Before I flew to Bangkok I looked up how much my four days in Bangkok would cost me. And I was shocked when I saw the Bangkok travel budget per day most websites listed. All amounts listed were above 60€ and it is safe to say that this was not my definition of exploring Bangkok on a budget. Therefore, I made it my mission to see if I could do everything I wanted to and have a great time for less than 30€ per day. And I succeeded and while being able to say that I loved my time in the city.
The breakdown of my Bangkok trip costs below will show you how I did it without missing out on anything Bangkok has to offer. This spending diary lists all of my Bangkok vacation costs and I hope that it will help you plan your own budget for Bangkok.
I had bad luck with the weather on the day I wanted to do a day trip, so I ended up staying in the city. Therefore, you should add the costs of the trip of your choice to your own Bangkok travel budget. But even adding the more expensive tour will keep your daily budget in Bangkok below an average of 30€ if you choose to explore the city on a backpacking budget.
Be aware of the fact that I spent four nights and four days in Bangkok. I had an early flight to the picturesque Vietnam on my fifth day, so I spend another night close to the DMK airport.
The prices in this guide of Bangkok vacation costs are in Thai Baht and in Euro.
The exchange rate as of January 2020 is as follows: 100 THB equals 2.97 EUR, 2.54 GBP, 4.80 AUD, or 3.31 USD.
How much do 4 Days in Bangkok on a Budget cost?
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Accommodation: 1000 THB / 30,03€
Hostel in Bangkok:
GN Luxury Hostel 270 THB / night
Hostel close to DMK Airport
Dinba Poshtel 190 THB
While in Bangkok I stayed in hostels that provided me with the largest amount of privacy possible in a hostel. Both hostels had some sort of capsule style.
I spent my last night in a hostel close to DMK airport, as my flight to Hanoi departed very early. Dinba Poshtel is within walking distance of the airport.
I honestly loved how the hostels were structured as I felt like I had my own area. It felt like the perfect compromise between the backpacker lifestyle and luxury.
If you explore Bangkok as a female solo traveler I can only recommend both of them to you.
Food and Drinks: 426 THB / 12,79€
Thailand is one of the best foodie destinations in the world which means that food expenses will likely make up a good portion of your Bangkok travel budget. Be sure to plan your budget accordingly, so you do not miss out on the tastiest bucket list experience in Thailand.
Restaurant: 85 + 60 THB
Cupcake (Unicorn Cafe): 150 THB
When I explore a new city on my own for several days, I tend to buy food in a supermarket. I love eating on the go as it saves time and money.
Additionally, I love browsing through the store to see what is offered in a new country, as it offers a good overview of the local cuisine.
And let’s be honest: the prices in big touristy cities can be incredibly high and could therefore easily skyrocket your Bangkok vacation cost.
Finding the best local food on your own can be a struggle, but it is also a good option to maintain a low Bangkok travel budget. You can grab some street food or ask locals which places they recommend. They will know the best and most affordable places.
If you are looking for a great and affordable restaurant close to Wat Pho, I can only recommend ‘Home Cafe Tha Tien’. It is located on a side street and the prices there are only a small percentage of those you find on the main street.
Transport: 474 THB / 14,24€
Airport Transport
BKK – City: 40 THB (Airport Rail Link)
City – DMK: 30 THB (Bus)
Ferry: 4 THB
Tuk Tuk: 50 THB
Bunny Card: 100 THB
Metro & Rail: 250 THB
Somehow I ended up buying the wrong public transport card. There are two different systems that are not compatible, so check which mode of transportation you will actually use if you decide to buy one of them. During the rush hours the lines at the ticket machines can be quite long, so getting the correct card can save you quite a bit of time.
Entrance: 390 THB / 11,71€
The entrance fee of most temples in Bangkok is rather affordable. Hereby, Wat Pho is the most expensive temple, but it is well worth the fee.
Wat Pho: 200 THB
all other temples: free or 40 – 50 THB
Sim Card and Data: 299 THB / 8,98€
I honestly overpaid as there are cheaper options, but I decided to buy a sim card the moment I arrived at the airport. Admittedly, I didn’t really look up how to get to my accommodation so I had to bite the bullet. If you want to explore Bangkok on a budget, it is better to buy one at a supermarket. Knowing which sim card is best for you is definitely one of the things to know before going to Thailand.
