Expenses in Issan?

[Chandler]

Curious, close to the Cambodia border within reason.  Building a home on wife's land.  What are building costs like?  For say a decent 3 bedroom home with AC and hot water.  Decent living room and kitchen?   Also, is there a general consensus on the cost of living in that area?  Decent life style, nothing crazy.  Money to party or travel a little when you want to, but not really doing on regular basis....  Maybe leaving room for 1 or 2 children?   Probably 1 car/truck  and a motorbike.  Relaxed lifestyle...  I'm not sure if there is much difference in the schooling from Thai schools to private schools.  Any input on helping to figure this out would be appreciated.  I am sure I didn't give  sufficient information.  Let me know what I left out in forum or even better a PM.  Thanks!  I am sure I'm not the first to ask this question.  Sorry for repeating it, although costs do change frequently.

Khob khun krap!   Ih-lee Ih-lee na!

Edited November 19, 2020 by Chandler

[HashBrownHarry]

House price i'd expect 1.5-2M depending on finish.

 

50-70K per month would be heaps ( no kids ).

 

Good luck.

 

 

[Chandler]

any idea what cost of raising children are?  general costs I'm referring to.

 

Edited November 20, 2020 by Chandler

[Chandler]

21 minutes ago, HashBrownHarry said:

House price i'd expect 1.5-2M depending on finish.

 

50-70K per month would be heaps ( no kids ).

 

Good luck.

 

 

Thank you very much

 

[EVENKEEL]

15,000 to 200,000 bht/mo. That should cover it.

[Chandler]

1 minute ago, EVENKEEL said:

15,000 to 200,000 bht/mo. That should cover it.

well,  now I can narrow down my stuff 555   Just general costs like i said nothing crazy.

[EVENKEEL]

4 minutes ago, Chandler said:

well,  now I can narrow down my stuff 555   Just general costs like i said nothing crazy.

There's no rule that says you must live on her land. For extended happiness, live far away from her family and she can visit them.

[baansgr]

Food, utilities, gasoline, everything is almost priced the same throughout Thailand. Only thing cheaper in Issan is land price. Some good companies can build 3 bed 2 bath for 1.2 mil (build only).. Kids is upto you...pocket money, how often you treat them etc. After all your major purchases..30k can live very well with some to spare

[Chandler]

12 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

There's no rule that says you must live on her land. For extended happiness, live far away from her family and she can visit them.

actually i had considered that,  something near the water or maybe Cambodia as its close and cheaper

 

[Chandler]

6 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Food, utilities, gasoline, everything is almost priced the same throughout Thailand. Only thing cheaper in Issan is land price. Some good companies can build 3 bed 2 bath for 1.2 mil (build only).. Kids is upto you...pocket money, how often you treat them etc. After all your major purchases..30k can live very well with some to spare

30K Thb a month is fair there?

 

[DILLIGAD]

How well do you know the area that you 'propose' to live in??? Agree with Evenkeel's comments above  and I would add, Why not rent a place for a year or 3 first. then decide if the area is right for you.

There are many abandoned 'mansions/monuments' around the area that you describe (one was mine) and think it makes perfect sense to rent first.

Good luck!   

[Chandler]

Just now, DILLIGAD said:

How well do you know the area that you 'propose' to live in??? Agree with Evenkeel's comments above  and I would add, Why not rent a place for a year or 3 first. then decide if the area is right for you.

There are many abandoned 'mansions/monuments' around the area that you describe (one was mine) and think it makes perfect sense to rent first.

Good luck!   

I dont know it very well.  just figured she would care to be close to parents.  thanks

 

[1FinickyOne]

8 minutes ago, Chandler said:

I dont know it very well.  just figured she would care to be close to parents.  thanks

 

 

people tend to go a bit heavy on avoiding the family... and in many cases appropriately... keep your eyes open... do they drink or gamble? 

 

I married the family and it has been a pleasure. We built a family compound too. There is always a baby sitter available and someone to feed the dog if we go away... there is a deep sense of security in knowing there are many family members around if your car breaks down or if you have a problem... 

 

kids can get expensive... do you want your kid to have a computer, ipad etc.. when it will help them with school? 

[Boomer6969]

16 minutes ago, Chandler said:

30K Thb a month is fair there?

