A reminder why Thailand is such a great place to live

[georgey]

6 hours ago, Pravda said:

This is really a sad comparison.

 

So the price of Chinese takeout and rent is cheaper. But the wages are also higher in UK. I'm sure people don't work there for 350 baht an hour.

 

Prices in Bangkok are not 40 pounds a night in a 5 star hotel. These are covid prices. Hilton and other known chains used to cost 100 pounds per night. It this continues soon there won't be any hotels left which I am really not looking forward to. Because when there is less competition the price goes up and the quality drops, especially here. 

 

The whole post is about prices, but when I go to Canada I find the prices of quality food cheaper than in Thailand. The only thing more expensive is rent and transport. But even that is debatable as rent in nicer Bangkok condos is actually more expensive if you do 1:1 comparison. Many condos here are boxes with no real kitchen, no bathtub and zero closet space. You want that you have to rent a premium Bangkok condo which goes for well over 2000 pounds a month unless you rent in old building full of cockroaches.

 

 

You're absolutely right. Spent the whole of last summer in the North of Scotland; not only was food significantly cheaper, but the quality was so much better. Fresh wild fish, vegetables pesticide-free, even imported fruit was inexpensive. I know things have deteriorated in the UK since then, with supply chain issues & the effect of Brexit. Hotels a bit more than TH, maybe c 50%. Car rental, not much in it. But you really have to compare like with like. I'm happy to be here, I find it quite expensive in central BKK, though, & your point about rental costs is well made. Appreciate it's a lot cheaper elsewhere in the country.

[Orinoco]

1 hour ago, WhiteBuffaloATM said:

Biggest Advantage living in UK SEast is the MASSIVE Capital Gains on Property and Free HealthCare, BUT you must endure the described misery of living there, Avoid Divorce ( Very Hard) and THEN SELL and leave with your Gains to Buy Property and Enjoy Healthy Climate, in say Thailand. Almost Nobody Does That though…..they hang on to property, living in or renting out, downsize elsewhere in UK upon retirement ….. then sicken / die from the rotten climate by age 70 …. all the benefit going to the younger waiting relatives ……

BS.

We don't all do that.

 

 

 

Edited November 2, 2021 by Orinoco

[Pravda]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

@roo860

One final one for 1M6Bht, slightly funky and brand new.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/200656888864097/

Not bad. Even includes a kitchen. Good luck with that in bkk.

 

How far is this from central cm?

[Chris.B]

3 minutes ago, Orinoco said:

BS.

We don't all do that.

 

 

 

Not BS. He is right but should have added to the 'free' healthcare that it is hard to get nowadays

[Pravda]

1 minute ago, Chris.B said:

Not BS. He is right but should have added to the 'free' healthcare that it is hard to get nowadays

Hard to get, yet every Brit that kisses the asphalt in Thailand begs to be returned to the horrible NHS by setting up a GoFundMe campaign.

[4MyEgo]

7 hours ago, PizzaBoi said:

Not true at all. A lot of the 5 star hotels/resorts in Thailand are some of the best in the world, at least where I've been. The level of service you get is world class.

As for my example, I stayed in Oakwood Suites Bangkok. Right now you can get it for 2,000 Baht a night (£46). It was slightly cheaper a few weeks ago (perhaps because I stayed longer). Go read some of the reviews on Booking and see how happy people who have stayed there feel. I can tell you the same quality of room and service in the UK would cost you at least 4x-5x more, assuming it was even available

I agree with all of your comments on your posts, but 5 star, sorry, far from it, having stayed at 5 star hotels, there is a huge difference.

 

That said, not here to boast or shame anyone, but Trip advisor has it down as a 4 star rating which was done by Giata, and if you don't know much about them, suggest you Google them. It looks like a nice place, but unless you have stayed at a 5 star, you wouldn't know the difference.

 

Nothing to complain about here, always keen to keep an eye out for 5 star hotel bargains here in Thailand, especially as the wife is Thai and we can take advantage of the governments 40% discount, i.e. when the hotels don't raise their prices up as much just as the 40% discount is kicking in.

 

Do you plan on coming back, I am from Oz and return every year or two at the most too dip my toes into the waters, only to get them burnt real quick, certainly is an expensive place to live, mate of mine is paying $650 per week or 16,250 baht for a 2 bedroom modern apartment about 4 kilometres out of Sydney in Zetland (Leggo land) full of apartment buildings, I suppose you could rent the same place for half that in Hua Hin for example with some water views ?

 

What he pays in rent, costs me to live here with my family of 6 in our paid off place, so I know what your talking about, last time I was in Sydney 2 years ago last month, I met up with a mate of mine with the Mrs at a waterhole that I used to frequent, 2 basic steaks, 2 beers and two glasses of house red, came to 1,920 baht or $80 AUD.

