A Guide to Visiting Bangkok on a Budget

Bangkok's charm remains timeless, consistently ranking among the world's top tourist destinations.

From sacred temples to vibrant nightlife, street food stalls to high-end dining, and serene parks to bustling transit systems, Thailand's capital offers a dizzying array of choices that beckon visitors back again and again.

This incredible diversity leads to a wide range of prices, reflecting the varying economic backgrounds of locals and tourists alike. The City of Angels can be a treasure for budget travelers if you know where to save, but expenses can escalate quickly if you stray from your plan. Here are essential insider tips to keep your Bangkok adventure affordable.

Understanding Daily Expenses in Bangkok

• Shared hostel dorm bed: 250-400B

• Basic double room: 800-1500B

• Self-catering apartment (including Airbnb): 800-2500B

• MRT subway fare: 15-40B

• City bus fare: 8-25B

• Canal boat ride: 8-20B

• Motorcycle taxi ride: 15-100B

• Car taxi fare: 45-200B

• Coffee: 30-120B

• Traditional Thai dinner for two (four dishes): 350-500B

• Bottle of local beer from a shop: 41-55B

• Bottle of local/imported beer at a bar or restaurant: 150-250B/200-270B

• Glass of wine at a bar or restaurant: 150-300B

Average daily expenses: 1800-2800B

Choose your travel dates wisely

To save the most money, try to avoid traveling during peak season. In Bangkok, peak season runs from mid-November to early March, when hotels and guesthouses are fully booked and charge their highest rates. Prices soar even more during the week before Christmas through the week after New Year's, with some places adding temporary surcharges of 25 to 35 percent on top of their usual rates.

Room prices are usually much lower during other months, with the best deals found in June, July, September, and October. To learn more about major events in Bangkok and what to expect in each season, check out our insider guide to the best times to visit.

Select local budget airlines

Two Thai airlines, Nok Air and Thai AirAsia, consistently provide cheaper domestic fares compared to the national carrier, Thai Airways, and boutique airline Bangkok Airways. Traveling light can save you money—eligible carry-ons are free, while checked luggage costs 300B and up for 15kg (Thai AirAsia) or 20kg (Nok Air). If you need to bring more items, consider booking your checked baggage in advance to reduce costs. Plan early to secure the lowest fares and off-season discounts to maximize your budget.

Choose a cold beer instead of cocktails

Both imported and locally produced wines and spirits face steep taxes in Thailand—up to 400% for imported wines. A single bottle can easily double or triple your dining bill, making a night out focused on cocktails and wine comparable in cost to a night in many European or American cities. Opting for beer, which is taxed at a significantly lower rate, can help keep your restaurant and bar expenses more manageable.

Domestic beers like Singha, Chang, and Leo are roughly 30-40% cheaper than imported options. International brands brewed in Thailand under license, such as Heineken, San Miguel, and Tiger, fall between the prices of domestic and imported beers. Notably, Thai craft beers like Chalawan, Chatri, and Busaba are brewed in neighboring countries such as Cambodia and Vietnam, as well as Australia, and are priced similarly to imported beers.

Dine like a local

Bangkok's dining landscape has surged in the past decade, attracting talented chefs from around the globe and a myriad of international culinary franchises. The city now boasts 30 Michelin-starred chefs, positioning it as a premier destination for fine dining. While these exquisite culinary experiences are fantastic for special occasions, they may not fit the budget for daily dining.

Fortunately, Bangkok's remarkable street food culture offers some of the best value for money. Here, you’ll discover authentic Thai and Thai-Chinese dishes that capture the essence of the city. Street food can be found at umbrella-covered carts along the roads and in cozy one-room eateries nestled within humble shophouses across the metropolis.

Some of the best spots for these culinary treasures are located in Talat Noi, Chinatown, Suan Phlu, Phra Nakhon, and Banglamphu, with additional gems scattered throughout the city. Family-style meals with multiple courses are very budget-friendly, and for those with tighter finances, single-plate options that include rice are a wise choice.

Make the most of public transport

While taxi fares in Bangkok are generally low compared to many major cities, they can quickly deplete your budget. The BTS Skytrain and MRT subway provide far more economical alternatives, allowing you to avoid traffic jams. These extensive networks cover the city well, making it easy to reach nearly any destination.

Travel cards are offered for both transportation systems, but they come with no discounts and require a deposit. For brief stays, it's more economical to purchase individual tickets at the station. The MRT provides a 50% fare discount for seniors over 60, which is available to anyone presenting a passport, not just Thai citizens. Additionally, children under 120 cm (3.9 ft) tall and under 14 years old can also enjoy the same discount on the MRT, while the BTS does not offer discounted fares for foreign seniors or children.

City bus fares are even lower than those for rail or subway, but the extensive network—with over 500 routes—can be confusing, and the buses are often slow and less comfortable. Canal boats offer a similarly low-cost alternative and are easier to navigate. These boats frequently operate during the day along Khlong Saen Saep, providing convenient access to attractions along Sukhumvit Road. To get around quickly from the canal jetties, consider taking a motorcycle taxi.

The Chao Phraya River Express line features passenger boats traveling up and down the Chao Phraya River, stopping at piers along both banks with fares ranging from 14 to 33B. There’s also a tourist boat service on the Chao Phraya that operates on a hop-on-hop-off basis, departing every 30 minutes from 11 piers between Sathorn and Phra Arthit. A ticket costs 150B, allowing unlimited stops for one day, with service running from 9am to 7:15pm and back from 8am to 6:30pm.

Choose accommodations outside the tourist hotspots

In general, dining and lodging along Sukhumvit Rd from Soi 1 to Soi 65 tend to be pricier compared to other parts of the city. This area boasts a higher concentration of bars, nightclubs, restaurants, speakeasies, and massage parlors, but you'll pay a premium for the experience.

Explore beyond the tourist centers to discover deals in Talat Noi, Chinatown, and Phra Nakhon (often called Old Town). These neighborhoods stretch from Charoen Krung Rd along the Chao Phraya River and up to the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew. Here, amidst the city's historic architecture, you'll find numerous budget hostels and guesthouses, along with local eateries and street vendors serving some of the most authentic Thai and Chinese cuisine—often at less than half the price you'd encounter on Sukhumvit Rd.

The areas around Sathon and Silom Rds may be slightly more expensive than their Old Town counterparts, but they offer a vibrant cultural scene and are generally more affordable than Sukhumvit. In the northern part of the city, the Ari neighborhood also provides a mid-range budget option while maintaining a genuine Thai community atmosphere.

Reduce sightseeing expenses with a GetYourGuide City Card

GetYourGuide City Cards provide a comprehensive pass valid for over 30 attractions for two to five days, starting at 4500B. This card covers walking and biking tours, river cruises, cooking classes, massages, pub crawls, and some museum entries, though it does not include temple admission fees. Create a list of your top must-see spots to maximize your experience before purchasing. Consider kicking off with our top 17 things to do in Bangkok!