Cost of living 10 years on?

[Briggsy]

1 hour ago, jimn said:

If you are basing your records on 54 baht to the £, you are way out. As has already been pointed out the the £ was around 67 baht to the £ in 2008.

It is now November 2018.

Ten years ago was November 2008.

I think with a little bit of research you will find you are talking out of your arse.

 

????

[Briggsy]

1 hour ago, possum1931 said:

The bus from my village to the nearest city about 60 Ks, is about the same as it was 13 years ago when I first came here.

Please familiarise yourself with the concept of 'representative sampling'.

 

In addition, you are aware that bus fares are government regulated through concession and are therefore strictly controlled and not linked to the cost of living but to government capping.

 

(I cannot believe you posted that as serious and constructive input to the conversation.)

[khunPer]

18 hours ago, Clive said:

I would love to hear your thoughts as I have no idea how much prices have changed over the years but Im experienced enough not to pay top Baht tourist prices for things.

Official consumer price index was ca. 87 points, 10-years ago, i.e. 2008, today it's close to 103 points, so in average prices has increased by around 18 percent; i.e. say 20 persent.

 

You're having about 10 baht less for each £ today, compared to 10-years ago; i.e. a drop of 20 percent.

 

You'll in average feel that everything is 50 percent more expensive now, when comparing prices to £.

 

£ 2000 will give you in the area of 80,000 baht; divided with number of days and persons.

 

However, some things has gone up more than others, and it might be different, in different places.

 

You mention Samui, which is where I live and know of prices, a place that usually is considered little up priced being both an island, and an up-priced tourist destination. And remember, it's a bit of a rubber band, because how is life style; i.e. will you dine in local street-kitchen like diners, or do you opt for high-end gourmet restaurants.

 

Whatever you but in convenient stores like 7-Eleven, or supermarkets like Tops and Tesco, is almost same price as everywhere else.

 

Gasoline is a bit more expensive on an island, and has gone up in the last 10 years, one liter is around 30 baht and up, depending of type. Motorbike rents from 150 baht to 200 baht a day for small bikes, car hire from around 1,000 baht a day (might be able to find some for 800-900 baht).

 

Samui:

• Street soups range from 40 baht to 50 baht, might charge 60 baht in some areas like Chaweng
• Local restaurants, a Thai dish range from 60 baht to 120 baht, Western dishes from 150 baht to 350 baht, might be little more in Chaweng
• Drinks in local restaurants typically from 30 baht soft drinks to around 80 baht for a beer, if wine is available it will be more than 100 baht a glass after the last tax-increase
• Mid-end restaurants typically from 250 baht a dish, and up to 500 baht, steaks can be more
• Taxi-rides typically from 300 baht to 600 baht, often the driver will ask for fixed price instead of mandatory meter fare, longer rides across the island could be 900 to 1,000 baht
• Full day excursions, depending of type and destination, typically from 1,500 baht to 2,500 baht, and might be included lunch
• Drinks in pubs and trendy cafés are slightly higher priced than restaurants, 40-50 baht for water and soft, and up 150 baht for beer, coffee 80-120 baht, beach-front entertainment might be little more
• One hour traditional Thai massage 250 baht (might be 300 baht in high-street price)

 

I presume you'll avoid up-end places with a 80k budget, so I don't mention any.

????

[loong]

1 hour ago, Briggsy said:

It is now November 2018.

Ten years ago was November 2008.

I think with a little bit of research you will find you are talking out of your arse.

 

????

Absolutely correct - about 54 Baht to the GBP

https://www.x-rates.com/historical/?from=THB&amount=1&date=2008-11-28

[KittenKong]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

But my lot (including my former wife and former MiL) were all too busy stuffing down the chicken to care.

At 100B per head that must have taken them all of 17 seconds.

[BritManToo]

52 minutes ago, khunPer said:

Gasoline is a bit more expensive on an island, and has gone up in the last 10 years

10 years back I was paying 30bht/l for the 91 in my m/c.

