How much does a trip to Thailand cost? 2027 budget for 10 days

The totals

These totals cover everything on the ground for the whole trip: rooms, three meals and drinks every day, the flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and from Chiang Mai to Phuket with a checked bag, every airport transfer, boat, bus and taxi, the ferry to Phi Phi, the sights on the route, a local SIM and a 10% buffer for snacks, tips and small surprises. Only the international flight is separate, and it is priced at the end. Euro figures use the Bank of Thailand rate of 20 October 2026 (EUR 1 = THB 37.69).

The model trip

Two adults share one private room for 10 days and 9 nights, from 12 to 21 January 2027, following the Phuket version of our Thailand in 10 days itinerary: two nights in Bangkok's old town for the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and the river; a morning flight from Don Mueang to Chiang Mai for three nights, with Doi Suthep, Wat Pha Lat, the Old City temples and a cooking class; a flight to Phuket for four nights at Bang Tao, with a day in Phuket Old Town and a ferry day to Phi Phi; and home from Phuket. Prices were checked on 21 October 2026.

The totals assume passports that need no visa for this trip. Since 15 September 2026, citizens of every EU country, the UK, Switzerland, Norway, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand can stay up to 30 days for tourism without a visa, and the Thailand Digital Arrival Card is free. See Thailand entry requirements. Where a hotel or restaurant publishes no price for these dates, the figure is an estimate marked "about", based on the rates and menus we could see.

Budget: about THB 48,800 for two

Simple private doubles with their own bathroom, noodle stalls and markets, the airport train and buses, and economy flights with a bag.

• Rooms, about THB 12,000. A simple air-conditioned double in Bangkok's old town (about THB 1,200 a night), Sleep Guesthouse in Chiang Mai's Old City (from THB 1,190 a night with breakfast for two) and a small guesthouse near Bang Tao beach (about THB 1,500 a night in January).
• Food, about THB 7,300. About THB 400 a day each: congee or a simple breakfast (about THB 80), a bowl of khao soi at a place like Khao Soi Mae Manee (THB 40-120), curry and rice at a market for dinner (about THB 150), and coffee, fruit or roti. The guesthouse breakfasts and the cooking-class lunch are deducted.
• Getting around, about THB 18,500. Two domestic flights with a checked bag (about THB 2,400 each for Bangkok to Chiang Mai and THB 3,000 each for Chiang Mai to Phuket), the Airport Rail Link (THB 45) and express boats (THB 19) in Bangkok, a shared songthaew up Doi Suthep, the Phuket Smart Bus to and from the airport (THB 100), buses to Phuket Old Town, a road transfer to Rassada pier and the Andaman Wave Master ferry to Phi Phi (THB 1,200 return each).
• Sights, about THB 4,800. The Grand Palace with Wat Phra Kaew (THB 500), Wat Pho (THB 300), Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh (THB 50 each), Doi Suthep (THB 30), a donation at Wat Pha Lat, a morning cooking class in the Old City with Asia Scenic (THB 1,000), a museum in Phuket Old Town (about THB 200), the Tonsai pier fee on Phi Phi (THB 20) and small change for markets and viewpoints.
• SIM and extras, about THB 1,800. An AIS 15-day tourist SIM each (THB 699, unlimited data) and laundry.
• Buffer, about THB 4,400.

Mid-range: about THB 85,200 for two

Three- and four-star hotels with a pool on Phuket, sit-down meals, private cars for every airport run and the longer hops.

