How to Budget for a Month in Thailand

If you are visiting Asia for the first time, Thailand is one of the best countries to visit, especially when it comes to travelling on a budget. If you didn't know earlier, despite what it looks like Thailand is actually a budget-friendly destination. Below are a few break downs of costs involved for a month's stay. The rates might have slightly shifted, but you will be able to estimate your cost for a rough idea on how much to allocate.

Accommodation

You will always need a place to stay no matter which part of Thailand you visit; therefore, this could be the most costly part of your budget for a visit here. There are opts available from a Bangkok apartment hotel offering luxury accommodation, such as Citadines Sukhumvit 11 Bangkok to small hostels, some offering a decent stay and others not all that great.

In this case, the main point is that you will have to do some research before selecting your accommodation. Even if the room or hostel is cheap, you still need to get your money's worth. You could even opt for a budget hotel or even a homestay where meals will not be much of an issue.

Food

Thailand offers an equal experience of local and western cuisine when it comes to things to eat. If you are a traveller who likes to truly experience everything a destination has to offer, you are definitely going to want to explore what Thailand has to offer in flavour. This is not hard to do either with all the street food stalls you find in every corner of any city. Just because you are on a budget, that doesn't mean that you have to eat something that doesn't completely fill your tummy. You can a bowl or two of Pad Thai which is cheap and delicious and will give you a full tummy too! Here is a small break down of what the average cost of food in Thailand will be.

• Thai meal costs about £2 on average

• Western meal costs about £3.5 on average

• Beer costs about £1 - £2.5 on average

• The total estimated cost of food for a month would be £150 (this includes 40 Thai dishes and 20 western dishes)

Transport

There is a range of options when it comes to ways to travel in Thailand. You've got the MRT, the Skytrain, tuk-tuks, taxis and buses. The most inexpensive options, of course, are the MRT, Skytrain and buses. The trains are available from morning till evening but do not run late-night trips. Taxis and tuk-tuks are the options for night-time travel, but you will have to be smart and not get caught to scams. Make sure the meter is on or agree on a reasonable amount before you get inside the vehicle. Also, be firm with where you want to go as the driver might try to take you to another attraction claiming that your initial destination has been closed.

There will come a time when you need to take a domestic flight as well, but don't worry, this doesn't cost much either. On average you will need about £160 for travelling in Thailand.

Things to do

There is so much you can see and do as a backpacker in Thailand for a lesser cost than you'd expect. Entrance to most of the temples in Thailand are free and you are guaranteed an amazing experience at each one of them. There are numerous day trips to choose from as well for prices as low as £8. You can even get yourself PADI certified for just a small price. Don't forget to visit the floating markets as well which are once again free entrance.