Souvenirs: 50 THB / 1,50€
I buy a magnet wherever I go and finding one away from Khao San Road was a real struggle. So if you want touristy souvenirs it is the best location.
Bangkok Travel Budget: Costs of things I did not do in Bangkok
There are several things I ended up not doing due to the weather. Below you can check out the current prices for these common touristic activities in Bangkok.
Additionally, you should consider doing some non-touristic activities in Bangkok. Most of them are very budget-friendly and you will easily be able to do them for less than 20€ per day.
Grand Palace: 500 THB
I can only advise you to check if the Grand Palace is something you actually want to see as the price is quite high. After exploring a multitude of temples while in Bangkok, I honestly reached the point where I felt “templed out”. And therefore, I did not mind skipping it this time around. It tends to be full of people, so it is best to arrive there as soon as the Grand Palace opens.
Railway Market & Floating Market Day Trip
It is possible to book a tour that only takes you to one location. Both both the Railway Market and the Floating Market are located west of Bangkok, so it is perfect to combine them. Especially if you want to explore Bangkok on a budget, as the combi trip saves you quite a bit of money. If you book a tour, a combi trip should cost you approx. 25 USD.
Ayutthaya Day Trip: 40 USD
Visiting Ayutthaya is something I really wanted to do. And while I cannot tell you about my own experience, I saw the pictures friends of mine took there. And let me tell you that it looks incredible. Go there if you have the time and tell me all about it!
Bangkok on a Budget: My Bangkok Travel Budget
Daily Budget in Bangkok: 660 THB / 19,81€
Total Cost of 4 Days in Bangkok: 2639 THB / 79,25€
Exploring Asia on a Budget
If Bangkok or Thailand is only one part of a longer Asia trip, you should check out my other travel budget guides. So far, this series covers Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Bali.
To my surprise, Bangkok was one of the cheapest destinations I visited in Asia. So please do not let anyone tell you that it is impossible to explore Bangkok on a budget or that your Bangkok travel budget has to be astronomical. Doing day trips might raise your daily budget in Bangkok, but it can still be an affordable city trip.
Are you planning a trip?
Check out these useful websites and resources I use to plan my adventures around the world.
Infographic: Bangkok Travel Budget
Roundup: Bangkok Travel Budget
It is possible to explore Bangkok and a relatively small budget without missing out on all the amazing things you can do in the city. If you want to minimize the Bangkok vacation cost of your city trip, you just have to look for restaurants that are around the corner of popular attractions instead of right in front of them and book a cheaper place to stay. You will spend your time outside of the room anyway, so opting for a good hostel does not take away from your experience.
More about Bangkok
If you are making plans for your Bangkok trip, you might also want to check out these Thailand Travel Guides:
Bangkok Itinerary
Bangkok Images
Will your Bangkok Budget be lower or higher than you expected it to be?
Let me know in the comments down below!
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This looks great! It’s surprising how expensive Thailand can get if you let it, so it’s always helpful to have a low cost guide or three! 😀
Great post! Thanks for all the information, really helpful!
I think you did very well for under 20 euros a day. I love your tip of doing supermarket shopping when travelling to save money. Bangkok is definitely on my list and good to know it doesn’t have to be expensive.
You definitely figured out how to do Bangkok inexpensively. I visited on a cruise ship and could see that expenses run the gamut from budget to five-star class. I was surprised by how inexpensive food is in Bangkok.
You covered so much ground on a great little budget. I am impressed that Bangkok can be so budget-friendly and still learn about the culture, eat great food, and stay in a safe, pretty place. I need to do more research on this destination. Love this post.
Glad that you love the post. I honestly did not expect that I could make the budget work when I did my research, but it was so easy. I will post my itinerary for Bangkok in the future if you are interested in reading what I did.
I would love to see Bangkok next year. Thanks for all the info.
You will love the city! It is amazing.
I’ll post more about Bangkok in the future so hopefully the coming posts will help you plan your trip. 🙂
You mentioned the weather being bad. Is there a recommended time to travel to Bangkok?
Not in September. It rained every single day I spend in Bangkok.
But I guess that was to be expected as the rain reason in Bangkok lasts from July to October. Not that I was smart enough to look it up before I travelled there, but it was a last minute decision so I guess things like this happen
The best weather in Bangkok is from November to February, but that is also when prices are the highest, so I would opt for March to June if you do not mind very hot and humid weather.
Otherwise I’d go for the shoulder months (October, March and June).