What's your cost of living here in Thailand?

[baansgr]

5 hours ago, David Walden said:

Your situation seems like mine Bt 8000 P/M for nice room in Condo in Cha-am.  I can afford this so it quite good.  Me perhaps a bit older (76) I don't drink much back in Aus  but I have to admit most of the social contacts I have where I live (Cha-am) are made mostly by meeting Sweeds, Brits, Danes, Yanks, other Aussies and a host of other nationalities as well as many Thais.  This mostly comes about in the Bus Stop Soi which is the Cha-am's modest girly bar street. Also at other restaurant locations in town.   About half the 15 or so bars in this Soi are owned by Foreigners Brits, Aussies Danes etc.  Some of these owners have tried to sell their bars to me...good lord I didn't think I look that silly!!! 

So I do have 3/5 beers each day (I admit some times more or less).  At least 3 times a week many of these bars put on free afternoon food and you serve yourself which can extend sometimes to 6/7 pm thus avoiding the need to pay for food (beer is food).  Whoever puts it on also invites the girls and owners of other bars to share.  Just about all these meetings are great fun, lots of B/S about football and other very light not so serious subjects.  We sometimes solve all the worlds economic and political problems in just a few hours.  As a result I go to at least 3 party type social functions a week.  I usually try to have 2  days a week not socialising or drinking but I must admit with a saddened heart I often fail.  The little Thai Pink Lady Bombshell bar in the Plaza Soi not far away is my favourite.  As a result of this socialising which does not happen in Aus. I know at least 100 people or more in Cha-am that when passing we will stop and say hello

   I do have a bit more then the Aus aged pension to live on but do know lots of Aussies who only get the basic pension, most have a girlfriend and seem to manage OK...great fun, try it. 

 

That old soi bus station, just wish the girls had changed as much as the beer prices have over the last ten years, girls working there now that were there in 2005???.....Wednesday night market was always a good social

[smotherb]

14 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

True. However, one has to factor in the cost and stress of air travel as well. I travel business class between Melbourne and Bangkok. I really need the leg room. An 8 hour flight is my upper tolerance level nowadays. Places like Costa Rica and Spain etc. are all very well; however, I'd be gaga by the time I got off the plane.

Not complaining - it is what it is when you get older.

You're singing to the choir; I'm from Florida; we pay extra for one- or two-stop flights between 26 and 30 hours to Tampa or Miami; and then I have to travel two to four hours by car or plane to my local airport. Some airlines try to sell tickets BKK-Miami  where the duration is over 100 hours. Plus, we don't just get tired, we get jet lag; a feature your North-South flights don't provide.

 

However, I use my tried and true method for travel--I get little rest before the flight; then have a few drinks on the plane and sleep. Any layovers, have more drinks at the stop and sleep on the plane. Proper planning and you sleep most of the way.

[tropo]

6 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Now we're talking smoothies, red dragon fruit were 4 for 20bht at the market yesterday, banana and dragon fruit smoothies are great.

And I found Bell peppers (red/yellow/green) at 8 for 20bht, which I chopped and froze for pizza toppings.

Made myself a very large 'nam prik ong' and bell pepper pizza for around 10bht yesterday evening, still feeling a bit 'blown' after eating it all with a couple of Leos.

 

Life is good, not to mention CHEAP!

If scurvy was an issue and I just had to get some extra vitamin C, I'd buy dragon fruit. My main smoothy fruits are frozen blueberries and strawberries. Frozen strawberries are cheap, and a kilo frozen blueberries are just over 300 baht.... they go a long way.

 

 

[smotherb]

6 hours ago, David Walden said:

Your situation seems like mine Bt 8000 P/M for nice room in Condo in Cha-am.  I can afford this so it quite good.  Me perhaps a bit older (76) I don't drink much back in Aus  but I have to admit most of the social contacts I have where I live (Cha-am) are made mostly by meeting Sweeds, Brits, Danes, Yanks, other Aussies and a host of other nationalities as well as many Thais.  This mostly comes about in the Bus Stop Soi which is the Cha-am's modest girly bar street. Also at other restaurant locations in town.   About half the 15 or so bars in this Soi are owned by Foreigners Brits, Aussies Danes etc.  Some of these owners have tried to sell their bars to me...good lord I didn't think I look that silly!!! 

