10 Things much cheaper in Thailand than in the West !

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[worgeordie]

Internet and phone fees, faster and lot cheaper . and not forgetting rents ,VAT ....

regards worgeordie

[Fab5BKK]

Worldwide mobile data pricing 2022

 

Price of 1 GB mobile data

 

Again, depends on where you're coming from...

 

And don't forget to put these local prices in perspective with the local average salaries...

[soi3eddie]

Just about everything is cheaper except for imported western foods that can be found in places such as Villa Market, luxury imported goods, wine and luxury vehicles. Anything locally produced and/or involving mostly labour will be cheaper due to the lower costs of employing staff. Add to this, a huge number of workers and small businesses that are outside of any taxation, keeps prices low. This all makes for a much better cost of living for foreign expats, retirees, tourists and digital nomads. Cost are likely part of the reason that most here on the forum love Thailand so much.

 

[still kicking]

38 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Internet and phone fees, faster and lot cheaper . and not forgetting rents ,VAT ....

regards worgeordie

and wages are much cheaper 

[spidermike007]

Many of us live very good lives here. Some of us have been fortunate enough to find an outstanding 

woman, who is delightful to be around, on a daily basis, always has our back, and is fun, smart, and lovely. For me, that likelihood of finding that back in the US, would be very low. So, that is a big factor for me. The second factor is just the quality of life. Sure, I miss alot of the culture back home. The theatre, independent film (which I can download here with no issues at all, and a super fast 1 GB fiber optic connection, at under 700 baht per month!), stand up comedy, live jazz, etc. But I have a lovely home that I rent, for about 10% of what I would pay in California, I live very well on an income which is not huge, have access to great health care, at a tiny fraction of what it costs in the US, and do not have to put up with alot of the aggravation that I had to when I lived back there.

 

I used to have more issues than I do now. I worked on my attitude, which was getting in the way of appreciating Thailand for what it is, and was clouding my experience here. Used to stress over stupid stuff, as you can see from some of my past posts. Used to allow the politics to make me angry. Now it is not something I take seriously, just something I comment on, without anger or an emotional investment. Now, I just tend to laugh it off. Spent some real time back in the US recently, and it allowed some clarity and perspective, that I am very grateful for. Now, I just chuckle at most of the nonsense. Water off a duck's back, so to speak. 

 

I am in the US right now, and the prices and inflation are mind blowing. The cheapest lunch we have found was $30 for two. That is 1,000 baht, anytime you want something basic. A bag of groceries is 3,000 baht and up. Was in Whole Foods the other say, and the guy in front of me paid $396 for 2 bags of food. Did not look like much. I pay $120 at Makro for bags and bags of food here. 

 

 A friend of mine is looking for an apartment to move to in LA, and really small, simple places are 70,000 baht per month. Nice two bedrooms are closer to 100,000 baht. Decent homes start at 125,000 baht per month. The cost of nearly everything has gone up dramatically. Runaway inflation? 

 

Thailand is still reasonable. It used to be cheap. Has not been cheap for a long time. But, it is still reasonable. I know people who pay 10,000 baht a month for newer 3 bedroom houses in nice towns. In major cities in the US? $2000-3800 a month. That is 120,000 baht!

 

I had my motorbike seat recently redone on my scooter. 400 baht. A friend of mine had similar work done in the US. $275.

 

I recently had a guy come over and insulate my ceiling. I bought the insulation and paid him 2000 baht for labor. In the US? $500 and up.

 

I recently had an electrician do some work on the house. Nearly a full day of work. Paid him 1000 baht. In the US? $500 and up.

 

An oil change for my scooter costs me 200 baht, with Castrol oil. In the US? $75.

 

When I travel here I stay in nice four star hotels in Bangkok. Usually 1800-2000 baht. During Covid, great hotels for 1,000 baht. In the US? $130 for a motel. $200 and up for a nice room.

 

I eat well here. In a smaller town you can get a three course meal for 150-250 baht. In the US? 2000 baht and up, plus tax and a nearly mandatory 15% tip. Panda cost me 300 baht for 3 or 4 dishes with delivery. In the US it is $40 for 2 dishes, and $19 for delivery fees and taxes! 

 

I visit the emergency room here to visit a specialist, and with x-rays I am out the door for 2000 baht, at a private hospital. In the US? $300-2000.

