You can find a studio apartment for $180/mo if you book locally (not Airbnb). Street food is $1–$2 per meal. Co-working spaces are everywhere. My total spend last month came in just under $480. Here is the reality check on that $180 rent: It is 100% real, but you won't find it online. The trick is: Do NOT book long-term on Airbnb before arriving. Book a hostel for 3 days. Once you are here, rent a scooter and drive around neighborhoods like Santitham (just north of Nimman). Look for apartment buildings with phone numbers on signs. Walk in and ask to see a room. I got a clean studio with decent AC, a private bathroom, and a small balcony for 6,500 THB a month (approx. $185 USD). No long contracts, just a deposit. The lifestyle: The internet speed in random