What Is the Cost Of Food In Thailand?

Thailand has some of the most amazing food of any country I’ve ever been to, and the best thing is it’s super cheap. You can literally eat like a king for less than the price of a bus ticket in western Europe. The cuisine is at the heart of Thai culture, you can really immerse yourself just by eating freshly cooked, delicious Thai food prepared on old rickety food carts at the side of the road. For me, Thai food is a massive draw to visit Thailand along with its beautiful landscapes and wonderful people. But how much does food really cost in Thailand? The short answer not much, as long as you are eating in the right places!

Street food.

Eating street food is one of the best ways to experience authentic Thai food and culture. These old rickety carts are dotted around everywhere in Thailand, and although they don’t look like they would, they produce some of the best food I’ve ever tasted. Street food sold from these old carts are just so quintessentially Thai that you really have to eat from them on your trip. You will have an amazingly delicious meal and you will save a lot of money compared to eating at restaurants.

There are so many different dishes for you to try, there is literally so much choice that you will struggle to try them all without having to book an extra plane ticket for on the way home! The variety of food sold on these carts is just immense and there is really something for every pallet. Personally, I like to see where the locals are eating and buy food from these carts, if it’s good enough for the Thais it’s definitely going to be good enough for you!

So lets get into the prices…

The Cost Of Street Food In Thailand.

฿40-100 (€1-€2.50) Per Dish.

So how much does street food cost in Thailand? Well, it all depends on what you want to eat and where you are in the country. If you want a simple Pad Thai you won’t be paying more than ฿60 but it can be as low as ฿30. Vegetarian dishes are generally going to be cheaper, and seafood will almost always cost you more than meat or poultry. The prices you pay also vary on which region you are in, as a rule of thumb, the further north you go the cheaper it gets and the further south the more expensive you will find it.

But back to street food, you will never be paying much more than ฿100 for a portion of street food, and even ฿100 would be rare to find! Usually, street food comes in at around ฿50-70 (€1.30-€1.80) for a portion. For a meal that is cooked fresh in front of your eyes, and will be absolutely delicious, this is such an amazingly cheap price you just have to give it a go!

Restaurants.

It’s difficult to tell you the prices of food in Thai restaurants because there are really so many different establishments for different budgets. You can find local Thai restaurants that are offering similar food to that of the food carts, also with a similar price. All the way up to Michelin starred restaurants serving meals for ฿7000 (€180).

Now it’s really up to you (and your budget) which of these restaurants you will choose to frequent, but I feel like you get a more authentic feel from the local (usually) family-run Thai restaurants. A few positives to eating at a restaurant over a street food cart is that; you will have more choice on the menu, whereas food carts usually offer just one dish. There will be a table for you to sit and eat your meal, not the case with most food carts. You will be able to purchase drinks with your meal, food carts are in the street so won’t have refrigeration to keep drinks cool. And finally, it’s just nice to sit down and be waited on whilst you eat sometimes.

So let’s talk about the cost of food in restaurants in Thailand…

The Cost Of Eating At Restaurants In Thailand.

฿80-240 Baht (€2.20-€6.50) Per Dish.

Now, as I said before, the prices in Thai restaurants vary greatly. However, the prices I have given here are a rough indication of how much a meal will cost in a local Thai restaurant to a Midrange or western fast food restaurant.

Eating in restaurants for your whole trip will be more expensive than delving into street food for the majority of your time away, but it can be nice on occasion! I will say though that the restaurants in Thailand can be very hit or miss, especially when compared to the street food which is almost always great! I think the fact that the street food carts are in plain view for everyone to see, the food is going to be of better quality. And if it looks ropey you can just find another vendor. Restaurants kitchens are hidden away out the back meaning you can’t see how it’s being prepared. Speaking purely from personal experience, street food is usually much better than the food you are served in cheap restaurants in tourist hotspots.

So the cost of eating food at restaurants in Thailand. Usually expect to pay more than street food. If a plate of Pad Thai costs you ฿40 from a street vendor maybe you will pay an extra 50% in a restaurant (฿60). For a bowl of Khao Soi (an amazing dish from the north of Thailand) expect to pay around ฿60/70 from a food stall, and more like ฿100 in a restaurant. Really just expect to pay around half the price on top of whatever they sell it on the street for.

Food Stores.

There are a wide array of food stores in Thailand. 7/11 is the one most people will of heard of, its an American brand but they have stores all over Thailand. They are really great convenience stores, one of the best features of these stores is the fact that they cook the food they sell in the shop for you.

In the store, they sell great toasties that they will cook for you, which can be a welcome addition of western food to your diet! You will see westerners chowing down on these cheese and ham toasties all over Thailand! They also sell Thai microwave meals very cheaply which they again will cook for you. The quality is obviously not that of a freshly cooked meal, but honestly, they are pretty good. They also sell great Thai Pot Noodles, they have hot water dispensers in the stores to cook them so if you just want something quick then 7/11 is a great place to go!

I don’t want to make a whole sub-section about the cost of food in convenience stores, because they sell so many different things, but I will give you a few items and how much each thing will cost so you can get a rough idea of how much food costs in stores in Thailand…

• Spicy Chicken Basil with Rice – ฿30 (€0.80) For a meal.
• Thai style dumplings – ฿35 (€0.90) For a pack of 5.
• Panaeng Curry with A Pork Omelette – ฿40 (€1.00) For a Meal.
• Hot Dog – ฿27 (€0.70) For a footlong.
• Local Beer – ฿50 (€1.20) 500ml Bottle.
• Water – ฿7-14 (€0.20-€0.40) 1.5-litre Bottle
• Rice 1kg – ฿30 (€0.80)
• Here is a good link to find out more grocery prices in Thailand

Summary.

So as you can see the cost of food in Thailand is extremely low, especially when compared to the west! It can be cheaper to buy food from street vendors than cooking yourself, especially when cooking for one if you’re travelling solo. Also, the chances are you won’t be able to recreate the delicious food on offer yourself as Thais like to keep their recipes secret! Plus if you are staying in hostels most in Thailand don’t have kitchens you can use.

So when in Thailand make sure to try all the street food you can, completely immerse yourself in the food and culture and eat until your heart’s content! For a complete guide to how much your trip to Thailand will cost read this post!