Bangkok is one of the most popular cities in the world for digital nomads – and for good reason. It offers fast and reliable internet, excellent public transport, great food, modern apartments with pools and gyms, and a huge number of cafés and coworking spaces. But how affordable is it on a day-to-day basis?

After visiting Bangkok several times as tourists, my husband and I decided to do something different. In early 2026, we stayed for 47 nights while working remotely to see what it was really like doing an extended stay. We had an amazing experience overall, getting to enjoy the city more as locals than tourists, and having enough time to explore its wonderful neighbourhoods and sights.

In this guide, I’ll break down exactly what we spent as a couple, how much it really costs to live in Bangkok for a typical 30‑day stay, and what you should budget realistically as a remote worker or aspiring digital nomad.

I’ll cover accommodation, transport, coworking spaces, food and drink costs, and the hidden expenses you should know about before moving. Although we stayed for 47 nights, I’ll provide an average cost breakdown for a standard month to make things clearer.

As this guide is about working remotely in Bangkok, our spending isn’t as full-on as it would be for short‑term tourists who dine out for every meal and fill their days with sightseeing. The figures here also exclude one‑off costs like flights and visa extensions, as those aren’t part of a typical monthly budget.

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Bangkok Monthly Budget at a Glance

Our average monthly living costs as a couple came to just under €1240 (about $1445 USD / £1080 / 47350 Thai Baht) for a standard 30‑day month. For comparison, if a single person were to cover the same accommodation costs alone, their monthly budget would work out to around €950.

Below, you’ll find a detailed breakdown of our spending, showing the averages for a 30-day month, plus what those figures look like for a single person.

Category	Average spend over 30 days as a couple (in euros)	Average single person spend (in euros)
Accommodation	640	640
Transportation	87	44
Dining Out	200	100
Groceries	153	77
Cafés	16	8
Nightlife	102	51
Shopping & Activities	32	16
Internet/Sim Cards	5	5
Drinking Water	3	2
Total	1238	943

Percentage breakdown

Of course, this is based solely on my own experience. Everyone is different and has different budgets, needs and spending habits, but this amount allowed two people in their late 30s (*cry*) to stay in a good quality apartment with great facilities, eat out at least once every day, use public transportation regularly, and go out and have fun in the city.

Accommodation Costs

Our average expenses for one month / 30 days – €640

Accommodation will likely be your biggest expense in Bangkok. We spent €640 on accommodation across thirty days, which accounted for just over half of our monthly expenditure. We rented a 34-square-metre one-bedroom apartment through Airbnb in Phra Khanong. It was well equipped, with a kitchen, living room, a desk big enough for two people, and a large TV. There was also a separate bedroom and bathroom. 

The condo complex was really lovely and blissfully quiet, with access to a gym, huge swimming pool, and a decent coworking space. There were also on-site conveniences such as a 7-Eleven that was open 24 hours a day – super handy when I needed a late-night cheese toastie (if you know, you know).

Although it was a little far out from the centre (30-60 minutes by train, depending on your destination), we really liked being in a more local environment, especially as prices were much lower for food than downtown.

While our monthly rent wasn’t as cheap as it could have been (6-12 month rental contracts average out at around €200-300 per month), it wasn’t too bad considering it was only for a short-term stay. We got a better deal for an extra two weeks by contacting our host directly after our initial month ended.

Typical Rent Prices in Bangkok

Accommodation in Bangkok can be very good value. With that being said, it has definitely increased in recent years, and there are also some huge price differences depending on which neighbourhood you stay in.

Still, you should expect to pay between €400-€1200 per month for a serviced apartment (with shared amenities like a pool and gym), though you can go even higher if you are craving a more luxurious experience.

If you are staying longer term (i.e. 3 months or more) then your accommodation costs will reduce considerably as you can negotiate a much better price.

Where to Stay in Bangkok

There are far too many areas in Bangkok to list here, but some popular neighbourhoods for digital nomads include Ari, Thong Lo, Sathorn, Phrom Phong, Ekkamai, On Nut, and Phra Khanong. Wherever you want to stay, just make sure it’s near a metro stop.

