What a week in Thailand actually costs
Thailand has a reputation for being cheap, and it is — but the flight changes everything. Here's the breakdown, and why one week is usually a bad idea.
The flight is 60% of the budget
A return from Spain to Bangkok runs between 550 and 900 euros depending on month and how far ahead you book. That number doesn't drop much by searching harder: it's what it costs. And it's why one week in Thailand doesn't add up.
Accommodation
A decent air-conditioned double runs 15 to 30 euros a night outside the most touristed islands. In Bangkok and Chiang Mai you can comfortably sit at 20. In Phuket or Koh Samui in high season, double or triple that.
Food
This is where you really notice it. A street food dish costs 1.50 to 3 euros and it's good food, not emergency food. A sit-down restaurant, 5 to 10. Eating local all day, around 10–12 euros. Eating at tourist-facing places, 30.
Getting around
Night trains and buses are cheap: Bangkok to Chiang Mai in a sleeper is around 25–35 euros. Domestic flights with local low-cost carriers, 30 to 60. Within cities, moving around costs pennies.
The final sum
Excluding flights, a full day runs 25 to 45 euros per person at a comfortable but not luxurious level. Seven days is 175–315 euros. Add a 700-euro flight and the week lands at 875–1,015. In other words: you pay 700 in flights to enjoy 300 euros of country.
Which is why: two or three weeks
At 21 days, the same flight spreads across three times as many days. The trip goes from roughly 130 euros a day to about 75. If you only have one week free, almost any European destination gives you better value.
Best time to go
November to February is the dry season and the most comfortable: hot, but without the extreme humidity or the monsoon. It's also high season, so accommodation costs more and the islands need booking ahead.
Keep reading
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