Money spent in Thailand per month?

[Kiflin]

I hope this is correct thread for this question.

I was wondering how much money would I need in Thailand per month.

Planned on going to Thailand in October 2018, still not sure, but if I would go, I would like to know how much money would I need.

Apartment for 250$ max.

Let's say 2 meals a day, could you eat bugs and stuff like that? I love them.

Could I live with 500$ monthly?

How much do you spend guys, can you say something about it ?

[jackdd]

Can you live with 500 USD monthly? Yes, many Thais live with way less

Does anybody want to live like that? Probably not

It won't take long until some people here say for 1000USD a month you can't even find a room and you should have at least 3000USD a month before thinking about comming here...

But i would suggest you should have 1000 USD a month, that's ok, then you can do more than just stay at your room and have 2 meals a day

[jenny2017]

  Let's say 2 meals a day, could you eat bugs and stuff like that? I love them.

 

  One Mama soup and some homegrown bugs will do the trick.

 

    Of course, can you live with that money and have a loving relationship with an upper-class girl.

 

    It's raining from time to time, so rainwater will help you a lot that you don't have to buy the expensive bottled water.

 

Well, visas are for people who don't really know what to do with their free time, so don't worry about one.   

 

  But honestly speaking, you should stay where you are. 

 

[observer90210]

All depends how many hookers or bar girls you would like to come over for a courtsey call at home !! 

Edited May 29, 2018 by observer90210

[Rc2702]

1kg of chicken legs from big c cost 105 baht.

 

1 sachet of kao soi mix is 16 baht

 

1 pack of mendake egg noodles cost 29 baht.

 

Vegetables/chillies - 50 baht.

 

1 sachet of penang mix cost 16 baht

 

216 baht.

 

The above can feed 2 people a main meal for two days easily.

 

 

 

[tropo]

Can you live on $500 a month? You could survive on that, but I wouldn't call it living. The basic income requirement for a one year visa is 65k per month. That doesn't quite do it for me, but over half of that is rent/electric/water/Internet. 

 

However, backpackers do it all the time - living on a shoestring... but it's usually not permanent. It could be fun if you're still young and adventurous though. If you're coming for "love", you won't find much on a budget like that LOL.

[tropo]

9 minutes ago, Rc2702 said:

1kg of chicken legs from big c cost 105 baht.

 

1 sachet of kao soi mix is 16 baht

 

1 pack of mendake egg noodles cost 29 baht.

 

Vegetables/chillies - 50 baht.

 

1 sachet of penang mix cost 16 baht

 

216 baht.

 

The above can feed 2 people a main meal for two days easily.

3

LOL> so that's how much it costs to survive in Thailand... but how much does it cost to live?

 

One big lemon tart from Big C Xtra - 249 baht (or other cakes)

2 litres of milk - 92.5 baht (unless you visit the cheap-charlie bin and get near expired milk).

A small block of cheese 200 - 250 grams: 150 baht (average).

A restaurant meal for 2: basic: 300 - 400 baht. (not street carts or Thai restaurants)

A really nice restaurant meal for 2: 800 - 1000 baht (mid-range - good enough for me)

Mangoes 60 - 100 baht/kg

A punnet of strawberries: 100 - 200 baht (imported)

A kilo of imported beef: 700 - 1000 baht per kilo (low end)

Ground coffee: basic blend: 120 baht/200 grams

An occasional bottle of imported wine: 500 - 1000 baht.

Plus many other imported items which cost much more than back at home.

 

I could go on and on, but it adds up to quite a bit - and I'm still budget conscious, looking for deals. Yes, you don't need luxury imported stuff - but I want it.

 

I've never done an exact calculation as I find that stressful. I think I average about 1000 baht per day on food and basics after I've paid my rent, which only includes eating out once or twice a week. That's for a married couple, but if you're single you'll be spending on "love" which will more than compensate. Higher end restaurants only once or twice per month. It's mostly eating at home. I don't have a car, so petrol is no more than 100 baht per week or less for my motorcycle.

 

Even so, I'm by no means living a life of luxury, and the money spent above does not include other stuff like household items and clothing.

 

[poanoi]

yes, you can maintain existence on that,

living in a fan room, eating a bowl of rice when hunger overtakes you,

walking or take a bus.

but there is no money left for anything else.

i have met a backpacker that clearly made it on even less,

sharing a room with strangers, a public squat toilet,

not my cup of tea, hope you always keep enough to get a one way ticket back

from life in poverty

[Rc2702]

1 minute ago, tropo said:

LOL> so that's how much it costs to survive in Thailand... but how much does it cost to live?

