So many expats flock to Southeast Asia for many reasons, one of them being the low cost of living in Thailand. But how low is it really? I’m going to give you a breakdown of the cost of living in Thailand for expats. Obviously, prices will fluctuate in different regions of the country. However, I can also provide a comparison of city and rural living.
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Housing in Thailand
First up is housing. There are two different types of housing to choose from in Thailand depending on how comfortable you want to be. Modernly furnished apartments in the city can start at 15,000 baht. This will generally be in a modern apartment building that may include a gym or a pool. Inside your apartment, you will have all the ‘western’ features such as closet space, modern bathroom, refrigerator, microwave, and basic furniture.
Thai style apartments on the other hand usually are around 5,000 baht in the city and just include a bed, dresser, and basic bathroom without a water heater. It will be a studio apartment without a kitchen or living space. An odd characteristic about these apartments is that your sink will be exposed to the elements and may or may not have a glass window. Just think of it as a balcony but with bars. Your shower and toilet are connected through a door. Is it designed like this because people will hang their laundry to dry on the bars.
The cost of living in the suburbs of Bangkok, as an expat in a western-style apartment, is about 7,500 baht per month. ~$250 USD
Outside the city, you will generally only find Thai style apartments, these can be as low as 1,500 baht. I lived in a house in rural Chiang Mai province that cost 6,000 baht. Watch my house tour below.
Transportation in Thailand
Within Bangkok, you won’t be needing your own transportation as there is a metro system (MRT) and sky train (BTS). Grab, a ride-hailing service like Uber, also is an option. There are of course metered taxis and buses as well. And let’s not forget about those tuk-tuks, even though they are mostly just a tourist thing. Depending on where you go every month your transportation expenses will vary, but 5,000 baht should be plenty.
Outside the city, transportation can be difficult if you don’t speak Thai. There are local songthaws and motorbike taxis. In my opinion, it’s a lot easier to have your own transportation such as a motorbike or scooter to get around. You can buy a used motorbike for as low as 20,000 baht or a brand new one for 50,000. Rentals can be around 2,000 baht per month. You can generally fill up your gas tank for 50 baht, which lasts me about 7-10 days.
I rent my motorbike for 2,500 baht per month. ~$80 USD
Need a Thai license? Read this first!
Cost of Food for Expats Living in Thailand
For the most part, food in Thailand is pretty cheap anywhere in the country. That is if you’re buying local. Obviously, if you’re buying a lot of western-style food, that’s going to drive up your cost of living in Thailand. It is true that eating out is cheaper than cooking your own food. Picking up a meal on the way home is convenient and is freshly made. Popular dishes include noodles, rice, curries, chicken, pork, and Thai salads. These can cost from 30-50 baht at local shops.
The downside is they give you a lot of plastic. First, the food goes into a small plastic pouch that is rubber banded at the top. Everything included in the dish is in their own pouch and then another pouch for rice or noodles. Then all those little pouches get put into a plastic bag with handles to carry it. I know, I know, it’s a lot. Which is why you can always bring your own containers.
The main grocery stores in Thailand are Tesco Lotus and Big C. They are like a Wal-Mart. Makro is more of like Sam’s Club with perks for members. Top’s Market is an international store where you’ll be able to find things from your grocery store at home. It can be useful if you’re feeling a little homesick. However, the prices are much higher from import taxes. So if you really want that shredded cheddar cheese, it’s going to cost you.
Typically I spend about 1,500 baht on food per week including all the stops at 7-11, coffees, groceries, market food, and lunch at work. ~$50 USD
Activities/Traveling for Expats
This category is flexible depending on how often you want to go somewhere. Some expats go somewhere every single weekend, which to me is exhausting. Now don’t get me wrong, there are endless landmarks and attractions in Thailand to keep you busy, but pace yourself. I typically plan 2 activities each month that can include traveling to other provinces or exploring more of Bangkok. I like to use the app Meetup where I can browse events and join a group activity. These are usually organized by locals and are very affordable. Costs can range from 500 baht day trips to 3,000 baht weekend overnight trips.
If you want to plan something on your own, Bangkok as bus terminals that go all over Thailand as well as train systems.
These are some places you can check out if you’re near Bangkok:
If you want to take as much advantage as possible of your time in Thailand, you can hop on a plane with a cheap flight from AirAsia to any neighboring country. These flights can cost as low as 1,000 baht if you plan accordingly and don’t book at the last minute.
Miscellaneous
There are some things that you don’t plan for while living abroad, one of which can be medical expenses. Thailand is also notorious for charging foreigners higher prices than locals for a lot of things. The most noticeable one is entrance fees to National Parks. Foreigners can be charged 300 baht and locals 100 baht. The dual pricing can be frustrating when you’re trying to buy local foods or shopping in markets and even taxi fares.
Total Cost of Living in Thailand for Expats
Overall the cost of living in Thailand for expats is cheaper than living in America. Below you see how much I spend every month to live in Thailand plus or minus a few.
| Housing | 7500 THB |
| Transportation | 2500 THB |
| Food | 6000 THB |
| Travel | 3000 THB |
| Cell Phone SIM | 700 THB |
| WiFi | 800 THB |
| Total | 20500 THB |
| ~$650 USD | |
What do you think? Does $650 a month sound good to you? Can you go even cheaper?