So I do have 3/5 beers each day (I admit some times more or less).  At least 3 times a week many of these bars put on free afternoon food and you serve yourself which can extend sometimes to 6/7 pm thus avoiding the need to pay for food (beer is food).  Whoever puts it on also invites the girls and owners of other bars to share.  Just about all these meetings are great fun, lots of B/S about football and other very light not so serious subjects.  We sometimes solve all the worlds economic and political problems in just a few hours.  As a result I go to at least 3 party type social functions a week.  I usually try to have 2  days a week not socialising or drinking but I must admit with a saddened heart I often fail.  The little Thai Pink Lady Bombshell bar in the Plaza Soi not far away is my favourite.  As a result of this socialising which does not happen in Aus. I know at least 100 people or more in Cha-am that when passing we will stop and say hello

   I do have a bit more then the Aus aged pension to live on but do know lots of Aussies who only get the basic pension, most have a girlfriend and seem to manage OK...great fun, try it. 

 

Good on ya David. You sound like you are enjoying yourself at 76.

[David Walden]

1 hour ago, baansgr said:

That old soi bus station, just wish the girls had changed as much as the beer prices have over the last ten years, girls working there now that were there in 2005???.....Wednesday night market was always a good social

The Wednesday night market in Cha-am was big but in only the last 2 or so months they have extended it to about twice the size.  They have closed the northern side of the duel  Nerrithip Road outside the police station for market night and put more stalls for about 300 metres on it and it's very busy busy...lovely real gala atmosphere. Must be 300 or 400  stalls or more.  They provide a special section for the old  farangs to eat, talk, have a few drinks  and watch their girlfriends go shopping and enjoy spending their money.  Ahhh well whats different in the West.

  Perhaps trust begets trust, it's quite amazing that sometimes 100/200 farangs  who partake are having a few beers at the market, you just hold your empty beer bottle in the air for a few seconds and one of the girls will quickly place another bottle in you hand.  You save all the empty bottles in front of you on the table, when you are finished you put your empty hand in the air , the girl comes over counts the empty bottles and you pay (and a tip).  The price is quite a bit less then the bars.  I don't think anyone cheats the girls, usually a hot sticky night and the beer is always cold and food is everywhere to buy if you want it and cheap...TIT and good.

Edited July 30, 2018 by David Walden

[Kadilo]

15 minutes ago, David Walden said:

The Wednesday night market in Cha-am was big but in only the last 2 or so months they have extended it to about twice the size.  They have closed the northern side of the duel  Nerrithip Road outside the police station for market night and put more stalls for about 300 metres on it and it's very busy busy...lovely real gala atmosphere. Must be 300 or 400  stalls or more.  They provide a special section for the old  farangs to eat, talk, have a few drinks  and watch their girlfriends go shopping and enjoy spending their money.  Ahhh well whats different in the West.

  Perhaps trust begets trust, it's quite amazing that sometimes 100/200 farangs  who partake are having a few beers at the market, you just hold your empty beer bottle in the air for a few seconds and one of the girls will quickly place another bottle in you hand.  You save all the empty bottles in front of you on the table, when you are finished you put your empty hand in the air , the girl comes over counts the empty bottles and you pay (and a tip).  The price is quite a bit less then the bars.  I don't think anyone cheats the girls, usually a hot sticky night and the beer is always cold and food is everywhere to buy if you want it and cheap...TIT and good.

