Thailand is famous for being a relatively cheap country to visit or reside in, especially for westerners who have lived in countries with higher costs of living. No wonder lots of retirees have turned this Southeast Asian nation into their retirement home as they try to save their living expenses. Now, this leads us to inquire about how long US$1,000 can last in Thailand.
Simply put, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this simple question. This is because the lifestyle and needs of each person differ. Nonetheless, for an average person, US$1,000 should last for about 4 to 8 weeks in Thailand for accommodation, food, transport, attractions, and other miscellaneous.
Undoubtedly, 1,000 USD is a considerably huge sum of money in most places in Thailand. Therefore, the average cost of living in the country has been designed in a way that ensures that such an amount can go far for anyone living in Thailand. However, as said early, everything is not cast in stone as there are many factors that you should consider when determining how long 1,000 USD can last in Thailand. These factors will be explained below.
How does a budget of 1,000 USD compare to the average monthly income in Thailand?
To understand how big US$1,000 is in Thailand, it is essential to compare it to the average monthly earning in the country. According to Statista, the average monthly income of people in Thailand last year was about 26,000 Thai baht. However, the income was slightly higher in Bangkok, the country’s capital city and economic hub.
The average monthly earning is around 800 USD; hence, you should note that many individuals don’t even earn up to 1,000 USD every month. Therefore, surviving on 1,000 USD for some weeks is quite possible in Thailand.
A breakdown of monthly expenses in Thailand
For more knowledge of how long 1,000 USD can last in Thailand, let’s have a breakdown of monthly expenses in Thailand.
- Accommodation – $100 to $300
Like in other countries, accommodation will likely take a lion’s share of your monthly expenses in Thailand. Fortunately, Thailand has several accommodation arrangements for everyone. Hotel accommodations tend to be the most expensive as you may need to spend $25 or more every night. However, if you can go for an affordable guesthouse, your daily expense on accommodation may not be more than $5.
However, if you intend to stay for weeks or months in Thailand, you should rent an apartment and pay per week, month or year. Tons of neat and affordable apartments may not cost you more than $200 per month. Most cities and towns in Thailand have apartments with an air conditioner, a private bathroom, and storage space. However, Wi-Fi, water, electricity, and other utilities may cost you some extra amount of money.
- Food – $200
The next thing you have to consider is what you will eat. If you want your 1,000 USD to go far in Thailand, you have to eat local Thai meals. Luckily, Thai dishes are healthy and palatable, so you are hardly going to miss your native food. Fried chicken, som tum, Pad Thai, etc. will cost you around $1 to $2. You should consider budgeting around $1.5 for water every day. So, with around $200, you can take care of your feeding for a whole month. But visiting expensive restaurants will leave a bigger hole in your pocket.
However, if you love taking beers, your expenses on feeding will increase. A cheap can of beer will cost you around $1, but expensive ones can be significantly costlier.
- Transportation – $50 – $120
The transportation system in Thailand is relatively good because there are various options. If you can take a Songtaew or bus like the locals, you can save lots of money on transportation.
As an alternative, you can hire a motorbike, so that you can move anywhere whenever you want. On average, hiring a bike for a month will cost you about $90, but you will also need to spend around $2 for filling up the gas. A gas fill-up should last you for days, depending on your itinerary in Thailand. You may also want to buy a helmet for safety, but this won’t be a recurring expense.
- Attractions – vary
Of course, you cannot stay in Thailand without taking time out to check out the country’s spectacular attractions. The good news is that many of the temples, beaches, waterfalls, jungle hikes, etc. in Thailand are free or cheap. Therefore, you may not have to spend anything on attractions.
But if you would like to visit Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho, and some other popular places, you may need to spend around $5 on each attraction. Undoubtedly, these places are still affordable.
- Extras
Do you want to enjoy the nightlife in Thailand? Would you like to enjoy Thai body massages? Are you interested in spending some time with beautiful Thai girls? These are some extras that can increase your monthly expenses by hundreds of dollars. But they are not necessary, and many people will never spend on them during their stay in Thailand.
Without considering the avoidable extras, your monthly expenses in Thailand can be as low as 550 USD. As a result of this, the initial calculation that 1,000 USD can last for about 4 to 8 weeks in Thailand is still right.
Nonetheless, your preferred location and your lifestyle will have a significant impact on how long 1,000 USD can last in Thailand. For instance, if you stay in the center of Bangkok or Pattaya, you will likely spend about 20% or more than someone who stays in Chiang Mai. Also, someone who spends lots of time in Thai beach clubs and bars could finish 1,000 USD within a week whereas another could spend the same amount for more than 2 months in the same country.
Conclusion
This article has revealed that US$1,000 can last for several years in Thailand as long as you manage your expenses well.