What a trip to Thailand costs in 2026 and how to pay there
Prices for food, lodging and transport in baht, a sample 10-day budget for two, how much ATM fees eat up, and which cards work for tourists from Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Thailand is still one of the most affordable destinations in Southeast Asia, but “cheap” means different things here: a day on street food and a guesthouse costs several times less than a week in a Phuket hotel with excursions. Below are real price ranges in baht, a sample budget calculation, and everything you need to know about cash, cards and ATMs. The prices were collected from open sources in 2026 and vary by season and island, so use them as a guide, not as a price list.
For conversion: in spring 2026 one US dollar bought about 32–33 baht. You can check today's exact rate and how much you will lose on exchange in our converter.
How much a day in Thailand costs
The easiest way to start is with three spending levels per person per day, not including flights and insurance. They cover lodging (per person when sharing a room), food, local transport and small entertainment.
| Travel style | Baht per day | Approx. in dollars | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | 900–1,500 | 28–46 | hostel or simple guesthouse, street food, public transport |
| Mid-range | 2,500–4,000 | 77–123 | mid-level hotel, cafes and restaurants, Grab taxis, 1–2 excursions a week |
| Comfort | 6,000–12,000 and up | 185–370 and up | good hotel or resort, restaurants, private transfers and tours |
Lodging is the biggest and also the most predictable expense. Food can cost anything from 50 baht for a market portion to 800 baht for a dinner at a seaside restaurant. The budget “floats” most on excursions, islands and transfers.
Prices on the ground: food, lodging, transport
| Item | Price, baht | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| A street food dish | 40–80 | rice, noodles, soup at a market or from a cart |
| Lunch at a local cafe | 100–250 | |
| Dinner at a mid-range restaurant | 200–500 | per person |
| Coffee at a coffee shop | 50–120 | |
| Beer at a bar | 60–180 | more in tourist areas |
| Hostel bed | 250–600 | per night |
| Budget hotel | 500–1,500 | room per night |
| Mid-range hotel | 1,500–4,000 | room per night |
| Bangkok metro and elevated train (BTS/MRT) | 16–59 | per trip, depends on distance |
| Tuk-tuk or songthaew | 20–150 | agree on the price before the ride |
| Thai massage, 1 hour | 250–400 | |
| Local SIM card for 30 days | 300–600 | with data |
| Temple entry | 50–200 | on average |
| Day trip to Phi Phi | 1,400–2,500 | from Phuket or Krabi |
On the islands and in Phuket's resort areas, food and transport prices are usually higher than in Bangkok and in the north of the country. In high season, roughly November to March, lodging also gets more expensive.
Example: a 10-day budget for two
Suppose a couple flies for 10 nights, stays in a mid-range hotel, eats at cafes and occasionally at restaurants, takes two excursions and gets around the city by Grab. Flights and insurance are counted separately.
| Expense | Calculation | Baht |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range hotel | 1,800 baht × 10 nights | 18,000 |
| Food for two | 1,200 baht × 10 days | 12,000 |
| Local transport | 300 baht × 10 days | 3,000 |
| Two excursions for two | about 2,000 baht per person | 8,000 |
| Connectivity (eSIM or SIM for two) | 2 × 450 baht | 900 |
| Massage, small items, souvenirs | 3,000 | |
| 10% reserve | 4,500 | |
| Total | about 49,400 |
That comes to about 49 thousand baht, roughly 1,500 dollars for two without flights. If you stay in a guesthouse and eat at markets, the same trip can fit into 20–25 thousand baht; if you choose a resort and private tours, the sum easily doubles. You can calculate your own option in the calculator on the “Budget” page.
Cash, cards and ATMs
Thailand's currency is the Thai baht (THB). You can pay by card in hotels, shopping malls and chain stores, but markets, small cafes, taxi drivers and many excursions require cash. So the plan of “withdrawing as needed” costs more in Thailand than it seems.
ATMs charge a fixed fee for every withdrawal with a foreign card, usually about 220 baht (AEON ATMs sometimes charge about 150). The amount per withdrawal is limited: as a rule, 20,000–30,000 baht depending on the bank. On top of that, the bank that issued your card may charge its own fee.
| How much to withdraw at once | ATM fee | Share of the amount |
|---|---|---|
| 3,000 baht | 220 baht | 7.3% |
| 5,000 baht | 220 baht | 4.4% |
| 10,000 baht | 220 baht | 2.2% |
| 20,000 baht | 220 baht | 1.1% |
The takeaway is simple: withdraw less often and in larger amounts, within your bank's limit and what you are comfortable carrying. If an ATM or terminal offers to charge you “in your currency,” decline and choose to pay in baht. This is so-called dynamic currency conversion: the terminal owner sets the rate, and it is almost always worse than your bank's rate. Declining does not cancel the ATM fee, but it removes the extra loss on the exchange rate.
If you are from Russia
Visa and Mastercard cards issued by Russian banks have not worked in Thailand since 2022, and Mir cards are not officially accepted. UnionPay cards from some Russian banks are accepted in many stores and some ATMs, but banks' fees and limits differ, so check them before the trip. The most reliable option is to bring cash dollars or euros and exchange them on the spot: rubles are exchanged poorly and at an unfavorable rate.
If you are from Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan
Visa and Mastercard cards from Kazakhstani banks usually work in Thailand like ordinary foreign cards, with the same ATM fee. If you hold a card from another country, it is better to check with your bank in advance whether the card is enabled for foreign transactions and what the cash withdrawal limit is.
Where to exchange cash
At the airport the rate is almost always worse than in the city, so exchange only enough for the first day and the trip to your hotel. In the city, compare two or three licensed exchange offices and look not at the “nice” number on the board but at the final amount they will hand you. Large, clean banknotes are usually exchanged at a better rate than small, crumpled or old-series ones.
How to save without losing comfort
- Eat where the locals eat: mall food courts and markets are noticeably cheaper than tourist restaurants.
- Get around Bangkok by BTS and MRT, not by taxi at rush hour.
- For city rides use Grab or Bolt: the price is known in advance and there is no need to haggle.
- Book lodging on the islands in advance, especially for December to February.
- Withdraw cash in large amounts and do not agree to conversion “in your currency.”
- Set up an eSIM before departure: the internet will work right after landing, and you won't have to look for a SIM card at the airport.
Frequently asked questions
How much money should I take for a week in Thailand?
For a mid-range trip, budget 2,500–4,000 baht per person per day without flights, which is roughly 17,000–28,000 baht for a week. Add a 10–15% reserve and money for excursions if you plan trips to the islands.
Do I need to show money at the border?
Entry rules allow immigration to ask for proof of funds, which is 20,000 baht per person or 40,000 per family, as well as an exit ticket and accommodation details. Keep cash, a card or a statement and your hotel booking with you.
Which is better: withdrawing from an ATM or exchanging cash?
If your card works in Thailand, large withdrawals of 20,000 baht cost about 1% in ATM fees plus your bank's terms. Exchanging cash dollars or euros at a good city exchange office is often no more expensive. Small withdrawals of a few thousand baht are the least favorable option.
Can I pay with a Mir card?
No, as of writing, Mir cards are not officially accepted in Thailand. Russians are better off counting on cash dollars or euros and, as a backup, on a UnionPay card.
Do I need to tip?
There are no mandatory tips. In cafes and taxis people usually round up the amount; in massage parlors and restaurants they leave 20–100 baht if they liked the service.
This is reference information, not financial advice: prices and fees change, so check them before your trip. Below are partner cards (advertising): flight search and an eSIM for internet on your trip.