 

15 minutes ago, David Walden said:

The Wednesday night market in Cha-am was big but in only the last 2 or so months they have extended it to about twice the size.  They have closed the northern side of the duel  Nerrithip Road outside the police station for market night and put more stalls for about 300 metres on it and it's very busy busy...lovely real gala atmosphere. Must be 300 or 400  stalls or more.  They provide a special section for the old  farangs to eat, talk, have a few drinks  and watch their girlfriends go shopping and enjoy spending their money.  Ahhh well whats different in the West.

  Perhaps trust begets trust, it's quite amazing that sometimes 100/200 farangs  who partake are having a few beers at the market, you just hold your empty beer bottle in the air for a few seconds and one of the girls will quickly place another bottle in you hand.  You save all the empty bottles in front of you on the table, when you are finished you put your empty hand in the air , the girl comes over counts the empty bottles and you pay (and a tip).  The price is quite a bit less then the bars.  I don't think anyone cheats the girls, usually a hot sticky night and the beer is always cold and food is everywhere to buy if you want it and cheap...TIT and good.

Sounds great to me

[xylophone]

2 hours ago, baansgr said:

Foodmart in Jomtien sell steaks at about 60 Baht, marinated for 36 hours and cooked correctly are as tender and taste as good as any Aussie beef.

Yeah right.

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, baansgr said:

Foodmart in Jomtien sell steaks at about 60 Baht, marinated for 36 hours and cooked correctly are as tender and taste as good as any Aussie beef.

The marinade is battery acid?

[Naam]

5 hours ago, Time Traveller said:

So I don't think there really is any tax advantage that you are claiming. For 99% of people, you will end up paying more in total taxes in Thailand - either directly (income tax) or indirectly(taxes/duties/fees levied at the point of sale) than you would in the US. 

the initial discussed topic was not U.S. taxes but the advantage a non-US citizen/person enjoys living a retiree's life in Thailand financed by the proceeds from offshore income which is free of income tax. some people (e.g. you) don't seem to have any idea that some of us who live a very comfortable lifestyle which is not only paid for in full by the tax savings but the latter leaves even a handsome bundle of "coin" on top of financing living cost. now go and weep. 

[Naam]

17 hours ago, ChakaKhan said:

I find im living a simple life as others felt I was surviving, but is all perspective to me, as Im quite content with it

 

About 10,000 bt a month as my 30k ATM withdrawals last me 3 months....may explain why I'm single  ?

may the force be with you!

[Rimmer]

Multiple off topic posts leading to bickering about frozen fruit have all been removed, topic is about:

 

What's your cost of living here in Thailand?

[The manic]

7 minutes ago, Rimmer said:

Multiple off topic posts leading to bickering about frozen fruit have all been removed, topic is about:

 

What's your cost of living here in Thailand?

Thank God for that!

[Rimmer]

More off topic posts have been removed, the next off topic poster discussing US tax or President Bush or similar off topic gets a nice long holiday.

 

This is what the topic is about

What's your cost of living here in Thailand?

[Mook1e]

I'm still quite interested in the cost of living (well) in Thailand as well as anyone's experience or opinion regarding living in Thailand vice Malaysia, Vietnam, or the Philippines. I'll be retiring overseas at 50ish with my wife (both US citizens) with between $40k - $60k a year as a conservative budget. We'll also have investment income in addition until our additional retirement and social security kick in (if it's still around.)

We will be returning to Asia for extended visits in the next few years to scout locations.

[David Walden]

8 hours ago, Rimmer said:

More off topic posts have been removed, the next off topic poster discussing US tax or President Bush or similar off topic gets a nice long holiday.

 

This is what the topic is about

What's your cost of living here in Thailand?

Now that's a good topic to talk about if you are serious about living short or long term in Thailand, also places to live ?  Go for it.

[Goldbear]

I always enjoy the occasional cost of living thread. 

 

Canarysun must still be gone as he hasn't chimed in. 

 

 

 

 

 

[rickudon]

If i was single i could live on 30,000 baht a month, but i'm not........ family eat up whatever is available!

