Compared to other parts of Thailand, Isaan is SUPER cheap and quite a bargain, especially when compared to the other parts of the country. I averaged around 900 baht ($25 USD) a day. That included only private rooms, hiring motorbikes to take me around (see points above), and drinking a few too many beers with my friends who live in the region. Here are some common prices:
- Dorm bed: 100 baht
- Private room with bathroom: 300 baht
- Bike hire for the day: 300 baht
- Short distance train rides: 50 baht
- Phimai Historical Park: 100 baht
- National Park fees: 50-200 baht
- Car hire for the day: 1200 baht
- Som tam and rice: 40 baht
- Soup from a street vendor: 35 baht
A daily budget of $15–25 USD would be plenty for Isaan if you were to stick to dorms rooms (or the occasional cheap private room), street food, and buses (or had your own transportation). If you were hiring drivers, wanted more Western meals, a few more beers, or only private rooms with A/C, I would budget $25–35 USD per day. For anything higher than that, you’re just spending too much money for no reason!
I wish I had spent more time in Isaan. I loved it and I strongly, STRONGLY encourage you to go there to see what Thailand is like away from the massive tourist industry and the “banana pancake” trail filled with backpackers. It’s the cheapest area of Thailand and, to use a cliché, the most “authentic.”
Visit it.
