As one of the most popular martial arts in the world, Muay Thai is widely considered a prerequisite to excelling in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). Learning Muay Thai can give you the foundational building blocks of striking, footwork and self-defence.
Besides its physical nature, Muay Thai training is also steeped in tradition built upon respect, excellence and sportsmanship.
If you’re a fan of martial arts, Muay Thai training might be on your bucket list, especially if you could go to Thailand to immerse in both the sport and the culture. More casually, Muay Thai can also be great for fitness training and weight loss in general.
While there are many quality schools and training centres to learn Muay Thai in Singapore, nothing can beat the experience of training in Thailand with native champion coaches. Here are some of the main expenses you need to plan for if you want to go to the home of Muay Thai training.
#1 Special Muay Thai Training Visa
Singaporeans can enjoy a visa-free stay in Thailand for 30 days (and up to a maximum of 60 days). However, if you intend to stay longer, Thailand has a special 90-day Muay Thai visa specifically for those training in certified Muay Thai camps.
This special visa allows tourists to stay in Thailand for up to 90 days – without needing a regular extension or border run.
Visa Application Fee: $500 (Approximately 12,583.67 Thai Baht). Application can be done through the Thai embassy in Singapore after enrolling in a certified Muay Thai gym.
Visa Validity: While the validity of the Visa is for 60 days, it can be extended by another 30 days (i.e. giving you up to 90 days in Thailand) at Thai immigration for 10,000 THB (~$397.71)
To be eligible for the Muay Thai visa, you must formally enrol in a government-certified Muay Thai gym. For simple reference, top Muay Thai training gyms such as Tiger Muay Thai, Yokkao Training Centre and Fairtex Training Centre are all certified. You will need the gym to provide a letter to the Board of Boxing Sport to support your visa application.
At the same time, you will be expected to submit standard documents like your passport, visa application form, and proof of enrollment in the Muay Thai training camp to the Singapore Thai embassy or consulate to process your visa.
The introduction of this special visa, available to all foreigners and not just Singaporeans, who can already stay for 30 days visa-free (or up to 60 days), aligns with Thailand’s broader push to promote the sport as part of its cultural heritage.
Read Also: The Singapore Passport Is Ranked First In The World: 6 Things You May Not Know About Our Passport
#2 Muay Thai Training Gear
Purchasing the right equipment is essential not only for your safety but also for improving your technique and overall experience. Some of the gyms that you sign up with may also sell some of these training equipment on their websites.
While many of you considering a Muay Thai training stint in Thailand may already have these equipment, here is a handy pricing breakdown:
Muay Thai Gloves
You need proper Muay Thai gloves – and not just any gloves such as boxing – as the grip may be different. Gloves are important to protect both your hands and your opponent during sparring sessions and pad work, helping to absorb the impact of strikes and prevent injuries.
Estimated Costs:
Synthetic leather gloves: $50 – $80 (Entry-level brands like Venum, Fairtex)
Genuine leather gloves: $90 – $180 (Premium brands like Twins, Top King)
Hand wraps
Hand wraps provide additional support for your wrists and knuckles inside the gloves, reducing the risk of injury during punches. Basic variations are made of a polyester-cotton blend while premium and more durable ones are made from a blend of rubber, nylon and polyester which is more stable and returns to their original shape easily after use.
Estimated Costs:
Basic hand wraps: $10 – $15 (Brands like Everlast, RDX)
Premium hand wraps: $20 – $30 (Brands like Fairtex, Hayabusa)
Shin guards
Shin guards are critical for beginners as they protect your shins from the impact of kicks and reduce the risk of injury while sparring. Muay Thai training involves significant use of kicks, making this one of the essential protective gears.
Estimated Costs:
Basic synthetic shin guards: $50 – $80 (Brands like RDX, Sanabul)
Premium genuine leather shin guards: $120 – $180 (Brands like Fairtex, Top King)
Mouthguard
A mouthguard is essential for sparring to protect your teeth and gums from potential damage during strikes. Custom-fitted mouthguards are the safest option, though more expensive. Boil-and-bite mouthguards would be a more affordable choice for beginners.
Estimated Costs:
Boil-and-bite mouthguards: $10 – $25 (Brands like Shock Doctor, Everlast)
Custom-fitted mouthguards: $80 – $150 (From dental clinics such as The Dental Studio and Atria-City Dental Group)
For reference, if everything purchased is on the lower end of the pricing spectrum, it would cost roughly $120 per pax. While if products bought are on the higher end, it would cost roughly $540 per pax.
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#3 Accommodation In Thailand
Your accommodation options can vary by a great deal depending on your budget, preferred lifestyle, and proximity to training gyms. Budget accommodations include Guesthouses and Hostels, while slightly more expensive accommodations can include Condominiums and Apartments
Budget Guesthouses & Hostels
Approximately setting you back between $150 and $400 a month, you can book guesthouses or hostels can be found for a relatively affordable price. These usually include a basic private room with a shared bathroom and are ideal for those on a strict budget.
