zierf1

Wow. That's one of the cheapest 'looms' I've ever laid my eyes on.

Do you by chance use a Tesco bicycle as your main transportation?

I really like the cost of living threads. It's interesting to see everyone's perspective.

We are all unique and have unique circumstances.

And prices have certainly gone up significantly where I live, too. It's not just Thailand where prices have gone up in the last 10-15 years.

For example, I rent a room in a house in the SF North Bay area (California) for $1,050 a month (37,317 baht at today's exchange rate). And it's just a normal sized bedroom. Nothing fancy but in a decent neighborhood. I think that's ridiculous but that's what they are going for. And that's much more than what anyone was paying ten years ago for the same thing. And no, my wages have not gone up proportionally.

I am not retired yet but it is happening soon.

Take care everyone. Thanks for all of your posts. Like I said, it's very interesting.

That's nuts. I can get a nice studio w/ aircon for US$100 a month in Thailand(wifi included). Yes, $100 a month(3500 baht). We're getting ripped off massively.

An average electric bill for a fan loom is about 500 baht/month. So, you can save money that way. Just get a good floor fan and open the windows/doors & blast away to remove humidity. I suggest blasting the fan directly on the bed at nighttime(works for me).

fan loom = 2200 baht/month water = 200 'leky' = 500 total = 2900 baht/month total accommodation expenses cheap living at it's finest

Keep jumping to new places until you find an honest landlord(in short supply these days). I've stayed at Thai apartments that charged 7 baht per unit and my energy bill was quite low when I used aircon extensively. If you're paying much more than 1000 a month for general usage you're getting ripped.

His rent seems in inline for an average condo/apt in BKK. The rest listed I could pare most of it out. Some of his expenditures make zero sense to me. I also read many references to Starbucks in follow on posts....Who in the hell drinks Starbucks in Thailand?.....Good Grief. That place is a WAY overpriced everywhere they set up shop and most cases its 3 to 4x more. There are so many nice little roadside Thai coffee/tea places that are 30 to 35 baht for a REAL drink. I personally like Inthanine. If you live in Thailand and want western food you better dig deep. That is a deal breaker for many.

Anyway Interesting read. It will always boil down to the individuals expectations and where one lives. If I take my current living expenses in the states and compare them to my Thailand living expenses, I live nearly 6x cheaper with no debt in Thailand.

The more farangs and farang products I see, the faster I run in the opposite direction. Because I know the prices are going to be higher. I can live well in Isaan or CM on 1/3 of what this guy spends and get the exact same lifestyle.

Dont like Philipines personally , but many farang i know do , They go for 1 reason.

Try Vietnam very nice

I've looked at the property prices there but it looks pricey. Nothing under $200 a month in HCMC?? I'm comfortable with about $100/month for a room rental. My income is not huge. I'm just a digital nomad, so I need a decent apartment that is priced right but has a good internet connection. For me, Thailand has ticked all the boxes so far. Although, I would choose Cambodia today if only I could find an apartment there for around $60 a month with wifi(still looking).

Wife and I spend 40k month in total. Some months more, a few a bit less. We eat out once a week and have most of our laundry done. Her cholesterol and my high bp meds. 2k for her parents. Her scooter costs, my transport to work. We spend an addl avg 2k a month on 2-3 domestic trips (25k both) total about twenty days. We take two intl trips annually. Japan has been one destination last few years, usually about 60k for 7-9 days (both). Trips to USA vary.

I can easily get by on 15 a month in pocket money.

No idea what you people spend your money on, I hope its a nice pad and lots of sashimi. Maybe its lonely guy syndrome, need to go out every night to get some people around you. Maybe you just cant adjust to eating rice 3x or even 1x a day. Dunno.

Maybe it's because you eat rice 3x a day that you need high B.P. meds, mate.

Getting through 75K a month is easy in Bangkok if you want a few comforts like Western food, good quality, contemporary fixtures and fittings in your decently-sized condo close to a BTS and a few drinks at upmarket bars or clubs.

I wouldn't slate someone for living frugally if he/she is comfortable and happy that way but it ain't for me.

Besides, I've seen rents going for 3 or 4 times the 40 large I pay for my place and they go like hotcakes.

Clearly, a LOT of people are making real bank in Bangkok

They sure are good at wasting baht. I can find a nice apartment for 3500 baht a month(long term lease). Good 3 star accomodation w/ aircon and free wifi included. Believe it or not, there are guys paying 5x as much for the same place in Bangkok. They 'google' for apartments and get taken in by the real estate agents sharks.

