Here are some general observations on costs in Thailand. At the time of writing, the conversion rate was around 30 baht per US Dollar.
A small bottle of water will run 5 to 10 baht in a store, 20 or so baht in a hotel or restaurant.
A large bottle of Singha or Chang Beer will cost 40 or so baht in a store, 80 or so in a restaurant or hotel. Small cans run 20 and 40, the first being store prices and the second being restaurant prices. Singha tends to be 5 or so baht more expensive than Chang.
Bus costs depend upon the type of bus, but it appears that the following are decent planning figures:
– A pickup-truck type bus will run about 1 baht per kilometer.
– A low-end, inter-city bus without air conditioning (think school bus) will run about half a baht per kilometer.
– An air-conditioned bus will run about 1 baht per kilometer.
– A top-end minibus (think 12 passenger van) will run about 3 baht per kilometer.
Tuk-Tuks are a wild card. Prices vary by town and distance. One thing of which you can almost always be certain is that the first quoted price is high. Give a counter-offer. Also, inquire with your hotel about the normal rates for different distances, and then insist on those rates. It helps to know how to talk money with the driver.
At a decent restaurant, one person should expect to have a main dish, a serving of rice, and small bottle of water for 100 baht or less. Add in beer at 80 baht for a large bottle.
For lodging, a low-end, A-frame bungalow will run 450 baht or less. A non-air-conditioned basic room should run about the same.
A nice room or bungalow with air-conditioning and its own bathroom should run in the 600 to 1000 baht range.
Anything over 1000 and you are getting into pricey accommodations.
Banks usually charge 1-1/2% to use their ATMs.
Motorbike rental fees average around 200 baht a day. That varies by 50 baht, depending on location and whether you get a manual or automatic bike.
You should be able to get your laundry done for 30 to 50 baht per kilogram at a shop offering that service. You’ll most likely pay a premium at a hotel.
To save money…
– Buy beer in a store and take it to your room.
– Eat where the locals eat, and avoid hotel meals.
– Rent a motorbike to travel, and avoid taxis and tuk-tuks.
– Get your laundry done in town, or hand wash it yourself.
– Look for a decent, mid-range room before charging off to a top-end hotel. The difference in room and service is often very small, but the difference in price can be big.
Three things made this day uniquely expensive: a motorbike flat, getting some allergy meds for Jen, and a pricey hotel room. Pineapple: 10 baht Beggar: 5 baht (she was singing pretty well) Lunch: 200 baht Motorbike Rental: 220 baht Gas for Motorbike: 115 baht Flat Tire Repair: 150 baht Coke and Chips: 37 baht Gum and Coffee Mate: 73 baht […]
Laundry: 70 baht Taxi to Bus Station: 40 baht Two Bus Tickets to Chiang Khong: 130 baht Lunch: 300 baht Taxi: 60 baht Room: 350 baht Beer, Candy, Mosquito Coils: 236 Dinner: 175 baht TOTAL: 1361 baht
Breakfast: 30 baht Gas for Motorbike: 96 baht Lunch with Beer: 240 baht Dinner and Beer with King Noi: 340 baht Room: 600 baht Motorbike Rental: 200 baht TOTAL: 1506 baht
Breakfast: 30 baht Eye drops and Nose Decongestant Spray: 85 baht Water and Snacks: 10 baht Lunch: 100 baht Beer and Gum: 203 baht Dinner: 120 baht Laundry: 90 baht Motorbike: 200 baht Room: 600 baht TOTAL: 1438
Eye Drops: 45 baht Entrance Fee for Cave Tour: 160 baht Lunch and a Bag of Mangoes: 230 baht Bottle of Beer at the Hotel: 80 baht Corn and Tomatoes: 40 baht Three Bottles of Beer, Gum, Two Bottles of Water: 146 baht Dinner: 200 baht Bungalow Rental: 600 baht TOTAL: 1511 baht
Motorbike Rental: 200 baht Mud Spa (Facials and Mineral Pool): 720 baht Bottle of Water: 10 baht Lunch: 320 baht Beer and Water at Roadside Stand: 136 baht Ice at Fern Resort: 25 baht Dinner: 230 baht Bungalow at Fern Resort: 1200 baht TOTAL: 2841 baht
Breakfast: 30 baht Bottle of Water and Snacks: 65 baht Bus Tickets to Mae Hong Son: 160 baht Bathroom Charge: 4 baht Bottle of Water and Snacks: 40 baht Taxi Around Mae Hong Son: 280 baht Room at Fern Resort: 1200 baht Dinner at Fern Resort: 575 TOTAL: 2354 baht