 

An anecdote on this subject. A good friend of mine got in a bad motorcycle accident some time ago. He almost lost his leg. He got his first of 11 operations at Bangkok Hospital Samui. It costs him over a million baht. They wanted to do a second procedure. They quoted him 1,400,000 baht. He decided to transfer to Bangkok. He was quoted 460,000 baht for the same procedure, at a top private hospital there. The surgeon told him that he worked at a public hospital too, and could do the same operation there, for alot less money. He told him he would get him a quote. In the interim, my friend called a good friend of his, in San Diego, who is an orthopedic surgeon. Since my friend is a retired chiropractor, he knew all the terminology, and explained what he needed, and asked for the best price. His friend called him back the next day, and quoted him $960,000, with cash discounts! The local surgeon here got back to him, and told him he could do it for 46,000 baht. He transferred, and they did all the rest of his procedures. So, 1,400,000 at Bangkok Hospital, 460,000 at Vejthani Hospital, and 46,000 at the public hospital, with an excellent surgeon. VS. 31,000,000 baht in the US. Again, no complaints from this peanut gallery.

 

Friends of mine, who are single, enjoy the company of a young, beautiful woman for a couple of hours, for 2500 baht. In the US? $800 an hour now for a beauty, with alot of attitude.

 

I could go on and on, all day long. I live at a level here, that I would never be able to live at, in the US, in most of Europe, in Oz, or Canada. Yes, the higher baht is an annoyance. And yes things are more expensive than they used to be. But, it is very relative.

[habuspasha]

Thanks, Spider, for the breakdown.  I'm in NYC where housing prices are somewhat higher.  Median rental is more like $5,000.  But there are rent regulated places that can be quite reasonable (half that) and comfortable.  Also Medicare covers cost of most procedures you mentioned.  That supplemented by state pension plan means I pay virtually nothing for most medical care.  Not everything:  I did get almost all my teeth replaced in Thailand for a fifth to a tenth of the cost in NY.  In general labor is 1/10 the US price in Thailand (basic massage $6/hr vs $60/hr.)  Local food maybe 1/3 (though I have on occasion paid less for mangos here in NY).

[still kicking]

4 minutes ago, habuspasha said:

Thanks, Spider, for the breakdown.  I'm in NYC where housing prices are somewhat higher.  Median rental is more like $5,000.  But there are rent regulated places that can be quite reasonable (half that) and comfortable.  Also Medicare covers cost of most procedures you mentioned.  That supplemented by state pension plan means I pay virtually nothing for most medical care.  Not everything:  I did get almost all my teeth replaced in Thailand for a fifth to a tenth of the cost in NY.  In general labor is 1/10 the US price in Thailand (basic massage $6/hr vs $60/hr.)  Local food maybe 1/3 (though I have on occasion paid less for mangos here in NY).

I am not in the USA my rent is about 480 AUD a fortnight, have not had an increase for about 6 years just live on my AOP since I lost a lot in LOS and my pension is about 1140 AUD a fortnight so why should I complain, I can afford 1 or 2 overseas holidays every year 

[Old Croc]

1 hour ago, Fab5BKK said:

And don't forget to put these local prices in perspective with the local average salaries...

Of course.

However, very few on this forum would be living and working for the average Thai salary. I venture that most of us work for international companies or have pensions, or other income, sourced from the home country.

That income is what makes Thailand incredibly cheap for us to live.

[edwardandtubs]

3 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

Just about everything is cheaper except for imported western foods that can be found in places such as Villa Market, luxury imported goods, wine and luxury vehicles. Anything locally produced and/or involving mostly labour will be cheaper due to the lower costs of employing staff. Add to this, a huge number of workers and small businesses that are outside of any taxation, keeps prices low. This all makes for a much better cost of living for foreign expats, retirees, tourists and digital nomads. Cost are likely part of the reason that most here on the forum love Thailand so much.

 

As someone who splits time between Thailand and the UK, I can say this is definitely not so. Groceries are cheaper in the UK due to the fierce competition in retail. A week's grocery shopping at Aldi in the UK is much cheaper (and better quality) than Makro in Thailand. If you compare like with like clothes are also cheaper. You can get cheaper and better quality stuff from Primark than the cheapest rubbish in Thailand. If you're looking for better quality, that will also be cheaper in the UK. Cars are cheaper. In fact, any time you want to "buy stuff" the UK is cheaper. I would say the thing that's cheaper in Thailand is what people may term their "expenses" like rent, energy and petrol. But if you own a house and a bicycle, the UK is cheaper overall.

[Tarteso]

Things much cheaper in Thailand than in the West !
 