 

Many people say so. It all depends on what one expects from life. I have no problem spending all of my 250000 pension. While my initial setup costs were well over 10M. But I was used to 20000 USD a month in Geneva before my retirement.

 

I maybe worth to point out that health insurance for a family of 4 cost 20k or more, Electricity 7/8 k, etc. Wine is horrendously expensive. And that sharing a bit around you will make your life better.

Edited November 20, 2020 by Boomer6969

[Chandler]

1 minute ago, kenk24 said:

 

people tend to go a bit heavy on avoiding the family... and in many cases appropriately... keep your eyes open... do they drink or gamble? 

 

I married the family and it has been a pleasure. We built a family compound too. There is always a baby sitter available and someone to feed the dog if we go away... there is a deep sense of security in knowing there are many family members around if your car breaks down or if you have a problem... 

 

kids can get expensive... do you want your kid to have a computer, ipad etc.. when it will help them with school? 

yes, absolutely on the computer.   

[Laza 45]

The house cost depends how comfortable you want to be.  Sure they can build a single layer cement block hot box that is uncomfortable and expensive to air-con for maybe 1.5 to 2 million...  or you can go modern and build with cavity walls.. insulating block on the outside.. good roof ventilation and lots of insulation above ceilings.. and verandas protecting sunny side walls from direct sun and have a very comfortable home that is cheap to maintain.  If your house and car are paid for it is very cheap to live month to month.. 

[1FinickyOne]

Just now, Chandler said:

yes, absolutely on the computer.   

then extrapolate out to a decent phone, a better school, etc... good food - my niece was eating adult size portions from the time she was 4 years old... if you have a good income stream, it will or can be a pleasure... if your wife is into it too... but it is a stress on time and finances... if you are working or tight... 

 

I don't know how young working people manage... but they do. 

[cyril sneer]

don't have kids

[EVENKEEL]

51 minutes ago, kenk24 said:

 

people tend to go a bit heavy on avoiding the family... and in many cases appropriately... keep your eyes open... do they drink or gamble? 

 

I married the family and it has been a pleasure. We built a family compound too. There is always a baby sitter available and someone to feed the dog if we go away... there is a deep sense of security in knowing there are many family members around if your car breaks down or if you have a problem... 

 

kids can get expensive... do you want your kid to have a computer, ipad etc.. when it will help them with school? 

There are different degrees of "Isaan" believe me as you well know. The reasons you mentioned are good. I guess if you lived there full time from the start is different from me still working 4 mos tours. During my 4 mos away they (her family will take over) 

 

Now you have a difference in income in Isaan. Isaan doesn't mean dirt poor, some have good jobs and nice lifestyles. In my instance they are super poor, never lived in a house that ever saw a paint brush, cleaning is non existent. Good people, work hard but bad things happen to even good people. You will be the cash cow because you have a "good heart" You feel awkward because you can buy a new motorbike or car at will in cash, because they know all farang are rich. We moved 600km away 4 yrs ago, my daughter can have a good English program school, bought a smallish house close to the beach in a small fishing village, 30 min to Pattaya. 

 

I didn't bust my ass all my life to end of in a Isaan rice paddy.

[Dene16]

2 hours ago, Chandler said:

a decent 3 bedroom home with AC and hot water.  Decent living room and kitchen?   Also, is there a general consensus on the cost of living in that area?  Decent life style

A difficult question to answer as a lot depends on your circumstances, your ability to accept Thai culture and your idea of a decent lifestyle

 

House - A very nice house can be built for around 2m baht which 95% of people would find amazing. I am presently looking at this company https://www.facebook.com/goldhouseproperty/(if anyone has used them please reply) but it should give you an idea of the price. I would advise against using family and friends as if something does not go to plan you will not have a problem plus, they probably are only used to building your basic village house. I had to buy the land (Surin 600k for 3 rai} but put in my sons name.

 

Living near family - this is often a conundrum. It is normal that you would want your wife to live around her family as this is a natural part of Thai life. practically my g/f's whole family lives in the same small village literally a stone’s throw away. Your wife may feel a need to constantly help the family in one way or another. When this concerns money, it will start to grind on you whether you can afford it or not. Everything she does with the family, going to a temple, trip into town with lunch, going swimming etc. She will want/expect to pay for it all (not a problem until 2/3 days after giving her 5000baht she claims to have no money left) Having said that I live in her village and am very happy. Love to be able to treat everyone now and again taking all the children to the cinema/swimming, inviting people round for drinks of Hong Thong and Leo but it has to be done in moderation.