 

Mortgage - 3000 baht a month (older thai house)

Electric     - 2000 baht a month or a bit less

Water        - 500 baht a month (M-in-law uses tons)

Gas            - 400 baht a month (average)

Funeral plans for inlaws - 1800 baht a month (still haven't collected ?)

Car payments - 6,700 baht a month

Fuel for car and wifes bike - 2000 baht a month

Internet   -  800 baht a month

Phones   - 700 baht a month

Drrinking water - 100 baht a month

Food and household shopping - 15,000 a month (a lot of mouths to feed)

Eating out 2000 baht a month.

Alcohol - 1, 000 baht a month

 

Total - 36.000 baht a month. but also Annual costs .......

 

Car Tax, insurance and service - 16,000 baht

School fees for daughter     - 40,000 baht

Typical adhoc house and garden maintenance - 15,000 baht (not including any significant repairs, improvements etc,)

Immigration - visa extension, exit re-entry visas and embassy letter - 7,000 baht

Visit to UK each year (travel costs only counted) - 35,000 baht. (have family commitments there, require one or more visits a year).

Health costs (very variable, mainly dentist) 4,000 baht in last 12 months.

 

Annual costs - 117,000 baht plus

 

So i need between 45-50,000 baht a month income to avoid eroding what little savings i have left. Anything else is on top of this .......... Since last year get UK state pension so currently get about 55,000 baht a month, before that i was dipping into savings frequently. Brexit is a threat.

 

If living in the UK as a family (which i cannot easily do as cannot meet all the requirements for wife's visa) I would struggle to make ends meet due to incredibly high housing costs. As a single person, i would manage comfortably as long as i economised on housing but life would be boring.

 

 

 

 

[dallen52]

4 hours ago, rickudon said:

If i was single i could live on 30,000 baht a month, but i'm not........ family eat up whatever is available!

 

Mortgage - 3000 baht a month (older thai house)

Electric     - 2000 baht a month or a bit less

Water        - 500 baht a month (M-in-law uses tons)

Gas            - 400 baht a month (average)

Funeral plans for inlaws - 1800 baht a month (still haven't collected ?)

Car payments - 6,700 baht a month

Fuel for car and wifes bike - 2000 baht a month

Internet   -  800 baht a month

Phones   - 700 baht a month

Drrinking water - 100 baht a month

Food and household shopping - 15,000 a month (a lot of mouths to feed)

Eating out 2000 baht a month.

Alcohol - 1, 000 baht a month

 

Total - 36.000 baht a month. but also Annual costs .......

 

Car Tax, insurance and service - 16,000 baht

School fees for daughter     - 40,000 baht

Typical adhoc house and garden maintenance - 15,000 baht (not including any significant repairs, improvements etc,)

Immigration - visa extension, exit re-entry visas and embassy letter - 7,000 baht

Visit to UK each year (travel costs only counted) - 35,000 baht. (have family commitments there, require one or more visits a year).

Health costs (very variable, mainly dentist) 4,000 baht in last 12 months.

 

Annual costs - 117,000 baht plus

 

So i need between 45-50,000 baht a month income to avoid eroding what little savings i have left. Anything else is on top of this .......... Since last year get UK state pension so currently get about 55,000 baht a month, before that i was dipping into savings frequently. Brexit is a threat.

 

If living in the UK as a family (which i cannot easily do as cannot meet all the requirements for wife's visa) I would struggle to make ends meet due to incredibly high housing costs. As a single person, i would manage comfortably as long as i economised on housing but life would be boring.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your very informative response.

Really good information. 

 

I like you have the age pension, some bank interest, some money in Australia,  banked.

My total monthly is coming from Australia because I qualified for the pension there, not the U.K.. 

Certainly can't afford to live in Australia unless with family.

Just back in the U.K. and yes many things are cheaper than Thailand according to my partner.

But the weather would kill her I think.

Tried to open a U.K. bank account and was denied. 

Have U.K. passport and licence. Oh well.

Can't afford to live in the U.K. either,  unless sharing.

 

I think I will use your information as a template, it's pretty concise.