Today I paid 25bht/l for the E20 in my m/c.

 

My fuel costs are considerably cheaper.

[steve73]

Basic food stuffs (Rice, pork, chicken, bpla Tap-tim) have IMO probably more than doubled in the past 10-11 years that I've been here.  Thai restaurant prices haven't doubled, but the portions are markedly smaller.

Some Farang restaurant prices have doubled, some are similar (but obviously much lower profits)..

Roadside stalls/carts for noodle soup, somtam, etc, are probably 60-70% higher.

But then the minimum wage has doubled from 150-300 in that time as well.  

Car hire more than doubled, motorcycle hire about the same (if you're brave or stupid)

Double (or more, 10x) pricing at tourist attractions has got more prevalent, and less places accept a Thai DL now... hope your kids look (and sound) sufficiently Thai or family outings will be exorbitant. 

 

[sencelebi]

If the hotels paid for, you have nothing to worry. 2000 pound is enough to live for a month for 4 since you are not a much drinker and willing to have Thai food most of the time.

I don't know how much was it 10 yrs ago but Thai food will cost you more less 80 baht per person.

I live in Koh Samui and not a fan of Thai food except fried rice and few others. I pay 60 baht for fried rice with shrimp and 50 baht with chicken.

Other than that, American fast food is cost almost the same what you would pay in Europe or US.

If you want to eat nice steak than it will cost about 500 baht excluding drinks. Most expensive restaurant in Koh Samui charges 700 baht for the steak.

Bottled water is 10 baht, grilled beef kebab on the stick is 100 baht, chicken on the stick is 50 baht at the walking street.

So you will have some idea for the about the street food and can compare what you were paying 10 yrs ago. 

In Koh samui Taxis won't turn on the meter. They will charge about 800 - 1000 baht to other side of the island and can be negotiated.

[jimn]

2 hours ago, Briggsy said:

It is now November 2018.

Ten years ago was November 2008.

I think with a little bit of research you will find you are talking out of your arse.

 

????

First of all I conceed to you that November 2008 was 54 to the £. I was referring to 2008 as a whole in July it 67 baht to the £ and sank because of the banking crisis. If you are doing an accurate comparison you have to take into account a sharp dip that occured so 54 is a little extreme because it was still 54 when I bought my house in February 2014. Second why such an aggressive reply, my reply to you was nothing of the sort so to say " I am talking out of my arse" was totally uncalled for. I will leave you to get on with your life which sounds exciting to me.

[khunPer]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

10 years back I was paying 30bht/l for the 91 in my m/c.

Today I paid 25bht/l for the E20 in my m/c.

 

My fuel costs are considerably cheaper.

Thanks, I wasn't sure of the price exactly 10-years ago, due to hikes up and down. When I began to stay on the island some 15 years ago a liter of gasoline sold for between 18 baht and 20 baht. E20, which I think was not available 10-years ago, was almost 28 baht when I last fueled earlier this week, and around 30 baht some weeks ago, 95 is jumping between 35 baht and 40 baht.

[pehice]

22 hours ago, BestB said:

In 10 years it has doubled if not more.

 

Lets say if you in the mood for western food, a steak in a decent place, dinner for 4 would easily cost you 5000.

 

tshirs at the markets 10 years ago 100 baht, now 200-220

 

meter taxi same but private hire double.

 

80000 baht for a month with kids would not be luxury , doable but not luxury.

 

A chicken steak that will be EXACTLY the same at an expensive restaurant or at a street restaurant still costs 40 thb.

 

 

[swissie]

22 hours ago, KittenKong said:

I disagree.

 

Some places may have doubled their prices but most places will only have increased by around 30-70%. Notably Thai food prices have not increased too much in that time.

 

But some things have gone up hugely: beer, wine, alcohol generally, imported items, national park entrance fees (for non-Thais).

