How NOT To Become Broke in Thailand

Thailand is one of the BEST countries for tourism, expats, retirees and those who want to be their own boss.

Thailand is a digital hub for many travelers and foreigners. There is a wide variety of expats from United States, Europe, United Kingdom and Australia that live and work here. If you are over 50, then you can get a RETIREMENT VISA in Thailand, it’s also simple to get a work permit and TEACH ENGLISH or being a tour guide.

If you like to party be it in Bangkok or on the tropical islands “The Full Moon Party” style, then Thailand is a great place for that also.

Keep in mind, even though Thailand might seem like a cheap place initially, you can find yourself BROKE in a short while unless you follow some basic principles when it comes to MANAGING MONEY.

You will hear many people claim that it’s CHEAP TO LIVE and work in Thailand, what you must understand that it’s cheap FOR A THAI LOCAL to live in Thailand, not a western expat who doesn’t speak Thai language. If you like creature comforts, then be prepared to spend a pretty penny on the living costs.

Excluding such cities as Hong Kong and Singapore, South East Asia is much cheaper than other countries in the West. You can buy a meal in Thailand and Malaysia for as little as $1 USD. Accommodation in hostels can be as little as $3-5 USD a night, and you can even find bargains with many hotels.

You can fly to Bangkok from US, Europe and Australia for under $500 with a one-way ticket. Many travelers even find tickets for under $600 return, depends what season it is.

Having said that, many expats, retirees and tourists in general DO QUICKLY GO BROKE in Thailand for many reasons which I will cover with you shortly.

YOUR HOME IN THAILAND

Obviously this will depend on HOW LONG you are staying in Thailand and you have many options there.

To keep the cost cheap, most apartments in Thailand don’t offer more than a one-room bedroom, small kitchenette and bathroom with a shower. Washing and drying is done at the Laundromat. You rarely find these apartments available for rent to non-Thai locals, if they did, they would be $25-30 a month.

If you don’t mind sharing, hostels are available at $100 per month. You’d be in a room with other people, no guaranteed kitchen, or hot water. Some run down condos can also be found for this price.

If you need your space and privacy is important, there are one-bedroom apartments starting at around $180 a month and going up to well over $1000. Your amenities will include either the bare minimum (a room with a small bathroom) or be fully equipped with modern facilities (kitchen, gym, pool, etc).

FOOD

Food in Thailand is cheap, street vendors offer usually the best bang for your buck at about $1 a meal. I have also found $1 meals at Terminal 21 food court which is located inside the modern shopping center building in Bangkok. Quality of food is also very good. If you prefer to eat at a small restaurant catering to local Thais, then an average meal there costs between $2-3 which is also quiet cheap.

If you like a variety of foods and indulge in some Western dishes then be prepared to spend more. Some average street vendors sell pizza and kebabs at $2-3 per serving, while other dedicated cafes and eateries sell for $5-10, the quality is better also. For anything more fancy like sushi, always go for clean and established Japanese restaurants, the price is worth it. There you can expect to pay $15-20 for a decent feast.

While in Thailand you should ALWAYS DRINK BOTTLED WATER, I do the same in the West as I do not want to ingest fluoride and chlorine. A bottle of water is about $0.30, and a Thai beer is about $1. These prices go up if you buy at a restaurant. Decent cocktails are around $5-10. Certainly this is far cheaper than in United States or Germany, but if you like to eat out and party, then every dollar adds up.

Buying western food in a supermarket will also attract a higher price. If you want to save big, ask a local Thai person where they buy their groceries from and shop there.

TRANSPORT

Taxis and tuk tuks can be a great and convenient way to get around in Thailand, however they can also be VERY COSTLY if you don’t bargain on the price and don’t know the local area.

Always ask a taxi driver to turn on the taxi meter.

In Bangkok, most taxi drivers do this automatically, however on Friday and Saturday nights I’ve seen many taxi drivers not using them and instead insist on a fixer fare, this is where you must be willing to bargain. If he asks 400THB for a 20 minute ride, ask for 100THB. Be prepared to walk away if he wants anything over 200THB. This is how things go in Thailand.

If you are travelling long-distances in Thailand then the costs will vary greatly. For example, NCA, which is a luxury bus company operating in Thailand but mostly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, costs $15 and is equipped with everything you want (dinner, films and massaging chairs). For the exact price, you can purchase a ticket for a run down, boiling-hot bus with crying babies and running behind schedule. Always do your research about bus companies.

A trip from Bangkok to Cambodia can cost up to $15 on a luxury bus, or $1 on a run-down train. You always get what you pay for.

You can travel for cheap in Thailand, some air fares are dirt cheap also, just make sure to check websites that give you the cheapest deals such as SkyScanner. Obviously the prices can change at any moment, so you have to do your own research. Most Thais either ride a scooter or take the train or bus.

TOURISM

Tourism in Thailand is HUGE. Thailand makes the most of it, and various attractions around the country cost up to 3 to 5 times more for foreigners as they are for Thai locals. This can range from visiting temples, to museums and theme parks.

Some local Thais make EXTRA INCOME if they are living within the area that’s popular for tourists. They can simply charge you money to use the toilet, sell you drinks and water or offer a paid tour guide who is familiar with the local sites.

There are also many attractions that are completely free. Sometimes all it takes is a little trip further up the road. Some places charge you to swim in a waterfall, while others are free. There may also be a big difference in price between the two places that do charge.

BUDGETING IN THAILAND

As you can see, your weekly spending money in Thailand could be from $30 to $500, completely depending on how much you like to spend money, and based on your NEEDS and WANTS.

If you accept the challenge and sleep in a hostel with a cold shower (which is nothing crazy considering Thailand is a tropical country), be prepared to eat delicious street food and on odd occasion a western meal, use the local public transport and stay sober (I know, I know, it’s hard for someone on a holiday), then you can easily spend less than $30. If you need a private and luxurious hotel room, three square Western meals a day and pay taxis whatever they demand, be prepared to spend big money in Thailand.

WHY YOU MUST VISIT THAILAND

After explaining everything about how to be frugal in Thailand, I don’t want to put you off visiting this beautiful country.

This place is SPECTACULAR and UNIQUE and offers a superior travelling experience for newcomers who have no travelling experience.

Bangkok is one of the most vibrant cities in the world and already gets over 15 million foreign visitors every year, which puts it in the top five most visited cities in the world. But there are a lot more other places to visit other than Bangkok.

Ko Phi Phi is a small tropical island made famous by Leonardo DiCaprio’s movie “The Beach”. Ko Pha Ngan Island is where the world famous Full Moon Parties are held. Koh Samui is a gorgeous island that is great for couples and families. Chiang Mai is one of the cheapest places to live in Thailand if you like the mountains and isolation. There are much more places to visit in Thailand.

If you are a food lover, then that is a good enough reason to visit Thailand also. Once you experience the real Tom Yum Soup as prepared by the authentic Thai locals, you will never want to eat anything outside of Thailand, that’s guaranteed. Watch out for those hot chilies though…

And off course, Thailand is full of NATURAL ATTRACTIONS such as fresh waterfalls, hidden caves, hot springs, elephant sanctuaries, hiking trails, zip lines, national forests, huge lakes, rivers, and much more. Most cities have ancient temples, museums, theme parks and huge shopping malls.

There is a reason why most men who visit Thailand feel like a kid in a candy store.

Your friend,

Alex

If you enjoyed this article, you can support my work via a small donation: