Cost of living comparison between UK & Thailand

[Satcommlee]

That is a very interesting comparison but Healthcare and insurance is a major factor to consider (Education too if kids are involved).

 

If I was to draw a similar table up then it would be a lot cheaper to live in the UK.

[trevoromgh]

5 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

37 Baht a litre for fuel ?

Got latest price from here  https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/Thailand/gasoline_prices/ presumably in Bangkok somewhere

[trevoromgh]

4 minutes ago, Satcommlee said:

That is a very interesting comparison but Healthcare and insurance is a major factor to consider (Education too if kids are involved).

 

If I was to draw a similar table up then it would be a lot cheaper to live in the UK.

Here is a new chart with some corrections from comments received and adding Healthcare for the 6 months I usually visit, the money in the UK is for backup insurance if I need certain operations quicker than NHS offering.

 

 

 

[trevoromgh]

27 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

Insurance for my 'storage' 5 series BMW in uk is +- 300 gbp a year fully comp.. 
etc. etc

 

It should go without saying that my lifestyle requirements won't match every person on this site and my figures are based on my personal needs.  If you want to drive Hi So cars and live in luxury apartments then go look for another topic mate.

 

[trevoromgh]

1 hour ago, Pedrogaz said:

Thank you for this. It is really interesting....

I'm surprised at the car insurance cost being lower in the UK, you must have a points free licence.

I spend much more on electricity.....about 3000 pounds per annum, but I like it cool in the house night and day.

Well done.

Yes points free and low value car in UK.  In Thailand have old car but bought 'First Class' insurance for it so anyone can drive it anywhere in the country and be covered to a reasonable level for accidents.  The power cost is low as it is just for the 6 months I'm in Thailand and whilst we like house cool as well we try to be very careful using the aircon only when necessary.

 

[LivinLOS]

37 minutes ago, trevoromgh said:

It should go without saying that my lifestyle requirements won't match every person on this site and my figures are based on my personal needs.  If you want to drive Hi So cars and live in luxury apartments then go look for another topic mate.

 

Point is.. its not really hiso is it ?? A basic mid range german car is not some extreme example of wealth, I am not talking about lambos and Ferraris (40 million etc instead of 150k gbp), etc but just a basic quality car something thats way under a million baht in the west.. I think its a rare retired expat that doesnt afford something like a 5 series or an E class at home prior to retiring here. 

You want to talk about costs.. So let emulate a proper like for like. Always makes me laugh when someone trades a merc in the west, for a PCX in Thailand, and then says its cheaper here.. 

And cars are just one example.. Look at high end audio, electronics, etc etc etc.. As soon as you want any non cappy plastic junk type item, its a shock how much more than the west it costs. I just happened to catch how much Bowers and Wilkins want for a pair of 801 speakers.. 1.7 million baht ???? Thats +- 80% more than the western msrp.. Why ?? 

Edited September 3, 2021 by LivinLOS

[LivinLOS]

1 hour ago, newnative said:

 If you own, same story.  It will likely cost you less, initially, to buy here.  That 1 bedroom USA condo I mentioned is now around $225,000.  Or, around 7,200,000 baht.  Lots of 1 bedrooms in Pattaya for half that or less.  Once you buy, your continuing costs are less, too.  In America the monthly condo fee was much higher and I also had a town fee to pay.  Plus real estate taxes on top of that.

But the biggest number you miss here is capital gains appreciation / depreciation.. 

Every western property I have owned I have made (often large) sums of money on.

Yes the entry cost is higher but the complete picture, purchase, maintenance, sale.. No comparison. 

[trevoromgh]

3 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

But the biggest number you miss here is capital gains appreciation / depreciation.. 

Every western property I have owned I have made (often large) sums of money on.

Yes the entry cost is higher but the complete picture, purchase, maintenance, sale.. No comparison. 

True but you forget the fact that the Thai baht 'might' continue to increase in value against other currencies so any Thai assets will see capital appreciation proportionately depending on what currency you  compare it to.

[LivinLOS]

Just now, trevoromgh said:

True but you forget the fact that the Thai baht 'might' continue to increase in value against other currencies so any Thai assets will see capital appreciation proportionately depending on what currency you  compare it to.

Sure but you can just park money in thb or buy a forward Fx contract if your trying to speculate on the currency.. Its a totally different subject. 

I was also here when the baht went from under 40 to gbp to 90 in a year or two

[473geo]

Why the need for comparison? 

 

I swapped a bicycle used for a 30k round trip to work, for a ute and 4 family motorcycles. Different life in Thailand.

Did I enjoy life in the UK? You bet I did, considering I worked hard also.

Am I enjoying life in Thailand, you bet I am, sometimes the hardest task of the day is putting my socks on!!

So life continues to be enjoyable, no need for comparison, time better spent keeping it that way ????

 

 

[muffy653]

Here is my costs for a 3 bed semi-detached house in the UK over a 12 month period

[Thingamabob]

On 8/31/2021 at 10:56 PM, Sheryl said:

Not a  million dollars, but a couple  hundred thousand quite possibly

 

It is indeed health care costs that tip the balance for a lot of people. Unfortunately many fail to take this into account and plan accordingly.

 

Should add to that table the cost of health insurance and out of pocket health care costs. . Will vary with age but by age 75+ can be around 300 pounds a month for hospitalizaion-only insurance and better figure a couple hundred for out patient care etc. . Which still comes out to a favorable total.

 

The biig problem is for people who do not think to get health insurance or are too old to obtain it. For them, sooner or later, the UK is the better option.

The UK is a better option for us oldies ? I don't think so.

[LivinLOS]

32 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

The UK is a better option for us oldies ? I don't think so.

Depends.. My mum lives in uk.. 

Lovely 2 bedroom house with a garden, with a river flowing along the edge, in a leafy small town in Devon.. Paid for by the government. 

No council tax, electric gas etc all covered by her income support.. Her entire cost of living socially funded. 

Doctors surgery 200m from the house, attentive care (she had a stroke) with multiple visits from social workers, physios, etc etc. 3 supermarkets within 500m.

If she leaves UK she no longer get any of it.. So to replicate her life, with carers home help, etc would be 60 - 75k a month at a minimum.. Then where do you do that 200m from an on call doctors ?? Then medical insurance for an elderly person with lots of issues ?? 

When we tried it in Thailand (when she was in her 50s) she was conned, tricked and scammed (thanks Phuket).. Caused her to lose confidence and have a breakdown. 

Climate in UK is not ideal but the support, free housing, socialised care funds.. Doctors.. Social workers.. etc etc.. Really no comparison. 

[david555]

7 minutes ago, LivinLOS said:

Depends.. My mum lives in uk.. 

Lovely 2 bedroom house with a garden, with a river flowing along the edge, in a leafy small town in Devon.. Paid for by the government. 

No council tax, electric gas etc all covered by her income support.. Her entire cost of living socially funded. 

Doctors surgery 200m from the house, attentive care (she had a stroke) with multiple visits from social workers, physios, etc etc. 3 supermarkets within 500m.

If she leaves UK she no longer get any of it.. So to replicate her life, with carers home help, etc would be 60 - 75k a month at a minimum.. Then where do you do that 200m from an on call doctors ?? Then medical insurance for an elderly person with lots of issues ?? 

When we tried it in Thailand (when she was in her 50s) she was conned, tricked and scammed (thanks Phuket).. Caused her to lose confidence and have a breakdown. 

Climate in UK is not ideal but the support, free housing, socialised care funds.. Doctors.. Social workers.. etc etc.. Really no comparison. 

Proves that it is all depending personal situation, an needs or habits ..... making such poll's as this and others about cost of living.... here.... there.... or anywhere almost  impossible to be correct in general ....

Like the "eternal "topic question " how much do one need for retirement living in Bangkok / Pattaya ? etc. ???? 

[Thomas Lyall]

Trevor - very interesting! I did a similar "comparison" a few years ago, as I have homes in both Bangkok and London. Living solely on my UK pension, I worked out that I'd be in deficit by £280 per month living permanently in the UK, and have a spare £560 per month by living in Thailand. Of course, no NHS in Thailand, but by putting away some of that 'excess' money most situations are covered. Also, the NHS is so over-stretched nowadays, you have to wait months for any kind of non emergency treatment. 

Edited September 3, 2021 by Thomas Lyall

[trevoromgh]

8 minutes ago, Thomas Lyall said:

Trevor - very interesting! I did a similar "comparison" a few years ago, as I have homes in both Bangkok and London. Living solely on my UK pension, I worked out that I'd be in deficit by £280 per month living permanently in the UK, and have a spare £560 per month by living in Thailand. Of course, no NHS in Thailand, but by putting away some of that 'excess' money most situations are covered. Also, the NHS is so over-stretched nowadays, you have to wait months for any kind of non emergency treatment. 

Thanks.  The NHS situation was why I opted for the Private cover if the NHS cannot deliver quickly, hopefully won't ever need to use it.

[sanuk711]

3 hours ago, LivinLOS said:

But the biggest number you miss here is capital gains appreciation / depreciation.. 

Every western property I have owned I have made (often large) sums of money on.

Yes the entry cost is higher but the complete picture, purchase, maintenance, sale.. No comparison. 

But your buying back into the same market, LivinLos---I just sold a very large 4 B/R Condo right on the beach Near Pattaya  4 Million that I brought for 2 Mil, but if I wanted to buy something like that again in the same market--- .

Unless your trading down or moving location to a less desirable area.  then your not going to walk away with bag full of money.

[thaigrifter]

3 hours ago, LivinLOS said:

Depends.. My mum lives in uk.. 

Lovely 2 bedroom house with a garden, with a river flowing along the edge, in a leafy small town in Devon.. Paid for by the government. 

No council tax, electric gas etc all covered by her income support.. Her entire cost of living socially funded. 

Doctors surgery 200m from the house, attentive care (she had a stroke) with multiple visits from social workers, physios, etc etc. 3 supermarkets within 500m.