 

Lifestyle – be under no illusion, to say that life in the village is very boring can very often be an understatement. First and foremost, you need to learn Thai and find a pastime/pastimes to occupy yourself with. Admittedly I do not, yet, but it would make life so much better.

Truck/car – It is not always cost effective to buy a second-hand vehicle. Don’t buy a truck unless you personally have a need for it, there are plenty of people that will have one if needs be. Again, I am going to buy one but only because I want to be able to put my bike on the back when we go anywhere on holiday in Thailand and possibly tow a boat. For me a car is something to get me from A to B. As long as it has air con and electric windows, I’m happy, so no need to spend over the top on a car (basic compact car). Plus she can then drive it if needs be.

Thai culture - the term ‘mai pen rai’ (oh never mind) is synonymous with Thailand and something very very hard for any westerner to except, however it is something you will need to, in certain circumstances, or it will drive you crazy. In the village they will buy cheap Chinese <deleted> and when it breaks a few weeks later just accept it (moral don’t buy anything made in china) unless it’s a household name or under Japanese management

 

Cost of living – As the saying goes different horses for courses. The reality is that once you have bought your house, car and as long as you are not letting her family bleed you dry then the cost of living is extremely cheap compared to your home country. Everyone likes food from their own country and obviously these will be a premium. If you enjoy Thai food then its peanuts. There are few Thai dishes that I actually like and I nearly buy all my food from Macro as I’ve been ill a few times when buying food from the market. I eat a lot of chicken breast which crazily is the cheapest part of the chicken here but the opposite in my country 56bht per kilo rather than minimum 160bht frozen in my country. The farmed fish tilapia tasting a bit like cod is only 56bht per kilo and nice barbecued. Pork about the same price but have to buy locally so I can ask not to cut off the skin for good crackling. fruits like pineapple’s, melons, and mangoes make great smoothies and are cheap and delicious.

Get some ducks so you have a plentiful supply of duck eggs, trust me you will never go back to chicken eggs.

We started and now supply the local shop and make a meagre profit

As I flit between my home country and here my suitcase is only ever full of food from home. I have a list of things to bring every time I come.

I prefer my own cooking and the g/f is a good cook so if I eat out its only locally and cheap

I am very basic in my tastes but if your have a much finer palette then it will be more expensive. My biggest expense it when buying shrimps or shellfish for the g/f which I do not eat.

Water is cheap 350bht per month or sink your own well so as not to be a slave to the frequent pump breakdowns from the village reservoir and then it’s free.

Electricity - is only expensive depending on air con usage (no air con 1200bht per month)

Gas - would be from the bottles which are crazily cheap and last forever if just cooking for yourselves

Night out to the cinema – I always get the sofa at the back 450bht for 2 but have to check constantly as normally only in English for the first week. Would cost me n 3 or 4 times more at home.

Clothes from Thailand are not good and don’t fit correctly (but cheap), why are all the shorts cut in such a way as to be pulling up your ass? I buy my clothes from my home country

There are always going to be some people that say its not for them but half of the problem is they do not mix with the locals. Its annoying sometimes that i have to travel 25 kilometres to the city but in reality what else have i got to do

 

 

 

 

[1FinickyOne]

5 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

You feel awkward because you can buy a new motorbike or car at will in cash

 

There is going to be an element of truth in this... there is an old saying. your wife cannot be happy drinking from fine crystal while her mother drinks from a coconut shell... I think this will always be a factor but less so with distance... 

5 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

I didn't bust my ass all my life to end of in a Isaan rice paddy.

Then you have answered your question - don't move to Isaan... 

[bunnydrops]

As you can see it depends a lot. My wife and I live on less than 30k a month. We don't have swimming pool so my electric is a little more than a K  a month., water less than 100 baht. Those with a pool easily spend a lot more. We cook almost all our food and I eat mostly Thai and some simple western. I'm really not sure what we spend on food. Maybe 4 K a month shopping in the city. Locally, you will spend 20 baht here and 20 baht there for veges.

