Is this a fair price in Thailand?
Pick what you're paying for, type what they're asking, and see straight away if it's fair. Taxis, baht buses, ferries, food, massages and SIMs across Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai, checked Nov 2026.
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Fair prices for 33 everyday things travelers pay for in Thailand. "Seen by VacaHack" means we paid it ourselves on camera. "Checked" means we verified it against 2026 sources. Prices drift, so treat these as what a fair deal looks like, not a guarantee.
Bangkok
| What | Fair price | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi: Suvarnabhumi airport to central BangkokOften quoted to tourists: ฿1,000–1,500 at the Level 2 "limousine" desk | ฿350–500 | Use the public taxi queue on Level 1 and insist on the meter. That total includes about ฿75 in tolls and the ฿50 airport fee. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Airport Rail Link to the city | ฿15–45 | Fares are by distance, up to ฿45 to Phaya Thai. Cheapest way in if your bags are light. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Grab or Bolt: Suvarnabhumi to central Bangkok | ฿350–500 | About the same as a metered taxi, but you see the price before you get in. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Metered taxi: starting fare | ฿35 | The meter starts at ฿35 (฿40 in a large 7-seat taxi). If the driver won't use it, get the next one. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Tuk-tuk: short hop (2–3 km)Often quoted to tourists: ฿300+ near tourist sights | ฿100–200 | Agree the full fare in baht before you get in. The same ride on Grab is often around ฿120. Ignore any ฿20 "city tour": it ends at a gem shop. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Bus: Bangkok (Ekkamai) to Pattaya | ฿130–165 | Air-conditioned coach from Ekkamai Bus Terminal, roughly every 30–40 minutes. No need to book ahead. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Taxi: Bangkok to Pattaya | ฿1,500–2,500 | Long trips never run on the meter. Agree the price first, or prebook a fixed-price car. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Thai massage, 1 hour (street shop) | ฿250–400 | Mall chains and spas charge ฿600 and up for the same hour. A ฿50–100 tip in cash is normal. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Foot massage, 1 hour (street shop) | ฿200–350 | Cheaper away from Sukhumvit and Khao San. ฿150 is common in residential areas. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
Pattaya
| What | Fair price | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Baht bus (songthaew), shared ride | ฿15–20 | Since 10 April 2026: ฿15 for 1–10 km, ฿20 max. Older guides still say ฿10. Hop on a moving one and press the buzzer to stop. Tell a parked driver your destination and you've hired a private charter at a much higher price. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Beach chair, all dayOften quoted to tourists: ฿100–150, up to 200 at festivals | ฿50–100 | Official price: ฿50 canvas, ฿100 pool-style sunbed, same for Thais and foreigners. Since 1 May 2026 you can bring your own mat or chair and use any Pattaya-area beach free. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Ferry to Koh Larn (Bali Hai pier), one way | ฿30–40 | Rose to ฿40 on 10 April 2026, though some listings still say ฿30. Last ferry back: 18:00 from Na Baan, 17:00 from Tawaen. Island songthaews stop picking up at 3pm. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| 2-hour all-you-can-drink (Butsaba, Soi Buakhao) | ฿199 | Seen on VacaHack's own visit. The Soi Buakhao and Tree Town area is far cheaper than Walking Street. GuideSeen by VacaHack, Nov 2026 |
| Moo kratha (Thai BBQ) buffet | ฿150–399 | The cheapest we've found near Soi Buakhao is ฿150–200 a head. Others go up to ฿399, mostly depending on the seafood. GuideSeen by VacaHack, Nov 2026 |
| Foot massage, 2 hours (Nemo's, Soi Buakhao) | ฿350–400 | Paid at Nemo's on VacaHack's own visit. Beachfront shops charge more. GuideSeen by VacaHack, Nov 2026 |
| Bus: Suvarnabhumi airport to Jomtien | ฿130–145 | Direct airport bus, no need to go into Bangkok first. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Taxi: Suvarnabhumi airport to Pattaya | ฿1,200–1,500 | Agree the price before loading bags, or prebook so a car is waiting. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
Phuket
