What it costs to live in Thailand, on a budget ?

[bang saen guy]

Hotels - rent

Curries - do not buy

Yoghurt - no idea. only buy for cooking. ice cream way more expensive

Sports drinks - do not buy

Amoxy - true

Massages - true

Dentists- true but quality is much lower

Car hire - do not need to hire a car

Buses- do not need

Taxis- do not need

Trains- do not need

Tours- why?

Electricity- true

Water -true

Glasses -true

Boats- why?

[KhunLA]

13 minutes ago, bang saen guy said:

RE taxes and medical care are definitely cheaper here. Materials more expensive here, labour much less but quality less also. No idea about EVs or solar. More importantly, ice cream is definitely more expensive here

Swensen's much cheaper here than USA, especially on Tues with 2/1 member card.  I believe other fast food chains are cheaper, and served up better here though ????  

[Sparktrader]

On 11/9/2022 at 7:58 AM, bang saen guy said:

Hotels - rent

Curries - do not buy

Yoghurt - no idea. only buy for cooking. ice cream way more expensive

Sports drinks - do not buy

Amoxy - true

Massages - true

Dentists- true

Car hire - do not need to hire a car

Buses- do not need

Taxis- do not need

Trains- do not need

Tours- why?

Electricity- true

Water -true

Glasses -true

Boats- why?

So I was right about the entire list. Why boats? Bangkok has great cheap boat trips. Krabi has awesome boat trips from 600 baht.

 

 

[bang saen guy]

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Swensen's much cheaper here than USA, especially on Tues with 2/1 member card.  I believe other fast food chains are cheaper, and served up better here though ????  

Blue Bell $7.98 per gallon

[Sparktrader]

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Swensen's much cheaper here than USA, especially on Tues with 2/1 member card.  I believe other fast food chains are cheaper, and served up better here though ????  

7/11 icecreams are cheap too.

[Sparktrader]

5 minutes ago, bang saen guy said:

ice cream way more expensive

7/11 ice cream is not more expensive than the west. It is half the cost.

[bang saen guy]

Do you actually eat ice cream from 7/11? Is Swensen's not in your budget?

[Boyn]

21 hours ago, BostonJoe said:

We live in Hua Hin family of 3 with 4 more mooching off us , so 7 all together . House, cars paid for. We spend  around 150 thousand Baht a month  If I could just get rid of thr 4 free loaders  Anyone have interest in my sister inlaw let me know

150,000 a month ?? thats a lot can you break that down a bit for us?

[jacko45k]

13 minutes ago, bang saen guy said:

Agree with some.

Transport: Care more expensive here

Fuel: Auto fuel a push I think

Power: Cheaper here. Not sure how much. Been here too long to compare

Taxi: Probably right. Not used one in years

You seem to be coming from a partial position of ignorance.....as you admit yourself wrt taxis. 

I accept you are correct wrt 'Care', medical for example....in my case as I am from the UK where it is free at point of need (but you pay high taxes for it). But that comparison fails if one considers say the expensive USA. Thailand can offer cheaper options than the expensive Private Hospitals.

No 'push' wrt auto fuel when one considers over 50%  fuel tax and VAT..... by the way, that VAT, on everything, is 20% in UK, France, 19% Germany, currently just 7% in Thailand. Near zero property taxes here, no local 'rates' as such. I struggle to see where Thailand is more expensive, but where do you compare to?

[Peterw42]

People appear to be confusing visiting as a tourist 2 week millionaire and actually livening in Thailand.

Besides imported goats cheese, wine and imported cars, everything is cheaper in Thailand.. Utilities, electricity, internet, water, condo fees etc. Any transport, including running a car/bike, taxes insurance etc, fuel, repairs ,etc. Any local food/produce, beer, most dining options.

I live here, and have a very comfortable life, dine out most meals, travel, nights out, run the aircon, waste money on stupid lazada purchases.

I own a house, car, bike and married. So not renting anything.

My monthly spend is around 40-50k, for everything. That wouldnt even pay my rent back in Australia.

So long as you are not buying hookers , or dining at ye old replica English pub everyday, its way cheaper than back home.

 

[Sparktrader]

3 minutes ago, bang saen guy said:

Do you actually eat ice cream from 7/11? Is Swensen's not in your budget?

I gave up ice cream but its just sugar and cream.

[KannikaP]

22 hours ago, bang saen guy said:

This always baffles me. The only thing I find cheaper here is rent

Cheaper than WHERE? Electricity @ 5Bht per unit, same for water, 1Gb/s optic @ Bht 749 per month. Diesel @ Bht 36 per litre. Food is way cheaper if not too much falang stuff. And of course, the company of a relatively slim young lady.

[KhunLA]

10 minutes ago, bang saen guy said:

Blue Bell $7.98 per gallon

When's the last time you shopped for it.

Publix market, one of the cheapest place, 1/2 gal:

[jacko45k]

4 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

waste money on stupid lazada purchases.

