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Cost of living in Thailand: Food, transport, and more
The cost of living in Thailand is one of the lowest you can find. Choose to live in a country where you can live comfortably!
If you’re searching for a new place to live without hurting your budget, check Thailand’s cost of living in 2025. Compared to other Western destinations, this country offers financial relief and rental, food, transport, healthcare, connectivity, and leisure costs remain affordable.
Moreover, Thailand is culturally rich, safe, and filled with breathtaking landscapes for your free time: crystal beaches, mystical temples, and over 150 national parks to explore. Let’s discover how much money you’ll need monthly to move here!
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Average accommodation costs in Thailand
The cost of living in Thailand regarding housing, as we’ll see, is crucial for living comfortably without overspending. You can rent a house in central Bangkok from $445 (€424.37), prices you won’t find in Europe. Plus, if you choose alternative housing like, you’ll save even more:
- Mid-range hotels: Private rooms with AC, bathroom, and breakfast from $30 (€28.61) to $60 (€57.22) nightly.
- Furnished apartments: Best for long stays, from $445 (€424.37) for one bedroom to $900 (€858.20) for luxury houses. (€424.37 – 858.20).
- Colivings: Shared spaces for living and working with digital nomads, entrepreneurs, or students. Example: Haven Coliving in Nimmanhaemin from $315 (€300.40) monthly.
- Airbnb: Very popular for short stays. Prices start from $20 (€19.07) up to $50 (€47.68) per night.
Food costs in Thailand
You can eat here at very low prices, both in supermarkets and restaurants, so many residents prefer takeaway or eating out, since Thailand’s food costs stay low. Here are sample grocery prices from stores like Tops Market or Makro:
- Bananas: One kilo for $1.48 (€1.41)
- Fresh cheese: One kilo for $20.86 (€19.89)
- Beef: One kilo tray for $11.72 (€11.18)
- Chicken breasts: One kilo tray for $3.19 (€3.04)
- Tomatoes: One kilo bag for $1.79 (€1.71)
- Eggs: A dozen for $2.44 (€2.33)
If you’d like to eat in a local restaurant and try Thai cuisine, we’ve prepared a breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu from Bangkok’s well-known places:
| Type of Meal | Restaurant | Dish | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | Suda Thai Vegetarian Restaurant | Khao Tom (rice soup) | $1.50 (€1.43) |
| Food | Lamphu Tree Restaurant | Pad Thai (stir-fried noodles) | $1.83 (€1.75) |
| Dinner | El Local | Gaeng Daeng (red curry) | $2.00 (€1.91) |
Sample menu from Thai restaurants.
Cost of living in Thailand: Transport prices
You’ll find many transport options across the country, and Thailand’s cost of living in this area stays affordable. You won’t need a big budget for daily rides like moto taxis, one of the country’s most popular vehicles. Let’s see more options:
Public transport
Here you can choose metro, bus, moto taxi, boat, or train as public transport. These are their fares:
- Metro: Bangkok’s MRT and BTS Skytrain cost between $0.50 (€0.48) and $1.30 (€1.24) depending on distance.
- Moto taxi: Among the most popular, from $0.60 (€0.57) per ride.
- Bus: The cheapest but slowest option, from $0.25 (€0.24).
- Train: For long distances between provinces. Example: Bangkok–Chiang Mai second-class ticket costs $24.00 (€22.89).
- Boats: To visit floating markets like Damnoen Saduak, from $1.50 (€1.43) per person.
Private transport
You’ll recognise the famous three-wheeled vehicle for tourists in Thailand, Tuk-Tuks, since they’re extremely popular here. No fixed fares apply, so you’ll need to bargain, starting from $1.50 (€1.43).
You can also ride a shared pick-up truck, known as Songthaews, with flexible routes and client demand, from $0.30 (€0.29).
Bike rentals
In cities like Bangkok, you can rent bikes daily or monthly. For example, companies offer daily rentals from $3.00 (€2.86) and monthly subscriptions at $30.00 (€28.61).
Fuel and energy
Thailand’s cost of living for fuel is about $1.20 (€1.14) for petrol. Meanwhile, charging an electric vehicle costs around $0.12 (€0.11) per kWh.
