Cost of raising a child in Thailand

[sidjameson]

Zero experience raising a child. 

Always anxious that I have enough cash to support a family.

Can and do live outside Bangkok on 50k for everything for two people including rent, some trips and saving for big ticket items. Two people who are nonmateria!istic, drink very little and no vices. A car is the most expensive thing we do.

So for that type of lifestyle how much extra does a child cost on average a month?

 

[sanemax]

Depends on what you buy the child .

Go and look at how much clothes and toys cost and work out what you will spend .

[richard_smith237]

Consider... 

 

Car+Car seat (essential - you already mentioned this). 

Accommodation - Child has their own room (some will naturally debate the necessity of this)

Nursery Education - Playgroups etc (not so costly)(

Kindergarten - Can be very expensive if at an International School (200k+ baht per year)

Primary School - Very expensive if at an International School (500k+ baht per year)

Thai Education - at the extreme detrimental cost to the child

Vaccination programs - Fairly costly in the first year or so (think about 12,000 baht per year)

Medical Insurance - a decent one will cost about 40k+ per year (BUPA, LUMA, AXA)

Food - Relatively Cheap

Clothing - Variable (can be cheap to costly) but expect about 10,000 baht per year low end

Nappies - Costs add up (7-8 nappies per day at the beginning)

Toys - Variable (as cheap or as expensive as you are)  

[sidjameson]

Thank you Richard, thats a good start.

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, sidjameson said:

how much extra does a child cost on average a month?

Depends on age of child, nationality, and your choice of schooling.

I have one age 7 in Thai government school, costs about 10k/year in school extras, 600bht/month spending money.

And another halfway through Thai University, (again after government school) costs about 25k/year, 3k/month in spending money.

 

Food costs are almost nothing as they eat mainly Thai food (rice + flavouring).

Medical all free, provided by government hospital.

Transport is on my scooter (no need for helmets as we're out of town).

I did buy the girl at Uni a scooter when she was 15.

 

Toys,

Thai kids don't use toys all that much, mine use the computer, youtube cartoons and smartphones

Although the boy does like plasticine (nam man din) at 5bht/block. 

Edited December 2, 2018 by BritManToo

[bbi1]

50k/month and you're living outside BKK? You're already living a high-roller's lifestyle! Why worry much about how much raising a kid here will cost? Maybe throw another 20k/month for your kid to also live a high-roller's lifestyle and you're all set ????

[richard_smith237]

23 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Depends on age of child, nationality, and your choice of schooling.

I have one age 7 in Thai government school, costs about 10k/year in school extras, 600bht/month spending money.

And another halfway through Thai University, (again after government school) costs about 25k/year, 3k/month in spending money.

 

Food costs are almost nothing as they eat mainly Thai food (rice + flavouring).

Medical all free, provided by government hospital.

Transport is on my scooter (no need for helmets as we're out of town).

I did buy the girl at Uni a scooter when she was 15.

 

Toys,

Thai kids don't use toys all that much, mine use the computer, youtube cartoons and smartphones

Although the boy does like plasticine (nam man din) at 5bht/block. 

 

No emoticon's in that thread... This is a Windup right ?

 

Poor education, poor diet, poor safety... it seems 100% the way of a poor Thai family who know no better....  

[catman20]

12 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Consider... 

 

Car+Car seat (essential - you already mentioned this). 

Accommodation - Child has their own room (some will naturally debate the necessity of this)

Nursery Education - Playgroups etc (not so costly)(

Kindergarten - Can be very expensive if at an International School (200k+ baht per year)

Primary School - Very expensive if at an International School (500k+ baht per year)

Thai Education - at the extreme detrimental cost to the child

Vaccination programs - Fairly costly in the first year or so (think about 12,000 baht per year)

Medical Insurance - a decent one will cost about 40k+ per year (BUPA, LUMA, AXA)

Food - Relatively Cheap

Clothing - Variable (can be cheap to costly) but expect about 10,000 baht per year low end

Nappies - Costs add up (7-8 nappies per day at the beginning)

Toys - Variable (as cheap or as expensive as you are)  

pleased i had a vasectomy.

[BritManToo]

11 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Poor education, poor diet, poor safety... it seems 100% the way of a poor Thai family who know no better....  

