To ask “How much?” in Thai, say ราคาเท่าไหร่ครับ (raa khaa thâo rài khráp) or ราคาเท่าไหร่คะ (raa khaa thâo rài khá). Both ask for the price. Add the item or the unit when you need to make the question more specific.
What is “How Much” in Thai?
ราคา (raa khaa) means “price”. Both syllables have a mid tone. The conversational เท่าไหร่ (thâo rài) has a falling tone on thâo and a low tone on rài. In writing you may also see เท่าไร (thâo rai), with a mid-tone second syllable.
Use ครับ (khráp) or คะ (khá) at the end of a polite question, according to how you speak. Thammasat University’s Thai introduction includes the conversational price question and common shopping expressions.
Importance of Asking About Prices
Ask whether the price is for one item, one person or the full order. Listen for the number and บาท (bàat), which means baht. A price of ห้าสิบบาท (hâa sìp bàat) is 50 baht.
Common Phrases to Ask “How Much” in Thai
Start with the examples below and adapt the item or unit to the situation.
1. Shopping in Markets
อันนี้เท่าไหร่ครับ (an níi thâo rài khráp) means “How much is this one?” Point to the item while asking. For produce sold by weight, try กิโลละเท่าไหร่คะ, “How much per kilo?”
2. Dining Out
จานนี้เท่าไหร่คะ means “How much is this dish?” To check the total, ask รวมเท่าไหร่ครับ, “How much altogether?”
3. Transportation
ค่ารถเท่าไหร่ครับ means “How much is the fare?” For a quoted ride, confirm whether the price is per person or for the whole trip.
4. Accommodation
คืนละเท่าไหร่คะ means “How much per night?” To check whether the rate includes breakfast, ask รวมอาหารเช้าไหมคะ.
5. Activities and Tours
ทัวร์นี้คนละเท่าไหร่ครับ means “How much is this tour per person?” คนละ means “per person”. Ask what the price includes before booking.
6. Souvenir Shops
ชิ้นละเท่าไหร่คะ means “How much each?” If the seller is open to negotiating, ลดราคาได้ไหมคะ means “Could you lower the price?” For a posted fixed price, use the amount shown or ask the seller to confirm it.
7. Street Food Vendors
ไม้ละเท่าไหร่ครับ means “How much per skewer?” Use it for food sold on sticks. If you are buying several, you can ask for the total with รวมเท่าไหร่ครับ.
8. Rental Services
เช่าวันละเท่าไหร่คะ means “How much to rent per day?” มีค่ามัดจำไหมคะ asks whether there is a deposit.
Practise with Thai Explorer
Try saying a price question and repeating the amount you hear. If you want to practise with a teacher, see Thai Explorer’s S$45 two-hour Beginner 1 trial and confirm availability.
Conclusion
Practise a short market exchange
- Buyer: อันนี้เท่าไหร่คะ — How much is this?
- Seller: ห้าสิบบาทครับ — Fifty baht.
- Buyer: ห้าสิบบาทใช่ไหมคะ — Fifty baht, right?
Swap in 20 or 100 baht using the Thai numbers guide. See Khon Kaen University’s phrase and number list for more beginner practice.