Thailand is quite a cheap country to travel in but there are so many temptations on offer that costs quickly mount up.
An iced coffee in the morning, a beer in the evening and a night in a hotel and the next thing you know you’re spending as much as a budget tour in Europe. You do get a lot for your money but if you’re really watching your pennies it can be difficult because there aren’t so many chances to cook your own food or wild camp, which really helps to bring expenses down.
We spent around $20 a day between the two of us in Thailand. We stayed in budget hotels and ate practically all our meals from street stalls but we also indulged in quite a few cool drinks. We also took a tour of Khao Yai national park and bought a few souvenirs. As a single cyclist, you have to count on a little more than half the budget of a couple because most hotels charge by the room, regardless of how many people spend the night.
Some typical costs in July 2008 are listed below:
Bottle of cola – 10 Baht
Can of beer – 30 Baht
Iced coffee – 15-30 Baht
Internet – 20 Baht/hour
National park admission – 200-400 Baht
Restaurant meal – 50-60 Baht per dish
Room in budget hotel – 200-400 Baht
Ride on Bangkok Skytrain – 25-35 Baht
Site admission – 30 Baht
Street food – 30 Baht per dish
Tour of Khao Yai – 1,500 Baht (1 1/2 day)
In the markets, we found merchants very honest. We rarely, if ever, felt overcharged or had to bargain the price down.