I always try to fit in with the locals, I know I should be acting in a superior 'whites know best' sort of way, but our white culture is a complete failure, why even pretend it isn't? We came here to escape it, but then so many of us want to repeat the same mistakes.

 

My Thai children are really nice, loving, sharing people, my English children are greedy, cold, selfish c*&%s.

[catman20]

9 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I always try to fit in with the locals, I know I should be acting in a superior 'whites know best' sort of way, but our white culture is a complete failure, why even pretend it isn't? We came here to escape it, but then so many of us want to repeat the same mistakes.

 

My Thai children are really nice, loving, sharing people, my English children are greedy, cold, selfish c*&%s.

I am surprised you went in for another round of kids after the first bunch turned out so bad.

[BritManToo]

4 minutes ago, catman20 said:

I am surprised you went in for another round of kids after the first bunch turned out so bad.

I'm an optimist, would still like a few more, maybe Viet or Filipino next.

Edited December 3, 2018 by BritManToo

[Sheryl]

Vaccinations that are part of the government schedule can be gotten for free at government health center or hospital. . There are a few additional not yet provided free that are worth getting. All Thai children have access to free health care at the hospital which covers the lication where they live (per tabian ban). Private medical insurance is unnnecessary but it is worth moving if necessary to ensure you live in an area with a comparatively good hospital.

Education IMO would be a better area to invest in.

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Sheryl]

Vaccinations that are part of the government schedule can be gotten for free at government health center or hospital. . There are a few additional not yet provided free that are worth getting. All Thai children have access to free health care at the hospital which covers the lication where they live (per tabian ban). Private medical insurance is unnnecessary but it is worth moving if necessary to ensure you live in an area with a comparatively good hospital.

Education IMO would be a better area to invest in.

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Bob12345]

56 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I always try to fit in with the locals, I know I should be acting in a superior 'whites know best' sort of way, but our white culture is a complete failure, why even pretend it isn't? We came here to escape it, but then so many of us want to repeat the same mistakes.

 

My Thai children are really nice, loving, sharing people, my English children are greedy, cold, selfish c*&%s.

With the level of intelligence you are showing in the above posts i guess you fit right in!

[1FinickyOne]

If you are out of Bkk and not in a major city - - village life is very inexpensive. A kid does not have to be that much extra. If you raise the kid like a Thai and I am one who finds nothing wrong with this, then you probably have 2x the income of your neighbor... 

 

In the village, kids make their own toys and expectations of fancy this and that do not exist, same as the neighbors. 

 

I can afford more but my kid rarely wanted a toy and if so was thrilled with 100 baht worth. She does like art and I made sure she had supplies. When we would go for art supplies I would tell her she could buy "anything" she wants, just not "everything" - - and she has always been somewhat frugal and appreciative... 

 

Keep saving and you seem thoughtful and concerned and you can't do better than that... good luck to you... 

[catman20]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

I'm an optimist, would still like a few more, maybe Viet or Filipino next.

your game ill give you that ????

[Formaleins]

I was always told by my mother that "The cost of true love is no charge" - She was always a liar though.

[todlad]

14 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Consider... 

 

Car+Car seat (essential - you already mentioned this). 

Accommodation - Child has their own room (some will naturally debate the necessity of this)

Nursery Education - Playgroups etc (not so costly)(

Kindergarten - Can be very expensive if at an International School (200k+ baht per year)

Primary School - Very expensive if at an International School (500k+ baht per year)

Thai Education - at the extreme detrimental cost to the child

Vaccination programs - Fairly costly in the first year or so (think about 12,000 baht per year)

Medical Insurance - a decent one will cost about 40k+ per year (BUPA, LUMA, AXA)

Food - Relatively Cheap

Clothing - Variable (can be cheap to costly) but expect about 10,000 baht per year low end

Nappies - Costs add up (7-8 nappies per day at the beginning)

Toys - Variable (as cheap or as expensive as you are)  

No idea where outside of Bangkok you are and I am not being critical of this post since it's clearly within his experience.

In Surin, the school/nursery our daughter goes to is much less than 200K a year, divide that by three and that is for English medium (Filipina) teaching with Thai and Chinese thrown in!

Clothing here is almost free from markets and shops and if you drive over to Chong Chom market on the Cambodian border, you are quids in!

