day): Private AC room, mix of street food and restaurants, 1 activity, Grab rides. Comfortable ($120/day): Boutique hotel, restaurant meals, private tours, massage. The biggest variable is alcohol — Thai beer is cheap but tourist-area cocktails add up fast.
Money-Saving Tips
Never exchange money at the airport — rates are 5-10% worse. Use ATMs (฿220 fee) and withdraw max amount. Haggle at markets but not at 7-Eleven or restaurants. Book transport on 12go.asia for the best comparison of bus/train/flight prices. Eat at markets, not restaurants on main tourist streets. Learn basic Thai greetings — locals often give better prices when you try.