11-Day Trip to Thailand Budget

Below is a detailed list of how my budget shook out while traveling for 11 days in Thailand from February 14-25, 2015! When looking at the expenses, keep in mind that I was solo traveling (so all expenditures are for 1 person), it was Lunar New Year (one of the busiest times of the high season in Southeast Asia), and that the hostels/resorts where I stayed were priced in the mid-range of what I could find. I didn’t have the money for 5-star accomodations, but I didn’t need/want to rough it too much either. And while I didn’t go too crazy on food and drinks, I did spend quite a bit on activities in Koh Lanta a few times (not realizing Koh Lanta was such a tourist/resort island ahead of time, it was a bit more expensive than I was expecting). In Bangkok, I opted for the free sightseeing and just exploring the city, rather than the paid attractions, because of the prices and crowds. And I avoided private transportation like the plague because I could never get a halfway reasonable price. Also, sidenote, 30 baht roughly equaled 1 US dollar. Ok now, let’s get to it!

Total trip expenses: $1,733

1. Average cost per day in Bangkok: $50 (including food, lodging and transportation)
2. Average cost per day in Koh Lanta: $65 (including food, lodging, transportation and activities)

Expenses paid in advance: $1,261

1. Flight: $946.00 (through Korean Air between Busan and Bangkok, one stop in Seoul outbound and direct on return)
2. Bangkok hostel: $44.00 (2 nights x $22, private room with single bed, tv, internet and aircon)
3. Koh Lanta bungalow: $173.00 (6 nights x approx. $25, single bed with tv, internet, fan and breakfast)
4. Spiceroads Bicycle Tour in Bangkok (Day Two): $98.00

Expenses encurred while traveling: $472.00

Day One (Bangkok): 846 baht = $28

1. 30 baht – sandwich
2. 45 baht – city line from Suvarnabhumi Int’l Airport in Bangkok to Praya Thai Station
3. 22 baht – BTS line to Siam Station
4. 505 baht – Rabbit Card (to use on future metro and sky rail trips)
5. 15 baht – small bottle of water at hotel
6. 40 baht – fried rice
7. 15 baht – street sausage
8. 174 baht – toiletries, snack and breakfast items at 7/1

Day Two (Bangkok): 674 baht = $23

1. 140 baht – Floating Market boat ride
2. 40 baht – lunch
3. 30 baht – ferry boat on the river to Temple of Dawn and back
4. 334 baht – drink and snacks at rooftop bar
5. 130 baht – sunscreen and breakfast at 7/11

Day Three (Bangkok): 1,563 baht = $52

1. 100 baht – Wat Pho entry pass
2. 20 baht – fresh pineapple
3. 100 baht – 4 apples from China Town market
4. 32 baht – water and ice cream
5. 55 baht – corn on the cob and spring rolls
6. 150 baht – snacks for the train ride
7. 696 baht – overnight train from Bangkok to Surat Thani
8. 250 baht – bus from Surat Thani to Krabi (purchased in advanced, no price difference)
9. 160 baht – dinner on the trai

Day Four (transit): 680 baht = $22

1. 350 baht – van ride from Krabi to Koh Lanta
2. 50 baht – lunch in Krabi
3. 280 baht – dinner in Koh Lanta (spring rolls, fried noodles and a drink)

Day Five (Koh Lanta): 870 baht = $29

1. 150 baht – bicycle rental for 24 hours
2. 110 baht – lunch
3. 15 baht – water
4. 200 baht – flip flops
5. 95 baht – snacks at 7/11
6. 300 baht – dinner

Day Six (Koh Lanta): 355 baht = $12

1. 90 baht – lunch
2. 150 baht – dinner
3. 115 baht – snacks at 7/11

Day Seven (Koh Lanta): 960 baht = $32

1. 250 baht – motorbike rental for 24 hours
2. 220 baht – national park entry fee
3. 140 baht – lunch
4. 200 baht – dinner
5. 150 baht – snacks at 7/11

Day Eight (Koh Lanta): 1295 baht – $43

1. 900 baht – 4 islands tour (lunch included)
2. 220 baht – dinner
3. 175 baht – snacks at 7/11

Day Nine (Koh Lanta): 2150 baht = $71 USD

1. 1700 baht – Koh Phi Phi speedboat tour (longtail would’ve been 1300)
2. 300 baht – dinner
3. 150 baht – snacks at 7/11

Day Ten (transit to Aonang): 990 baht – $33

1. 500 baht – ferry to Aonange from Koh Lanta (3 hours)
2. 75 baht – lunch
3. 320 baht – dinner
4. 95 baht – snacks at 7/11

Day Eleven (return to Busan): 3,824 baht = $127

1. 500 baht – taxi to Krabi Airport
2. 80 baht – lunch
3. 20 baht – water
4. 2269 baht – flight from Krabi to Bangkok via Air Asia ($70)
5. 350 baht – book
6. 245 baht – Cold Stone ice cream at Bangkok airport (outrageously expensive, but totally worth it)
7. 325 baht – tiny personal pizza (outrageously expensive and totally not worth it)
8. 35 baht – water