 

Won't even look at real estate because one would need 1.5 mil for a 2 bedroom free standing knock down in an average suburb 18 kilometres south of the CBD (Kogarah) on a 500 square metre block in between two low rise unit buildings, fark that !  

 

Edited November 2, 2021 by 4MyEgo

[Orinoco]

3 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

Not BS. He is right but should have added to the 'free' healthcare that it is hard to get nowadays

Free in uk, last time i was there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

but he forgot all the other stuff about living in a foreign land. how convenient of him.

 

 

[Andycoops]

As an expat from the UK living here for 13 years I totally agree with the OP.

I have returned 4 times in those years and found it to be more depressing with each visit.

Thailand's alternative lifestyle is a far greater way to enjoy your senior years as far as I am concerned and it's not just the cost of living for me that makes this place home.

[George Aylesham]

7 hours ago, PizzaBoi said:

It's not just the UK though. I'm sure most if not all Western countries aren't far off. The US is just as bad. Australia is probably worse. Western European countries like France and Germany are similar.

 

Thailand is unique in that it offers so many Western comforts in terms of quality/service/availability, but at 1/3 or 1/4 the price (bare a few things such as imported foods or luxury cars). In fact in most cases the services offered are usually better and have way less hassle to obtain them than their Western alternatives

Not forgetting good, reasonably priced health care.

[Orinoco]

Some people just have Stockholm syndrome and don't know it. LOL

[bobbin]

6 hours ago, Pravda said:

 

 

Maybe if you worked, saved and owned a property back in your country instead of being a forever renter you wouldn't be so angry by the simple facts I stated in my post. Enjoy Thailand. 

Geez Pravda..you are working overtime to disagree with the OP..

 

Now you are implying some really negative character traits with that forever renter stuff. I guess you missed the fact that the average price of a home in Canada exceeded C$400K recently.. There will be plenty of Canadians looking at being priced out of the market, through no fault of their own.

 

I believe you are an immigrant to Canada but were trying your hand at living in Thailand, so not so happy in Canada. Not to mention that you recently started a topic about how you have had enough of Thailand, so perhaps a bit of bias in your multiple responses to this thread..

[Bruno123]

8 hours ago, PizzaBoi said:

My pleasure. I realize I went on a bit much, but this trip back has made me realize how lucky most Westerns living in Thailand really are. I think many have forgotten just how expensive their Thai lives would be back in the West.

 

Another very quick example... Our Airbnb is basically £125 a night. Crappy Internet. Crappy heating. Old useless TV, old furnishings. Tiny bathroom. Overall not very clean at all.  Compare that with the 5 star hotel we were staying in for £40 a night in Bangkok with the best bed ever, massive bathroom, all modern equipment and amazing staff. The difference in value for money and quality of life is just crazy

 

To be fair; you appear to be overpaying in some cases. My local Chinese restaurants are considerably less expensive that you quote. In fact , there are some that offer all you can eat for £5.99 with no time limit and even at good places you don't need to spend £35 for two.

Shopping? Many foodstuffs are considerably cheaper than they are in Thailand. 

 

Rental costs are relatively high; but again you are overpaying for AirBnB. £80 per night should cover it, even in London.

 

 

 

 

[Pravda]

8 minutes ago, bobbin said:

Geez Pravda..you are working overtime to disagree with the OP..

 

Now you are implying some really negative character traits with that forever renter stuff. I guess you missed the fact that the average price of a home in Canada exceeded C$400K recently.. There will be plenty of Canadians looking at being priced out of the market, through no fault of their own.

 

I believe you are an immigrant to Canada but were trying your hand at living in Thailand, so not so happy in Canada. Not to mention that you recently started a topic about how you have had enough of Thailand, so perhaps a bit of bias in your multiple responses to this thread..

 

Ok...fair post. I was also called forever renter because I disagreed about buying a property in Thailand (although I have one).

 

The thing is you can't blatantly say everything is more expensive in UK without making a fair comparison. If it costs 35 pounds for a Chinese takeout or 100 pounds for a taxi to the airport then great.....become a restaurant owner or a taxi driver. Even better... Start driving for Uber. You will be making a lot more money than a grab driver in Thailand.

 

Personally if I go back I'm thinking of doing that. Even my wife who will struggle with English in the beginning can do it. Unlike here where the job is only available to Thai for a pitiful wage. 