If she leaves UK she no longer get any of it.. So to replicate her life, with carers home help, etc would be 60 - 75k a month at a minimum.. Then where do you do that 200m from an on call doctors ?? Then medical insurance for an elderly person with lots of issues ?? 

When we tried it in Thailand (when she was in her 50s) she was conned, tricked and scammed (thanks Phuket).. Caused her to lose confidence and have a breakdown. 

Climate in UK is not ideal but the support, free housing, socialised care funds.. Doctors.. Social workers.. etc etc.. Really no comparison. 

Then your Mother is an extremely lucky lady. A high percentage of pensioners are probably enduring a pretty miserable existance living in a council flat in a rundown inner city area.

[Pravda]

4 minutes ago, thaigrifter said:

Then your Mother is an extremely lucky lady. A high percentage of pensioners are probably enduring a pretty miserable existance living in a council flat in a rundown inner city area.

 

Is this a fact? Like the same fact that in Thailand a large percentage of pensioners can't even afford 800k in the bank for retirement extension?

[olfu]

I use Nimbeo when I want price comparison for any country.

[MajorTom]

6 hours ago, LivinLOS said:

And cars are just one example.. Look at high end audio, electronics, etc etc etc.. As soon as you want any non cappy plastic junk type item, its a shock how much more than the west it costs. I just happened to catch how much Bowers and Wilkins want for a pair of 801 speakers.. 1.7 million baht ???? Thats +- 80% more than the western msrp.. Why ?? 

Thailand likes to tax quality. Not necessarily to protect any local products. They just make everything good=expensive.

I dragged one of those Le-creuset cooking pots with me from Norway. Cost me 8-9000B at the time. Later saw the same one in a mall in BKK: 30K!! ????

I always do some shopping when im in Europe. Even simple stuff like socks and shirts. Its better quality AND cheaper.

[Andycoops]

On 8/31/2021 at 10:56 PM, Sheryl said:

Not a  million dollars, but a couple  hundred thousand quite possibly

 

It is indeed health care costs that tip the balance for a lot of people. Unfortunately many fail to take this into account and plan accordingly.

 

Should add to that table the cost of health insurance and out of pocket health care costs. . Will vary with age but by age 75+ can be around 300 pounds a month for hospitalizaion-only insurance and better figure a couple hundred for out patient care etc. . Which still comes out to a favorable total.

 

The biig problem is for people who do not think to get health insurance or are too old to obtain it. For them, sooner or later, the UK is the better option.

Starting a policy early is crucial to get on the ladder, my company allows you to renew cover upto 99 years old.

[Andycoops]

14 hours ago, trevoromgh said:

Here is a new chart with some corrections from comments received and adding Healthcare for the 6 months I usually visit, the money in the UK is for backup insurance if I need certain operations quicker than NHS offering.

 

 

 

Your f and b is not really a comparison because you said you eat out more and eat farang food.

My f and b costs per week here are roughly 2000 baht.

A box of 12 Leo is 614 baht in the local supermarket for example, a half bottle of red 189 baht, both cheaper in the UK.

I eat Thai food everyday and it's nutritious, delicious and far cheaper than the UK.

The occasional farang bit of cheddar or a toastie suffices for me.

 

[NoshowJones]

Very interesting post, I'm just surprised that there were not more comments about it.

[NoshowJones]

On 8/31/2021 at 3:41 PM, brewsterbudgen said:

Wouldn't it be better to compare like with like - a 3-bedroom house in each country? And what about rent?

Of course it would, but I think the poster was referring to his own costs rather than in general.

[NoshowJones]

On 9/1/2021 at 9:09 AM, FritsSikkink said:

This topic has been done many times, so i don't see the need to put some effort into it. There are loads of report about this from professional companies too.

A link please. This is the first comparison I have seen. I also think an individuals person experience would be the most accurate.

[Ralf001]

22 hours ago, david555 said:

wrong comparing the western food in Thailand as you did not compare Thai  food /restaurants in  U.K. or Europe .... i think you would be surprised how much a Isan papaya salad would cost in a western restaurant ????

 

 

Purely from a "my wallet" perspective I don't eat Thai food in either  Thailand or my home country so if it were my comparison list I would not include it either.

[Ralf001]

10 hours ago, olfu said:

I use Nimbeo when I want price comparison for any country.

Does not appear to be at all helpful for doing price comparisons between countries

 

http://www.nimbeo.com/

[NoshowJones]

17 hours ago, trevoromgh said:

Here is a new chart with some corrections from comments received and adding Healthcare for the 6 months I usually visit, the money in the UK is for backup insurance if I need certain operations quicker than NHS offering.

 

 

 

Thanks, Though your prices for car insurance really surprised me. I wonder how the cost of motorbike insurance would compare. 

[NoshowJones]

16 hours ago, LivinLOS said:

But the biggest number you miss here is capital gains appreciation / depreciation.. 

Every western property I have owned I have made (often large) sums of money on.

Yes the entry cost is higher but the complete picture, purchase, maintenance, sale.. No comparison. 

Your second sentence would also apply to me. If I tried to sell the house I bought in Thailand 15 years ago, I would doubt if I would get any more for it than what I originally paid.