Thailand · Living Guide
Tuition waived? Your living costs still need a plan.
Understanding your costs before you leave means fewer surprises after you arrive. Estimate your monthly budget by city and lifestyle — rent, food, transport, and utilities included. Start with the overview, then tune the calculator for your city and lifestyle.
Monthly survival range
Cost reality check
Tuition waived does not mean life is free.
Use this page to see the money you still need for rent, food, transport, utilities, deposits, and arrival costs before you commit to a scholarship or university.
A tuition-fee waiver can still leave a monthly funding gap.
Always compare the stipend against the city you will actually live in.
Budget baseline
฿8,988
average / month
6-month runway
฿53,925
before tuition and visa extras
City spread
฿5,900-฿13,200
lowest to highest budget city
Scholarship check
Ask this before celebrating any funding offer.
Tuition waiver
You still pay living costs.
Tuition + stipend
Compare stipend against city total.
Full scholarship
Confirm rent, insurance, flight, and deposits.
City overview
Scan the monthly cost before you calculate.
Sorted by budget lifestyle. Tap the calculator below for exact controls.
Isan Region (Northeastern Thailand)
First month: ฿17,500
Monthly range
฿5,900-฿12,500
comfort up to
฿26,800
฿1,800
฿3,000
฿500
฿600
Includes estimated flight ฿8,000 and 2-month deposit in first-month view.
Chiang Rai (MFU)
First month: ฿19,400
Monthly range
฿7,000-฿14,200
comfort up to
฿30,500
฿2,200
฿3,600
฿500
฿700
Includes estimated flight ฿8,000 and 2-month deposit in first-month view.
Southern Thailand
First month: ฿20,200
Monthly range
฿7,600-฿15,600
comfort up to
฿33,600
฿2,300
฿3,900
฿700
฿700
Includes estimated flight ฿8,000 and 2-month deposit in first-month view.
Hat Yai
First month: ฿20,800
Monthly range
฿7,800-฿15,800
comfort up to
฿34,500
฿2,500
฿3,900
฿700
฿700
Includes estimated flight ฿8,000 and 2-month deposit in first-month view.
Chiang Mai
First month: ฿23,100
Monthly range
฿9,100-฿17,500
comfort up to
฿39,000
฿3,000
฿4,500
฿800
฿800
Includes estimated flight ฿8,000 and 2-month deposit in first-month view.
Chonburi / Eastern Thailand
First month: ฿23,700
Monthly range
฿9,700-฿20,400
comfort up to
฿43,700
฿3,000
฿4,800
฿1,000
฿900
Includes estimated flight ฿8,000 and 2-month deposit in first-month view.
2 more cities are available inside the calculator.
Estimated Monthly Cost · per month
฿4,000
Rent
Shared room or dormitory
฿5,400
Food & Drinks
A mix of local markets, street food, and the occasional restaurant
฿1,200
Getting Around
Daily bus, songthaew, Grab, and the occasional taxi
฿1,000
Utilities & Internet
Electricity, water, mobile data, and WiFi
City comparison · Budget-Conscious
Before you leave — funds needed
฿27,600
Not included in these estimates
Tuition fees • Health insurance • Visa & immigration fees • Books & supplies
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