New vehicle and driving insurance
If you want to buy a new car, a popular model here is the Toyota Corolla at around $27,000 (€25,748). Every vehicle requires compulsory insurance called Compulsory Motor Insurance (CMI), covering bodily injury for $18.00 (€17.17) yearly.
If you’d like extended cover, you can purchase wider policies ranging from $300 (€286.09) to $600 (€514.96) yearly.
Cost of living in Thailand: Healthcare costs
Thailand’s cost of living for public healthcare stays relatively low compared to other countries, but the Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) system is usually overcrowded, with long waits and restrictions for foreigners.
On the other hand, private clinics and hospitals are more expensive, so it’s wise to have health insurance for accidents or hospital stays.
One of the best options here is Cigna Global Health, available in cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai, with prices between $100 (€95.36) and $300 (€286.09) depending on coverage. Here’s an example of private medical service costs without insurance:
| Services | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Hospitalisation (per day) | $100-500 (€95.36-476.82) |
| General medical consultation | $20-50 (€19.07-47.68) |
| Consultation with a specialist | $30-100 (€28.61-95.36) |
| Emergencies | $30-150 (€28.61-143.05) |
| Basic blood test | $10-50 (€9.53-47.68) |
| X-ray | $20-50 (€19.07-47.68) |
| Diagnostic tests | $50-150 (€47.68-143.05) |
| Minor surgery | $300-1,500 (€286.09-1,430) |
| Major surgery | $3,000-15,000 (€2,860-14,304) |
| Physiotherapy (per session) | $15-40 (€14.03-38.15) |
Healthcare service fees in Thailand.
Internet and call plan prices
When travelling abroad or moving to another country, you need reliable coverage at home and in every city. Thailand’s cost of living in this sector stays affordable, and you can choose among several providers:
- AIS: Fibre 25 MB for $25.00 (€23.84) or 1 GB for $35.00 (€33.38).
- 3BB: Fibre 1 GB for $21.00 (€19.03).
- True Move: Prepaid SIM with 3 GB for $9.00 (€8.58).
- DTAC: Prepaid SIM with 30 GB for 15 days at $18.00 (€17.17).
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| Subscription | Details | Rate |
|---|---|---|
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| Unlimited Plan | The best option for remote workers and heavy users. | $64.90 (€59.06) |
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Cost of living in Thailand: Leisure activities costs
Thailand offers a wide variety of experiences and affordable leisure activities, so you can explore every corner of this country: beaches, temples, museums, theatre, cinema, parks, markets, or tours. How much will you spend here?:
- Cinema: A ticket costs around $6.00-9.00 (€5.72-8.58).
- Zoo: Entrance to Dusit Zoo in Bangkok costs $3.00 (€2.70) for adults and $1.50 (€1.43) for kids.
- Theatre: Watching a traditional dance show at Siam Niramit Theatre costs $40.00-50.00 (€38.15-47.68).
- Streaming platforms: From $12.00 (€11.44) monthly with Netflix and $8.00 (€7.63) yearly with Disney+ Hotstar.
- Cable TV: A basic package costs about $15.00-20.00 (€14.30-19.07).
- Bangkok Grand Palace: Entrance ticket costs $16.50 (€15.74).
- National parks: Entrance usually costs around $12.00 (€11.44).
- Ayutthaya Historical Park: Entrance to the ruins costs $6.00 (€5.72).
- Island and snorkelling tour from Ko Phi Phi: Between $15.00-24.00 (€14.30-22.89).
- Diving day with 2 dives in Koh Lanta: Between $105-135 (€100.13-128.74).
- Kayak rental: About $6.00-7.50 (€5.70-7.10) per hour.
- Traditional Thai massage: Around $10.50-12.00 (€10.01-11.44) per hour.
As you’ve seen, the cost of living in Thailand is very affordable. If you’d like to live in an exotic country, this destination is an excellent choice. With a budget of $1.000 (€953.64) per month, you’ll cover rent, food, transport, healthcare, internet, and leisure with everything Thailand offers. Incredible, right? Then pack your bags and explore this fascinating country.
