This blog will continue to be updated as I travel the world, and relevant information becomes available and relevant spending happens. Last Update: October 9, 2025
Ok, when I originally started this series, it was meant to serve as a tracker of all money in and all money out while I embarked on my journey to pay down my debt while traveling the world.
However, as I revealed in one of my recent posts, for various reasons, the first 15ish months of this adventure have been anything but financially viable. So, I decided to restructure this series to serve as a cost-of-living tracker for each of the locations I visit and live in over the next few years. Additionally, at least for 2025, instead of living in one country for 2-3 months and then moving to another, I am going to sit my ass down in Thailand for most of the year, and take shorter trips to other countries in Southeast Asia, like Cambodia, Bali, and Hong Kong.
As with my first installment of this series, I will do my best to track every penny (ie: Baht) spent while on this journey, including food, transportation, lodging, attractions, self-care, gym fees, etc, etc, etc. Below (in reverse chronological order) is the breakdown of my expenses while living in Thailand. I’ve categorized everything to give you a clear picture of what it really costs to live here, whether you’re a budget traveler, digital nomad, or just curious about the financial reality of long-term travel.
Phuket (September 20 - November):
I wasn’t supposed to hit Phuket until mid-October, but after coming back from Hong Kong with a renewed sense of focus and wanting to “achieve” certain goals, a change of scenery was an absolute must. I’ll go into more via a blog post soon, but for now, let’s keep this space as it’s truly intended:
- Lodging: $1,386.71 (avg. $26.67 per day. Paid through 11/11)
- Airfare: $179.62
- Transportation: $151.01
- Food: $495.74 (avg. $24.78 per day)
- Gym & Supplements: $20.07
- Beauty & Selfcare: $386.50
- Adventuring: $15.27
- Laundry: $8.69
- Presents: $0
- Everything Else: $182.23
Total Expenses: $2,825.84
Bangkok Round Two (August 3 - September 20):
When I started this journey, the main focus was to save money, minimize expenses, and spend as little as possible. While the first fifteen months went pretty much according to plan, since Pattaya (and now back in Bangkok), my focus has been more on enjoying my life and taking care of myself in the ways I really want to, rather than cutting costs and sacrificing self-care.
That welcome mindshift is definitely reflected in the numbers below, and they are also a loud reminder that, despite what you hear and see on social media, Bangkok is not CHEAP. Rather, when living purposefully, Bangkok offers high value for money invested, and there is definitely a DIFFERENCE between the two.
Additionally, my son visited for two weeks, so my Adventuring (including skydiving) and food budgets were much higher than they would have been had I been alone the entire time. That being said, COL (Cost of Living) is lower and QOL (Quality of Life) is much higher than it would be if I were in the States, so… A WIN IS A WIN!
- Lodging: $1,747.39 (avg. $24.96 per day). This number is a little skewed because I decided to head to Phuket early. Because I HAVE SO MUCH SHIT, and already paid the Airbnb through 10/11, I decided to just keep the apartment, coming back to BKK one last time to gather the rest of my things and see friends. In short, I ended up paying for almost three weeks I wasn’t actually there. Not the most financially savvy move, but mentally, MUCH NEEDED.
- Private Car Jomtien – BKK: $58.53
- Local Transportation: $210.25
- Food: $1,233.17 (avg. $25.66 per day)
This time around, I spent a lot more than I should have eating out. Note to self: Don’t do this shit again. We got food at home. - Gym & Supplements: $359.64
Thailand doesn’t have the best variety of supplements, and they are generally more expensive than in the States, so I ordered a bunch and had my son bring them when he visited. - Beauty & Selfcare (incl. Tattoo Removal): $258.24
- Adventuring: $71.65
- Skydiving: $878.30
- Visa Costs: $83.50
- Drone & Business Supplies: $222.84
- Household Expenses: $19.25
- Presents: $92.42
- Everything Else: $161.09
Total Expenses: $5,396.27
A business with suggestive, potentially offensive branding? Count me in! Pictured: CUM Coffee, The Office, Thong Lor
Like I never left…
On Fridays… We Market.