That can be a killer, and kayaks take up a lot of space in the condo.... drinking beer and Lazada shopping do not go together!

[bang saen guy]

3 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

You seem to be coming from a partial position of ignorance.....as you admit yourself wrt taxis. 

I accept you are correct wrt 'Care', medical for example....in my case as I am from the UK where it is free at point of need (but you pay high taxes for it). But that comparison fails if one considers say the expensive USA. Thailand can offer cheaper options than the expensive Private Hospitals.

No 'push' wrt auto fuel when one considers over 50%  fuel tax and VAT..... by the way, that VAT, on everything, is 20% in UK, France, 19% Germany, currently just 7% in Thailand. Near zero property taxes here, no local 'rates' as such. I struggle to see where Thailand is more expensive, but where do you compare to?

I think petrol prices are similar to the US. I know the UK is considerably more. I worked in London for a while. Almost had a heart attack first time I topped up my car.

Mistyped care. Meant auto prices compared with the US. I use gov't hospitals here. Chonburi Hospital is great if you do not mind the wait

 

[bang saen guy]

7 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

When's the last time you shopped for it.

Publix market, one of the cheapest place, 1/2 gal:

Sorry. 1/2 gallon at Wal-Mart is 7.98 But you are right. Last time I actually bought some it was $5.00. Been a while

[Sparktrader]

11 minutes ago, bang saen guy said:

Do you actually eat ice cream from 7/11? Is Swensen's not in your budget?

29 baht is also cheaper than the west

 

https://tastythailand.com/swensens-ice-cream-sundaes-in-thailand-are-so-cheap/

[jacko45k]

6 minutes ago, bang saen guy said:

Meant auto prices compared with the US.

Well I might be coming from a position of ignorance there, bought a second hand truck back in 2006 and am still driving it. 

[roo860]

19 minutes ago, bang saen guy said:

Blue Bell $7.98 per gallon

There's a true American, comparing the the cost of ice cream, what about burgers? Essentials in any country.

????

[bang saen guy]

5 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

29 baht is also cheaper than the west

 

https://tastythailand.com/swensens-ice-cream-sundaes-in-thailand-are-so-cheap/

1/2 half gallon at Swensen's is about 450 baht. Blues Bell $7.98

[bang saen guy]

1 minute ago, roo860 said:

There's a true American, comparing the the cost of ice cream, what about burgers? Essentials in any country.

????

No Whataburger in Thailand. 55

[bang saen guy]

4 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Well I might be coming from a position of ignorance there, bought a second hand truck back in 2006 and am still driving it. 

I was thinking new car prices but been here a long time. May not be as much difference as I remember

[KhunLA]

3 minutes ago, bang saen guy said:

No Whataburger in Thailand. 55

Whopper, same price USA/TH ... $4.19/฿155 (4.19 X 37 = 155)

[Sparktrader]

14 minutes ago, bang saen guy said:

1/2 half gallon at Swensen's is about 450 baht. Blues Bell $7.98

Dont buy it then if expensive. Its junk.

[Sparktrader]

11 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Whopper, same price USA/TH ... $4.19/฿155 (4.19 X 37 = 155)

Burger King is a rip off in Thailand. Bad burgers anyway.

 

Wine, some fruits like strawberries and proper western cooked food are the main things that are expensive.

 

Mulberries 39 baht a punnet

Strawberries 359 baht

 

 

[BritManToo]

50 minutes ago, bang saen guy said:

Do you actually eat ice cream from 7/11? Is Swensen's not in your budget?

 I eat 10bht KFC cones and like them.

[bang saen guy]

Friendly banter will be much more pleasant with Sparktrader on "ignore". I am probably the last member to do so

[jacko45k]

6 minutes ago, Sparktrader said:

Burger King is a rip off in Thailand. Bad burgers anyway.

 

Wine, some fruits like strawberries and proper western cooked food are the main things that are expensive.

 

Mulberries 39 baht a punnet

Strawberries 359 baht

 

 

Burger King, FHS we can do without that junk food living here.

Yes wine gets taxed as it is imported luxury item.... but you can get a 3 litre box of it for under 1000 baht if you must, 

My Mrs seems to find strawberries at a reasonable price from the market when in season...the very wide variety of cheap tropical fruits makes it a poor comparison... but if one must, see how much you have to pay for rambutan in the UK.

[bang saen guy]

Just now, BritManToo said:

 I eat 10bht KFC cones and like them.

Never tried. KFC actually has good coffee though. A bit off topic. Sorry

[bang saen guy]

2 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Burger King, FHS we can do without that junk food living here.

Yes wine gets taxed as it is imported luxury item.... but you can get a 3 litre box of it for under 1000 baht if you must, 

My Mrs seems to find strawberries at a reasonable price from the market when in season...the very wide variety of cheap tropical fruits makes it a poor comparison... but if one must, see how much you have to pay for rambutan in the UK.

Mine only buys local strawberries. They must be cheap or she would not buy them