With the recent release of ECA’s Cost of Living survey, many people have been surprised to learn that some of the most expensive cities for expats to live in are not what you’d expect. For instance, Tokyo, Japan is #2, second only to Luanda, Angola. Angola?! Indeed, there are many cities on there that you wouldn’t expect to find, and our beloved Bangkok comes in at 28th on the list of the most expensive cities in Asia. In terms of cost, Bangkok is a bit of a bear to figure out, but it’s one of the things I love – a great night out can cost you a few bucks, or set you back several thousand, depending on what your tastes are.

One of the most common topics of discussion for friends and friends of friends visiting Bangkok is how surprisingly expensive it is. Overall, Asia is much cheaper than any place back home, but this reputation has been perpetuated for so long that it hasn’t really kept pace with reality. I often get asked if I know a ‘good guesthouse’ for $5 or $10, to which I usually reply, “No. I know a guesthouse for $5 or $10, but ‘good’ isn’t really the type of word I’d use to describe it.” If you’re looking for a minimum of western security, amenities and comfort, you’ll likely end up spending around $20 a night, give or take a few bucks. If you’d like, you can also stay in a place like the Conrad Hotel for $300 a night, and I’m sure you can find places that charge more if you really try. Of course, if you spend time on Khao San Road, you’ll likely run into some bearded hippies who chastise you for spending more than $5 a day on a place to sleep, but less than $40 on some good weed.

But what never changes is the cheap food. Granted, the prices do rise, as they do with everything, but if you’re willing to chow down with the locals, you can easily have a huge dinner for $4. In my freelance writer days, there were times when I was poor – like, really poor – and still managed to eat three good meals a day. There were also times where I happened to do particularly well, and dropped enough on a dinner with friends to warrant a facepalm when I got home.

Much of Thai street food is slightly scary, but luckily, much more of it is simply awesome.

Much of Thai street food is slightly scary, but luckily, much more of it is simply awesome.

Much of Thai street food is slightly scary, but luckily, much more of it is simply awesome.At any rate, one of the things I love about this place is that no matter if you have a few bucks in your wallet or a gold Rolex on your wrist, you’ll likely be able to satisfy your gastrointestinal cravings to the nth degree. But don’t fall into the trap of believing that everything in Bangkok is cheap.It’s like most cities in that there are cheap things and expensive things, although the selection here is a bit wider than usual.