Hong Kong Visa Run (September 5 - 11):
I just hit another 90-day mark in Thailand, which meant it was time for a visa run, with this round taking me to Hong Kong. Unlike my first visa run to Cambodia (where I ended up moving to Pattaya/Jomtien afterward), I decided to keep my apartment in Bangkok. I’ll be heading back there for another month before making my way down to Phuket. So, the Bangkok Round Two expenses (above) cover August 3–October 11, minus the Hong Kong costs broken out here.
- Airfare: $180.59
- Hotel: $646.99
- Grab to and from BKK Airport: $23.26
- Local Transportation: $37.10
- Food: $299.80 (avg. 42.83 per day)
- Adventuring (incl. Disneyland): $150.78
- Presents: $126.69
- Shit I didn’t need but bought anyway: $161.60
Total Expenses: $1,626.81
REALLY yummy Indian cuisine from Sepoy Mess.
Oh, look… A traffic mirror… I just must take a selfie… LOL :/
Hong Kong Disney… Can we get some thrill rides?!
Jomtien/Pattaya (June 9 - August 3):
My original plan was to just stay in the Jomtien/Pattaya area for a month and then head back to Bangkok. However, after Cambodia went sooooo not according to plan, I decided to just stay in Jomtien for almost two months. The goal was to spend AS LITTLE MONEY AS POSSIBLE, and I didn’t quite succeed. Nonetheless, at just under $2100 per month, Pattaya is a bargain.
- Lodging: $1,213.55 ($20.92 per day)
- Hotels in Bangkok: $369.81
I spent a few days in BKK here and there while I was staying in Jomtien. I separated the lodging expenses so my regular apartment/living costs are clear. - Local Transportation: $120.69
- Private Car BKK – Jomtien: $61.26
- Food: $1,132.70 ($20.22 per day)
- Gym & Supplements: $234.99
- Beauty & Selfcare (incl. Tattoo Removal): $398.18
- Adventuring: $24.71
- House Needs: $7.72
- Laundry: $51.30
- Everything Else: $200.39
Total Expenses: $3,815.30
- Daily Average: $68.13
- Monthly Cost of Living: $2,043.91
At some point I think I’ll make my obession with traffic mirrors into some sort of series lol
One thing Pattaya has no shortage of is coffee shops! Pictured: Rocko’s in Jomtien
I went to Pattaya for the beaches… but honestly, they can’t compare to the Caribbean…
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Cambodia Visa Run (May 18-June 8):
Angkor Wat. The Eighth Wonder of the World. When I first landed in Cambodia, I was just a short tuk-tuk ride away from one of the most iconic temple complexes on the planet and ready for three weeks of ancient ruins, tropical landscapes, coastal downtime, and a slow, Southeast Asian rhythm.
Well… let’s just say things did not go according to plan.
While Angkor Wat and Siem Reap mostly delivered what I’d hoped for, the second half of the trip took a turn, complete with sudden itinerary changes, scrapped destinations (which shall now be referred to as The Bad Place), and more rebooked buses and flights than I care to admit. I won’t get into the full story here (I’ll save that for a separate post), but suffice it to say: this was one of those “growth as a traveler” experiences.
As for the budget? It wasn’t just stretched… it was absolutely obliterated. From visa fees and temple passes to tuk-tuk rides and last-minute escape routes, I tracked every dollar and riel (Cambodia runs on both) to break down what this chaotic adventure actually cost in the Kingdom of Wonder.
Let’s dive into what it really cost.
