Thailand is often referred to as the Land of Smiles, something a budget has never been described as, but there’s no smiles without a budget. Whether you plan on heading to Songkran (an awesome water festival), a full moon party or you just want to relax and unwind, Thailand is the place to be.

But how much does it cost to travel to Thailand and where do I start my budget?

Budgeting is hard, so we’ve made it a little easier for you with some tips and tricks.

What goes into a travel budget?

Everybody’s budget is different and depending on how long you’re travelling for and the level of comfort you want to have, your budget is going to vary quite a bit. But there are a few inescapable expenses that find themselves in pretty much every travel budget ever.

Transport costs

Because Australia is an island isolated from pretty much every other country, unless you’ve got a propeller on your flippers you’re looking at spending a bit of your hard earned Aussie dollars on a plane to Thailand. You can breathe a bit of a sigh of relief though, because unlike Europe, a flight to Bangers is only going to steal about 8 hours from your precious holiday time fund. Getting around Thailand is fairly easy, with Bangkok having a great metro system and a never ending supply of tuk-tuks but if you want to see more of the country you will need to fork out on some internal flights or train tickets.

Accommodation

Another country where the AUD goes much further even though the THB has strengthened in recent years. You can score yourself a pretty schmick hotel for around $50 a day and if you want to go next level, you can really get the rockstar treatment for a lot less than you would back home.

Food

Does the sound of beautiful roast duck, veggies and rice with a dessert of sticky mango with coconut rice for less than $5 get your motor running? Thailand is a foodies paradise with amazing street food vendors mixed with restaurants and the ubiquitous Maccas to give you the option of pretty much anything your heart desires.

Activities

If things like hiking, scuba diving, motor biking and general exploring are your jam, then Thailand is going to be right up your alley. There are plenty of free things to do in Thailand but also plenty that are going to stack up on the budget. Make sure you do your research and add in and book some things before you go to make it easier to budget.

Pre-departure expenses

Thailand is home to some of the best scuba diving in the south and best motorbike rides in the north, so travel insurance is a must have. Make sure you research the right insurance policy that will cover you for all the activities you’re planning to do. Most insurance policies won’t cover you for motorcycle accidents if you don’t have a valid bike licence at home so be cautious of that. Don’t forget any immunisations you might be behind on too, especially if you plan on heading to some of the more rural areas.

Is there a way to easily calculate my holiday budget?

Of course there is friend! This is 2019 and you shouldn’t have to have to add everything up in your head like some kind of Neanderthal! That’s why we’ve created the borderline magic holiday budget calculator using Numbeo data and our exchange rates, so we can translate your budget into any currency with the click of a button.

It’s that easy even my Grandma could do it. Try it out below!

Step 1

• Enter in where you’re jetsetting off to
• Pick your travel style
• How long are you travelling for?
• Choose your currency AUD/THB
• Thailand, no problem.

Step 2

And we’re going to discuss your eating habits with zero judgment. Want to eat out every day and enjoy a few cheeky beers? Go right ahead, this is your holiday. Just put it all down into the holiday planner so you can see just exactly what it’s going to cost you.

Step 3

Is for transport costs that aren’t your big ticket flights. Luckily Thailand is nice and cheap here too, but if you’re going to be taking a few taxis instead of tuk tuks and the awesome rail in Bangkok you could find yourself racking up a few Baht worth of trips.

Step 4

Now we’re getting into the heart of it. Shopping. However much you plan on doing, put it down here, the robots don’t judge, they just tell you the price of things. If you’re planning on getting a few souvenirs for the unlucky souls at home, write it down here.

Step 5

Is where you get to relax. All the hard work is done and the holiday budget planner has already calculated all the heavy stuff and you should have a nice clear outline of your spending budget. Keep in mind that these are the most basic expenses. Don’t forget to add in travel insurance, other daily expenses like food and drinks, sightseeing, activities and leave some extra room in the kitty for any shopping sprees and emergencies too!

Thailand holiday budget examples

After a little bit of study, a rough budget for the big ticket items for your Thailand trip could look like one of these bad boys:

The lovey dovey couple’s retreat

Transport	$899pp	Brisbane to Koh Samui return
Accommodation	$1399 for 6 nights	Couples only resort & spa
Food	$60 per day	A few cocktails with dinner
Activities	$500 +/-	Depends how many massages & spa treatments you treat yourself with!
Total	$4120

The family getaway

Transport	$3300 for 2 adults, 2 kids	Brisbane to Phuket return
Accommodation	$1700 for 8 nights
Food	$50 per night	With only dinners to worry about you can go crazy at all the food options in town
Activities	$700	With endless activities for kids, they won’t be bored!
Total	$4800

The solo traveller's trip

With a little bit more flexibility to choose the cheapest flights, the solo traveller can save a bit of money initially, but accommodation expenses rack up pretty quickly when you’re solo.

Transport + Accommodation	$730pp	Brisbane to Bangkok return
Food	$20 per day	A small food budget is possible throughout the streets of Thailand!
Activities	$300
Total	$2645

Don't forget

• Budgeting doesn’t have to be a dirty word. It might not be the most fun part of your holiday, but it is one of the most important parts.
• Research your ‘per day’ budget and include the things you really want to do. Once you know the costs, you have a goal to save for and some flexibility to work with
• Most things are cheaper to book in advance (especially if you’re going near peak times) but some things can be cheaper to purchase in the US
• Don’t forget to factor in your pre-travel costs (e.g. travel insurance, immunisations and visas).
• Budget for cheap eats some days so you can treat yourself on others.
• Don’t forget other cheeky costs like airport transfers, tours and tipping

Flight costs based on search from www.flightcentre.com.au and are indicative costs only, based on prices available on 04 August 2019. ^Accommodation costs are based on an average per night price for budget, moderate or luxury hotels, as indicated in the table. ~Food based on the average cost of 1 coffee, 1 fast food meal and 1restaurant meal per person, per day. 
COST COMPARISON TABLE: All costs are based on estimated approximate costs from major metropolitan cities. “From” costs indicate costs that start from the indicated price and may be higher than shown. Average prices indicate a typical estimated cost you would pay for the indicated item. Prices may vary from time to time, and in different cities and towns within Thailand.
This blog is provided for information only and does not take into consideration your objectives, financial situation or needs.  You should consider whether the information and suggestions contained in any blog entry are appropriate for you, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.  While we take reasonable care in providing the blog, we give no warranties or representations that it is complete or accurate, or is appropriate for you.  We are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise, arising from use of, or reliance on, the information and/or suggestions contained in this blog.