Daily Budget Needed For Different Types Of Travellers (Excluding Accommodation)

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How Much Spending Money You Need in Thailand Per Day (No Roof, Just Vibes)

Survival-to-splurge edition, one noodle bowl and temple ticket at a time.

1. The Monk-ish Minimalist
Daily spend: $5–$10
You’ve reached budget Zen. You survive on karma, street soup, temple shade and maybe a few small entrance fees.

  • Food: 1–2 street meals: $3–4
  • Drinks/snacks: water refill, banana, oxygen: $1
  • Transport: walking everywhere and pretending you love it (or riding dirt cheap local buses)
  • Sightseeing & Entrance Fees: mostly free temples, $0–$3 for donations
  • Emergency budget: $2 (usually spent on mango sticky rice)
    Vibe: One robe away from enlightenment.

2. The Bare-Minimum Budgeteer
Daily spend: $12–$20
You’re thriving, kind of. You eat well, get around, and visit a few cheap attractions.

  • Food: 2–3 street meals: $6
  • Drinks/snacks: coffee or Thai tea from street vendors $2
  • Transport: public transport (including songthaew): $2
  • Sightseeing & Entrance Fees: temples, some museums, parks: $2–$4
  • Extras: fruit smoothie, occasional massage (1/2 hour only): $5
    Vibe: Streetwise, budget tight, still manages dessert.

3. The Scrappy-but-Savvy Spender
Daily spend: $20–$30
You’ve cracked the system. You eat, sip, zip around, and visit paid attractions a few times a week.

  • Food: $7–$9
  • Transport: Grab, scooter + fuel: $3–$5
  • Treats: iced coffee, toastie, beer: $4
  • Shopping/markets: $2
  • Sightseeing & Entrance Fees: temples, parks, budget tours: $4–$7 (averaged daily)
    Vibe: Budget with flavor. Still says "no" to most souvenirs.

4. The Comfortably Frugal Nomad
Daily spend: $30–$40
You prioritize work and comfort over sightseeing, mostly sticking to cafés where you perfection the art of nursing one drink for hours. Some occasional local sightseeing with your phone never turned off.

  • Food: $9–$12
  • Transport: tuk-tuks or Grab rides: $5
  • Drinks: smoothies, beer, coffee: $5
  • Massage/avocado toast: $5–$8
  • Shopping: $3
  • Sightseeing & Entrance Fees: mostly free temples and parks during weekdays, averaging $1–$3 daily; occasional weekend tours not included in daily average
    Vibe: “Work hard, relax harder, sightsee occasionally.”

5. The Soft-Life Spender
Daily spend: $40–$65
You’re gently setting cash on fire for joy, including regular spa visits and tours.

  • Food: $15–$20
  • Transport: Grab-style all day: $8–$12
  • Massage + shopping: $10–$12
  • Entertainment: cocktails, live music, shows: $8–$10
  • Sightseeing & Entrance Fees: day tours, parks, temples: $10–$15
    Vibe: Smooth-skinned, smoothie in hand, spiritually aligned with spa staff.

6. The Party Animal
Daily spend: $60–$120
You chase the night from street bars to clubs to full moon parties, and you know where the happy hours and cheapest buckets are.

  • Pre-game snacks & energy drinks: $5–$10
  • Cheap club entries or none at all: $0–$10
  • Drinks & Calories (mostly buckets and beers, regular fast food): $20–$40
  • Transport (shared rides, scooters): $10–$15
  • Late-night street food: $5–$10
  • Recovery essentials (water, cheap massage): $5–$10
  • Sightseeing & Entrance Fees: usually zero to $5 (mostly parks or free spots)
    Vibe: Fun-sized wallet, large-sized party spirit.

7. The Daily Baller (Respectfully)
Daily spend: $70–$120
You live like it’s Saturday every day with meals, drinks, massages, and VIP tours.