- Airfare: $196
- Lodging: $610.10
- Local Transportation: $29.84
- Bus: $52.53
- Boat: $23
- Food: $497.28 (avg. 23.68 per day)
Due to the kitchen setups and multiple itinerary changes, I ended up eating out for EVERY meal (something I don’t typically do). Cambodia is by far the most affordable place I’ve been when it comes to food, so the daily average is a bit misleading. - Health & Wellness: $23.50
- Visa Fees: $30
- ATM Fees: $15
ATMs here charge AT LEAST $5 per withdrawal, so plan accordingly. - Attractions & Touristing: $196.99
- Presents: $60
- Shit I didn’t need to buy but bought anyway: $147.91
Total Expenses: $1,859.15
- Daily Average: $88.53
- Projected Monthly Cost of Living: $2,655.92
Angkor Wat: Hot, sticky, sweaty, spread out… and worth every penny.
If there are puppies, I will find them. Even on sacred grounds… 😀
Tuk-Tuks are the most efficient way to explore all Siem Reap has to offer.
Bangkok: Round One (February 16 - May 18):
I’ve dreamed of visiting Bangkok ever since the idea of living abroad first entered my mind. Now that I’m finally here, I’m exploring everything this vibrant and boisterous city has to offer. The cost of living here is significantly lower than in the U.S., which extends to many of my favorite things, like healthcare, self-care and beauty treatments, making it even more appealing for me as a long-term destination.
That being said, here’s the good, the Baht, and wallet-friendly of living in the Land of Smiles.
- Airfare (One Way: Dallas – Bangkok): $974.91
To be honest, this is on the high-end. I had to change my ticket a few times, making it more expensive than needed. Depending on how far in advance you get your ticket, plan on $900 – $1100 for a round trip upper/premium economy, with bags, on a decent airline. - Lodging: $2,282.04 (avg. $25.37 per day)
- Transportation: $183.87
- Food & Household Necessities: $1417.33 (avg. $15.79 per day)
- Beauty & Self-Care: $232.05
- Gym & Supplements: $336.16
- Laundry: $41.38
- Visa Expenses & Fees: $77.44
- Presents: $11.49
- Everything Else: $82.66
Total Expenses: $5,639.33
- Daily Average: $62.70
- Monthly Average: $1,879.78
Just one small example of the difference in food costs between Bangkok and the States…
Ahhhh the gym… no matter where I go, this will forever be a necessary expense 😀
Fresh Fruit is cheap, tasty and plentiful in Thailand. I’ve eaten more fruit in the two months I’ve been here than at any other time in my life…
Previous Trips:
To make comparisons easier, I’ve included the daily and monthly averages for every country I’ve lived in since embarking on this grand adventure, including those few months I was back in the States. As a reminder, the totals below include things like lodging or rent, food, transportation or gas, gym fees, supplements, beauty products, mani/pedis, etc. Standard bills/debt payments that I have no matter where I travel, like phone, credits cards, insurance, storage, etc, are not included. The full breakdowns with category details for each location can be found here.
Whether it was sipping espresso in Europe, dodging street food temptations in Asia, or navigating the wild world of American grocery prices, it’s all in here. Gotta keep things fair, right?
London/Manchester/Wales (Two Weeks):
- Total Spent: $3,933.21
Barcelona (Two Months):
- Total Spent: $6,046.50
- Daily Average: $102.48
- Monthly Average: $3,023.25
South Korea (Two Months):
- Total Spent: $4,928.98
- Daily Average: $82.15
- Monthly Average: $2,464.50
Barbados (2.5 Months):
- Total Spent: $6,598.85*
- Daily Average: $94.27
- Monthly Average: $2,828.08
*This total is somewhat skewed because my bestie visited me for a week at the beginning of the trip and my mom visited me for 10 days at the end. Had they not, my totals for food and attractions would have been higher, thus making the overall cost of living slightly more expensive than these numbers reflect. Given this, COL in Barbados is more on par with that of Barcelona, or even the States depending on how much you eat out or partake in all the fun and attractions the island has to offer.
US:
- Daily Average: $172.53
- Monthly Average: $5,175.90
Upcoming Trips:
Night Markets: One of the best ways to experience all the types of food Bangkok has to offer.
September 2025: Phuket
November 2025: Bali
November 2025: States for the Holidays
January – June 2026: Caribbean Snorkeling Adventures!
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