Bangkok on a budget
Where to stay, eat and go in Bangkok for about ฿740 a day before sightseeing.
Bangkok can be as cheap or as expensive as you like. Ride the BTS, eat at stalls, and stay near Khao San or Silom, and the everyday spend for a backpacker is about ฿740 ($22). Temples and rooftop bars are where the money goes.
Getting in from the airport
From Suvarnabhumi, the Airport Rail Link costs up to ฿45 to Phaya Thai. A taxi costs ฿450–650 all-in. From Don Mueang, buses and shuttles cost about ฿30. Full details: Bangkok airport to the city.
Where to stay
| Area | Good for | Downside |
|---|---|---|
| Khao San / Rambuttri | Cheapest dorms, walk to the Grand Palace | Loud at night, no BTS |
| Silom / Sathorn | BTS and MRT, great evening street food | Fewer hostels |
| Ari | Local, leafy, cafes, on the BTS | Further from sights |
| Chinatown (Yaowarat) | Street food heaven, MRT | Busy and noisy |
Dorms cost ฿250–400, private AC rooms ฿800–1,200 and budget hotels with a pool ฿1,000–1,500. Zoom into Khao San, Silom or Chinatown on the map to compare live prices.
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What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Grand Palace | ฿500 |
| Wat Pho | ฿300 |
| Wat Arun | ฿200 |
| Golden Mount | ฿100 |
| BTS or MRT ride | ฿16–60 |
| City bus | ฿8–20 |
| Street food meal | ฿40–80 |
| 1-hour massage | ฿200–400 |
| Large beer | ฿50–70 |
Free and cheap things to do
- Lumphini Park: free, with monitor lizards and an outdoor gym.
- Chinatown at night: Yaowarat Road's street food, for the price of the food.
- Chatuchak Weekend Market: free to wander, thousands of stalls, cheap food.
- The river by public boat: the cheapest sightseeing cruise in the city.
- Wat Mangkon Kamalawat: Chinatown's busiest Chinese-Buddhist temple, free.
- Golden Mount: ฿100 for one of the best city views.
A cheap 3-day plan
- Old town templesGrand Palace early, Wat Pho, then the ferry across to Wat Arun at sunset. Dinner on Rambuttri.
- Markets and ChinatownChatuchak (weekend) or Lumphini Park, then Chinatown by MRT for an evening of street food.
- Day trip to AyutthayaCheap train from Bangkok, rent a bicycle and ride between the ruins.
Money-saving tips
- Use the BTS and MRT rather than taxis in rush hour; traffic is brutal.
- Ignore anyone who says the Grand Palace is closed and offers a tuk-tuk tour. See scams to avoid.
- Food courts in malls are air-conditioned and cheap.
- Store bags at your hostel or with a storage service instead of paying for an extra night.
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Questions people ask
How much does a day in Bangkok cost?
About ฿740 for a backpacker before temples and tours, ฿2,000 with a private room and Grab, and ฿3,000 for comfort.
Where is the cheapest place to stay in Bangkok?
Khao San Road and Rambuttri have the most cheap dorms and guesthouses.
How much is the Grand Palace ticket?
฿500 for foreign visitors. Wat Pho is about ฿300 and Wat Arun about ฿200.
How many days do you need in Bangkok?
Three days covers the main temples, Chinatown, a market and a day trip to Ayutthaya.