How much does this or that cost in Thailand?  It is a major question for first time visitors. Here are some random prices from around the kingdom.

Pineapples: Tiny pineapples, smaller than a hand grenade, sell for 10 Baht a piece on road stands around Chiang Rai. They come already peeled and ready to eat like an ice cream, with the stalk serving as the handle. It is possible to buy three pineapples for 11 Baht at the roadside stands near the Sarasin Bridge, the bridge that links the island of Phuket to the mainland. You can buy sliced fresh pineapples in most food stores for around 25 Baht. The slices come in a packet with a sachet of a salt, sugar and spice mixture for dunking, 

Dental work: A full clean and check-up at the Grace Dental Clinic in Chiang Mai costs 1,000 Baht. A filling at the dental clinic at the Bangkok Phuket Hospital costs 1,500 Baht.

Groceries: A few items from a visit to Tesco Louts: Whole tenderloin of pork 58 Baht, a liter of Pepsi 21 Baht, a fish cooked to order, enough to feed two 29 Baht, a tin of sardines 8 Baht, large bag of coffee creamer 27 Baht, two loaves of bread 22 Baht, visit to the salad bar, enough for four, 18 Baht and four CD markers 25 Baht.

Taxi: A car to take you from Nai Harn Beach to Phuket Airport will cost you 250 Baht, arranged by PJD tours who can also rent you a motorbike or car. On Phuket you can find a friendly taxi driver who will give you a personal tour of the island, lasting most of the day, for under 2,000 Baht.

Ice carving in the heat of Thailand: It may seem strange but ice carving is a major attraction at top hotels in Bangkok and throughout Thailand. Thai artists can create wonderful sculptures to adorn restaurants and they perform their work so quickly. The picture here was taken at The Boathouse     in Phuket, and these two pieces were completed in less than thirty minutes. Surprisingly the works last for six or seven hours in the tropical heat and are particularly popular during festivals and special events like weddings. And the cost?  Surprisingly little for the work involved. Something the size of these in the picture cost 600 Baht.

Fresh fruit and veg: This stand is on the main highway between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. The selection may not be as large as those in the city markets but the prices here are lower, the produce fresher and the sellers friendlier and less harried. 

Cigarettes: Prices vary by brand. Top names sell for around 640 Baht a carton. The law prohibits the open display of tobacco products. You have to ask for the brand you want. All convenience stores sell tobacco as does Tesco and Big C. A lighter will cost you anything up from 5 Baht.  

Movies: Watch a movie in the first class section of the cinema at Phuket’s Central Festival for 500 Baht. The prices includes pre-movies snacks, a reclining armchair and blanket to view the film from, and a large portion of popcorn and soda to keep you nourished. See the same film at a Bangkok cinema in regular seats for 80 Baht.

Thai rum: The locally produced rum Sang Som retails for around 200 Baht a fifth. Locals drink it with soda or Coca Cola. At restaurants you can order it by the shot or buy a small bottle for about 150 Baht and it will be topped up for you as you enjoy your meal. Wine, both local and imported, is expensive because of heavy government taxes.

Mangoes: Thailand produces some of the world’s finest mangoes. Season and location controls the price. In Bo Sang, the village noted for its umbrella making, mangoes sold for 10 Baht a kilo over the Thai New Year in January. In the following November, when mangoes are out of season, the price in nearby Chiang Mai was 96 Baht a kilo,

Umbrellas: Large hand painted umbrellas, ideal for the garden are on sale for 600 Baht in the village of Bo Sang. Elsewhere in Thailand you can pay as little as 50 Baht for a normal brolly. Banks often give them as gifts for new customers.  

English breakfast: Yes, this is Thailand, but you’ll find lots of restaurants in the main tourist areas offering a large morning meal which will include Britain’s baked bean and English style sausages. Good value at the Queen Victoria Pub in Chiang Mai is their 140 Baht platter which includes mushrooms, two eggs, and good imported tea, Chao Khun, an upmarket restaurant not from Nai Harn Beach has an international breakfast buffet for 140 Baht with unlimited food and coffee.

Sticky rice and mango:
A favorite dessert can cost from 65 Baht upwards, depending on where you go.

Coconut Milk: You’ll find someone selling milk-filled coconuts all over Thailand. Be it in a fancy food store or along the beach. This picture was taken in Rawai in Southern Phuket where the coconuts came cleaned, topped and ready to drink with a straw. The cost was 10 Baht. If you want to make a cocktail out of the drink add a touch of gin. As the expression goes in the Bahamas: Gin and coconut water, good for your daughter.

DVD Copies: Illegal but available at most night markets. They are on the streets everywhere in Pattaya, a little hidden in Patong, on the island of Phuket, and easy to find in the markets in Bangkok. Expect to pay 100 Baht. Buyer beware: Some of these copies were shot in movie houses which may mean the sound you get includes the cameraman, or his neighbors, munching on popcorn.