 

One big lemon tart from Big C Xtra - 249 baht (or other cakes)

2 litres of milk - 92.5 baht (unless you visit the cheap-charlie bin and get near expired milk).

A small block of cheese 200 - 250 grams: 150 baht (average).

A restaurant meal for 2: basic: 300 - 400 baht. (not street carts or Thai restaurants)

A really nice restaurant meal for 2: 800 - 1000 baht (mid-range - good enough for me)

Mangoes 60 - 100 baht/kg

A punnet of strawberries: 100 - 200 baht (imported)

A kilo of imported beef: 700 - 1000 baht per kilo (low end)

Ground coffee: basic blend: 120 baht/200 grams

An occasional bottle of imported wine: 500 - 1000 baht.

Plus many other imported items which cost much more than back at home.

 

I could go on and on, but it adds up to quite a bit - and I'm still budget conscious, looking for deals. Yes, you don't need luxury imported stuff - but I want it.

 

I've never done an exact calculation as I find that stressful. I think I average about 1000 baht per day on food and basics after I've paid my rent, which only includes eating out once or twice a week. That's for a married couple, but if you're single you'll be spending on "love" which will more than compensate. Higher end restaurants only once or twice per month. It's mostly eating at home. I don't have a car, so petrol is no more than 100 baht per week or less for my motorcycle.

 

Even so, I'm by no means living a life of luxury, and the money spent above does not include other stuff like household items and clothing.

 

Where we live we cannot buy kao soi or penang so we gave it a shot ourselves and I'm very happy with the results.

 

Brought 2kg of mangoes for 30 baht today.

 

Our spend per month is 45k. 

 

It's been an eye opener making food at home. More cost effective than I realised and better results than I'm seeing at vendors. 

 

We spend 2k a month on petrol for motor and bike. 

 

I spend 39 baht a day on beer. 1 small Leo. 

 

I enjoy life but I get enjoyment out of simple stuff that families do. Getting an hour in a park every other day at 5pm with the family is my highlight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gk10002000]

Define "Live".  Are you required to have medical insurance in your home country like many if not most USA citizens are, until they qualify for exemptions from the ACA?  Do you plan to buy medical insurance in Thailand, catastrophic or otherwise or self insure as they say?  Do you plan to rent a motorbike, get proper bike or travel accident insurance, get a proper Motorbike license in your home country?   Do you plan to get foot or oil massages with any regularity?  Do you plan to eat Western food often?  German food at Domicile, Sunday Carvery at any number of places, Full English Breakfast?  Any entertainment plans, take a girl out?   Do you like air conditioning?  Do you plan to travel around, visit water park, visit a place like Nong Nooch Garden, bus to other cities?  Internet or wifi fees?  Visa fees, visa runs, etc?   One can live and subsist, but enjoying can be a different thing.

[FritsSikkink]

Another "GoFundMe" wannabee.

[Damrongsak]

5 hours ago, jackdd said:

Can you live with 500 USD monthly?

I did very well on $250 USD/month .  Little wooden house, no air or window screens or hot water.  A few light bulbs. No furniture aside from a bed.  An empty "kitchen" room with nothing in it - no sink, plumbing, appliances, nothing.  No hot water, just the water reservoir under the house for dip bath and a squat shitter.  I bought an electric fan and a one burner propane stove. I could well afford to go to BKK, drink a few beers and get a girl once a month or maybe twice (100 Baht went a long way...).  Put gas in my bike.  Saved up for my wedding party ($500 USD can buy a lot of food and booze.)

 

40 frikkin years ago, up country in Loei!  By the time I moved to BKK, I rented a standalone 3 room wooden house in a secure compound near Pratunam for $50 a month.  (It's now underneath the Palladium World shopping building on Petchaburi Rd.)

 

The way I figure it, I could go back to Loei and do OK on $2,000 USD per month.  But we own a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house that is about 4 years old and the house next door.  I have relatives across the street and in town who have cars and motorcycles for transportation.

[Dick Crank]

Yes, you can live on that rent and street meals can be found for 30 baht per meal, next topic...

[Lacessit]

Certainly you can live on $500 a month. Your quality of life is another matter.