The rent is much higher. Or maybe they are good at hiding the cheaper apartments. Can't find anything below $150 a month when I search online and all the people there said the same. But I can easily find thousands of apartments in Thailand for $50-$100 a month. You tell me which is more expensive? Even Philippines is much cheaper than Cambodia. I would not want to live in Cambodia. Too difficult and too expensive. I don't know how the locals surive. Probably all live 10 to a room. Or sleep on the streets.

Stop visiting Pattaya. They think we will stand by and watch the violence happening against innocent tourists? Time for a boycott. Contact your embassy and tell them about this! Our embassies have a duty to tell tourists when a place is dangerous and unsafe for travel.

The cheapest place I've seen was 1500 baht a month, a semi-derlict 1970's concrete cancer housing block, with a lift that stopped working when the buffalo that powered it died. From memory it didn't even have windows. Space for windows? yes - but no windows. I jest not.

What you are looking for is the lowest of the low housing - the equivalent of living in a run-down project. If that's your aim, go ahead - you're going to have far more to worry about than the proximity of the local Tesco.

No, we think we can get something for 2,000-2,500. It is normal price for Thai people. My lady is fine with it. She doesnt even use aircon anyways.

Buying property in Thailand is a mug's game. Lots of risk and very little reward. You can make a greater ROI by investing your money in bonds and renting. But fools are born everyday in the LOS aren't they?

Why purchase property in a 3rd world country? I can't think of any reason to do it. Just don't. Rent. I will never purchase property in a country I have no rights in. These silly rich people deserve to lose everything they have.

I am happy to report that you can get a loom for 200 baht a day in Bangkok(wifi included in this special price). It's good and it's near tasty food stalls. Yum.

Me and my wife want to move to CM(she is from Isaan). We want to stay in an area that is walkable or can be reached by discount tesco bicycle(for saving transport costs). We stayed at a place last time but it was out in the middle of nowhere and had to pay every time for the tuk tuk man to take us everywhere which cost us big money. We will be staying in an affordable Thai apartment loom(~2000 baht/month) and need a market with food stalls around for our rice cooker and cooking stove. Can you suggest an area?

Get a fan loom. U will save a lotta Baht.

Should be around 50 to the USD. Malaysia Ringitt is 4.44 and heading to 5. I expect the Thai Baht to follow suit.

Pattaya is now about twice as expensive to rent & buy as in Chiang Mai. I can get a nice studio in CM for 3500 baht a month. I'd get a filthy whore room for the same amount in Pattaya. I think the prices need to drop a tad bit more..

He's playing the Putin card. This guy is slime.

I've researched some of these countries and I'm shocked at the high prices. They say $500 a month for a place to stay is cheap?!? Definitely not where I'm from. I can get an apartment in my home town for $300 a month, so that is obviously not very impressive to me. $50-$100 a month is what I'm looking at.

Don't know what I'd do without good parents. They've bailed me out numerous times when I was down and out. Thankfully, they're rich. If I lost them, I'd be in a world of doodoo.

I'm wondering.. Do they have $50 a month apartments(wifi included) in Mexico like they do in Thailand?

Sorry for the question, but I'm a bit of a cheap charlie.

Anybody lived in Malaysia? I have looked at property prices in Malaysia and it seems quite expensive. Nothing under US$250 a month. I can rent basic room in Thailand for $50 a month and up so for me, Thailand is a no-brainer. I went over to Cambodia, and it's the same thing. High prices for rentals. The only other country with cheap accomodation seems to be the Philippines.

Glad to see this kind of relationship happening more and more often here. A lot of the Western women I know here won't date Thais and complain that the Western guys in Thailand won't date them. I hope this is a trend that sticks.

"won't date them?". Should have told me that when I was younger and unmarried. I cannot even get a falong lady to make eye contact with me let alone date me. I had to travel to Thailand because falong women would not even give me the time of day. Thankfully, there is this country called Thailand and I managed to get laid and find a wife. Would've never happened if I hadn't discovered l.o.s.

How can you be homeless in a country where rent is as little as 900 baht a month?? Must have absolutely no income whatsoever.

Hey, what happened to that guy that said the Baht was unlikely to fall below 35??? Seems to be a moving target now. I think it will hit 40 soon.