Jungles, crazy parties, delicious food and fantastic beaches: In recent years, Thailand has become very popular for young backpackers. This is particularly because it’s easy and cheap to travel around the country. But how much do you actually need to budget for a backpacking trip in Thailand?
In this article, I’ll break down all my expenses during a 4 week trip. From the cost of accomodations to everyday expenses like bus tickets and meals, I’ll give you a detailed overview of what I spent. This guide will help you understand the typical costs for a Thailand Backpacking Adventure and decide how much money to set aside for an unforgettable journey through Thailand.
Overview
- Accommodations
- Transportation
- Scooter
- Food & Drinks
- Activities
- Others
- Total
- Cost Overview
- How much should you budget?
Accommodations
Overall, I spent 205€ on hostels in Thailand. A good hostel typically costs between 5 – 10€ per night, depending on how popular a destination is. Hostels on the islands are usually more expensive than a hostel in the north of Thailand. Usually breakfast isn’t included in this price.
Transportation
My total transportation expenses in Thailand amounted to 260€. This includes everything from buses, mini vans, taxis, and ferries. You get the best prices for taxis if you use the Grab-App. For short distances (maximum 5 Kilometer) you can get a Grab for 2 – 4€. A normal taxi or TukTuk usually costs between 3-5€.
Bus, Mini Van and Ferry prices vary depending on the duration and distance of the trip, typically costs are between 5 – 30€. Ferries are usually more expensive than buses (20 – 30€).
Scooter
I spent a total of 80€ on scooter rentals in Thailand. This includes the rental of the scooter and the fuel costs. Typically, renting a scooter for 24 hours costs between 4 – 7€.
Food & Drinks
During my stay in Thailand, I spent a total of 210€ on food and drinks. This mainly includes local meals at cheap restaurants and food from 7/11 (maximum 3,50€ per meal), snacks from supermarkets, fruits from the market and bottled water.
Activities
I spent a total of 130€ on activities and entrance fees to museums, temples and viewpoints. This includes a one day tour to the Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park for 30€. Entrance fees for temples and other attractions usually range from 1€ – 5€ if they’re on the cheaper side. For some attractions, you might also spend more. For example, entry to the Grand Palace in Bangkok costs around 15€. But those are some of the more expensive things to do.
Others
On other things I spent 95€. This included a SIM card, going to the gym, doing my laundry, a bit of alcohol, souvenirs and other things. Entry into Thailand is free of charge for the first 60 days, so you don’t need a visa in advance.
Total
In total, I spent 980€ over 4 weeks in Thailand on accommodations, food and drinks, activities, transportation, scooters and other things. This doesn’t include the flight or transportation to Thailand and back home.
I was traveling as a budget backpacker: I stayed in dorm rooms at hostels, didn’t drink much alcohol, and mostly ate local food. It’s definitely possible to travel even cheaper if you set different priorities, skip some activities, or visit fewer places. I tried to do and see as much as possible in four weeks and explored many different areas.
Cost Overview
Hostels: 205€
Transportation: 260€
Scooter: 80€
Food & Drinks: 210€
Activities: 130€
Others: 95€
Total: 980€
How much should you budget?
Thailand is a good place to go to as a budget traveler. On average, I spent around 30 – 35€ per day and that’s also a good amount to plan for if you’re doing a budget backpacking trip in Thailand.
However, your travel budget should always depend on your personal priorities and how long you plan to stay in Thailand. For each week I’d recommend budgeting at least 250 – 300€. You might not end up spending the entire amount every week, but it’s always better to have some extra money for emergencies or unexpected expenses.
Please note: these are my expenses from 2023. Prices may have changed since then, so make sure to double-check and do your own research on the current situation.
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