There really isn't a lot to do to spend money on out here. We go out for dinner once in a while 120 to 400 baht for the two of us.

 

As one poster said it depends on the family that you are living close to. Mine are great. We leave the country for months at a time and the house is taken care of. Always willing to help when needed, but stay away when not needed.

 

Renting at first is a good idea. Get to know the place, get to know the family over a period of time to see what they are really like.

 

[EVENKEEL]

1 hour ago, kenk24 said:

 

There is going to be an element of truth in this... there is an old saying. your wife cannot be happy drinking from fine crystal while her mother drinks from a coconut shell... I think this will always be a factor but less so with distance... 

Then you have answered your question - don't move to Isaan... 

Oh, been there for a good 7 yrs on my off work cycle. Bought land, built a house. I thought it was bad a@@ at first until I thought it wasn't. Made the decision 4 yrs ago to relocate far away. My kid will have that as well as this house someday so walking away from old house was of no consideration . I contribute a set amount to her divorced parents monthly so no need to hear blow by blow accounts of who's having a hard time. 

[Toscano]

My first thought is that you are proposing to set off on a path that many kind , loving , generous men have trod before .

You are seeking to know how much it will cost to build a house in Isaan , which suggests to me that you have not limitless means . 

Building a house on your wife's land run the risk of losing all the money you have spent , can you afford to do that ?

Isaan is a pleasant rural region where nothing happens , Thai culture and customs are very different to western culture ,

in the longterm life can become very boring , conflicts with your wife may arise , love in Thailand is how much money you have .

You may think I am being cynical , I have been here nearly 17 years , I have met many kind men whose wives have robbed them of everything . 

In almost every district there are houses available that could be rented or bought and renovated at far lower cost .

I would advise renting , if things turn sour you can pack your bags and leave .   

[Harveyboy]

On 11/20/2020 at 6:54 AM, Chandler said:

any idea what cost of raising children are?  general costs I'm referring to.

 

not cheap most kids stuff here expensive or rubbish..school fees..out of school activities ..extra lessons..football clubs ect ..ive got 2 kids in school here soon eats up the monthly allowance make sure you budget for it ...

[MikeN]

On 11/20/2020 at 7:25 AM, Chandler said:

30K Thb a month is fair there?

 

Well that depends on your lifestyle but, as an indicator, earlier this year during peak COVID here when travel was restricted and many places shut the wife and I lived comfortably on around 20,000 in rural Ubon. Even in May when I did my visa extension with associated costs I only took 25k out of the bank. And that was not just surviving on MaMa noodles and water ! 

If you live close to one of the bigger cities and cannot abstain from restaurant cooked farang food, and drinking at farang bars, then your costs will be higher than if you eat Thai or home cooked farang food, drinking with the family at home.

 And then you have the annual variable costs, such as health and car insurance.....what level of cover do you need ? Travel costs are up to you ...luxury resort on an island or something more budget minded ?

Edited November 21, 2020 by MikeN

[Grumpy one]

On 11/20/2020 at 7:27 AM, Chandler said:

I dont know it very well.  just figured she would care to be close to parents.  thanks

 

Big mistake for you.

All relo's will be there 24/7

Do you enjoy stifling heat in summer

Better to go somewhere that you enjoy

[Isaan sailor]

Recommend A-quality wood doors for outside and inside.  Cheap wood doors don’t last, and not as secure.  Also, if you can afford marble (stone) flooring, looks great and much cooler on your feet—with or without A.C.

And get yourself a pre-nup, or a renewable lease on the land.

[The Theory]

Living cost = as much as you wish to spend.
 

Perhaps it make more difference on construction labor cost, not material. 

[Stevemercer]

Pay up to $2.5 million Baht for a comfortable, 3 bedroom (2/3 bathrooms) house with western style bathrooms/toilets, kitchen and suitable roofed outdoor verandas (including outside Thai style kitchen).

 

500,000 Baht for indoor and outdoor built-ins, furnishings and extras.

 

Assume about $ 1 million Baht for landscaping (digging fish points, raising land levels in places) and fencing.

 

About 850,000 Baht for a good car and decent scooter.

 

About 75,000 Baht per month to live comfortably and for your own entertainment (5,000 Baht per week).