[RichardColeman]

Due to having to go back to the UK every 9 month, I currently live on about $1150 a month - BUT that is for me and the wife and our 2 year old daughter. Rent is about $280 a month for 2 bed house (free communial pool), electric $60-70, water $8, internet $15-20. Everyone knows nappies and  milk aint cheap. We budget what s left over, but treat ourselves, cinema etc. We have little left at the end of the month. I have a pension at 55 next year which will give me $1000 a month, so that will make life far more comfortable  for a family.

 

I think you could 'survive; on $500 a month, but you would be pretty much housebound with the odd trip to the 7/11.

 

That said if you only want to use $500 as a amount for daily use excluding women and bars then its ok. But then you'd be adding about $1,000-2,000  a month for hookers if thats what you are into and single. 

 

As for eating bugs - you can eat the roaches in our kitchen for free if it helps any.

 

 

[mstevens]

This really is the how long is a piece of string question.  It comes down to where you want to live, what sort of place you want to live in, your age, your habits, your (if any) social life.....and so on.

 

As others have said, you CAN live on less than $500 per month but there will be challenges and things like keeping o top of your visa will eat right in to such a small amount.

 

Personally, I would need at least 80,000 baht a month which my guess is would be about average for Westerners in Bangkok.  Some spend many multiples of that per month and may simply be unable or unwilling to live on less, while some live happily on less than 20,000 baht per month.  We're all different.

 

The one thing I will say about those living on less than 20,000 baht per month is that there's not much fat there for contingencies such as health issues, visas, desire to purchase new toys (laptop needs replacing etc.).

[smotherb]

Well, here we go again.  It's all relative; depending on how little you can stand.  If you want to live counting each baht to get a mouthful; go for it, but don't get sick or get caught in some legal hassle. Heaven forbid, don't ever want to do something that may cost money. 

[murraynz]

the  cost of living in thailand,can vary hugely,depending on lifestyle---im sure some people can live on 500us per mth, but to me that is "just existing", not living...

for me, i have surprised myself-i can now feed myself for under 10,000thb/mth,buying most euro foods at supermkts.

if i ate thai foods, it would be much less.if i go to restaurants daily, its dble 10,000.

the cost of living can vary hugely,depending on accom. cost eg 5,000-30,000thb/mth.

then there is insurance and transport costs---these can vary hugely..

the main variation would be --if drinking at bars with ladies-- 

this could be from 500thb per day---10,000+ per day, ore more if taking lady home....

for me, i go to bar 1 night pw--usually spend 4-5,000thb on drinks for myself and lady

[4MyEgo]

$500 USD a month, I would say NO, contrary to what some have said here, this would be the life of a pauper in my opinion, I say that with respect as I know there are others in that situation for whatever reason.

 

On the top of your list, if you do not have money reserves, you should have private health insurance, skim on that and you are leaving yourself wide open, around $100 USD a month depending on age.

 

Rent can be cheap, depending on where you want to live.

 

Food is cheap, if you want to eat bottom of the chain food, me personally, food has always been a teaching to me from young, never skim on quality food, as you will live a healthier life !!!

 

What about trips back to your home country, you will need to put $100 USD aside a month for when you intend on going back.

 

Now without going further, according to my calculations, you are on a budget of $300 USD once you have taken those two items out, and you must include them because they will become part of your budget.

 

As a single bloke you will want to take women home, now if your young, that maybe free for a while, but sooner or later the girls will want some coins, it only natural, i.e. sometimes the machine gives out some freebies, but most times you have to insert the coins to get what you want.

 

You will live a miserable existence here on that kind of money.

 

My advise is, if your young, i.e. under 50, come and holiday, go back, work as much as you can to increase you income, reduce any overheads that you can, save your money, invest it and try it when you are 60 or even pension age depending on where you come from, because some countries make you go back to stay for a period like 2 years before they will allow you to take it back with you, i.e. portability.

 

If you do not believe what I am saying above, come on over, waste your time and what money you have and see where you will end up, life's a gamble for some, and we all know where gamblers end up. So be a planner and be patient, as patience and good planning delivers you the results you require.

 

From my experience, having worked hard, saved, invested and planned ahead, delivered me into retirement at 55 and no skimping here, I love this existence,.

