How much does a day in Bangkok cost in 2026?
$20 to $35 a day on a budget. Street food is a dollar or two a dish and the Skytrain is under $2.
Prices checked 2026-09-27. Dollar figures are rounded conversions.
Bangkok is where a small budget goes furthest in a big city. A plate of pad thai from a cart is ฿40 to ฿80, a dorm bed is ฿400 to ฿700, and the BTS Skytrain and MRT run ฿17 to ฿62 a ride. The one expensive ticket in town is the Grand Palace at ฿500.
A budget day, line by line, with 2026 prices and sources.
A budget day in Bangkok
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm bed | ฿400–700 ($12–21) | |
| Street food dish | ฿40–80 ($1.20–2.40) | Pad thai, boat noodles, mango sticky rice |
| BTS or MRT ride | ฿17–62 ($0.50–1.90) | Distance-based |
| Grand Palace | ฿500 ($15) | Dress code enforced: covered shoulders and knees |
| Wat Pho | ฿300 ($9) | Reclining Buddha |
| Chinatown, Chatuchak Market, Lumphini Park | Free | |
| Budget day total | $20–35 |
Bangkok vs Hanoi on the same money
| Item | Bangkok | Hanoi |
|---|---|---|
| Dorm bed | $12–21 | $7–12 |
| Street meal | $1.20–2.40 | $1–1.40 |
| One transit ride | $0.50–1.90 | $0.28 |
| Top paid sight | Grand Palace $15 | Temple of Literature $1.20 |
| Budget day | $20–35 | from $15 |
Five days, roughly
| Style | Per day | Five days |
|---|---|---|
| Budget (dorm, street food, BTS) | $20–35 | $100–175 |
| Mid-range (boutique hotel in Sukhumvit, restaurant dinners) | $80–120 | $400–600 |
| Comfortable (riverside hotel, rooftop bars, spa) | $200+ | $1,000+ |
Frequently asked questions
How much is street food in Bangkok?
฿40 to ฿80 a dish, about $1.20 to $2.40, at the carts and markets. A full day of eating from stalls comes to under $10.
How much is the Grand Palace?
฿500, about $15, for foreign visitors in 2026. It is the most expensive ticket in the city; Wat Pho next door is ฿300.
Is Bangkok cheaper than Vietnam?
Hanoi is cheaper on every line: dorms $7 to $12, a bowl of pho about $1, a city bus $0.28. Bangkok is still very cheap by Western standards at $20 to $35 a day.
How do I plan a trip with these prices?
Say the trip to Travileer, for example "five days in Tokyo on a budget", and it plans the days with times, estimated costs and checked venues. Your first trip is free, no card needed.
Sources
- Packzup, Bangkok travel budget (2026-09-23)
- Off Path Thailand, Bangkok on a budget 2026 (2026-09-27)
- Grand Palace Bangkok, entrance fee (2026-09-27)
- Day Trips Vietnam, Vietnam budget (Hanoi comparison) (2026-09-05)