This is the one thing that we get asked the most, how much money do I need?
It is also the most difficult question to answer as there are so many variables and every person has a different idea of how they want to holiday.
Food and drink prices stay constant irrespective of the season but accommodation and day trip prices vary a lot. In the low season your accommodation can be half the price of a room in high season. Tip: If you want to get the best possible rates don't book in advance as you can bargain regarding the price. The less people in the hotel, the better prices you can get. Obviously your bargaining power decreases as the high season approaches.
The current exchange rate is about R10 = 26 Baht.
It is also the most difficult question to answer as there are so many variables and every person has a different idea of how they want to holiday.
Food and drink prices stay constant irrespective of the season but accommodation and day trip prices vary a lot. In the low season your accommodation can be half the price of a room in high season. Tip: If you want to get the best possible rates don't book in advance as you can bargain regarding the price. The less people in the hotel, the better prices you can get. Obviously your bargaining power decreases as the high season approaches.
The current exchange rate is about R10 = 26 Baht.
Accommodation Prices
You can get accommodation for as little as 500 Baht a night right up to 1000's of Baht a night, the secret is to get a place that is somewhere in the middle of the road. Tip: Go firstly to a really crummy looking place and ask their prices, then move on to a place that looks really expensive and enquire their price. Next step is to check a middle class place and see what an acceptable price is based on the low and high end prices.
As a basic rule you can get nice places in Low Season for 1000 to 2000 Baht and between 1500 and 3000 Baht a night in High Season. Tip: Always check the room before you even start bargaining. Check the bathroom and bedding and if the room is higher up check if there is a lift, you don't want to climb a few flights of stairs in the heat. Tip: Unlike South Africa, in Thailand you pay per room and not per person.
Tip: You can also enquire what the price of the rooms are without breakfast.
You can get accommodation for as little as 500 Baht a night right up to 1000's of Baht a night, the secret is to get a place that is somewhere in the middle of the road. Tip: Go firstly to a really crummy looking place and ask their prices, then move on to a place that looks really expensive and enquire their price. Next step is to check a middle class place and see what an acceptable price is based on the low and high end prices.
As a basic rule you can get nice places in Low Season for 1000 to 2000 Baht and between 1500 and 3000 Baht a night in High Season. Tip: Always check the room before you even start bargaining. Check the bathroom and bedding and if the room is higher up check if there is a lift, you don't want to climb a few flights of stairs in the heat. Tip: Unlike South Africa, in Thailand you pay per room and not per person.
Tip: You can also enquire what the price of the rooms are without breakfast.
Food Prices
Food is relatively cheap compared to our prices at home although you can expect to pay the same and more if you go dine in a posh restaurant eating Western meals.
Will I get Western food in Thailand? In places like Samui and Phuket it is actually more difficult to get a proper Thai meal than a Western one. Sometimes it feels to us as if you are in Italy with the amount of Italian restaurants all over the place.
We prefer Thai food and will only eat a Western Meal as a last resort or if you get it for breakfast.
A Typical menu in a Thai restaurant:
Food is relatively cheap compared to our prices at home although you can expect to pay the same and more if you go dine in a posh restaurant eating Western meals.
Will I get Western food in Thailand? In places like Samui and Phuket it is actually more difficult to get a proper Thai meal than a Western one. Sometimes it feels to us as if you are in Italy with the amount of Italian restaurants all over the place.
We prefer Thai food and will only eat a Western Meal as a last resort or if you get it for breakfast.
A Typical menu in a Thai restaurant:
A lot of the menus will have pictures of the dishes:
Some of the drinks prices from a restaurant menu, the Chang will be for the Large. Note the price of house wine, this is still cheap for wine:
Tip: You can get cheap food in the Food Courts of Shopping Malls. A typical plate of food will set you back 30 to 80 Baht.
Tip: At the Food Court in the Platinum Mall you can get food from every region of Thailand.
You can even buy a Bento box from Japan:
Tip: At the Food Court in the Platinum Mall you can get food from every region of Thailand.
You can even buy a Bento box from Japan:
Can I eat food from the street? Absolutely, you will get the best and cheapest foods right on the street from the food vendors. Tip: Some of the best food vendors are at the top of Soi Rambuttri just next to Khao San Road in Bangkok.
A street vendor in Patong, Phuket selling chicken and some sausage. Tip: These pork and rice sausages are delicious.
Great place to get a midnight snack:
Drink Prices
In the heat and humidity beer is going to be your beverage of choice and Thailand has plenty of it. The most famous brand is Singha but you do get Chang, Leo, Tiger and a few others.
A small Singha will cost you 60 to 70 Baht in a pub, a large one will be 90 to 100 Bht. Tip: Chang costs about 10 Baht less but beware as it has 6.5% alcohol.