  • Food & drink: $45–$55
  • Transport: Grab Premium or honest taxis (lol): $10–$15
  • Massage/spa/classes: $20–$30
  • Shopping: $10+
  • Sightseeing & Entrance Fees: premium tours, attractions: $10–$25
    Vibe: If Marie Kondo and Anthony Bourdain had a travel baby.

8. The Food-Tour Fiend
Daily spend: $100–$150
You’re here to eat everything. Mostly street food but also taking food and cultural tours regularly.

  • Food: $15–$25 (street food heaven)
  • Food tours or fancy eateries: $30–$50
  • Transport: $10–$15
  • Drinks: $10–$20
  • Sightseeing & Entrance Fees: cooking classes, cultural day trips: $20–$35
    Vibe: You cried over a bowl of khao soi and called it spiritual.

9. The Family Parent
Daily spend: $100–$220+ (per adult)
Culture, snacks, shuttling kids, and making sure no one drowns.

  • Kid meals & snacks: $30+
  • Transport with legroom and seatbelts: $20
  • Entry to aquariums, zoos, puppet shows: $20–$40
  • Emergency ice cream & toy bribes: $10+
  • Parent treats (beer, espresso, moment of silence): $20+
  • Family day trips & excursions: $10–$30
  • Sightseeing & Entrance Fees: water parks, temples, museums (good luck with that)
    Vibe: Has a beach bag, snacks, SPF 900, and a thousand-yard stare.

10. The Sexypat (wink wink)
Daily spend: $150–$450+
You say you’re here for “the lifestyle,” but it’s a 1:1 ratio of Chang beer to bad decisions.

  • Bar fines, lady drinks, “company”: $100–$300
  • Extra drinks: $20–$40
  • Transport and snacks: $20+
  • Massages “for the back pain”: $10 (normal)–$30 (happy)
  • Nightlife tours or special venues: $10–$40
  • Sightseeing & Entrance Fees: occasional tourist spots or park visits: $5–$10
    Vibe: Sunglasses indoors. Calls it cultural immersion. Will extend their visa 9 times.

11. The Spa Addict & Souvenir Collector
Daily spend: $180–$230
50% massage, 50% artisan markets, 100% soft luxury with tours and treatments on tap.

  • Food & snacks: $40–$60
  • Daily massage/spa: $50–$70
  • Transport: Grab or private cars: $10–$20
  • Shopping: $30–$50
  • Sightseeing & Entrance Fees: multiple day trips or private tours: $20–$30+
    Vibe: Has three Buddha statues and plans to ship home a lamp.

12. The Celebration Spender
Daily spend: $250–$350+
Birthday, breakup, honeymoon, or midlife crisis with private VIP experiences.

  • Gastronomic dining + cocktails: $80–$100
  • Spa day: $50+
  • VIP tours, speedboats, elephant sanctuary: $50–$100
  • Gift shopping: $30+
  • Sightseeing & Entrance Fees: exclusive day tours or excursions: $40+
    Vibe: One foot in Thailand, one foot in "treat yourself" TikTok.

Summary of Spending Levels (No Accommodation, With Sightseeing & Entrance Fees Included):

  • Monk-ish Minimalist: $5–$10
  • Bare-Min Budgeteer: $12–$20
  • Scrappy-but-Savvy Spender: $20–$30
  • Comfortably Frugal Nomad: $30–$40
  • Soft-Life Spender: $40–$65
  • Party Animal: $60–$120
  • Daily Baller: $70–$120
  • Food-Tour Fiend: $100–$150
  • Family Parent: $100–$220+ (per adult)
  • Sexypat: $150–$450+
  • Spa and Souvenir Collector: $180–$230
  • Celebration Spender: $250–$350+
Which one are you? Take our foolproof test here.

Final thoughts

No matter what type of traveler you are, from the monk-ish minimalist to the celebration spender, Thailand has a daily budget to match your style. Whether you’re here for the street food, the temples, the nightlife, or just to soak up the vibes, your wallet (and your sense of adventure) will dictate your day. So pack accordingly, plan wisely, and enjoy everything this incredible country has to offer without breaking the bank (unless that’s your vibe, too).

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