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Cheapest Places to Live > Thailand on Less than $28 per day

When we went to Thailand we wanted to be close to hospitals as our first son was just born a few weeks earlier, so we spent most of our 2 months in Bangkok, although we did take a trip out to Chiang Mai as well. Here is our budget breakdown of that time and and how we lived in Thailand on less than $28 USD per day per adult. Let us know in the comments section if you have any questions.

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Bangkok & Chiang Mai, Thailand

March 1 - April 29, 2019

Total Number of Days

60 days (60 nights, technically we had 61 days and luckily were let leave without any additional fees)

Total Expense

$3,820.14 USD + $456.76 USD = $4,276.90
NOTE: $3,282.05 not including airfare to Thailand - why mention this? Because everyone’s airfare to Thailand will be dependent on where they are from. The other expenses - while in Thailand - should be comparable for everyone.

Average Daily Cost per Adult

$35.64
NOTE: $27.35 per adult WITHOUT airfare to Thailand.

BUDGET BREAKDOWN

Because we spent most of our time in Bangkok, with a few days in Chiang Mai, we have split this budget to show expenses for each. The first number is Bangkok, the second is Chiang Mai, and the third is the total.

Transportation (airlines, taxis, trains, subways, buses, etc.)

$1,271.21 + $184.06 = $1,455.27

Airlines: $994.85 + $82.42 = $1,077.27
The airline tickets to get to Bangkok from Cape Town were quite expensive, taking up a full 78% of our Bangkok transportation expense and 68% of our total transportation costs.
Visa Renewal (additional 30 days): $126.75 + $0 = $126.75
Taxi’s and Grabs (like Uber): $111.93 + $10.48 = $122.41
Car Rental: $0 + $69.25 = $69.25
Metro (MRT, ARL etc): $26.52 + $0 = $26.52
All mentioned in this How to get around Bangkok - Ultimate Transportation Guide
Gasoline: $0 + $21.91 = $21.91
Buses: $8.91 + $0 = $8.91
Toll (via a taxi with receipt): $2.25 + $0 = $2.25

Accommodation

$1,108.37 + $44.66 = $1,153.03

Airbnbs: $1,083.25 + $44.66 = $1,127.91
The majority of our time was at an Airbnb in Bangkok, although we did stay at one hotel on the day that we arrived because we came in so late. We also stayed at a guesthouse in Chiang Mai. NOTE: Airbnb’s are legal in Thailand for 30+ day stays and stays less than 30 days if permission has been legally obtained by the host.
Hotel: $25.12 + $0 = $25.12

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Food

$927.69 + $86.37 = $1,014.06

Groceries: $377.09 + $6.62 = $383.71
Fast Casual Type Restaurants and Food Courts: $199.38 + $7.65 = $207.03
Dine-in (table service) Restaurants: $199.06 + $59.91 = $258.97
Pastry Shops / Cafe’s: $115.63 + $8.64 = $124.27
Convenience / Street Food: $36.52 + $3.54 = $40.06

Activities/Entertainment

$219.85 + $131.21 = $351.06

Cultural Sites: $142.07 + $28.22 = $170.29
This included the Museum Siam, Jim Thompson House, Ayutthaya & Bang Pa-In (Summer Palace) Day Tour, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market & Maeklong Railway Market, and entry fees to the Great Holy Relics Pagodas as well as various Dois and Wats.
Adventure Tour: $77.78 + $8.33 = $86.11
This included the Khlong Lad Mayom Floating Market Longboat Tour, River Kwai Tour and Death Railway to Kanchanaburi, and a guided Kew Mae Pan Nature Trail trek plus tips
Adventure: $0 + $94.66 = $94.66
This was a Half Day Kanta Elephant Sanctuary experience

Miscellaneous

$229.65 + $10.45 = $240.10

Travel Patches: $9.66 + $0 = $9.66
Donations: $10.93 + $0 = $10.93
Clothes: $66.49 + $6.43 = $72.92
Hygiene items / Bathroom supplies: $59.13 + $4.02 = $63.15
Laundry Machines & Soap: $44.70 + $0 = $44.70
Phone SIM & Data: $30.59 + $0 = $30.59

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What does this not include?

Life Insurance
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Insurance + Medical (annual cost of $328 for a family of 3 - ask us how)
Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card Annual Fees for additional Insurance & Airport Lounges (annual net cost of $150 annually - ask us how)

While these are costs associated with our travels, they are not country-specific, which is why they are not included in this expense report.

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