How to Find Accommodation in Bangkok

Finding a place to rent in Bangkok can be tricky, especially if you are only staying for one month. There are a few options available to you though, just be aware that searching will be time-consuming.

AirBnB

Airbnb is probably the best option if you are staying for a month, and is how we found our apartment. Prices, however, can be pretty ridiculous with the added cleaning fees and service charges. I’m talking €1,000+ for a very basic looking place far outside the city centre. With a bit of looking around though you can usually find something of better value, especially if you search in advance. If you are on a tight budget, you will likely end up further out of the city. 

Legally, Airbnb hosts can only rent out apartments for 30 days or more. If you rent for less than 30 days, you run the risk of the building staff refusing you entry and you having to scramble around for a last-minute plan to stay. Also, pay attention to the small print, as most hosts charge separately for electricity. This is typically 5-7 THB per unit, which can add up if you blast the A/C day and night. Our electricity bill totalled around €30 for one month, but we weren’t there in the hottest season and are quite conservative with A/C. 

Tip: Try booking a stay for a week, then contacting the host to see if they will rent off platform for a better price.

Rental Agencies

There are many rental agency sites that can help you in your search for an apartment, such as PropertyGuru and DDproperty. Estate agents will usually prioritise stays of at least 3 months to make it worthwhile for them, but you may get lucky and find somewhere short-term. It may be a challenging, time-consuming search unless you have a local contact who can refer you to an agent who handles short-term lets.

Google Searches

If you have searched online and found specific condos or apartments you like, try messaging them directly or visiting their office to ask for rates. The latter obviously only works if you are already in Bangkok, but you won’t have to pay any agency fees as you’ll be doing all the work yourself!

Social Media Groups

Social media sites like Facebook are a very common way to find rentals in Bangkok (and southeast Asia as a whole). There are usually groups called“Bangkok accommodation” (or similar) where people post adverts or ask for recommendations. Be aware that there are tons of scammers out there, so never pay a deposit before seeing the apartment first, as that is just a recipe for disaster.

Hotels & Serviced Apartments

If you are struggling to find an apartment or feel you don’t need one during your stay then another option is staying in a hotel. Some of the best sites for this are Booking, Agoda and Trip.

Staying in a hotel rather than an apartment may be a good idea if you are a solo traveller, especially if you don’t plan on cooking. As a couple, we found hotels to be less than ideal as they are often just a single room with one desk and one chair, and rarely have a kitchenette. This is ok for a week, but for a month, it can become a bit challenging. I love my husband, but sometimes we need space from each other!

You can also try and search for serviced apartments on these platforms, although I have noticed that the initial price you see on Agoda or Booking is often really different from the final price once cleaning fees, local taxes and service charges are added. Airbnb, for all its flaws, is a lot more transparent about costs from the get go.

Hotel prices vary dramatically based on the neighbourhood, but on the whole you can find decent rooms for as low as €20 a night. You can find cheaper, but these are often party hostels, or accommodation suitable for a couple of nights but not a longer stay.

Typical price ranges for hotels are:

• Budget – €20-40 per night
• Mid-range – €40-€70 per night
• High-end / luxury – €70+ per night

Tip: Contact hotels and ask if they have special monthly rates. They often don’t, but it’s always worth asking.

Internet and SIM Card Costs

Our average expenses for one month – €5

High-speed internet was included in the price of our accommodation so we didn’t need to worry about paying for it separately. On average though, you should expect to pay around 500 THB per month for high-speed internet (500+ Mbps).

You’ll also want to get a SIM with a data package, which is very good value in Thailand. We purchased a TrueMove 7-Eleven Plan for 199 THB (around €5) which included 30GB of data for one month. This was more than adequate for us as we worked from the apartment and condo’s coworking space, but if you want to work in local cafés, using your phone as a hotspot, you may need a larger data package.

The most well-known phone operators are AIS, True, and DTAC, which offer various packages that range from around 200 THB to more than 1,000 THB depending on the package and duration. You can also buy tourist sims for a month, but these are often way more expensive than local sims.

Note: Sims can be purchased at grocery stores or phone company shops. You will need to show your passport (or another form of photo ID) when purchasing one.