Breakfast: 160 baht Lunch: 330 baht Motorbike Rental: 200 baht Gas for Motorbike: 40 baht Beer and Gum: 180 baht Room: 800 baht Dinner: 200 baht TOTAL: 1810 baht
Gas for Motorbike: 80 baht Bathroom Fee: 3 baht Bus Tickets to Soppong: 300 baht Two Bottles of Water: 20 baht Lunch: 215 baht Two Coffees: 30 baht Beer and Razors: 136 baht Room: 800 baht Dinner: 400 baht TOTAL: 1984 baht
Eye Drops: 45 baht Entrance Fee for Cave Tour: 160 baht Lunch and a Bag of Mangoes: 230 baht Bottle of Beer at the Hotel: 80 baht Corn and Tomatoes: 40 baht Three Bottles of Beer, Gum, Two Bottles of Water: 146 baht Bungalow Rental: 450 baht TOTAL: 1161 baht
Breakfast (including an unnecessary and excessive tip): 200 baht Bus from Tha Song Yang to Mae Sariang: 320 baht Lunch: 250 baht Bottle of Coke: 12 baht Dinner at Hotel with Lots of Beer while Playing Cards: 360 baht Room at Hotel: 700 baht TOTAL: 1842 baht
Breakfast: 245 baht Motorbike Rental (half day): 100 baht Gas for motorbike: 100 baht Chicken Dress: 250 baht Water and coke: 20 baht Cash withdrawal ATM fee: 150 baht Bus to Mae La Noi: 40 baht Bottle of beer: 80 baht Late Lunch: 150 baht Grocery Store (two beers, snacks, and such): 186 baht Dinner (no beer): 110 baht Bungalow […]
Coffee at Hotel: 20 baht Breakfast in Mae Sot: 90 baht Snacks and Gum: 77 baht Laundry: 70 baht Tuk- Tuk to Bus Station: 70 baht Bus to Tha Song Yong: 160 baht Lunch at Tha Song Yong: 220 baht Allen Wrench Set: 30 baht Two Large Beers and Soap: 136 baht Snacks: 10 baht Dinner: 160 baht Bungalow: 500 […]
Breakfast: 75 baht Bungalow: 500 baht Gas for Motorbike: 100 baht Lunch: 236 baht Two Bottles of Beer and Gum: 85 baht Snacks: 76 baht Dinner: 300 baht (We tipped 110 baht) TOTAL: 1372 baht
Coffee at Hotel – 20 baht Brunch – 210 baht Two Bottles of Water – 10 baht Dinner – 460 baht Taxi – 80 baht Two Bottles of Beer – 80 baht ATM Fee: 150 baht Bungalow Rental – 800 baht TOTAL: 1810 baht
Two Coffees at Hotel: 20 baht Breakfast in Food Stall: 100 baht Rental of Two Bicycles: 100 baht Packs of Gum: 68 baht Two Large Beers at Store: 84 baht Two Water Bottles: 10 baht Lunch at Aiya: 260 baht Dinner at Bai Fern: 360 baht Bungalow Rental: 800 baht TOTAL: 1802 baht
Lunch: 325 baht A Beer and a Soda: 79 baht Large Beer: 89 baht Large beer: 89 baht Before Dinner Meal at Hotel: 257 baht Dinner at hotel: 284 baht Hotel Room: 1200 baht TOTAL: 2323 baht
Two Bottles of Water: 20 baht Two Bus Tickets from Sukhothai to Tak: 110 baht Two bottles of Water: 20 baht Two Minivan Tickets from Tak to Mae Sot: 112 baht Pack of Gum: 6 baht Use of Bathroom: 3 baht Lunch: 400 baht Dinner: 360 baht Bungalow: 800 baht Two Beers and Two Bottles of Water: 70 baht TOTAL: […]
Taxi from Airport to Train Station, Bangkok: 515 baht (includes tolls, airport fee, and fare) Train to Lampang (2nd class sleeping car): 908 baht Lunch at Bangkok Train Station: 65 baht Three Beers at Bangkok Train Station: 120 baht Two Beers on Train: 100 baht Water Bottle at Bangkok Train Station: 22 baht Taxi from Lopburi Train Station to Hotel: […]
Taxi from Hotel to Lopburi Train Station: 200 baht Bottle of Water: 20 baht One Pen and a Pack of Gum: 15 baht Train Tickets to Phitsanolok (2nd class air conditioned car): 786 baht Lopburi Ruins Park Entrance: 200 baht Bottle of Water: 20 baht Bottle of Pepsi: 10 baht Motor Cart Ride from Phitsanolok Train Station to Phitsanolok Bus […]
Breakfast at Hotel: 405 baht Two Bottles of Water: 20 Baht One bottle of Coke: 25 baht Bus from New Sukhothai to Old Sukhothai: 60 baht Rental for Two Bicycles: 60 baht Tickets for Central Part of Park: 220 baht Lunch in Old Sukhothai (includes a large beer for 80 baht): 170 baht Tickets for Western Part of Park: 220 […]
Three Bottles of Water and One Coke: 55 baht ATM Fee: 150 baht (seems to be 3% of the amount) Taxi to Old Sukhothai: 60 baht Rental for Two Bicycles: 60 baht Lunch: 170 baht (includes one large beer for 80 baht) Taxi Back to New Sukhothai: 40 baht Three Large Beers: 240 baht Dinner at Hotel: 400 baht Laundry: […]