Thailand Cost of Living Calculator

A single person living comfortably needs roughly 48,100 THB a month in Chiang Mai and 63,500 THB in Bangkok, including health insurance and a 10% buffer. A careful budget lifestyle can cost half that, and a luxury one two to three times more.

Smaller cities such as Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Chiang Rai are the cheapest, followed by Chiang Mai. Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui are the most expensive, mainly because of rent.

For the yearly retirement extension (Non-Immigrant O) you must be 50 or older and show either 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account, a monthly income of at least 65,000 THB, or a mix of the two that adds up to the same yearly amount. This is a visa rule, so it applies even if you spend less.

Yes, if you can. Private hospitals are excellent but expensive, and foreigners are not covered by Thai public health insurance unless they work for a Thai employer. Premiums rise sharply with age, so retirees should budget more.

It gives a realistic starting point based on typical prices in areas where foreigners live. Your real costs depend most on rent and on how often you eat Western food, drink and travel. Use the lines in the breakdown to adjust for your own habits.