Bangkok Travel Budget: What 5 Days Really Cost
Bangkok runs about $25–40/day for backpackers, $60–90/day mid-range and $150+/day for comfort. Street food and the BTS/MRT keep daily costs low; the big variables are hotel area and how much you take taxis versus the Skytrain. Five days cost roughly $125–450 excluding flights.
| Backpacker / day | $25–40 |
| Mid-range / day | $60–90 |
| Comfort / day | $150+ |
| Street meal | $1.5–3 |
| BTS ride | $0.5–1.5 |
| 5 days total | $125–450 |
Accommodation
Hostels $7–14, guesthouses $18–35, mid-range hotels $45–80, 4-star $100+. Sukhumvit and Silom cost more; the Old City and Banglamphu are cheaper and near temples.
Food
Street food and markets $1.5–3 a dish, food courts $3–5, mid-range restaurants $8–15. Eating local keeps food under $12/day.
Transport
BTS Skytrain and MRT $0.5–1.5 per ride and beat traffic. Taxis are cheap if metered; river boats $0.5–1.5. Avoid tuk-tuk overcharging near tourist spots.
Sights
Grand Palace ~$15, most temples $1–3, many markets free. A day of temples and markets costs little beyond entries.
Practical tips
- →Use the BTS/MRT to skip Bangkok's heavy traffic.
- →Eat at street stalls and food courts — cheap and excellent.
- →Insist on the meter in taxis or use Grab.
- →Stay near a BTS station to save time and taxi fares.
Frequently asked questions
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