 

Transport has not increased much and neither have most hotel prices.

 

But inevitably it does depend very much on where you go and what you do.

Yep! Overall the price increases are between 30 to 70 %.

Of interest to OP with regard to his trip and preferance: National Park Entrance Fees have increased dramatically.

Of no interest to the OP: The only thing that has increased by 100% are the "hostess-prices". Taking into account, that the quality of service has declined simoultaineously, the actual price increase in this segment of the economy must be close to 200%.

Can easily be compensated by reducing ones diet to "MAMA-SOUP" during the visit to Thailand.

[BritManToo]

4 hours ago, khunPer said:

However, some things has gone up more than others, and it might be different, in different places.

Other things have gone way down in price.

Bought a 60" TV for 20kbht this week, 10 years back it would have cost $50k.

[janclaes47]

On 11/30/2018 at 12:34 AM, KittenKong said:

Notably Thai food prices have not increased too much in that time.

 

Excuse me, 10 years ago I could eat every roadside restaurant a fried rice chicken for 20 Baht, or a steamed rice with fried chicken and basil and fried egg on top for 25 Baht.

 

Try to find the same today at less than 100% more

[janclaes47]

2 hours ago, pehice said:

 

A chicken steak that will be EXACTLY the same at an expensive restaurant or at a street restaurant still costs 40 thb.

 

 

 

It's obvious you have never eaten at an upscale restaurant

[KittenKong]

7 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Other things have gone way down in price.

Bought a 60" TV for 20kbht this week, 10 years back it would have cost $50k.

That is a global price reduction related to the normal price curve of new technology. It has nothing to do with Thailand.

[KittenKong]

6 hours ago, janclaes47 said:

 

Excuse me, 10 years ago I could eat every roadside restaurant a fried rice chicken for 20 Baht, or a steamed rice with fried chicken and basil and fried egg on top for 25 Baht.

 

Try to find the same today at less than 100% more

I dont find that. The seafood noodle soup I used to pay 35B for now costs me 50B. And the place I go to for other meals has put its prices up by a similar amount, but nowhere near 100%.

[starky]

On 11/30/2018 at 11:17 AM, KittenKong said:

Indeed, but that isnt relevant to costs in Thailand.

 

Anyone from Russia could say that Thai prices more than doubled in just a few months in 2014 when the RUB lost half its value, but they would be wrong.

Yeah unless of course you are coming to Thailand and you are comparing the pound sterling rate to when you were last in Thailand and how much things were then, right? Unless he has a Thai bank account he hasn't touched in 10 years of course then the exchange rate has no bearing. Fycks sake even if the price of everything hadn't changed in 10 years losing 30% + on the exchange rate makes the cost of living 30% more even with all other costs at a constant. Anyone from Russia would be <deleted> right if they had to convert currency....

[watcharacters]

 

If you're concerned about your finances, why not just scale back your time here to the point  where you feel it'll be manageable for you?

 

No need to put yourself in harm's way with no emergency cushion or reserves.

 

 

 

 

[khunPer]

16 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Other things have gone way down in price.

Bought a 60" TV for 20kbht this week, 10 years back it would have cost $50k.

Sure – and that goes for most electronics worldwide, and relative the 50k baht then would compare to 60k baht today, as Thai consumer price index is 20% up over 10 years – however not that important for for a two-week stay with prepaid accommodation.

 

The best way to compare prices is to calculate how long time one has to work to buy same thing then and now. How long time (after tax deduction) do you need to work today, to buy a color TV like a 60" flat screen; and how long time did we have to work before we could buy a color TV back when Janis Joplin begged: "Oh Lord, would you buy me a color TV"..?

Back then in my country, Denmark, it was 3 month average normal salary before income tax, so a little more than four month after tax, to buy a color TV – both the income tax and v.a.t. was lower at that time – now with 25% v.a.t. and one the Worlds highest income tax rates, one will need to work 9 days (working days, not days in a month) on a low-end wage after income tax to buy a 60" LG flat screen. 20k baht is a relative size depending of income, but even for a low minimum Thai-wage it's relative cheaper today, 2½ month work, but just "a color TV" can be bought for a lot less, for example around half a month's salary; same-same, but little different...????