If you don’t want the hassle of getting a SIM card when you arrive then you can get an e-SIM through a service like Airalo. These are a bit more expensive, at around $30 USD for 50GB for one month, but they are convenient if you want to get online as soon as you arrive. You can activate them in advance and immediately be online the moment your plane touches down. 

Coworking Space Costs

A glaring omission from this post (and most likely all future cost‑of‑living breakdowns) is the cost of coworking spaces. My husband and I haven’t used one before. We prefer writing from our apartment, and I also teach part‑time online which would be horribly disruptive in a communal setting. 

In our case, our condo building included a coworking lounge, which was more than enough for the days we wanted to venture out of the apartment, and helped keep our monthly costs low. If your apartment doesn’t include one, I’d recommend budgeting an extra €80-€150 per month for a dedicated workspace.

That said, if you prefer to work away from your accommodation, you’re in luck: Bangkok has dozens of well‑equipped hubs scattered across the city. The easiest way to find them is by searching neighbourhoods popular with expats and digital nomads – like Ari, Ekkamai, Thong Lo, Sathorn, Phrom Phong, Sukhumvit, and Silom – and checking out spaces that match your work style. Community groups like Bangkok Digital Nomads on Facebook often share recommendations and discounts. 

According to my research, day passes range from 200–500 THB (roughly €5-€13), weekly passes for 1,000-2,000 THB ( €27-€53) and monthly memberships for 3,000-6,000 THB (€80-€160) depending on location and amenities. Many coworking spaces also offer day passes or free trial days, which are useful for testing Wi‑Fi speed, chairs, and the overall vibe before committing. 

Transportation Costs

Our average expenses for one month – €87

Bangkok is an enormous, sprawling city, so unless you become a condo baby (which is quite tempting sometimes), you will certainly be using transportation. Luckily it’s pretty affordable, especially if you stick to trains and buses.

Over the course of one month, my husband and I spent approximately €87 on transportation, using a mix of trains, taxis, buses, and even boats! While this may seem high, keep in mind that more than €20 of this total went on two longer distance taxi rides across the city.

BTS & MRT (Metro)

Bangkok’s metro systems are arguably the best way of getting around the city. It’s by no means perfect (the lines are run by different companies so don’t really connect well), but tickets are affordable, the carriages are air-conditioned, and most importantly, it’s the best way to avoid the street traffic. 

The two main networks you’ll probably be using are the underground Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT), where tickets range from 16-42 THB per ride, and the BTS Skytrain, which typically costs 16-65 THB per ride. You can also get a BTS day pass for 150 THB.

Buses

Buses are the cheapest way of getting around the city (other than walking of course), with journeys costing as little as 8 THB. While cheap, they aren’t particularly reliable and often get stuck in traffic. We had a few incidents where we were waiting 20+ minutes for buses that never showed up, in the company of increasingly impatient and disgruntled locals. 

Grab

Grab is one of Asia’s alternatives to Uber. The app works very well in Bangkok, and is a more transparent way of travelling than by classic taxis. Most short distance rides are only a few euros, while a ride from BKK airport to the city centre will average around €20. From our accommodation to the city centre, there were several toll roads which increased the price, so we chose to use the metro more often. Grab rides are usually cheaper if travelling by scooter rather than car.

Dining Out Costs

Our average expenses for one month – €200 euros

Bangkok offers some of the best food in the world at very budget-friendly prices, so you will definitely be eating out a lot. Over the course of a month we spent an average of €200 between the two of us on dining out, which included a mix of street food, restaurants, and international food.

Although we didn’t eat out for every single meal during our stay (we had a proper kitchen at our apartment) we certainly didn’t hold back when it came to food. Excluding higher priced meals, we averaged roughly 65 THB (€1.73) per meal per person, which is fantastic value for money.

Street Food

Street food is the best option if you want to try delicious Thai food at great prices. By this, I mean food stalls, night markets, and casual, open-fronted shophouse restaurants.

Dishes from these usually start from around 50 THB, though you can find some stuff for as low as 30 THB! You can easily eat out for every meal for less than €5 euros if you just stick to street food.