And line mine up to see where I can balance the budget better.

We have the land options in buriram.

If we wanted to build again.

We bought well. About 1.5 rai. Albeit in her name.

 

I previously rebuilt the family home and did the usual farang improvements. 

Extra rooms, hot water, re wired. New roof.

Used the family on day wage for all the works.

Supposedly in lieu of sinsod, If we married.

Family feud and fighting, and all that was a huge waste of time and money.

She will not go back to the house.

 

It was an ideal set up, until her sister started to cause trouble.

Village head lady was called in.

The usual stuff. 

Killed the golden goose.. silly woman. 

We were very happy, and had cash to spare. Oh well. 

 

So a little bit more cautious second time around.

 

This probably answers a few questions others have asked too.

 

I like you, want to be here, but no point if single.

Thank you for your input.

 

 

[totally thaied up]

Surprised at the number of farang people here  (or wives I should say) with mortgages. I would say 15% of my friends have a mortgage with the wife and unless they had family back West, they could never go home. Many are still paying off a house with the wife or have a car loan or two. As noted above, another 15% after doing up the house end up with nothing and need to rebuild with the wife. Never a good idea to move into a sister's place or something like that and try to make it work. My wife's parents are old and live with us. The house is under the wife's name, fully paid for so the only person that can kick me out is the wife, but I did not pay for the house; just a few improvements to make it farang friendly. Owning the house does make it easier but I certainly understand it will never be mine. My only worry is if the wife died; she is 20 years younger then me and I hope that will not be the case. I would most likely be welcome to stay in the home but I think I could not be able to do that due to grief. 

 

This has been an interesting thread. My budgeting compared to most is about right for what I get and that is good to know.

Edited August 1, 2018 by totally thaied up

[smutcakes]

Does no one on Thai Visa have any hobbies? Everyone seems to just be satisfied with sitting at home all day everyday. No golf, bird watching, hiking trips, cycling trips, sailing, other sports? Everyone seems very happy with a life i would consider extremely boring, just sitting around at home.

[Nyezhov]

2 minutes ago, smutcakes said:

Does no one on Thai Visa have any hobbies? Everyone seems to just be satisfied with sitting at home all day everyday. No golf, bird watching, hiking trips, cycling trips, sailing, other sports? Everyone seems very happy with a life i would consider extremely boring, just sitting around at home.

I'm a temple Hunter....

[melvinmelvin]

4 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

I'm a temple Hunter....

 

think you will find that plenty have hobbies

 

golf - quite a few

photography - quite a few

related to car/motorcycles - a number

sailing? - I think few and far between (LoS ain't no good for sailing, competitive dinghy sailing is probably OK)

diving - a number

fishing - quite a few

boats - (not many - but I'm in this bracket)

various sports - many

 

[wolf81]

1 hour ago, smutcakes said:

Does no one on Thai Visa have any hobbies? Everyone seems to just be satisfied with sitting at home all day everyday. No golf, bird watching, hiking trips, cycling trips, sailing, other sports? Everyone seems very happy with a life i would consider extremely boring, just sitting around at home.

I'm living in a small, pretty remote village and one of my hobbies (as wel as work) is programming. But for work I do boring business apps and as a hobby I like to (learn how to) develop games. 

 

Apart from that, soon we'll have a car (hopefully) and then we'll do the occasional trip to a national park or perhaps do some sightseeing in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai. I certainly don't feel the need to do something every day. Perhaps a few times a month is enough for me.

 

I am also still relatively young (37 years) and I'd like to "retire" early (hopefully when I am 50 at the latest) , so it helps if I can save money now. 

[BertBert]

10 hours ago, rickudon said:

If i was single i could live on 30,000 baht a month, but i'm not........ family eat up whatever is available!

 

Mortgage - 3000 baht a month (older thai house)

Electric     - 2000 baht a month or a bit less

Water        - 500 baht a month (M-in-law uses tons)

Gas            - 400 baht a month (average)

Funeral plans for inlaws - 1800 baht a month (still haven't collected ?)

