Trip to Thailand Cost From Nepal: Study Budget Guide
What a study trip to Thailand actually costs from Nepal — tuition, Bangkok living costs, visa fees, and the first-year total families should budget for.
Direct answer
There's no single "trip cost" figure because the biggest expense is tuition, and that varies by institution — from THB 885,800 total at GA Siam to THB 1,403,000 total at AIHM. On top of that, budget THB 240,000 for a year of Bangkok living costs, and roughly THB 7,000 for ED visa and renewal paperwork. Add these three together yourself using your chosen institution's fee — we won't do that sum for you here because the right number depends entirely on which programme and instalment schedule you pick.
This guide breaks down each piece so you can build your own first-year estimate.
What actually makes up the cost
A study trip to Thailand has three separate cost blocks, and families often only budget for the first one:
- Tuition — paid to the institution, usually in instalments across the programme, not one lump sum.
- Living costs — rent, food, transport, phone/internet in Bangkok.
- Visa and compliance costs — the ED visa itself, plus 90-day extension paperwork that continues through the whole programme.
None of these should be added into a single "total cost of study" number without knowing your specific instalment plan — tuition is quoted here as a total programme fee, not a yearly one, and mixing it with an annual living-cost figure will give you a wrong number.
Tuition by institution
| Institution | Total programme fee | Programme length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GA Siam (Global Academy at Siam University) | THB 885,800 total | 4 years | Dual degree with La Trobe University or University of Victoria. Confirm the actual instalment schedule with admissions — this is a total, not a per-year fee. (globalacademy.siam.edu) |
| RIC Bangkok (Business track) | THB 927,000 total | 4 years | Design track is THB 695,000 total over roughly 3 years. Fee sheet dated 6 Jan 2025 — reconfirm the current rate with admissions before relying on it. (rafflesinternationalcollege.ac.th) |
| AIHM (BBA in Global Hospitality Management) | THB 1,403,000 total tuition | 3.5 years | Add roughly THB 113,200 in compulsory extras (uniform, insurance, visa, application) across the whole programme — this is separate from tuition, not folded into it. (aihm.ac.th) |
The catch with all three: these are quoted as total programme fees, divided unevenly across semesters by each institution. Don't assume you can divide the total by the number of years to get a clean annual instalment — ask admissions for the actual payment schedule before you commit funds.
Living costs in Bangkok
Bangkok is genuinely one of the cheaper big-city study destinations — a full month of living costs here is less than a single week of equivalent costs in New Zealand, Canada or the UK.
| Accommodation type | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| University-linked hostel/dorm, shared | THB 2,500–7,000/mo |
| Off-campus studio or shared apartment | THB 6,000–18,000/mo |
| Serviced apartment/condo (or shared with a flatmate for roughly half) | THB 20,000+/mo |
| Local transport (BTS Skytrain/MRT + local transport) | THB 1,000–3,000/mo |
A realistic total monthly budget — rent, food, transport together — runs THB 15,000–30,000/mo (roughly US$400–800). On top of that, budget THB 30,000–50,000 as a one-off for first-month setup costs (deposit, basic furnishings, SIM card, initial groceries). For a full year, this guide's calculator uses THB 240,000 as the living-cost baseline — check it against your own expected monthly spend using the free Master Reckoner tool, which matches your course, costs, entry requirements and English score together.
AIHM is a partial exception: it bundles Health & Accident Insurance (THB 5,000/semester) and Visa Expenses (THB 10,000/semester) directly into its own fee schedule, so some of what's a separate living-cost item at other institutions is already inside AIHM's quoted tuition figure.
Visa and document costs
Thailand's student visa is the Non-Immigrant ED visa, applied for at a Thai embassy or consulate before travel. The costs attached to it:
- ED visa application: THB 2,000 (single-entry) or THB 5,000 (multiple-entry)
- 90-day extension paperwork: THB 1,900 per renewal at Thai Immigration — this continues throughout the programme, not just at entry
- Financial proof required: bank statements showing THB 50,000–100,000 equivalent (the exact figure varies by consulate)
Thailand has no single fixed "show funds" figure the way some other destinations require — what gets checked varies by consulate, so confirm the current ask with the specific embassy or consulate you're applying through, not just the institution's own guidance.
Other required documents: an offer/acceptance letter from the institution, attested academic transcripts with certified English translation where needed, English proficiency proof or a placement test score, a passport copy (plus a parent's passport copy if the applicant is under 20, required at RIC Bangkok), and a passport-size photo to the institution's specification.
Why this is cheaper than some alternatives
None of the three institutions requires the higher IELTS 6.0+ bands typical of branch campuses in New Zealand, Canada or Malaysia — IELTS 4.5–5.5 covers general entry across all three, and GA Siam even offers a free Pearson Versant placement test instead of an external score. That lowers one real cost families often forget: repeated IELTS attempts. For a full picture of Thailand as a study destination, including visa categories and transfer pathways, see the Thailand destination hub.
Common questions
How much does a year of study and living in Bangkok cost altogether?
It depends on your institution's tuition instalment and your accommodation choice. Tuition is a total programme fee (THB 885,800–1,403,000 depending on institution and programme length), living costs run THB 240,000/year in this guide's baseline, and visa-related costs add roughly THB 7,000. Work out your own first-year total using your specific institution's instalment schedule rather than dividing the total fee evenly.
Do I need to show a fixed amount of money for the visa?
Thailand doesn't have one universal government figure. Consulates typically ask for bank statements showing THB 50,000–100,000 equivalent for the ED visa, but this varies by which consulate you apply through — confirm the current requirement directly with your nearest Thai embassy or consulate before travel.
Is Bangkok really cheaper than studying in Australia, Canada or the UK?
On living costs, yes — a full month of Bangkok living costs less than a single week of equivalent living costs in those destinations. On tuition, GA Siam's dual degree route (THB 885,800 total) leads to a genuine La Trobe or University of Victoria qualification at a fraction of what the same years would cost studied entirely overseas — but the exact saving depends on which years you spend where, so compare instalment schedules rather than headline totals.
Can I work part-time to cover some of these costs while studying?
No. The standard ED visa does not permit employment, and working without a permit risks fines, detention and deportation. Institution-run internships built into the curriculum are not the same as independent paid work, so don't budget on part-time earnings covering any part of your living costs.
Official sources
- Global Academy at Siam University (La Trobe Bangkok): globalacademy.siam.edu
- Raffles International College Bangkok: rafflesinternationalcollege.ac.th
- Asian Institute of Hospitality Management (AIHM): aihm.ac.th
For more destination comparisons and planning guides, browse the full blog.