MigrantoCost of living in Thailand
Average monthly spending, by standard of living, by category, and against other countries
Monthly cost
THB 10,600
what a typical person spends
Spending by standard of living
THB 5,070richest 20%
THB 26,500
Thailand is built to be easy on the wallet for the everyday stuff. Cheap local food and plentiful labor keep daily costs down — even with the pull of a big tourist trade — and a roof over your head takes a smaller bite than you'd expect. Comfortable and just-getting-by aren't worlds apart, so the country stays livable across a fairly wide range of budgets.
Where people spend money in Thailand
In Thailand the money goes mostly to the table. Groceries take the biggest bite of the month, eating out follows close behind — cheap and woven into ordinary life rather than saved for a treat — and getting around fills out the rest. Because a place to live costs so little, much of what you spend lands on the parts of the day you can actually choose.
Living-cost calculator
What it costs to live in Thailand
Tell us what you earn and spend today — we'll estimate what the same lifestyle would cost in Thailand and how much you could have left each month
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- How much could be left each month
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Cost of living in Thailand
THB 5,070/mo
vs THB 26,200 in your country
Take-home
THB 11,500
vs THB 39,300 in your country
Potential savings
THB 6,450
more than in your country
Standard of living
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How living costs in Thailand compare
Thailand sits mid-pack worldwide and mid-pack again across Asia: affordable without being rock-bottom. The reason is largely homegrown — food, services, and labor are local and priced for local pockets, so very little of the cost rides in from overseas.
Data source: household consumption 2024 (World Bank), International Comparison Program 2021 (World Bank), category breakdown 2023 (United Nations Statistics Division), adjusted to 2026 using IMF GDP-per-capita growth
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Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of living in Thailand?
A typical person in Thailand spends about THB 10,600 a month — around THB 128,000 a year — on housing, groceries, transport and other everyday costs. It's a nationwide average across different regions, cities and types of housing.
What is the cost of living in Thailand in US dollars?
The cost of living in Thailand is about $325 a month, or roughly $3,900 a year per person.
How much money do you need to live comfortably in Thailand?
It all depends on your standard of living. A modest budget runs about THB 5,070 a month per person, a typical one around THB 10,600, and a comfortable life around THB 14,300. In big cities and for a family, costs are usually higher.
What do people spend the most on in Thailand?
The biggest expense is groceries, at about THB 2,680 a month (25% of spending). Then come dining out (THB 2,030, 19%) and transport (THB 1,310, 12%).
Is the average salary in Thailand enough to live on?
Yes, with room to spare. Average spending is about THB 10,600 a month, while the average take-home pay in Thailand is about THB 15,300. For more on incomes, see salaries in Thailand.
Is Thailand an expensive country to live in?
Somewhat. Thailand is more expensive than 48% of countries worldwide and ranks 11th of 27 in Asia by cost of living.
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Living in Thailand
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