[grollies]

16 hours ago, janclaes47 said:

 

Excuse me, 10 years ago I could eat every roadside restaurant a fried rice chicken for 20 Baht, or a steamed rice with fried chicken and basil and fried egg on top for 25 Baht.

 

Try to find the same today at less than 100% more

Pad kana moo grop with rice and fried egg and a small bowl of clear soup B40 at my local roadside eatery. And it's the best pad kana I've eaten anywhere to date (I always order it when travelling, just to compare).

[BritManToo]

45 minutes ago, khunPer said:

Sure – and that goes for most electronics worldwide, and relative the 50k baht

No, $50,000 ...... big tvs cost a lot 10 years back.

[grollies]

18 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

No, $50,000 ...... big tvs cost a lot 10 years back.

$50,000 for a big TV 10 years ago? Nah.

[janclaes47]

1 hour ago, grollies said:

Pad kana moo grop with rice and fried egg and a small bowl of clear soup B40 at my local roadside eatery. And it's the best pad kana I've eaten anywhere to date (I always order it when travelling, just to compare).

But I do believe that you don't live in a tourist centre, and that's where the OP is headed.

 

My comment was about the Pattaya area

[mogandave]

 
Excuse me, 10 years ago I could eat every roadside restaurant a fried rice chicken for 20 Baht, or a steamed rice with fried chicken and basil and fried egg on top for 25 Baht.
 
Try to find the same today at less than 100% more

I think 20 years ago, but not 10 years ago.

[clim124]

It pretty much remains more-or-less the same IMO.  You can still spend tons if you stick to tourist-catered businesses, and you can save if you only go to local places.  You can still find Pad-Thai on the street for around 30 Baht per plate, and you can find a shittier tasting plate of Pad Thai at a tourist-catered place for 100+ Baht.  You can rent a motorbike for 100 Baht per day, or you can rent a brand new BMW for lord knows how much.  The good thing is, Thailand still remains as one of the most diverse places to visit.

[KittenKong]

8 hours ago, starky said:

Yeah unless of course you are coming to Thailand and you are comparing the pound sterling rate to when you were last in Thailand and how much things were then, right? Unless he has a Thai bank account he hasn't touched in 10 years of course then the exchange rate has no bearing. Fycks sake even if the price of everything hadn't changed in 10 years losing 30% + on the exchange rate makes the cost of living 30% more even with all other costs at a constant.

The two things are entirely separate. The only important question is how much have things gone up by in THB terms. Any subsequent calculation to work out how expensive it will be in GBP or USD or CHF terms, or any other currency, will depend entirely on the value of that currency and has nothing to do with the prices here.

[khunPer]

10 hours ago, BritManToo said:

No, $50,000 ...... big tvs cost a lot 10 years back.

That would be in the area of 1,750,000 baht 10-years ago, I don't recall anything in that price level. The most expensive ones I've seen here was 279,990 baht almost 5 years ago for a 3D 80"; I snapped a photo, because it was next to a tiny looking 50" for modest 24k. The first big 3D smart-TV we saw on the island was 109,990 baht some 6-7 years ago. 12 years ago I bought a 46" for 20k baht, however I don't recall if 60" was available then, so cannot say other than $50k sounds like way too much...????

[jonesthepost]

On 11/30/2018 at 4:40 AM, bomber said:

10 years ago 67bt/£ now 42/£  35% increase before thai inflation

Not true 10 years ago today 52 baht to the pound now 42 

[bomber]

6 hours ago, jonesthepost said:

Not true 10 years ago today 52 baht to the pound now 42 

well researched it was 11 years ago it was 67 then the slump started,seems like yesterday