[4MyEgo]

2 hours ago, WhiteBuffaloATM said:

Biggest Advantage living in UK SEast is the MASSIVE Capital Gains on Property and Free HealthCare, BUT you must endure the described misery of living there, Avoid Divorce ( Very Hard) and THEN SELL and leave with your Gains to Buy Property and Enjoy Healthy Climate, in say Thailand. Almost Nobody Does That though…..they hang on to property, living in or renting out, downsize elsewhere in UK upon retirement ….. then sicken / die from the rotten climate by age 70 …. all the benefit going to the younger waiting relatives ……

Sydney, Australia is the pretty much the same, massive gains at the moment, booming property prices with the low interest rates on offer, only problem of late is if you hung onto your property while living overseas as an expat, your capital gains tax bill would have risen to 42% after the 1st of July 2019, i.e. if you sell it.

 

But wait for it, it gets better, it used to be capital gains tax as at the date you left the country, not when you purchased the property, come 1 July 2019, your capital gains tax bill of 42% goes all the way back to when you purchased it.

 

It will be interesting to see if other countries go down this path as I am sure it will be a great revenue earner for them.

 

[Black arab]

40 minutes ago, Orinoco said:

Free in uk, last time i was there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

but he forgot all the other stuff about living in a foreign land. how convenient of him.

 

 

Not free, there is a tax called National insurance.

[Trujillo]

"I see a lot of people complain about the problems Thailand has, but I just wanted to share my experience coming back to the UK recently and how absolutely insane the cost of living has become here."

 

Before I read another word, let me just chip in this: Racist, two-tiered pricing for foreigners. 

 

Okay, you were saying? 

[SAFETY FIRST]

You've got to be kidding me. 
The moaners, complainers, haters were born miserable, there's no changing these horrible people. Always looking to blame others for their pathetic mis managed portfolios. They live here in Thailand and can't assimilate, they constantly complain about Thais and their behavior, I just don't understand, they are so miserable and create problems for themselves. 

 

I'm another that loves it here in Thailand. 

I need to stop reading most of the AN comments, they make me so angry at times.

 

Sometimes I wish that Thailand was more expensive, this would keep away most of these rotten people, we would be so much more happier here.

Love you Thailand 

[newnative]

7 hours ago, Pravda said:

This is really a sad comparison.

 

So the price of Chinese takeout and rent is cheaper. But the wages are also higher in UK. I'm sure people don't work there for 350 baht an hour.

 

Prices in Bangkok are not 40 pounds a night in a 5 star hotel. These are covid prices. Hilton and other known chains used to cost 100 pounds per night. It this continues soon there won't be any hotels left which I am really not looking forward to. Because when there is less competition the price goes up and the quality drops, especially here. 

 

The whole post is about prices, but when I go to Canada I find the prices of quality food cheaper than in Thailand. The only thing more expensive is rent and transport. But even that is debatable as rent in nicer Bangkok condos is actually more expensive if you do 1:1 comparison. Many condos here are boxes with no real kitchen, no bathtub and zero closet space. You want that you have to rent a premium Bangkok condo which goes for well over 2000 pounds a month unless you rent in old building full of cockroaches.

 

 

     You can spend 2000 pounds to rent in Bangkok but you don't have to.  2000 pounds is about 90,800 baht.  You can rent a nice 2 bedroom/2 bath 80sqm condo, with a bathtub and no cockroaches, at my Bangkok condo project for 45,000 baht a month-- half your figure.  It's about a 2 minute walk to the Phetchaburi MRT and a short walk to the Airport Link. 

    Built in 2013, it's not too new or too old and it is being maintained nicely.   No numerous tiny 25 to 30 sqm studio and 1 bedrooms found in many of the new projects that are illegal hotel room magnets.  The smallest unit is 42 sqm, most are 50 sqm to 100 sqm, with some duplexes.  525 units so not a mega project--also the type that can be overrun with hotel renters.  Q Asoke condo, next door, also a very nice project, has some 2 bedrooms for rent for the same price.  

    I'll be the first to admit that neither project would be considered super luxury but they both are still quite decent--with the amenities I look for:  big pool, air-conditioned gym with locker rooms, nice lobby with good staff, plenty of garage parking, nice grounds, and a comfortable, air-conditioned lounge.  In my case the project also has a library, which I use and like--and a theater room, sauna, yoga room, and putting green that I don't use.  

[Pravda]

9 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

You've got to be kidding me. 
The moaners, complainers, haters were born miserable, there's no changing these horrible people. Always looking to blame others for their pathetic mis managed portfolios. They live here in Thailand and can't assimilate, they constantly complain about Thais and their behavior, I just don't understand, they are so miserable and create problems for themselves. 

 

I'm another that loves it here in Thailand. 

I need to stop reading most of the AN comments, they make me so angry at times.

