Are you dreaming of a digital nomad lifestyle that combines work and travel? From September to October 2023, I embarked on a 34-day journey through three Thai cities - starting in Chiang Mai, venturing to Hua Hin, and ending in Bangkok. My adventure began with just a one-way ticket to Chiang Mai, but local recommendations led me to the beach resort town of Hua Hin, before concluding in Bangkok for a cost-effective return flight.
The most fascinating aspect of this journey was experiencing what I call the 'price ladder' - starting from a low-cost city, through a mid-range resort town, to a major metropolis. This progression made me particularly conscious of price differences between cities, leading me to meticulously record every expense in Thai Baht, USD, and Korean Won. This naturally accumulated data has become an invaluable resource for understanding the true cost of living in Thailand.
Living on $22 a Day: My 34-Day Thai Expense Analysis
Analyzing 34 days of data revealed an average daily spending of $22.17. However, there's an intriguing story behind this number. In Chiang Mai, comfortable living was possible for under $20 per day. Expenses increased slightly in the resort town of Hua Hin, and as expected, Bangkok recorded the highest daily costs.
The day with the highest spending ($58.21) was when I experienced horseback riding for the first time in Chiang Mai - a special activity that justified the higher cost. Conversely, my lowest spending day ($8.45) was when I was under the weather and spent the day resting with delivered food. Excluding these extreme cases, most days maintained a stable spending pattern between $15-30.
Useful Payment Tips to Know
During my month-plus stay in Thailand, the GLN (Global Loyalty Network) proved invaluable. It allowed me to instantly see the Korean Won equivalent of local currency transactions, helping maintain a sense of price awareness. While the transaction time was slightly slower, locals were generally understanding about this minor inconvenience.
What surprised me most was the widespread acceptance of GLN. I could use it almost everywhere except for 7-Eleven, cash-only songthaews, and city buses. This allowed me to rely solely on credit cards and GLN without exchanging currency. However, for my next visit to Thailand, I plan to bring at least $50 in cash. When I occasionally needed cash, I managed by asking cafe staff or taxi drivers if I could pay them via GLN in exchange for cash. In Bangkok's department store food courts, I could also get cash back from prepaid card balances, which proved quite handy.
Moving Forward
In this post, I've shared my overall living expenses and payment tips from three Thai cities. In the next post, I'll dive deeper into Chiang Mai's four distinct areas with a detailed analysis of living costs by category. I'll also share more local tips based on my experiences, including those "wish I had known earlier" moments that could make your journey even smoother!
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