BANGKOK – Citizens in Thailand have delivered a blunt message to the new government: bring down living costs now. A new survey from the National Statistical Office (NSO) found that 69.9 percent of respondents see rising everyday expenses as their biggest concern.
Across the country, families are asking Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s administration to move quickly on food prices, fuel, electricity, and cooking gas before more people slip deeper into debt or poverty.
The NSO released the “Quick Survey” this week, only weeks after the new government took office following the February 2026 election. People are not waiting for long-range policy promises. They want fast relief from the bills they face every day.
NSO Survey Shows Strong Public Pressure
The NSO asked thousands of people across Thailand about their biggest worries. The answers point to a broad financial squeeze:
- 69.9%, High cost of living
- 63.8%, Income not enough to cover expenses
- 43.1% , Household debt
- 25.4%, Weak state welfare support
- 25.2%, Lower agricultural prices
When respondents were asked what the government should handle first, 50.5 percent said it should act right away to reduce living costs and fix livelihood problems. Many also called for more jobs and help with debt.
NSO Director-General Ekapong Rimcharone said the results reflect the many economic problems facing Thai households. The survey will keep tracking public views on government performance, so pressure on the new administration is likely to stay high.
Food Bills Keep Rising Even as Headline Inflation Falls
Official data showed headline inflation dropped 0.88 percent in February 2026, marking the 11th straight month of negative inflation. Lower fuel prices and capped electricity rates helped pull that number down. Still, many households say the cost of food keeps going up.
Market stalls and street vendors report higher prices for common meals. Ready-made food and non-alcoholic drinks are adding to the strain. A basic plate of fried rice or khao man gai that once cost 40 to 50 baht now often sells for 60 to 70 baht. In many places, fuel for a gas grill, fresh ingredients such as basil, limes, and vegetables also cost more.
So while the national inflation rate looks soft on paper, families say weekly grocery bills have risen by 10 to 15 percent. As a result, many people feel that official figures do not match life in the market, and that gap is driving frustration.
Fuel, Gas, and Power Costs Add More Pressure
Fuel remains one of the biggest daily worries, even with state support still in place. The government has relied on the Oil Fuel Fund to stop diesel and petrol prices from rising too sharply. Household LPG prices for 15-kilogram cylinders are still capped, but many families worry that support may not last.
Electricity rates have also been kept low, at about 3.88 baht per unit, through relief measures. Even so, small increases can hit hard. Delivery riders, taxi drivers, and small business owners say higher energy costs quickly raise the price of transport, goods, and services.
That pressure spreads fast through the economy. When fuel or electricity goes up, transport costs rise, production costs increase, and market prices usually follow.
Wages Are Not Keeping Up
Thailand raised the daily minimum wage to a range of 337 to 400 baht in 2025, and talks on further increases have continued. Even so, many workers say the adjustment has not gone far enough.
For people earning about 400 baht a day, or around 10,000 to 12,000 baht a month, the increase feels too small. Living expenses have climbed faster than pay, and that has weakened buying power. A delivery rider working six days a week may cover basic needs, but one jump in fuel prices or one medical bill can wipe out any savings.
Low-income workers in factories, farms, and service jobs feel that squeeze most. Some say they are eating less or cutting back on basic needs just to get through the month.
Poverty Is Rising Again
Thailand’s poverty rate rose to 4.9 percent in 2024, affecting 3.43 million people. The poverty line stands at 3,078 baht per person per month. That was up from 3.41 percent the year before, even though the economy posted slight growth.
Several million more people are close to the edge. They are not counted as poor, but one illness, one job loss, or one round of higher prices could push them below the line. Farming households make up nearly half of those living in poverty. The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) has warned that poverty is becoming more persistent in some regions and sectors.
Household Debt Stays Near Dangerous Levels
Thailand’s household debt remains among the highest in the region, at about 86.8 percent of GDP. That level stayed stubbornly high through 2025 and into 2026.
Heavy debt leaves families with less room to absorb rising prices. When costs go up, many people borrow more or miss payments. Banks and state agencies have offered debt restructuring plans, but many households still depend on informal borrowing or credit cards to stay afloat.
Taken together, high prices, weak wage growth, and large debt burdens have created serious pressure for ordinary households.
Northern Thailand Feels the Pain in Its Own Way
Although Bangkok gets most of the national attention, northern provinces are dealing with a different kind of pressure. Places such as Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and Lampang may have lower base costs than the capital, but even modest price increases can hurt more in farming communities.
In Chiang Rai, a bowl of khao soi or a simple market meal now often costs 40 to 60 baht, compared with 30 to 50 baht a year earlier. Prices for vegetables and rice also move with weather patterns and fuel costs. Farmers are paying more for diesel and fertilizer, while many crop prices have dropped.
The north includes some of Thailand’s poorest provinces. Because of that, higher food and energy costs often force rural families to cut spending on schooling, health care, or savings. Tourism helps in places like Chiang Mai, but small guesthouses and street vendors still struggle when electricity and fuel bills rise.
Across northern Thailand, the pattern looks much the same. Official national deflation does not reflect the daily pressure on lower-income households that depend on motorbikes, small trucks, and local markets.
Government Moves to Ease the Burden
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s government has already started introducing measures meant to reduce hardship and lower poverty:
- Expand the State Welfare Card (“poor card”) to cover more low-income households with support for food, transport, and utilities
- Cut electricity rates to below 3 baht per unit for the first 200 units used
- Offer low-interest loans and debt restructuring for vulnerable families
- Raise child allowances and widen social security support
- Help small businesses through government procurement and training programs
These policies build on earlier steps, including the National Referral Mechanism for welfare and targeted cash payments. At the same time, the NESDC and related ministries are improving their data systems so they can find the poorest households more accurately and send help faster.
Officials say the focus is shifting from short-term support to longer-term fixes such as better jobs and stronger income growth. Still, the NSO survey shows that the public wants visible relief as soon as possible.
What Thai Families Want Most
The poll gives a clear picture of what people want from the new government. The top demands include:
- Fast price relief on food, fuel, and energy
- Debt restructuring and lower interest rates
- Better incomes through higher wages and more jobs
- Wider welfare support for low-income households
- Stronger action against unfair price increases
Many people also support work-from-home policies for civil servants to reduce fuel use, along with direct cash support that puts money into household budgets right away.
A Major Early Test for the New Government
The NSO poll and the daily reality in markets, neighborhoods, and farming communities carry the same message: Thai families need help now. Official inflation looks low because of subsidies and price controls, but for millions of people, the cost of living feels heavier than ever.
Prime Minister Anutin’s government has promised “Thailand First” policies and quick action on livelihood issues. Expanding welfare cards, holding down key prices, and dealing with debt could bring real relief. In the end, success will not be judged only by forecasts or national averages. It will depend on whether ordinary people, from delivery riders in Bangkok to farmers in Chiang Rai, feel some of that burden lifted.
The next few months will show whether the new administration can turn public demands into real results. With household debt still high and poverty rising in some areas, pressure is building for swift action and better living standards.