Local Restaurants

The cleaner, more modern-looking restaurants (such as those in malls with AC) will usually set you back anywhere from 80 THB per dish to more than 200 THB. I’ll be honest though, I rarely find them much better than the cheaper options. You often just pay for the comfort and more aesthetic interiors.

International Food

International food is usually far more expensive than local cuisine, so if you need a break from Thai cuisine, you should expect your monthly food expenses to rise. Our two most expensive meals during our stay were pizza and Tonkatsu, which both averaged around €20 per head. Western food is usually as expensive as back home, so we mainly ate Thai food.

Café Costs

Our average expenses for one month – €16

Getting a coffee or tea in Thailand is very economical, especially when compared to northern Europe where an espresso can cost more than €3 (sigh!). Over the course of a month, my husband and I spent around €15 on coffee, tea, and the occasional fruit juice. This figure could have been a lot higher, but we bought coffee grounds from the supermarket so we could brew our own at our apartment in our French press. 

We also often shared drinks as they can be very big. This not only helped lower our expenditure, but also helped limit our sugar intake (Thai drinks can be insanely sweet!).

Here are some typical prices of popular drinks:

• Thai tea – 25-40 THB
• Juices/smoothies – 30-40 THB
• Iced Coffee – 25-40 THB
• Espresso – 55 THB

These prices can certainly go higher, with more fancy cafés charging between 80 to 120 THB for coffee, for example. I’m personally more of a fan of the casual, old school cafés, but the more upmarket ones are good if you plan to work in them.

Nightlife Costs

Our average expenses for one month – €102 euros

Bangkok is home to a dazzling array of bars, so of course we treated ourselves to a tipple or two during our stay – averaging just over €100 for the month. This figure doesn’t include supermarket beers, but rather the evenings we spent in bars and pubs.

In terms of bars, you’re spoiled for choice in Bangkok – with a wide variety of cocktail bars, hidden speakeasies, craft beer pubs, backpacker-friendly drinking holes, and swanky rooftop bars offering sweeping views over the city skyline. However, what you might find surprising is how expensive drinking out can be. 

Imported wines and premium spirits in Thailand can be surprisingly expensive because of high taxes and import duties, making cocktails and wine pricier than many visitors expect. It’s a good idea to opt for Thai beers and local spirits such as SangSom rum or Mekhong whisky which are far more budget‑friendly.

Cocktail prices: Prices vary greatly depending on where you go, with costs ranging from around 150 THB for something classic like a mojito in a casual bar, to 400+ THB for something special in a high-end cocktail bar. We went to some of these during our stay, and paid around €60 euros for four drinks (including service charge). As a native Londoner who has lived in Hamburg (one of Germany’s most expensive cities), spending €15 on a cocktail isn’t entirely unusual for me, but it might be much more than you’d pay in your home city.

Beers: The cheapest options in bars are usually domestic beers like Chang and Singha. Large bottles cost around 120 THB (around 60 THB in grocery stores), whereas a draft beer will set you back around 160 THB. Craft beer on the other hand is as expensive as in Europe, if not more, with pints often costing 350 THB (€9!). 

Grocery Costs

Our average expenses for one month – €153 

As much as I love eating out in Bangkok, I couldn’t do it for every single meal. It’s quite disruptive stopping what you’re working on to leave the apartment three times a day, and Thai food – while delicious – is not always the healthiest. Fortunately my husband loves cooking so we quickly agreed we would have at least one meal at home per day.

We made good use of our kitchen and did several shops at supermarkets during our stay, spending just over €150 on average. This not only included meat, vegetables, fruit, pantry staples like rice and noodles, and other food and drink products, but also cleaning products, toilet paper, and other general groceries.

The most convenient place for groceries is 7-Eleven as they are practically everywhere (apparently there are 14,000 in Thailand), but these aren’t quite as good value as going to a proper supermarket where you can buy in bulk. Larger supermarkets often carry international food products, though these obviously have a high mark-up compared to back home.

During our 47-night stay, we did two large shops at Makro and Lotus hypermarkets, where we spent around €20 each time.

