Cost of living in Thailand in 2026

In Phuket the prices are as high as they have ever been. And the

exchange rate for the USD is very low. But, you can still find

the little mom/pop restaurants for 70 or 80 baht for a decent

sized good tasting meal. And there are two of the cafeteria style eateries

with the large pre-cooked bins with one entre and rice for 50 baht. The

building itself isn't nuch to look at but the meals are good.

I like it when the restaurant has the menu posted outside usually at the

entrance. That makes it easy to compare prices. Many times tourists come

to Thailand and spend like a tourist thinking eveything is so cheap. But

those of us living here tend to spend like the locals and look for deals and

become thrifty over time.

Hi Cheryl,

I was scanning and saw this.  Did you get more responses?  Published anywhere?  I am interested in Hua Hin area (starting point), and possibly also Rayong.

Thanks, and regards,

Jim

@Intl guy jim

Hello Jim,

So far, no specific experience was shared on Hua Hin. I hope someone living there can provide some information.

In the meantime, feel free to have a look at the following website to get an idea  : https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Hua-Hin

All the best

Bhavna

Tourist city/area cost more.

The longer you get away from it, You going to see the "Thai" prices on everything.

And like i all ready say, Hua Hin is expensive.

When i move here back in 2011 My wife family rent a studio room for 2.800 Thb for one in the family.

Near the universitet in Bangkok.

Last year our family rent again for our niece all so in Bangkok, And same price 2.800 Thb.

We have some Thai friends living in Chonburi city in town house for 3.000 - 3.200 Thb.

House in our area was rente out for 10k to 13k for a long time.

But for a few years now, The price being 9k-10k

Food:

We can eat on the street super cheap.

2 people can eat for 97 Thb at a place we use since we move here in 2015, we keep going back now and then to support her.

Food for 2 people, rice, 2 kind of chicken, little vegetables, small bowl of soup, water 97 Thb...

And it taste so great, And we cant eat more after that, because the portion size is big.

Other place on the street is 120-150 Thb for 2 people.

Tesco Lotus & Marko 120-130 Thb for 2 people. Not that i like the food there, But sometime when we go shopping, We eat there.

Indian restaurant, 5 food dish, 2 fruit shakes, 2 bottle of water and 2 ice desert 780 Thb.

And we take food home to eat at dinner.

Many restaurant we use the price is 200-400 Thb for 2 people.

We use around 1.000 - 1.500 Thb on gasolin per month.

For me, It is much cheaper then back home.

Kindly.

Thanks, Bhavna and Never, I appreciate it.  Glad to see that the prices don't seem to have gone up much since I started looking at Hua Hin a year or so ago!  Still well within my budget..

I finally pulled the trigger and purchased my flight.  Arrive BKK June 24, expect Hua Hin June 25-26.  I'll want to hit the ground running.

Can you recommend where to start to try to find an apartment in the Takiap Thong area (6 months?  I am applying for a one year visa)?

Follow up to above...  Can you confirm that I am reading the map correctly...  Is Takiap Thong about 4-5 miles from the center of Hua Hin?  For me that is an easy bicycle (human powered, not electric) ride.  Which raises another question:  are there used bicycle shops, with a variety of styles at reasonable costs?

Takiab thong is about 6.7-7 km from Hua Hin, If that the one you asking about.

Many many years ago when I/We rent, We use site like ddproperty  (i think it was)

Remember All place for rent online, Have a higher price tag on them, So the owner or agent can give you a discount so you think you made a good deal.

But that normal only get it down to where they hope for in the first place.

I/we all ways ask for  discount even before seeing a place, And a discount more if I/we like it.

We use site like ddproperty  to see where to rent, And go and check out the area.

Talk to the office staff and security guard, Look for shop and place to eat and so on.

Go visits doing the day and evening time to see if some "noise" is around the area and so on.

I all so simple walk into a condo tower office and ask if anything for rent (like the first place i rent in Thailand) that was in a area i like.

You find many many bicycle shops around, Or you can all ways order via shopee thailand.

I do like to use a local shop, And i pay around 6k Thb for a nice mountain bike a few years back.

Kindly.

Thanks, Never!  Would like to buy you a coffee or whiskey to say thanks more concretely, when I get there.    Jim

@Intl guy jim

Thanks for the offer (coffee or whiskey)

But i dont socialise with foreigner any more.

Forgot to write about, Be sure to pay power & water direct to the company.

As some condo tower / landlord like to charge 2-3 time more then the unite price.

Be sure you understand the contract (dont simple trust the landlord / Agent)

Dont know if you have any that can help you out with that ?

If no help, Simple ask for the contract to go and get it translate before signing it.

Don't believe the landlord / Agent if they try to push you to sign with words like.

They might say, they have others coming to look at the place, Or some are coming back for a second look, And so on....

Kindly.

Thanks again for all your suggestions and answers!  It will make my landing much smoother.

I saw there is a way to DM privately?  I'd like to ask you a question, if you're willing..

Again, thanks,

Jim