On $500 per month in Chiang Mai, most people will be able to afford fairly basic accommodation and utilities, food, clothing and toiletries, and transportation. Just not much else. To put it into perspective, $500 per month is just over $16 a day. And that has to cover rent, too!
People Also Ask
A big question that is asked all the time is could I live comfortably in Thailand with only 500 dollars a month. My answer to that is a big yes. First thing we should do is get the, must have expenses out of the way and those are food, shelter, and clothes.
Is $500 enough for Thailand? It is fine to stay with that budget in small city or town not in big cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket etc. And if you adapt your lifestyle to be local people by eating street food or stay in reasonable price of accommodation. It is enough for 500 USD.
A passport and a boarding pass are required when you declare on the form. If you enter Thailand via land/sea, you will need to have cash of or equivalent to 20,000 Baht per person or 40,000 Baht per family.
Mid Range Budget: Average daily budget: $50-100 USDVisit all the best attractions, even if they cost a bit more. Treat yourself to some nice cocktails on the beach here and there. Book a one-hour Thai massage, or maybe throw in a full-day scuba-diving trip.
In Thailand, USD $100 Can Get You:10-15 meals from any number of Bangkok street food stalls. 300 Thai beers. 2-5 nights in a three-star Phuket beach resort.
Is $1000 USD enough for Thailand? Yes, $1000 is more than enough to keep you housed, fed and hydrated in Thailand for up to two months if budgeted correctly. Most ex-pats living in Thailand get by on less than $500 per month, but if it is your first time there, it may take some time to adjust. Learn the currency.
It's easy to top up, gives you an excellent exchange rate, and you can use it to pay for things in Thailand. As you can see, having cash is still a must in Thailand.
CAN I ALSO PAY WITH FOREIGN CURRENCY IN THAILAND? In Thailand you can only pay in baht in most shops, supermarkets or restaurants . An exception are larger hotels, airports or international chains, especially in the capital Bangkok. Here you can sometimes also pay with foreign money, for example US dollars or euros.
Food: Eating in Thailand is often inexpensive, with street food being a popular and inexpensive choice, with prices ranging from 30 baht (90 cents) to 80–90 baht ($2.5 USD). Restaurant meals can range from 50 to 500 baht, depending on the cuisine and establishment. Scroll down to the food section for more details.