Tipping in Thailand
Round up the bill or leave 20-50 THB in restaurants. Massage therapists expect 50-100 THB tip.
Thailand price guide
Prices in Thailand in 2026: fair price vs tourist trap
Short answer: cheap, if you pay what locals pay. Fair prices sit 30% below the 60-country median, while tourist prices are about 3.0× the fair price.
29 prices checked Apr – Aug 2026 19 verified and 10 estimates How I check
Fair prices at a glance
- Street food meal ฿40 – ฿80 ≈ $1.20 – $2.40
- City taxi 1 km ฿35 – ฿45 ≈ $1 – $1.30
- Local beer ฿60 – ฿120 ≈ $1.80 – $3.60
- Massage (1 hour) ฿200 – ฿400 ≈ $6 – $12
All 29 prices are also in the free app for iPhone and Android, and they work offline. Get it
One day in Thailand: ฿622 or ฿2,555
About $19 or $76 a day.
The first number is what locals pay, the second what tourist spots charge for exactly the same day.
Same day, same things: the tourist version costs 4.1× as much.
Restaurant meal alone: ฿1,550, or 61% of the tourist-trap day.
+฿1,933 (about $58) for the same day
| Item | Fair (฿) | Trap (฿) |
|---|---|---|
| Street food meal | 60 | 210 |
| Restaurant meal | 275 | 1,550 |
| Coffee (espresso) | 60 | 160 |
| Water 1.5 L | 15 | 55 |
| Local beer | 90 | 225 |
| Public transit ticket 2 rides | 82 | 130 |
| Short taxi ride about 1 km | 40 | 225 |
| Total | 622 | 2,555 |
- Sightseeing comes on top: a ticket to a top museum or attraction is ฿100 – ฿300 (about $3 – $8.90).
- Accommodation is left out on purpose: it swings too much with the season and the night of the week for one honest number.
Where tourists overpay most in Thailand
Tourist-trap price compared with the fair price, using the middle of each range.
Check a price you were quoted
Pick what you are buying, type the price, and see where it lands.
about $6
Tourist-trap price
Fair ฿35 – ฿45 Trap ฿150 – ฿300
฿200 is 5.0× the middle of the fair range (฿35 – ฿45).
Tourists often get charged ฿150 – ฿300. From ฿150 you are paying the tourist-trap price.
In the app, every expense you log on a trip gets the same check, offline.
Fair vs tourist prices in Thailand, item by item
What 29 everyday things should cost, and what tourists often pay instead. Typical for Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui, Krabi, and Ayutthaya.
Show prices in
- Fair price
- Tourist-trap price
- Verified
- Estimate
Bars run from zero to each item's top tourist-trap price.
Food & drinks
Restaurant meal: fair is ฿150 – ฿400. From ฿600 you are on the tourist menu.
-
Water 0.5 L
Bottled, convenience store
Estimate, reviewedTourist prices are about 4.1× the fair priceFair ฿7 – ฿15 ≈ $0.21 – $0.45Trap ฿30 – ฿60 ≈ $0.89 – $1.80 -
Coffee (espresso)
Cafe or street vendor
Verified ·Tourist prices are about 2.7× the fair priceFair ฿40 – ฿80 ≈ $1.20 – $2.40Trap ฿120 – ฿200 ≈ $3.60 – $6 -
Local beer
Draft, at bar or restaurant
Verified ·Tourist prices are about 2.5× the fair priceFair ฿60 – ฿120 ≈ $1.80 – $3.60Trap ฿150 – ฿300 ≈ $4.50 – $8.90 -
Restaurant meal
Tourist area, main course
Estimate, reviewedTourist prices are about 5.6× the fair priceFair ฿150 – ฿400 ≈ $4.50 – $12Trap ฿600 – ฿2,500 ≈ $18 – $75 -
Street food meal
Local market or stand
Verified ·Tourist prices are about 3.5× the fair priceFair ฿40 – ฿80 ≈ $1.20 – $2.40Trap ฿120 – ฿300 ≈ $3.60 – $8.90 -
Cocktail at bar
Mixed drink, bar
Verified ·Tourist prices are about 3.0× the fair priceFair ฿150 – ฿300 ≈ $4.50 – $8.90Trap ฿450 – ฿900 ≈ $13 – $27 -
Bottle of wine (restaurant)
House wine, restaurant
Estimate, reviewedTourist prices are about 1.9× the fair priceFair ฿600 – ฿1,000 ≈ $18 – $30Trap ฿1,000 – ฿2,000 ≈ $30 – $60 -
Fresh juice
Cafe or street stall
Verified ·Tourist prices are about 2.1× the fair priceFair ฿40 – ฿70 ≈ $1.20 – $2.10Trap ฿80 – ฿150 ≈ $2.40 – $4.50
Transport
Airport taxi to the center: fair is ฿300 – ฿500. At ฿800 or more, walk away.
