As you start planning your trip to Bangkok, it is paramount to consider the cost of living in the city. Therefore, you may be wondering whether the capital city of Thailand is an expensive place to visit or not. The answer you need is in this post.
When it comes to whether Bangkok is expensive or not, there is no perfect answer as everything is relative. When compared to some cities, it is expensive. But in comparison to many other cities, Bangkok is a cheap place to visit. Bangkok is slightly expensive to live in, but you can still rest assured that the capital city of Thailand is still quite affordable.
Nevertheless, this article will compare Bangkok to different cities around the world to help you to decide whether the Thai city is expensive to visit for you or not. Therefore, let’s talk more about whether Bangkok is an expensive city to visit or not.
Comparison of the cost of visiting Bangkok to other cities
To help you to know if Bangkok is truly expensive to visit or not, we will compare it to other cities. In Thailand, Bangkok is one of the most expensive cities to visit. Similarly, Bangkok is more expensive to visit than most cities in Laos, Myanmar, and some other countries in Southeast Asia.
However, on a global scale, Bangkok is undoubtedly a cheap place to visit. According to Bloomberg.com and numerous other sources, Bangkok is not considered one of the top 20 most expensive cities to live in. If you are visiting other top holiday destinations such as London, Paris, Hong Kong, etc., you will likely spend more than going to Bangkok.
From eating out to lodging in a luxury hotel, shopping for groceries, going to tourist attractions, and lots more, Bangkok is more affordable than most cities. As stated by Lifestyleasia.com, Bangkok is believed to be the most affordable city around the globe for budget-friendly luxury travel. For the same level of a luxury holiday, you will spend significantly more in Paris, London, etc. than in Bangkok.
In this context, Bangkok is not an expensive city to visit. With a few thousand dollars, you can spend multiple weeks in the capital city of Thailand without much stress. Of course, in many other popular holiday destinations, you will need more money to enjoy your vacation.
How much do you need for a holiday in Bangkok?
If you are traveling to Bangkok, you need to have a concrete budget for your visit. It is worthwhile to realize that the budget for a holiday in Bangkok can vary greatly depending on your particular needs and preferences. For instance, a typical backpacker will spend significantly lesser on a holiday in Bangkok than a luxury vacationer. In fact, a luxury vacationer may spend more in a day than a backpacker will need for more than two weeks.
However, if you are a regular vacationer, Budgetyourtrip.com says you should budget around $61 (over 2100 THB) daily for your visit to Bangkok. If you intend to spend one week in Bangkok, you should budget more than $420 for your holiday. Nonetheless, if you are on a budget, you can spend less than the said amount as you can count down the amount you will spend on certain things.
You should note that accommodation will take the bulk of your expenses during your stay in the capital of Thailand. Food, transportation, entertainment, etc. will also account for some of the money you will spend in the city.
Things that are expensive in Bangkok
Overall, some things tend to be more expensive in Bangkok than in most other cities around the globe. For instance, if you want to buy foreign alcoholic drinks in Bangkok, you will likely pay more for the drinks than you will pay in most other popular holiday destinations. Why is this so? Because foreign products are heavily taxed in Thailand; hence, the importers need to make a profit by increasing the prices of the products.
Apart from alcohol, foreign branded clothes, cars, and other imported products may also be more expensive in Bangkok and other Thai cities than in other places. Fortunately, most of these foreign products have local alternatives. Therefore, you don’t necessarily need to spend money on them during your stay in Bangkok. But if you want to still purchase them, you should be ready to spend relatively more on them.
How can you make Bangkok less expensive for you?
If you intend to travel to Bangkok, you can make the city less expensive for you during your stay by doing the following:
- Cut down on nightlife and Western food
As noted by Travelhappy.info, nightlife and Western food are both expensive in Bangkok and other cities in Thailand. So, if you are looking for a way to save money during your visit to Bangkok, you shouldn’t hesitate to cut down on how much you spend on these two things.
- Do what the locals do
In Bangkok, most locals spend only a few hundred dollars per month and live comfortably. Of course, you don’t have to be too frugal, but living like the locals can make Bangkok inexpensive for you. If you can, you should eat where the locals eat, visit the attractions they go to, and use the transportation options they use.
- Get the best deal on your accommodation
Regardless of where you are visiting, accommodation can be quite expensive. So, if you want to make Bangkok affordable, you must get a good deal on your accommodation in the capital city of Thailand. Whether you are looking for a luxury resort or budget-friendly hotel, look for the best bargain. You can use Booking.com and other related sites to find affordable accommodations in Bangkok.
Conclusion
Bangkok is not an expensive city to live in when compared to most other top holiday destinations around the world. But in comparison to cities in neighboring countries, it may be seen as an expensive city to visit.