Car payments - 6,700 baht a month

Fuel for car and wifes bike - 2000 baht a month

Internet   -  800 baht a month

Phones   - 700 baht a month

Drrinking water - 100 baht a month

Food and household shopping - 15,000 a month (a lot of mouths to feed)

Eating out 2000 baht a month.

Alcohol - 1, 000 baht a month

 

Total - 36.000 baht a month. but also Annual costs .......

 

Car Tax, insurance and service - 16,000 baht

School fees for daughter     - 40,000 baht

Typical adhoc house and garden maintenance - 15,000 baht (not including any significant repairs, improvements etc,)

Immigration - visa extension, exit re-entry visas and embassy letter - 7,000 baht

Visit to UK each year (travel costs only counted) - 35,000 baht. (have family commitments there, require one or more visits a year).

Health costs (very variable, mainly dentist) 4,000 baht in last 12 months.

 

Annual costs - 117,000 baht plus

 

So i need between 45-50,000 baht a month income to avoid eroding what little savings i have left. Anything else is on top of this .......... Since last year get UK state pension so currently get about 55,000 baht a month, before that i was dipping into savings frequently. Brexit is a threat.

 

If living in the UK as a family (which i cannot easily do as cannot meet all the requirements for wife's visa) I would struggle to make ends meet due to incredibly high housing costs. As a single person, i would manage comfortably as long as i economised on housing but life would be boring.

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your contribution.
It gives me good insight.

[rickudon]

The topic was cost of living, so i guess none of us mentioned hobbies, as not relevant except to those who have the same interests

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, smutcakes said:

Does no one on Thai Visa have any hobbies? Everyone seems to just be satisfied with sitting at home all day everyday. No golf, bird watching, hiking trips, cycling trips, sailing, other sports? Everyone seems very happy with a life i would consider extremely boring, just sitting around at home.

Monsoon at the moment (if you hadn't noticed), most outdoor hobbies are a bit dangerous with wet roads, rivers bursting banks, landslides and muddy tracks on the mountains, and falling trees in the jungle.

Anyone for a bit of caving? 

Eating and drinking beer are fairly safe pastimes, no point in chancing medical expenses due to avoidable accidents

 

Edited August 1, 2018 by BritManToo

[Naam]

2 hours ago, smutcakes said:

Does no one on Thai Visa have any hobbies? Everyone seems to just be satisfied with sitting at home all day everyday. No golf, bird watching, hiking trips, cycling trips, sailing, other sports? Everyone seems very happy with a life i would consider extremely boring, just sitting around at home.

i don't know from where you get that idea. since i retired many rainy seasons ago i never had time enough to follow up with all hobbies i am interested.

[Greenside]

On 7/29/2018 at 9:01 AM, starky said:

Get your self a kindle I've got over 350gb of books you can have for free about 10 lifetimes worth.

Really?  An average title in my library is about 700kb allowing for dual format etc.  Based on that you would have in the region of 400,000 books.....  That's a pretty serious collection!

[smutcakes]

6 hours ago, Naam said:

i don't know from where you get that idea. since i retired many rainy seasons ago i never had time enough to follow up with all hobbies i am interested.

I get the idea from the fact people are providing there monthly budgeting but there seems neary a mention of money spent on hobbies. Travelling to and from them, participating in then, equipment for them. My main hobbies are golf and badminton and combined they probably cost about 15-20k a month so not exactly minor expenses. But dont see this type of expense mentioned.

[smutcakes]

7 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Monsoon at the moment (if you hadn't noticed), most outdoor hobbies are a bit dangerous with wet roads, rivers bursting banks, landslides and muddy tracks on the mountains, and falling trees in the jungle.

Anyone for a bit of caving? 

Eating and drinking beer are fairly safe pastimes, no point in chancing medical expenses due to avoidable accidents

 

Seems you are very much a glass half full kind of guy.