-
Airport taxi to center
Standard route
Verified ·Tourist prices are about 3.5× the fair priceFair ฿300 – ฿500 ≈ $9 – $15Trap ฿800 – ฿2,000 ≈ $24 – $60 -
City taxi 1 km
Metered or typical fare
Verified ·Tourist prices are about 5.6× the fair priceFair ฿35 – ฿45 ≈ $1 – $1.30Trap ฿150 – ฿300 ≈ $4.50 – $8.90 -
Public transit ticket
Single ride
Verified ·No real tourist markupFair ฿17 – ฿65 ≈ $0.51 – $1.90Trap ฿65 ≈ $1.90 -
Private transfer (app)
Grab / Bolt / Uber
Estimate, reviewedTourist prices are about 4.4× the fair priceFair ฿50 – ฿200 ≈ $1.50 – $6Trap ฿300 – ฿800 ≈ $9 – $24
Souvenirs
Fridge magnet: fair is ฿25 – ฿80. From ฿100 you are paying the souvenir-stall markup.
-
Fridge magnet
Tourist shop
Estimate, reviewedTourist prices are about 2.9× the fair priceFair ฿25 – ฿80 ≈ $0.75 – $2.40Trap ฿100 – ฿200 ≈ $3 – $6 -
Printed T-shirt
Tourist shop
Verified ·Tourist prices are about 3.2× the fair priceFair ฿100 – ฿200 ≈ $3 – $6Trap ฿350 – ฿600 ≈ $10 – $18 -
Local handcraft
Ceramics, textiles, etc.
Estimate, reviewedTourist prices are about 4.0× the fair priceFair ฿200 – ฿500 ≈ $6 – $15Trap ฿800 – ฿2,000 ≈ $24 – $60
Daily essentials
Tourist SIM: fair is ฿299 – ฿699. Above ฿699 it is the tourist-kiosk price.
-
Tourist SIM card
Data package
Verified ·Tourist prices are about 2.3× the fair priceFair ฿299 – ฿699 ≈ $9 – $21Trap ฿700 – ฿1,599 ≈ $21 – $48 -
Sunscreen SPF50
Pharmacy or shop
Verified ·Tourist prices are about 2.2× the fair priceFair ฿150 – ฿300 ≈ $4.50 – $8.90Trap ฿400 – ฿600 ≈ $12 – $18 -
Water 1.5 L
Supermarket
Estimate, reviewedTourist prices are about 3.7× the fair priceFair ฿10 – ฿20 ≈ $0.30 – $0.60Trap ฿40 – ฿70 ≈ $1.20 – $2.10 -
Cigarettes
Pack of 20
Verified ·Tourist prices are about 1.5× the fair priceFair ฿100 – ฿140 ≈ $3 – $4.20Trap ฿150 – ฿200 ≈ $4.50 – $6 -
Painkillers (paracetamol)
Pack of 20 tablets
Estimate, reviewedTourist prices are about 2.8× the fair priceFair ฿25 – ฿50 ≈ $0.75 – $1.50Trap ฿60 – ฿150 ≈ $1.80 – $4.50 -
Mosquito repellent
Spray or lotion
Verified ·Tourist prices are about 3.1× the fair priceFair ฿35 – ฿160 ≈ $1 – $4.80Trap ฿200 – ฿400 ≈ $6 – $12
Services
One-hour massage: fair is ฿200 – ฿400. From ฿600 you are paying for the address.