Here are some examples of typical grocery prices:

• 1kg of chicken thighs – 100 THB
• 1kg fresh shrimp – 220 THB
• 5kg of jasmine rice – 100 THB
• Pack of 30 eggs – 120 THB 
• 2L pasteurized milk – 110 THB
• 1kg apples – 90 THB
• 1kg bananas – 40 THB
• 1 loaf of sliced bread – 35 THB
• 1 bottle of cooking oil (1L) – 65 THB

Local markets are also a good place to get fruit and meat, but overall I prefer the experience at the supermarkets. Prices are clearly shown, you don’t need to haggle, and you can get everything at once. One of my best finds was a bag full of passion fruit at the supermarket for less than €3. Such a bargain!

Drinking Water

Our average expenses for one month – €3

As you may be aware, drinking water from the taps in Thailand isn’t advisable. So, unless your accommodation has a filter machine, you will likely need to buy water.

Our apartment luckily had one of the reverse osmosis water machines on site, so we could fill up bottles for just 1 THB per litre. As it was in our apartment block we felt it was safe to drink, and well maintained. We saw some of these reverse osmosis machines on the streets, but couldn’t be sure how often their filters were changed. I suggest using one inside an apartment building, or a commonly-visited spot like a mall, rather than on a random side street. 

If you don’t have one of these or a filter, then you can buy bottles from supermarkets or online. These are best bought in bulk.

Typical water prices:

• 1.5L bottle – 13 THB
• 6L of water – 40 THB
• 20L jugs – 20-80 THB per refill (plus bottle deposit). You can get these delivered by local services, or more premium online services like Sprinkle.

Shopping and Activity Costs

Our average expenses for one month – €32 

Bangkok’s shopping hubs are almost an attraction in themselves. Siam Paragon is packed with luxury brands and an aquarium tucked beneath its glossy floors, while MBK Center is a labyrinth of bargains, from low-cost clothing to quirky souvenirs. CentralWorld offers a mix of international fashion and Thai designers, and Terminal 2 transforms each floor into a different world city, making even window‑shopping a fun experience.

Our average expenses for one month came to just €32 in the shopping and activities category. We didn’t do a whole lot of retail therapy in Bangkok – our focus was on using the city as a base to work. Plus, as digital nomads living out of 15 kg backpacks, we don’t have much extra room for souvenirs. Still, we picked up a few essentials here and there, though I imagine most visitors will spend far more. After all, few can resist the allure of a Bangkok megamall.

Some things we did pay out for:

• Haircuts: We both got haircuts, which were around 250-300 THB at a good quality salon.
• Massages: As a huge fan of massages, I had to treat myself to a few. These averaged around 300 THB for an hour.

Practical Information

Cash, Cards, and ATM Fees in Bangkok

You will likely be using a mix of cash and card payments in Bangkok. While places like shopping malls, more upscale restaurants, and accommodation accept card payments (sometimes with 3% fees), most of the time you will be using cash, particularly if you are eating a lot of street food.

Only around 25% of our transactions were through card during our 1.5 months in Bangkok, which includes accommodation payments. You’ll notice locals using QR codes for payments, but you will need a Thai bank account to make use of these. There are some apps that claim you can use an international card with them, but they are sluggish and often unreliable.

We use Revolut cards when travelling abroad and couldn’t be happier with them. They let you withdraw cash for free up to a set monthly limit, which is a real money‑saver. Just keep in mind that local banks may still charge their own fees. If you’d like to try Revolut yourself, you can sign up here.

Unfortunately there is a hefty ATM charges to withdraw money in Thailand with a foreign card. Most ATMs charge 220-250 THB per withdrawal (as of 2026), which adds up if you use them frequently. So it’s wise to get the largest amount of cash out that you can at one time. The maximum is usually around 30,000 THB at banks such as Krungsi.

Best Time to Visit Bangkok

The best time to stay in Bangkok is usually from November to March. This is when temperatures are cooler and there is less rain and humidity. This is also the most popular period to visit, meaning accommodation prices are higher.

The “summer season” from March to May is an option for those who don’t mind hotter and more humid weather conditions. Accommodation is often cheaper during this period.

The rainy season from May to October is the cheapest time to visit Bangkok, but be aware this is monsoon season, so expect heavy rain and high humidity.