| What | Fair price | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi: Phuket airport to Patong | ฿700–800 | Meter reads about ฿600–700, plus a ฿100 airport fee. The fixed-fare counter charges ฿800. In September 2026 a driver was made to refund ฿2,700 after charging ฿3,500 for an ฿800 trip. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Grab or Bolt: Phuket airport to Patong | ฿550–950 | Bolt usually comes in lowest. Prices surge when several flights land together. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Smart Bus: airport to Patong, Karon or Kata | ฿100 | Flat ฿100 per person. Slow, but the cheapest way off the airport. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Taxi: Patong to Kata or Karon | ฿400–600 | Phuket has no real meter culture, so agree the price first. Grab or Bolt is often cheaper. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
Chiang Mai
| What | Fair price | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Red truck (songthaew), shared ride in town | ฿30–50 | Wave one down, say where you're going, and agree the price. Around ฿30 inside the moat, more to Nimman. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Chiang Mai airport to the Old City | ฿80–200 | The airport is only 4 km out. Grab runs about ฿80–180; the official airport taxi about ฿150–200. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Tuk-tuk ride in town | ฿80–150 | Agree the fare first. A red truck is cheaper if you don't mind sharing. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Shared red truck to Doi Suthep, one way | ฿50 | Leaves from Chang Phueak Gate or the zoo once 8–10 people are on board. A private round trip runs ฿300–500. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
Anywhere in Thailand
| What | Fair price | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Pad thai from a street stall | ฿50–80 | The same dish in a tourist restaurant is ฿150–250. That's a different venue, not a scam. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Large Chang or Leo at 7-Eleven | ฿45–65 | 7-Eleven prices are printed on the shelf and the same for everyone. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Beer in a bar | ฿80–180 | Local bars sit at the low end; rooftops and Walking Street at the top or above. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Bottled water, 1.5 litre (7-Eleven) | ฿13–20 | Beach vendors charge more, which is normal. Most visitors stick to bottled or filtered water. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Tourist SIM, about 8 days | ฿299–499 | Airport desks charge more than 7-Eleven or shops in town. A 30-day unlimited plan is about ฿1,199. Bring your passport. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| ATM fee on a foreign card, per withdrawal | ฿150–220 | Most banks charge ฿220. AEON machines in Big C and Lotus's charge ฿150. Always choose to be charged in baht, never your home currency. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Scooter rental, per day (110–125cc) | ฿150–350 | Cash deposit of ฿500–2,000 is normal. Don't hand over your passport, and film the bike before you ride off. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
| Tip for a street-shop massage | ฿50–100 | Cash, straight to the therapist. Closer to 10% at a proper spa. GuideChecked, Nov 2026 |
Last checked Nov 2026. Spotted a price that's changed? Tell us and we'll update it. VacaHack may earn a commission on bookings made through partner links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Quick answers
How much should a taxi from Suvarnabhumi airport to central Bangkok cost?
About ฿350–500 on the meter, including roughly ฿75 in expressway tolls and the ฿50 airport fee. Use the public taxi queue on Level 1. The Level 2 desks quote ฿1,000–1,500 for the same trip.
How much is a baht bus in Pattaya in 2026?
฿15 for trips of 1–10 km and ฿20 at most, since 10 April 2026. Many guides still say ฿10, which was the fare for about 30 years before the increase.
How much is a beach chair in Pattaya?
The official price is ฿50 for a canvas chair and ฿100 for a pool-style sunbed, the same for Thais and foreigners. Expect to be asked ฿100–150. Since 1 May 2026 you can also bring your own mat or chair and use the beach free.
How much is the ferry to Koh Larn?
฿40 each way from Bali Hai pier since 10 April 2026, though some listings still show ฿30. The last ferry back leaves Na Baan at 18:00 and Tawaen at 17:00.
How much is a taxi from Phuket airport to Patong?
About ฿700–800 by metered taxi including the ฿100 airport fee, or ฿800 at the fixed-fare counter. Grab and Bolt run about ฿550–950, and the Smart Bus is a flat ฿100.
Does the price checker work without internet?
Yes. Open it once and add it to your home screen. Prices are saved on your phone, so it works with no signal. Currency conversion uses the last rate it downloaded.