-
Men's haircut
Local barbershop
Verified ·Tourist prices are about 3.2× the fair priceFair ฿100 – ฿200 ≈ $3 – $6Trap ฿350 – ฿600 ≈ $10 – $18 -
Laundry (per kg)
Laundry service
Verified ·Tourist prices are about 5.4× the fair priceFair ฿40 – ฿100 ≈ $1.20 – $3Trap ฿150 – ฿600 ≈ $4.50 – $18 -
Massage (1 hour)
Standard full-body massage
Verified ·Tourist prices are about 3.5× the fair priceFair ฿200 – ฿400 ≈ $6 – $12Trap ฿600 – ฿1,500 ≈ $18 – $45 -
Women's haircut
Basic cut, salon
Estimate, reviewedTourist prices are about 3.0× the fair priceFair ฿200 – ฿400 ≈ $6 – $12Trap ฿600 – ฿1,200 ≈ $18 – $36
Attractions
Top museum or attraction: fair is ฿100 – ฿300. From ฿400, check that you are not buying through a reseller.
-
Top museum / attraction
Entrance ticket
Verified ·Tourist prices are about 2.5× the fair priceFair ฿100 – ฿300 ≈ $3 – $8.90Trap ฿400 – ฿600 ≈ $12 – $18 -
Half-day group tour
Organized excursion
Estimate, reviewedTourist prices are about 2.2× the fair priceFair ฿1,200 – ฿2,500 ≈ $36 – $75Trap ฿3,000 – ฿5,000 ≈ $89 – $150 -
Full-day group tour
Organized excursion 6-8h
Verified ·Tourist prices are about 1.9× the fair priceFair ฿1,300 – ฿3,000 ≈ $39 – $89Trap ฿3,000 – ฿5,000 ≈ $89 – $150 -
Cooking class
Local cuisine cooking class
Verified ·Tourist prices are about 3.4× the fair priceFair ฿900 – ฿1,600 ≈ $27 – $48Trap ฿2,500 – ฿6,000 ≈ $75 – $180
Converted at 1 USD = 33.56 THB, the rate on October 3, 2026. Approximate.
Money and tipping in Thailand
Currency
Thai baht (THB)
- 1 USD = 33.56 THB
Quick converter, THB to USD
When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, choose THB. The rate it offers is almost always worse.
Bargaining in Thailand
Bargaining is expected at markets like Chatuchak and street stalls, aim for 20-30% off the asking price. Fixed-price shops and malls don't negotiate; Grab and metered taxis avoid fare disputes.
Fuel prices per liter
- Gasoline ฿49.16 / liter ≈ $1.50
- Diesel ฿40.69 / liter ≈ $1.20
Scams and safety in Thailand
What tourists actually run into, from overcharging tricks to local laws. Open any item for the details.
Scam or crime Tuk-tuk 'Grand Palace is closed' gem scam
Near Bangkok's Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun, tuk-tuk drivers and well dressed "helpers" claim the temple is closed for a Buddha holiday or a royal ceremony and offer a city tour for 20 to 50 baht, sometimes for free. It ends at a tailor or gem shop where you are pressured to buy synthetic stones with official looking certificates, typically at 30 to 40 times their real value. The Grand Palace opens daily at 08:30 and its ticket office closes at 15:30, so walk up to the entrance yourself and ignore anyone claiming otherwise.
Scam or crime Jet-ski and motorbike damage shakedown
On Phuket's Patong, Kata and Karon beaches, in Pattaya and on Koh Samui, rental operators hand you a jet-ski or scooter, then demand money for pre-existing scratches when you return it. Jet-ski claims usually run 35,000 to 120,000 baht, scooter claims 5,000 to 15,000 baht. Never hand over your passport as a deposit. Film every scratch, dent and panel before you take the key, use an operator your hotel front desk recommends, and call the tourist police on 1155 if you are pressured or surrounded.
