Thinking of starting your own indoor cannabis grow in Thailand? Whether you’re a hobby grower or aiming to supply a dispensary, it’s essential to understand the real costs — not just to get started, but to keep things running month after month.
In this post, we’ll give you a clear, side-by-side look at start-up vs monthly expenses for a 30-plant indoor grow — based on current prices in Thailand (as of 2025).
🏗️ Start-Up Costs: What You’ll Need to Get Going
Getting started with an indoor grow means investing in infrastructure: lights, climate control, equipment, and more.
| Item | Estimated Cost (THB) | Estimated Cost (USD) |
| LED Grow Lights (6 x 300W+) | ฿24,000–฿42,000 | $650–$1,150 |
| Grow Tents or Room Build-Out | ฿10,000–฿25,000 | $270–$690 |
| Fans & Ventilation | ฿6,000–฿12,000 | $165–$330 |
| Air Conditioning (2 x 12,000 BTU) | ฿25,000–฿35,000 | $700–$960 |
| Pots, Soil or Hydro Gear | ฿5,000–฿10,000 | $140–$275 |
| Nutrient Starter Kit | ฿3,000–฿5,000 | $85–$140 |
| pH/EC Meters, Timers, Tools | ฿4,000–฿6,000 | $110–$165 |
| Misc. (Wiring, Extras) | ฿5,000–฿10,000 | $140–$275 |
📌 Total Estimated Start-Up Cost:
฿82,000–฿145,000
($2,250–$3,950 USD)
🔁 Monthly Running Costs: Staying Operational
Here’s what it costs to keep things growing each month — including electricity, nutrients, and basic maintenance.
| Expense | Monthly Cost (THB) | Monthly Cost (USD) |
| Electricity – Lighting & Fans | ฿6,000–฿8,000 | $165–$220 |
| Electricity – Air Conditioning | ฿6,000–฿8,800 | $165–$260 |
| Nutrients & Supplements | ฿2,000–฿4,000 | $55–$110 |
| Water | ฿300–฿600 | $8–$16 |
| Replacement Parts / Misc. | ฿500–฿1,000 | $14–$28 |
📌 Total Monthly Cost Estimate:
฿14,800–฿22,400
($410–$610 USD)
💡 Example: Year One Budget
Let’s add it all up.
| Category | THB | USD |
| Start-Up Cost | ฿120,000 (avg) | ~$3,300 |
| Monthly × 12 | ฿192,000 | ~$5,280 |
| Year One Total | ฿312,000 | ~$8,580 USD |
🔍 Other Factors to Consider
- Scale: Growing more plants = higher costs, but better per-plant efficiency
- Equipment quality: Spending more up front can reduce long-term bills
- Legal status: Ensure you’re properly licensed if you’re growing commercially
- Solar/Wind ROI: High up-front cost, but long-term savings (see our renewable energy article)
🧠 Is It Worth It?
Let’s say:
- Each plant yields 60 grams on average
- 30 plants = 1.8kg harvest
- Selling price (wholesale): ฿100–฿200/gram
That’s ฿180,000–฿360,000 per harvest
→ Potentially covering most or all of your costs in just one good cycle
✅ Final Thoughts
Indoor cannabis cultivation in Thailand isn’t cheap — but it’s an achievable and profitable venture with the right plan. Expect to invest ฿80,000–฿150,000 ($2,200–$4,000) to get started, and around ฿15,000–฿22,000 ($400–$600) per month to keep it running.
Use this post as a budgeting guide, and check out the rest of our blog series for deeper dives into energy costs, cooling systems, and renewable power options.