How much does it Cost to Visit Bangkok ? – Common Prices in Bangkok in 2023

Meet the BAHT, the Thai currency :

Thai Notes :

note thailand 20 Baht note
note thailand 50 Baht note
note thailand 100 Baht note
note thailand 500 Baht note
note thailand 1000 Baht note

 

Thai Coins :

coin thailand 10 Baht coin
coin thailand 5 Baht coin
coin thailand 2 Baht coin
coin thailand 1 Baht coin
coin thailand 0.5 Baht coin

How much does it cost to Visit Bangkok ?

Bangkok is relatively a cheap tourist destination. All South East Asia countries give a very good value for your money (so enjoy while it lasts). Bangkok is a big city and accommodation is usually a little bit more expensive than other places in Thailand (the Thai islands can be more expensive).
Here is a list of common prices in Bangkok in year 2023 :

In Baht In Dollars
(Approx)
Big Mac meal at Mac Donald’s 200 Baht 6 $
Pad-Thai to take away,  from street vendor 40 Baht 1 $
Natural orange juice (small),  from street vendor 30 Baht 1 $
Beer in a club 150 Baht 4 $
Beer at supermarket 50 Baht 1 $
Cappuccino in Starbucks (small) 100 Baht 3 $
Breakfast (Continental) 200 Baht 6 $
Individual room in a guest house with air condition and bathroom 1000 Baht 29 $
Individual room in a guest house with fan and no bathroom 600 Baht 17 $
Sim Card + Pre -Paid Internet 15 days 500 Baht 14 $
Bus in town (air-conditioned) 20 Baht 0.5 $
Bus in town (not air-conditioned) 10 Baht 0.5 $
Public boat on the river 20 Baht 0.5 $
Taxi in town – typical ride with taxi-meter 80 Baht 2 $
Night train (sleeping coach) to the north or south of Thailand 1000 Baht 29 $
One day organized trip out of Bangkok (floating market, Ayuttaya…) 700 Baht 20 $
Massage one hour 300 Baht 9 $
T-Shirts from street vendors 250 Baht 7 $
  • You can use XE Currency Converter to get the prices in your local currency.
  • You can use Numbeo to compare the cost of living between many cities in the world (from the menu “cost of living”, choose : “cost of living comparison”).

ATM in Bangkok

Look at the following picture. As you can see, you can choose the color of the ATM, they are just everywhere in town and they are very convenient in order to get cash.
With an international credit card you can get Thai baht from these machines.
The banks involved in the transactions (hopefully, just 2) will take commissions in the process : The Thai bank takes around 250 Baht.
Your bank in your own country will probably charge a fixed commission for each withdrawal and an exchange rate commission depending on the amount you withdraw (you will discover it only later, at home, when you will look at your bank report, but for now, continue enjoying Bangkok 🙂
I once calculated that for a typical withdrawal of 10000 baht, I was losing almost 7 % on commissions, but maybe it is just my bank, maybe yours is better (I doubt it, they all take a lot of commissions, because they can).

atm bangkok

Currency Exchange in Bangkok

Also the currency exchange points are everywhere in town. They are in the malls and in the streets and everywhere that tourists use to go. At the airport it seems there is one booth beside each luggage belt.
The exchange rates are very good, I mean that the difference between buying and selling Baht is at a minimum (something like 2 %), there is a lot of competition between the banks. There is usually no commissions (unless you are very talented and you will find such a place). They give a slightly better price for big notes like 100 $ or 50 $. They will look very carefully at the quality of the paper in order to detect fraud, so you better bring new notes, they are less problematic.
In some south east countries like Myanmar, they just don’t accept old dollars.
You will receive better rates for a main world currency like Dollars, Euros, Pounds etc.

money exchange bangkok

Use ATM or bring cash to Bangkok ?

You need to find an equilibrium between these two.
The ATM are very safe and convenient but the banks charge commissions for each withdrawal.
Bringing Dollars in cash (or other currencies) will leave you more of your money, but it is unsafe because of the risk of theft and loss.
Anyway, you need to bring some cash with you, as a backup, for any case.
Try to stay in hotels that have a safe box in the rooms or at the reception.
When you withdraw money from the ATM, do it for a medium or large sum because each withdrawal has a fixed commission.

Can I pay in Bangkok in foreign currency like with the Dollar ?

No. The expected currency is the Thai Baht. You can also pay by credit card.

The Rabbit Card – can be used as an electronic wallet

The Rabbit card is the Bangkok Skytrain Transport (BTS) card.
Instead of waiting in queues before each single journey, you can use this personal Rabbit card (that you have filled before with credit).
The nice thing is that this Rabbit card is also accepted in many commerces, like big supermarkets, it is like an electronic wallet.

rabbit card bangkok

So if you are staying in Bangkok for a few days, consider having this card, it is convenient to pay with it instead of using cash. The process of payment is much faster than with a credit card and you don’t have to deal with Thai notes that you may not be very familiar.
Here in the photo, a terminal for the Rabbit Card in a Mac Donald’s.
Note : The Fruit vendors in the street, don’t accept the Rabbit card 🙂

rabbit card bangkok

How to carry the cash during the trip

I recommend this type of Hidden Pocket. You hang it vertically on your belt (yes, you need a belt) and inside your trousers. Nobody sees it and it is very comfortable because one side is made with a soft tissue. There are 2 strong loops, so it is very safe. I have two of these because sometimes I travel for a long period and it gets thick, so I divide the cash and put one pocket on each side. You can buy this hidden pocket on Amazon , they ship it worldwide.
There is also an horizontal version of an hidden pocket, one that you don’t need a belt. But I personally prefer the vertical version.

bangkok

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