The beer price will be displayed as 60/90 meaning that it is 60 Baht for the small one and 90 Baht for a large one.
A cocktail will set you back anything from 120 Baht to 250 Baht depending on the location and the type of cocktail.
Spirits with a mix will be between 150 Baht and 300 Baht.
A great way to quench your thirst is one of the fruit shakes that you can buy in many different flavours such as mango, watermelon, lemon etc.. It cost between 30 to 50 Baht.
Tip: Buy lots of water as you will be sweating a lot, a small bottle costs 7 Baht.
In the heat and humidity beer is going to be your beverage of choice and Thailand has plenty of it. The most famous brand is Singha but you do get Chang, Leo, Tiger and a few others.
A small Singha will cost you 60 to 70 Baht in a pub, a large one will be 90 to 100 Bht. Tip: Chang costs about 10 Baht less but beware as it has 6.5% alcohol.
The beer price will be displayed as 60/90 meaning that it is 60 Baht for the small one and 90 Baht for a large one.
A cocktail will set you back anything from 120 Baht to 250 Baht depending on the location and the type of cocktail.
Spirits with a mix will be between 150 Baht and 300 Baht.
A great way to quench your thirst is one of the fruit shakes that you can buy in many different flavours such as mango, watermelon, lemon etc.. It cost between 30 to 50 Baht.
Tip: Buy lots of water as you will be sweating a lot, a small bottle costs 7 Baht.
Tip: Wine is very expensive in Thailand, so bring your own or be willing to pay exorbitant prices.
Whiskey, vodka, gin and rum are readily available and the prices are not too bad. Tip: We have found that some of the cheapest branded alcohol can be bought in the 7-elevens that are everywhere.
Whiskey, vodka, gin and rum are readily available and the prices are not too bad. Tip: We have found that some of the cheapest branded alcohol can be bought in the 7-elevens that are everywhere.
Tip: You can't buy alcohol from a shop between 2PM and 5PM in the afternoon.
A pineapple filled with fried rice and seafood:
A pineapple filled with fried rice and seafood:
Everyday Prices and some random items
This is by no means an extensive list of stuff to buy and the prices can vary from town to town but these prices are a good guideline.
Contact Lenses 180 Baht a pair
Mango Shake 40 Baht
Mosquito Repellent (Small) 50 Baht
Tip: Buy mosquito repellent the moment you land, we have found that repellent from home does not really work well.
Mosquito Coils 30 Baht for a pack
Tip: Burn the mosquito coil outside of your bungalow when you have a sundowner as they attack your ankles.
Can of Coke Light in 7 eleven 14 Baht
Tip: You can buy 6-packs that work out cheaper.
Bottle of Gilbeys Vodka in 7-eleven 280 Baht
500 ml Water 7 Baht
Beer in shop 28 to 40 baht
Can of Chang Beer in Supermarket 33 Baht
Tip: You can also buy it in 4-packs
Ladies Tops 200 baht
Sharong 200 Baht
T-Shirts Depending on size 160 to 200 Baht
Sunglasses 100 Baht
Golf Shirt 300 Baht
Portable DVD Player 1800 Baht
Drinking Glass 28 Baht
Wallet 250 Baht
Sausage from the side of the road 20 Baht
Samsung Headset for Cellphone 400 Baht
Sugar Free Ice Coffee 16 Baht
These are just random items and we will add to this list.
This is by no means an extensive list of stuff to buy and the prices can vary from town to town but these prices are a good guideline.
Contact Lenses 180 Baht a pair
Mango Shake 40 Baht
Mosquito Repellent (Small) 50 Baht
Tip: Buy mosquito repellent the moment you land, we have found that repellent from home does not really work well.
Mosquito Coils 30 Baht for a pack
Tip: Burn the mosquito coil outside of your bungalow when you have a sundowner as they attack your ankles.
Can of Coke Light in 7 eleven 14 Baht
Tip: You can buy 6-packs that work out cheaper.
Bottle of Gilbeys Vodka in 7-eleven 280 Baht
500 ml Water 7 Baht
Beer in shop 28 to 40 baht
Can of Chang Beer in Supermarket 33 Baht
Tip: You can also buy it in 4-packs
Ladies Tops 200 baht
Sharong 200 Baht
T-Shirts Depending on size 160 to 200 Baht
Sunglasses 100 Baht
Golf Shirt 300 Baht
Portable DVD Player 1800 Baht
Drinking Glass 28 Baht
Wallet 250 Baht
Sausage from the side of the road 20 Baht
Samsung Headset for Cellphone 400 Baht
Sugar Free Ice Coffee 16 Baht
These are just random items and we will add to this list.