Many Muay Thai training gyms recognise the need for their trainees to live somewhere close to the gym and typically offer on-site and nearby accommodations on their websites. Choosing these accommodations can give you a potentially better training experience – and interaction with other trainees.
Alternatively, you can always go with online accommodation platforms, such as Airbnb or Agoda, to shortlist accommodation options.
Condominiums & Apartments
If you prefer slightly more amenities and privacy, you can book a condominium or apartment, which will cost you about $600–$1,500/month.
These accommodation options, which can also be found near Muay Thai gyms, typically come with more facilities such as gyms, swimming pools, and 24-hour security.
Alternatively, you may prefer “better locations” in the city you are training in. For example, if you’re training in Bangkok, you may want to live closer to Sukhumvit or Lumpinee, albeit at a higher rent and possibly further away from your Muay Thai gym. If you are training at a beach resort destination like Phuket or Chiang Mai, these apartments can be located nearer to the beach for a quick getaway after your grinding training sessions.
Overall, a condominium or apartment can be suitable for those looking for more comfortable living arrangements, you can even opt for more luxurious options that cost more.
#4 Muay Thai Training Fees
We will look at the rates of 3 popular Muay Thai gyms (Tiger Muay Thai, Fairtex Training Center and Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA), located in different cities, as a basis for comparing the costs.
Located in Phuket, Tiger Muay Thai was started by William McNamara, an American teaching English in Darasamuth Catholic School. It started as a gym with only one ring for his personal training. The place gained rapid popularity, so with the help of investors, he founded Tiger Muay Thai in a larger space in 2003.
Today, Tiger Muay Thai has grown into one of the most popular Muay Thai gyms in Thailand, with several prominent figures having trained there, including former UFC champions Petr Yan, Alexander Volkanovski and current champion Valentina Shevchenko.
Muay Thai training programme price list:
4,400 THB ($173.00) for a week
13,500 THB ($530.79) for a month
34,500 THB ($1,356.46) for 3 months
Fairtex Training Center was founded by Philip Wong, who practiced Muay Thai as a hobby. As he wanted to help the local community, the initial camp which he had started in Bangkok was moved to rural Bangplee and served as an outlet for young Thai men to stay off drugs and build a life through Muay Thai. Today, the Fairtex Training Center has grown to a point that it had to move both its gym and equipment factory to Pattaya.
Fairtex Training Center has also partnered with Lumpinee Boxing Stadium to introduce international fighters to the arena. Some include names like Don the Dragon Wilson, Ramon Decker, Ivan Hippolyte, and Jongsanan “The Wooden man” Fairtex.
Muay Thai training programme price list:
1 Session of Muay Thai 700 baht ($27.52)
10 Sessions of Muay Thai Package 6,000 baht ($235.91)
Unlimited Muay Thai for 1 month 15,000 baht ($589.77)
Unlimited Muay Thai for 4 months or more (14,000 baht per month and with any subsequent add on) ($550.45)
Unlimited Muay Thai for 6 months or more (13,000 baht per month and with any subsequent add on) ($511.13)
Private Muay Thai 1 on 1 for 1,500 baht ($58.98) per lesson
Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA is also located in Phuket and was started by Andrew “Woody” Wood, Alex Schild and the Hickman brothers, George and Frank. Having lived and worked in Phuket for over 9 years, they coached top-tiered elite athletes together at Tiger Muay Thai before starting a gym of their own.
Since then, Bangtao Muay Thai had gained popularity in the scene of Muay Thai at a blistering rate and had provided training grounds for former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jiří Procházka, Current Strawweight Champion Zhang Weili and Muay Thai icons Superbon Singha Mawynn and Sam-A Gaiyanghadao.
Muay Thai training programme price list:
1 week of Muay Thai and MMA at 4000 THB ($157.27)
1 month of Muay Thai and MMA at 12,000 THB ($471.81)
3 months of Muay Thai and MMA at 33,000 THB ($1297.49)
While the listings above are mainly for Muay Thai training, most of the Muay Thai gyms also offer other martial art programmes such as MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). As you can see, Muay Thai gyms can offer training programmes that range from single sessions to a week-long programme, and up to 1-month and even 3-month programmes. Most gyms also provide personal 1-on-1 Muay Thai training sessions. These may be fine for a start, but they would be much costlier in the long run.
You should choose to train at a gym that offers a suitable length programme for you, even if that means you just want a few sessions or you are seriously considering a 3-month training programme.
Another thing to consider is the city you wish to train in. While there are Certified Muay Thai gyms scattered throughout Thailand, Phuket, Pattaya and Bangkok are the most popular locations and also have a greater concentration of Muay Thai gyms.
In totality, be prepared to spend about $800 (30-day), $1,900 (60-day) and $2,400 (90-day) for an authentic Muay Thai training experience in Thailand at the minimum. This does not include flights, insurance, food and drinks, transport or any luxury/shopping expenses during your stay.
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The post Visa, Gear, Accommodation; Training Fees: How Much Does It Cost To Learn Muay Thai In Thailand appeared first on DollarsAndSense.sg.