Law Lèse-Majesté law. Years in prison
Article 112 of Thailand's Criminal Code punishes defaming, insulting or threatening the King, Queen, Heir Apparent or Regent with 3 to 15 years in prison per count, and the political amnesty passed in July 2026 deliberately left Article 112 cases out. Foreigners have been convicted: a Swiss resident got 10 years in 2007 for spray painting portraits of the King, an Australian writer 3 years in 2009 over a novel, an American 2.5 years in 2011 for translating a banned biography, and a US academic was charged in 2025 over an online lecture before prosecutors dropped it. Do not discuss the monarchy, do not share or like critical posts, and never deface currency, which carries the King's image. Convicted foreigners are normally pardoned, then deported and blacklisted.
Law Vapes and e-cigarettes are completely illegal
It is illegal to possess or use any vape, e-cigarette, pod, e-liquid or heat-not-burn device in Thailand, with no exception for tourists or for personal use. Offences lead to confiscation, fines typically between 5,000 and 30,000 baht, detention and court proceedings. You may be required to stay in Thailand until the case is finished.
Law Cannabis is medical only again
Cannabis use in Thailand is now restricted to medical purposes. You must not buy, possess or use it without a Thai medical prescription limited to a 30 day supply, and recreational use remains illegal. Taking cannabis out of the country without export permission brings fines starting at 30,000 baht per kilogram, detention if you do not pay, and a place on an immigration watchlist.
Health Dengue and Zika during the rainy season
Dengue is endemic in Thailand: 19,491 cases and 21 deaths in 2025, and 16,094 cases in the first half of 2026, with transmission peaking June to October. Zika is also present and dangerous for pregnant travellers. The Aedes mosquito that carries both bites during the day, not at dawn and dusk, and is most active for about two hours after sunrise and in the late afternoon, indoors as well as outdoors. So use 20 to 50 percent DEET from morning onward, not just in the evening, and cover arms and legs. There is no antiviral treatment. The Qdenga vaccine is licensed in Thailand, the EU and the UK for ages 4 to 60, but it is not a routine shot for a short trip, so ask a travel clinic.
Health Spiked drinks and methanol in cheap spirits
There have been deaths and cases of serious illness in Thailand caused by alcoholic drinks containing methanol, and even a small amount can kill. You cannot spot methanol by taste or smell, so stay with sealed bottles and busy licensed bars. Drink spiking and drug assisted assault also happen in tourist areas, with cases clustering around full moon parties.
Health Burning season smog in Chiang Mai and Bangkok
Big Thai cities have high air pollution, and Bangkok and Chiang Mai are also hit by seasonal regional smoke haze from farmers burning trees and crops. Particulate levels sometimes reach dangerous readings and can worsen asthma, sinus and bronchial conditions. If you have a respiratory problem, check air quality before booking northern Thailand in the haze season and pack a proper filtering mask.
Nature Rip tides and jellyfish on Thai beaches
Rip currents pull swimmers out in seconds and kill tourists in Thailand every year. The southwest monsoon, May to October, is the rough season on the Andaman coast, Phuket and Krabi, while Koh Samui and Koh Phangan get theirs later, October to December. A red flag means do not swim: there is no fine for ignoring one, only the risk, and lifeguards have no power to stop you. Box jellyfish have killed swimmers on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Lanta and the mainland Gulf coast, most stings falling between July and October, and a 13 year old died near Sichon on 1 August 2026. Carry vinegar, never swim alone at night, and obey lifeguard flags.
Emergency numbers in Thailand
Not sure who you need? Call this one. 191 Police
Thailand has no single 112-style emergency number. 191 is the police line and the one to call if you are not sure who you need; you can ask for an ambulance there. 1669 is the nationwide medical emergency line and 199 is the fire brigade.