• Rooms, about THB 26,500. A small boutique hotel in the Bangkok old town (about THB 2,500 a night), U Chiang Mai in the Old City (from THB 1,799 plus 18.7% tax and service, with breakfast; about THB 2,500 a night in January) and a resort with a pool at Bang Tao (about THB 3,500 a night).
• Food, about THB 17,900. About THB 1,000 a day each: a restaurant meal at lunch and dinner, like the khao soi (THB 240) or the Gang Hung Lay pork curry (THB 280) at Gaj Kitchen & Bar in Chiang Mai, plus 10% service and 7% VAT, a dessert, coffee and a cold drink. The hotel breakfasts in Chiang Mai and the cooking-class lunch are deducted.
• Getting around, about THB 25,200. The same two flights, a private sedan to and from both Bangkok airports (about THB 600 each way), short car transfers in Chiang Mai, a private car up Doi Suthep, a private car from Phuket airport to Bang Tao and back (from THB 1,000 each way), cars to Phuket Old Town and Rassada pier, taxis in town, and the ferry.
• Sights, about THB 5,800. As above, plus a 60-minute massage each at Wat Pho (THB 520).
• SIM and extras, about THB 2,100.
• Buffer, about THB 7,700.

Comfort: about THB 167,800 for two

Riverside and boutique hotels, a beach resort with breakfast, restaurant meals with drinks, one set dinner by the river and a car whenever you want one.

• Rooms, about THB 76,000. Riva Surya on the river in Bangkok (Urban Room from THB 4,357 plus tax; about THB 5,500 a night), a suite at Thai Akara Lanna Boutique in Chiang Mai (THB 11,000 a night with breakfast) and Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket at Bang Tao (from THB 5,000 plus tax and service; about THB 8,000 a night in January with breakfast).
• Food, about THB 35,000. About THB 2,000 a day each: long lunches and dinners at restaurants like Gaj, a cocktail (THB 350 plus service and tax) or a dessert, and one set dinner at Chakrabongse Dining in Bangkok (THB 2,800 net, food only). Hotel breakfasts in Chiang Mai and Phuket and the cooking-class lunch are deducted.
• Getting around, about THB 32,000. The two flights, SUVs to and from every airport, a private car for Doi Suthep and Wat Pha Lat, cars to Phuket Old Town and the pier, taxis whenever you like, and the ferry.
• Sights, about THB 6,900. As above, with two massages each at Wat Pho.
• SIM and extras, about THB 2,600.
• Buffer, about THB 15,300.

One day at each level: Doi Suthep and Wat Pha Lat

Day 4 starts early on the mountain above Chiang Mai: the golden chedi of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, then the quiet forest temple of Wat Pha Lat on the way down, and the afternoon back in the Old City. Costs are per person and include half the room.

• Budget, about THB 1,400. Breakfast at the guesthouse, half of the songthaew up the mountain (about THB 250 each), Doi Suthep (THB 30), a small donation at Wat Pha Lat, khao soi for lunch, curry and rice at a market for dinner, a drink and fruit, and half of the room.
• Mid-range, about THB 3,000. Breakfast at the hotel, half of a private car for the morning (about THB 500 each), the same tickets, lunch and dinner at restaurants with service and tax, a dessert and coffee, a short taxi, and half of the U Chiang Mai room.
• Comfort, about THB 8,600. Breakfast at the hotel, half of a car and driver, the same tickets, a long lunch, dinner with a cocktail, a taxi in the evening, and half of the Thai Akara suite.

Flights and the total with flights

Thai Airways flies from London to Bangkok, with January 2027 return fares from GBP 834 on its fare calendar. Allow about GBP 900-1,200 per person (about THB 40,300-53,700) for an economy return on these dates; from Frankfurt, Lufthansa shows January fares from EUR 736, so allow about EUR 800-1,100. Airport charges are collected in the fare.

This trip ends on Phuket, so either book a ticket that starts in Bangkok and ends with a Phuket to Bangkok flight, or add a separate one-way flight from Phuket to Bangkok on the last day (about THB 2,500 per person; Thai Airways shows returns from THB 4,760). Leave plenty of time between two separate tickets.

With the London flight and that connection, the whole trip comes to about THB 67,200-80,600 per person on a budget, THB 85,400-98,800 mid-range or THB 126,700-140,100 in comfort. Tipping is not expected; in restaurants without a service charge, leaving about THB 20 is a kind gesture. The buffer covers it.