 

In terms of education, I have met farang men here who cannot speak to their own children because the men do not speak Thai and he has not taught them any English. Talk to your child in your own language every minute you are with them, from birth. Mother will do the same in Thai. The child is born smart and will learn both languages very easily and will have no idea she is speaking two of them. She will also learn naturally to talk to you in English and mother in Thai. A win win situation. 

[Rugon]

I would recommend to save at least 10,000 baht a month for each child so that you have 2 million when it comes to university time. Trust me you'll need it, plus more, if you want them to go abroad.

[Krataiboy]

27 minutes ago, todlad said:

No idea where outside of Bangkok you are and I am not being critical of this post since it's clearly within his experience.

In Surin, the school/nursery our daughter goes to is much less than 200K a year, divide that by three and that is for English medium (Filipina) teaching with Thai and Chinese thrown in!

Clothing here is almost free from markets and shops and if you drive over to Chong Chom market on the Cambodian border, you are quids in!

 

In terms of education, I have met farang men here who cannot speak to their own children because the men do not speak Thai and he has not taught them any English. Talk to your child in your own language every minute you are with them, from birth. Mother will do the same in Thai. The child is born smart and will learn both languages very easily and will have no idea she is speaking two of them. She will also learn naturally to talk to you in English and mother in Thai. A win win situation. 

Great advice re teaching a child to be bi-lingual.

[soistalker]

The real question is how much will it cost to raise your child and raise your in laws?

[1FinickyOne]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

My Thai children are really nice, loving, sharing people, my English children are greedy, cold

I hear this from many people... I see so many really nice people in the West, very caring loving even affluent people who can give their kids the best - - and the kids end up with serious drug problems etc etc... it is heartbreaking... I am very happy with my decisions to keep my kid here and do things as local as possible, the best asset is a huge loving family environment for her to be raised in... 

[BritManToo]

6 minutes ago, kenk24 said:

and the kids end up with serious drug problems etc etc... it is heartbreaking... I am very happy with my decisions to keep my kid here and do things as local as possible, the best asset is a huge loving family environment for her to be raised in... 

Most western kids just seem to ignore their parents, maybe one or two visits a year.

Then when you get ill or infirm, off to a care home with you.

 

Thai kids tend to look after and live with their parents.

Back in the 1960s/70s western children also looked after their ageing parents, something was lost from our culture in the 1980s/90s. Probably feminism is the cause, an ideology created around selfishness and the destruction of the family unit.

Edited December 3, 2018 by BritManToo

[manchega]

The answer is very,

both partner and I work, and before kids we were already 100 k + a month, this is in bkk so we don't have the luxuries of out of town costs, so there is commutes, eating, tolls, rent and utilities and occasional weekend to the beach.

With kids it was an explosion, we are easily up to 200 k a month, while we no longer pay for nappies and stuff, kids tuition at international school pushes it all up there along with extra commute and toll costs, and all the school extras

rule of thumb is x2 what ever you earn now, this is why so many grandparents look after kids here, 

the parents are out there earning money

[PerkinsCuthbert]

2 hours ago, Bob12345 said:

With the level of intelligence you are showing in the above posts i guess you fit right in!

Sounds like Bob Knows Best!

[BritManToo]

28 minutes ago, manchega said:

With kids it was an explosion, we are easily up to 200 k a month, while we no longer pay for nappies and stuff, kids tuition at international school pushes it all up

From what I've observed ..........

The more you spend on your kids, the less they like you and the lazier and more worthless they become.

Spend your time with them, not your money.

Edited December 3, 2018 by BritManToo

[sidjameson]

Friends brother literally spent a million dollars educating his son in Hong Kong. Never at home though as a workaholic. Son married an american and now works in a video game store in the States. Quote from his father, " i feel like i dont have a son"

Britman is right. Im starting to feel comfortable that it neednt be expensive.

[Lucky mike]

4 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I always try to fit in with the locals, I know I should be acting in a superior 'whites know best' sort of way, but our white culture is a complete failure, why even pretend it isn't? We came here to escape it, but then so many of us want to repeat the same mistakes.

 

My Thai children are really nice, loving, sharing people, my English children are greedy, cold, selfish c*&%s.

You reap what you sow !

[BritManToo]

46 minutes ago, Lucky mike said:

You reap what you sow !

I usually sow wild oats!

[Lucky mike]

29 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I usually sow wild oats!

Yogurt is good with that!