Thailand is a backpacker’s paradise! Tropical islands, exotic landscapes, glittering temples, turquoise seas, crazy beach parties, cheap backpacker hostels and loads of like minded people to enjoy it with.
Visiting Thailand is something I think everyone should be lucky enough to experience at least once in a lifetime. The Land of Smiles is one of the best places for your first backpacking trip and it’s generally thought of as a cheap country to travel around – but with recent price rises is backpacking Thailand still cheap in 2025?
Budgeting may be boring but it’s always useful to know how much money you will need when planning and saving for a trip – running out of money kinda ruins your experience so let’s discuss how much does it cost to backpack Thailand in 2025.
I’ve visited Thailand on many occasions over the last decade, from epic backpacking trips to living there as a digital nomad, so I’m sharing a rundown of the average costs for backpacking around Thailand to help others save for their dream backpacking Thailand itinerary!
While backpacking Thailand isn’t as cheap as it used to be – the country suffered a lot when it was closed to tourists during the pandemic and Southeast Asia is not immune to global economics and inflation – but it’s still good value for money and much more affordable compared to Western countries.
One thing to note is that costs differ from place to place, season to season and person to person. My costs reflect my travel style and I have to admit I am not the kind of person who obsessively records every penny, cent or baht I spend.
I backpacked Thailand on a budget but not rock bottom shoe string, i stayed in shared dorm rooms in backpacker hostels and sometimes splashed out on nicer, private accommodation or fancier meals every now and then but these are average guideline prices.
Your costs could be less or more depending on your style of travel and comfort level (and how much you drink!) If you travel as a couple or with a friend it is cheaper as you can split accommodation and taxi costs.
These costs are for a average guideline only and it is always, always better to take more money to account for incidentals, emergencies, impromptu shopping sprees or a splurge on a posh hotel or internal flight. And don’t forget to allow enough money for those once in a lifetime unforgettable experiences like scuba diving and island hopping.
The Average Daily Backpacking Thailand Budget:
My daily average backpacking in Thailand budget (per person) takes into account;
- Private accommodation.
- 1 restaurant meal with drink,
- 2 street food or convenience store (like 7Eleven) meals with a soft drink.
- 2 large bottles of water.
- A small beer from a bar or restaurant,
- A long distance (2hr+) bus, train or ferry journey.
- 2 short taxi or public transport rides.
- Visiting an attraction.
I have displayed my average costs in local currency, and the rough equivalent in British Pounds and US Dollars (in April 2025) – but be aware that prices and exchange rates are always changing.
- These prices were last updated in April 2025
| Item | Cost in Baht | Cost in GDP £ | Cost in USD $ |
| Dormitory Bed in a Backpacker Hostel | 400 Baht | £8.93 | $11.88 |
| Restaurant Meal | 250 Baht | £5.60 | $7.50 |
| 2 x Street Food Meals | 140 Baht | £3.15 | $4.20 |
| Long Distance Bus/Train/Ferry | 500 Baht | £11.20 | $15.00 |
| Local Transport & Taxis | 100 Baht | £2.25 | $3.00 |
| 2 x Big Bottles of Water | 40 Baht | £0.90 | $1.20 |
| Small Beer | 80 Baht | £1.80 | $2.40 |
| Attractions | 200 Baht | £4.50 | $6.00 |
| Average Daily Budget per person | 1,810 Baht | £40.40 | $53.77 |
| Average Weekly Budget per person (Travel 3 times a week) | 10,670 Baht | £238.17 | $316.96 |
| Average Monthly Budget per person (30 days) | 45,728 Baht | £1,020.00 | $1,358.00 |
So How Much Should You Budget for Backpacking Thailand
Everyone has their own way of traveling, and their desired level of comfort. Some will rush around while others take it slow. So take these numbers and calculate your own personal backpacking budget if you desire, these are only a starting point and very generalized.
Be aware that the prices on the Thai islands are often a lot more expensive than on the mainland and in the north of Thailand. Expect to spend 25%-50% extra on food, accommodation and activities in popular places like Phuket, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Samui.
You’ll also want to adjust your budget depending on what time of year your Thailand backpacking trip is – if you travel in the peak season (December – February) accommodation prices on popular islands can be double what they are in the rainy season (June – November) due to increased demand. Backpacking during the rainy season in Thailand isn’t a deal breaker though – it doesn’t normally rain all day and you’ll enjoy much cheaper prices and less crowds.
And, because there’s so much you can do in Thailand, you might also want to consider saving extra for bucket list activities like scuba diving, cooking classes, island hopping boat trips, rock climbing, jungle trekking, visiting elephant sanctuaries, yoga retreats and other adventure activities. Be aware that, as many Thai islands are part of national parks you’ll often have to pay a fee to enter. And then there’s any additional sightseeing, shopping, souvenirs, drinks and wild nights out that you want to do on your trip.
For me, it was well worth saving a few hundred above my target amount and not having to stress over the inevitable extra costs that cropped up along the way (oh – is that another beautiful viewpoint café up there?). Having a little extra money saved allowed me to cut loose and have a stress-free adventure of a lifetime!
Please be aware that prices and currency conversions are always changing. For more info on budgeting an excellent resource for backpackers is Price of Travel which lists the price of traveling in popular backpacker destinations in Asia – including Phuket, Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand.
Thailand is still one of the best value, most fun and cheapest places in the world to backpack – check out this post for more cheap backpacking destinations.
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What was your backpacking Thailand budget? Share your thoughts and help out other backpackers 🙂
- Read My In-Depth Guides to Visiting Thailand:
The Ultimate Thailand Travel Bucket List
Bangkok – Travel Guides
Chiang Mai – Travel Guides
Koh Samui & The Gulf Coast – Travel Guides
Phuket & The Andaman Islands – Travel Guides