Medical costs
- Doctor visit Private clinic, general consultation without insurance $30 – $100 ≈ ฿1,010 – ฿3,360
- Hospital night One night in a general ward without insurance $90 – $370 ≈ ฿3,020 – ฿12,400
- Ambulance Emergency transport to hospital $45 – $150 ≈ ฿1,510 – ฿5,030
- Dentist Check-up or basic treatment at a private practice $30 – $100 ≈ ฿1,010 – ฿3,360
Good to know before you go
Gestures and etiquette
Head, feet & pointing
Never touch anyone's head, it's considered the most sacred part of the body. Don't point your feet at people or Buddha images, and avoid pointing at anything with your index finger. Use an open hand to gesture instead.
Think before you post a photo
Posting images of people drinking alcohol or wearing clothing considered inappropriate can be illegal in Thailand. Both the person who uploaded the picture and the people in it can be fined or imprisoned. Ask before you photograph anyone in a bar, at a temple or on a beach, and think twice before tagging a group post.
Buying souvenirs
Thai silk & curry pastes
Thai silk, especially from Jim Thompson shops or Isaan weavers, is luxurious and comes in stunning colors and patterns. Thai curry pastes (red, green, massaman) are lightweight, authentic, and far better than imported versions. Coconut oil, handmade soaps with lemongrass or mangosteen, and celadon ceramics from Chiang Mai are other great buys. Look for artisan amulets and hand-carved teak wood items at weekend markets.
Wildlife souvenirs can be a crime
It is illegal in Thailand to buy, sell, kill or capture any protected wild animal, or to trade its parts, without a licence. That covers the ivory, coral, shells, reptile skin and big cat trinkets still sold at some markets and beach stalls. Customs at home can seize them as well, so stay with silk, ceramics, food and other everyday crafts.
Driving and tolls
Thailand expressway tolls
Toll roads around Bangkok charge by distance, roughly 10 to 240 THB depending on the route. The inner Bangkok expressways, Chaloem Maha Nakhon and Si Rat, have been capped at 50 THB since January 2025. Cash lanes still work at every plaza. Easy Pass and M-Pass are transponders, while M-Flow is a barrier-free camera system on parts of Motorway 7 and 9 that needs your plate registered in advance, so never take a rental car through an M-Flow lane: an unpaid toll is fined up to 10 times the amount. Motorcycles are banned from Bangkok's tolled expressways whatever the engine size, and the intercity motorways only ever admitted big bikes of 400cc and up, so no rental scooter qualifies. The fine is up to 1,000 THB.
Renting a scooter without breaking the law
To drive or ride legally in Thailand you must carry your home licence together with the 1968 version of the international driving permit, and you cannot buy that permit once you are already abroad. Helmets are compulsory by law for riders. Many scooters rented out in tourist areas are unregistered and cannot legally be used on a public road, which also tends to void your travel insurance.
Did you know?
- Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that was never colonized by a European power.
- Bangkok is globally renowned as a premier street food capital, offering an unparalleled variety of affordable, high-quality dishes that are central to the city's daily culinary culture.
- The Thai greeting "wai" (palms together, slight bow) is everyday politeness: the higher the hands, the more respect it shows. As a visitor you are not expected to wai children or service staff, but always return a wai when one is offered.
- In Thai culture, the head is considered the most sacred part of the body. Never touch anyone's head, even a child's.
- Thailand's traditional new year, Songkran, falls in mid April after the rice harvest. Pouring water is the central act, a sign of cleansing, respect and good fortune, and whole streets in Bangkok and Chiang Mai turn into water fights. UNESCO added Songkran to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2023.
- The sale of alcohol in Thailand is restricted between midnight and 11am. Licensed hotels, international airport terminals and authorised entertainment venues are exempt, but an ordinary shop or restaurant is not. Buying or drinking outside those hours can end in a fine, so pick up drinks earlier in the day.
- Thailand has nine UNESCO World Heritage sites, six cultural and three natural. The ruined old capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, both inscribed in 1991, are the best known. Ayutthaya is an easy day trip from Bangkok, while Sukhothai sits about 430 km north and needs an overnight stay. The newest entry is Wat Phra Mahathat in Nakhon Si Thammarat, inscribed in 2026.