 

There are no short cuts, unless your lucky enough to inherit something, of which I have not, super is 2 years away, that will be put aside as I don't need it, remember what I said, work, save, invest and plan, and when you get here, only invest as much as your prepared to lose, 10% should be your absolute maximum, always have a fall back position, and that 90% invested back in your home country should get you out of trouble.

 

Wise words, free advice, as the Thai's say, "up to you" take it or leave it, either way, best of luck in the LOS, just don't become another farang statistic, sadly many have taken to bungee jumping without the rope, or other actions to put them out of their misery ??‍?

[Minnehaha]

7 hours ago, Rc2702 said:

Where we live we cannot buy kao soi or penang so we gave it a shot ourselves and I'm very happy with the results.

 

Brought 2kg of mangoes for 30 baht today.

 

Our spend per month is 45k. 

 

It's been an eye opener making food at home. More cost effective than I realised and better results than I'm seeing at vendors. 

 

We spend 2k a month on petrol for motor and bike. 

 

I spend 39 baht a day on beer. 1 small Leo. 

 

I enjoy life but I get enjoyment out of simple stuff that families do. Getting an hour in a park every other day at 5pm with the family is my highlight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Khao soi can be found at S&P which are everywhere. just sayin.

[PerkinsCuthbert]

Try my old trick of sneaking your laundry into someone else's machine wash. That way you can save 30B per time! Sometimes even more if you can hang it to dry. 

Here's another handy tip - keep your old plastic bottles too, for when the bin lady comes around - I make 4B a week with that ruse!

 

Good hunting!

[Tony Hanscomb]

To be honest with you...

You should consider N. Korea, I understand they might open the border soon, or some under developed country in Africa perhaps.

Thailand is not cheap and is not really a 3rd world backpacker paradise anymore, (perhaps 40 years ago).

Your budget is about 25% minimum of what you will need here, also you need quite a lot of money if you are getting a retirement visa, you can't just come here as a tourist and decide to stay. only rich people can do that.

[JAZZDOG]

Large refrigerator box, visqueen , fly squatter and 5000 baht

[Get Real]

Nope! That´s impossible. I use about 2000-2500 USD a month, and it´s still like living on the brink of one limb in the poor house.

[sanemax]

There is an easy way to get free clothes .

When you are washing your clothes , some cheapskate will often throw his clothes in with yours , when you are not looking .

   Make sure that you stand by the washing machine when its finishing and then take all his clothes as well .

  Free set of clean clothes  

[WinterGael]

Living is relative to how you like to live.  My wife and I live quite comfortably on 1400$C/34000 baht a month. In Thai terms, rent and utilities come in at around 11000 baht per month. She loves to cook and we eat fine on 3500-4000 baht per month. That leaves us room for a dinner out a few times a month, sharing a bottle of whiskey with neighbours, my medical insurance, etc.  We don't own a car, I've done the math, and we generally run a taxi bill of around 2000 baht per month. Much cheaper than a car payment, insurance, gas, and servicing. Roughly put, depending on exchange, I bring in 32000 baht per month and we budget for 6/7000 baht per week.  It's a good life.

[Tony Hanscomb]

Just a quick question to people replying to this OP...

Why is everyone presuming this guy is coming here for sex?

[sanemax]

3 minutes ago, Tony Hanscomb said:

Just a quick question to people replying to this OP...

Why is everyone presuming this guy is coming here for sex?

Not "everyone" is presuming that though . 

I dont think that even anyone has presumed that 

[sammieuk1]

Lucky for you your talking $ not £ or 25% of your calculations will vanish before your eyes.

[smutcakes]

I spend over $4,000 a month on basics including rent, electric, telephone, Food, golf. petrol, cleaner and my partner. They are basically the expenses i cannot escape from, or at least would not want to compromise. Obviously there are other regular and irregular expenditures left out which would probably take my average expenditure close to $5,000 per month. I don't feel even at that level i am leading a particularly extravagant lifestyle, just leading a life commensurate with what i would have in the home country.  I know many other farang who would be spending far more than that especially factoring school children.

 

I live in the center of Bangkok and i presume as you move away from Bangkok and other major cities you expenditure would generally decrease due to reduced prices and probably less to spend your money on. I am sure as i get older and possibly move away from BKK and retire that my expenditure will reduce dramatically possibly to around the 50,000 THB per month mark excluding rent. Like anywhere you can live on a tiny tiny amount if you really want to or need to, but as others have alluded to, expectations from person to person vary massively as do lifestyle choices and activities. There is no accurate figure for this.