 

Sometimes I wish that Thailand was more expensive, this would keep away most of these rotten people, we would be so much more happier here.

Love you Thailand 

 

It's already cheap and no one is here.

 

How do you explain that?

[SAFETY FIRST]

3 minutes ago, Pravda said:

 

It's already cheap and no one is here.

 

How do you explain that?

There are plenty moaners here 

 

Too cheap here, need to make it more expensive.

 

Thailand is the best place in the world to live, increase the prices, need to get rid of the riff raff.

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, Pravda said:

Not bad. Even includes a kitchen. Good luck with that in bkk.

 

How far is this from central cm?

About 6-7Km from the moat.

[StevieAus]

8 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

OP's comments right on from my experience.  Been here 10 years and the UK folks are by far the biggest complainers about the place.  Never understood why.  It is overall better especially economically, then the UK or U.S.  Lots of of rude people in both countries who think they are entitled.  But I guess, some people come here and just like to complain about everything.

Many in Australia used to be the same,  hence the term

“ Whinging Poms”.

The beer’s too cold, the weather too hot, no mail delivery on Saturday, the bread isn’t the same etc etc.

Yet like many here they never      leave to return to their Utopian homeland.

[Orinoco]

12 minutes ago, StevieAus said:

Many in Australia used to be the same,  hence the term

“ Whinging Poms”.

The beer’s too cold, the weather too hot, no mail delivery on Saturday, the bread isn’t the same etc etc.

Yet like many here they never      leave to return to their Utopian homeland.

Your right.

Oz is the best place on the planet,

shame it's full  of Australians.

But no worries the true locals  will have it back from you soon. !!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL.

will be well funny watching that.

Fair Dinkum mate.

 

 

 

Edited November 2, 2021 by Orinoco

[Pravda]

15 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

There are plenty moaners here 

 

Too cheap here, need to make it more expensive.

 

Thailand is the best place in the world to live, increase the prices, need to get rid of the riff raff.

 

So what you're saying is UK did a fantastic job as it sent all the moaners to Thailand.

[twix38]

I moved back to uk from Thailand and overall find it much better here in uk.

 

For food you can enjoy all categories of price with Wetherspoons offering great value which at current exchange rates is similar or cheaper than the same in Thailand. Granted you can eat Thai cheaper but not western food. Of course that comes with killing yourself with pesticides and poor air quality in Thailand, but you can't quantify these silent killers so easily.

Accommodation much cheaper in Thailand but with a plan B in your own country and/or renting out your house then it's not an issue if you plan and act sensibly. What about the cheaper items in uk....2nd hand car prices are way cheaper here in uk!!

You can work here to fund the costs. Part time job keeping you active and engaged rather than propping up the bar and supporting your Thai partner/wife who invariably if you're honest doesn't appreciate or respect you.

 

Life is much better, more opportunity and less annoyance and danger in uk. Been back for 3 years and best thing I ever did after 10 years living in Thailand with so many areas of issue for health, immigration, xenophobia and its NOT cheap any longer with inflation and exchange rate. 

[twix38]

Oh and peace and quiet versus Thailand and Thais relentless noise often at all hours. Far too many niggles versus uk peace and things work. Ahhh 3 years of joy and no regrets at moving back!!

Winter could be a bit warmer but that's coming...........

[jerrymahoney]

For some reasons, Thailand is not such a great place to live because it is 20+ hours flying time BKK to the US.

 

And, for other reasons, Thailand is a great place to live because it is 20+ hours flying time BKK to the US.

[WhiteBuffaloATM]

“Life is much better, more opportunity and less annoyance and danger in uk. Been back for 3 years and best thing I ever did after 10 years living in Thailand with so many areas of issue for health, immigration, xenophobia and its NOT cheap any longer with inflation and exchange rate. “

 

NO to 1st sentence.Mean “opportunity” for more stress, costs & tax ? “better” how ? “ less danger” ,seriously seen the knife crime levels in UK ? one wrong look or bump can earn you a coffin…….

NHS good but UK environment really unhealthy the older you get…… no comment on thailand not being cheap…… jeez

[recom273]

My water bill came in .. 35B - water comes from a shared hole in the ground.

[SAFETY FIRST]

 

I'm a very lucky guy, I've traveled and worked in 40 countries, I've seen many cultures, worked with many different types. 
Thailand is not perfect but it's right for me. 

I've said this many times. 
Thailand has been my home for over 20 years.
I'm in my late 50s, 2 children born here in Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, the eldest going to university next year. 
I just get fed up with the comments, the constant negative posts, it just feeds the weak, the juveniles that want to comment negatively.

 

 

BTW, here's a great song for the people that need a cheer up, kindness. 
Let's be nice to each other. 
????