- Thailand charges value added tax at a general rate of 7 percent. In shops, markets and ordinary restaurants the figure on the label or the menu already includes it, so the number you see is the number you pay. That is the opposite of the United States, where tax is added at the till.
Cities these prices cover
The prices on this page are typical for these cities and the tourist areas around them.
- Bangkok กรุงเทพมหานคร
- Chiang Mai เชียงใหม่
- Phuket ภูเก็ต
- Pattaya พัทยา
- Koh Samui เกาะสมุย
- Krabi กระบี่
- Ayutthaya พระนครศรีอยุธยา
How Thailand compares
The TruePrice Index for Thailand, next to the countries people weigh it against and its nearest neighbors, all on one scale. 100 is the median of the 60 countries I track.
-
Laos 36 Prices about 49% lower than in Thailand -
Vietnam 47 Prices about 33% lower than in Thailand -
Philippines 47 Prices about 33% lower than in Thailand -
Indonesia 53 Prices about 24% lower than in Thailand -
Sri Lanka 55 Prices about 21% lower than in Thailand -
Myanmar 55 Prices about 21% lower than in Thailand -
Cambodia 61 Prices about 13% lower than in Thailand - Thailand 70 This page
-
Malaysia 82 Prices about 17% higher than in Thailand -
Japan 135 Prices about 93% higher than in Thailand
Common questions about prices in Thailand
Is Thailand expensive to visit?
Short answer: cheap, if you pay what locals pay. Fair prices sit 30% below the 60-country median, while tourist prices are about 3.0× the fair price. On the TruePrice Index, Thailand scores 70, the 16th cheapest of the 60 countries I track.
How much does a day in Thailand cost, without flights and hotel?
Roughly ฿622 (about $19) a day at fair prices, or ฿2,555 (about $76) at tourist prices. That covers two meals, a coffee, a bottle of water, a beer, two transit rides and a short taxi ride. Sightseeing comes on top (฿100 – ฿300 for a top museum or attraction), and accommodation is not included.
Do you tip in Thailand, and how much?
Round up the bill or leave 20-50 THB in restaurants. Massage therapists expect 50-100 THB tip.
What currency does Thailand use?
The Thai baht (THB). On October 3, 2026, 1 USD was worth 33.56 THB. Card terminals and ATMs that offer to charge you in your home currency usually give a worse rate, so pay in THB.
How much is a meal and a beer in Thailand?
A restaurant main course is ฿150 – ฿400 (about $4.50 – $12) at fair prices, while tourist menus charge ฿600 – ฿2,500. A street food meal runs ฿40 – ฿80. A local beer is ฿60 – ฿120 (about $1.80 – $3.60), or ฿150 – ฿300 in tourist bars.
How much money should I bring to Thailand?
Budget roughly ฿622 (about $19) a day for food, drinks and getting around at local prices, or about ฿2,555 (about $76) at tourist prices. Add ฿100 – ฿300 for each major sight, plus your accommodation.
What is the emergency number in Thailand?
If you are not sure who you need, call 191, the police line. Direct lines: ambulance 1669, fire brigade 199.
Sources and method
Where these numbers come from, and how sure I am about each one.
- Prices
- 29 items: 19 verified and 10 estimates
- Checked
- to
- Exchange rate
- 1 USD = 33.56 THB,
- Fuel prices
- Cities
- Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui, Krabi, and Ayutthaya
- Page updated
What the labels mean
- Verified
- Checked against recent local sources.
- Estimate
- Based on related prices and not yet confirmed.
- Rough estimate
- Thin data. Treat it as a ballpark.
- Fair price
- What locals typically pay.
- Tourist-trap price
- What tourists are commonly charged in tourist areas.
- Markup
- The middle of the tourist-trap range divided by the middle of the fair range. 3.0× means three times the fair price.
- TruePrice Index
- Fair prices for all 29 items compared with the median of the 60 countries I track. 100 is the median, 50 means half the median price and 200 twice it.
How to cite
TruePrice Index, October 2026, truepriceapp.com/en/trueprice-index/
Spotted a price that looks off? Email me at [email protected] and I will check it.
This page, in your pocket. Even offline.
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