 

Loretta, Marisa y Melinda in Loi kro road ????

[London Lowf]

32 minutes ago, edwardandtubs said:

But if you own a house and a bicycle, the UK is cheaper overall.

You're ignoring energy costs, which are eye-watering at the moment. I live in a two-bedroom apartment but only heat half of it - my electricity and piped gas during this cold weather is running at over B10,000 a month. My electricity bill in Phuket runs at about B250 a month since I love the heat and never turn on the air con - not sure if it even works!

 

The weather in Phuket means that I don't need a car, just a cheap little scooter.

 

And yes, the girls.......

 

 

[Mickeymaus]

If you live a western lifestyle in Thailand, it can get very expensive. Imported cars, imported groceries, wine, beer, bread and many other things are much more expensive here than in the West. Since there are no shops like ALDI, even local groceries are often more expensive.

 

Sure you can find things that are cheaper here. But not everything is cheap here. The rents for small apartments with a few square meters can be expensive. Up to 1000 Euros for a 24 square meter apartment here in my condo complex in Central Pattaya. I would not consider this as cheap. Of course there are cheaper alternatives. Certainly also in the western world. But to paint a picture that everything is cheap here is completely wrong.

 

I see farangs here that collect bottles. Or some even eat the leftover food of others in the food courts of big shopping malls. Thailand is not for everyone. There is no social security net and no free health care. And again - not everything is cheaper here. 

[VinnieK]

In Thailand ,prices for basic commodities seem frozen in time.

I don't know abt Pattaya/BKk and such places but here in a sizable provincial town...

First came in '96.

Rent in a fan cooled apt ( brand new then) , 100 $

A plate of local food 80 cents or so.

Fast forward a staggering 26 yrs later..

The same apt, and similar, 100 $. ????????

The same plate of rice 40 baht...about 1.20 $ 

There's no other country where this is happening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mickeymaus]

1 hour ago, VinnieK said:

In Thailand ,prices for basic commodities seem frozen in time.

I don't know abt Pattaya/BKk and such places but here in a sizable provincial town...

First came in '96.

Rent in a fan cooled apt ( brand new then) , 100 $

A plate of local food 80 cents or so.

Fast forward a staggering 26 yrs later..

The same apt, and similar, 100 $. ????????

The same plate of rice 40 baht...about 1.20 $ 

There's no other country where this is happening.

Of course you can live in a hut next to a rice field and eat a plate of rice every day. And if you catch ???? frogs  you also have some protein ????.  As long as you meet the visa requirements you can enjoy this luxurious life. 

 

[KhunLA]

2 main cheaper things for myself, and adds to my pocket money, as both are huge savings vs USA's silliness:

... lack of real Real Estate Taxes

... inexpensive (& accessible) healthcare, without the need for monthly insurance premiums.

 

Added bonuses of inexpensive products due to close proximity and trade agreements with China:

... inexpensive EVs along w/Gov't incentives

... inexpensive Solar System components (cheap labor installation)

 

Savings from USA taxes, healthcare, utilities is literally enough for a single person to live on in TH.  

 

I save about $600/฿20k a month, on just those 3 items, and could easily live on that amount here.

 

 

[bbi1]

Pussy is much cheaper here

[soi3eddie]

1 minute ago, bbi1 said:

Pussy is much cheaper here

Was waiting for that comment. Surprised it took such a long time.

 

[spidermike007]

17 hours ago, VinnieK said:

In Thailand ,prices for basic commodities seem frozen in time.

I don't know abt Pattaya/BKk and such places but here in a sizable provincial town...

First came in '96.

Rent in a fan cooled apt ( brand new then) , 100 $

A plate of local food 80 cents or so.

Fast forward a staggering 26 yrs later..

The same apt, and similar, 100 $. ????????

The same plate of rice 40 baht...about 1.20 $ 

There's no other country where this is happening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I agree that inflation in Thailand is infinitely lower than in the US and Europe, where prices are skyrocketing. I find it alot less expensive. On so many levels. 

[still kicking]

Average wage in Australia is Around 90,800 AUD per year. So, the average wage in Thailand is the same? Kid me not 

[bmanly]

My maintenance fee for my apartment alone in Australia is 14,000 baht per Month. In Thailand most are around 1,000 P/M. 

 

Of course for any farang with farang money from jobs or pensions from their home country will live far cheaper in Thailand. Now reverse that and Think about a Thai in Thailand on a Thai salary or pension and they are all struggling.

 

We are just fortunate to be able come to cheaper places like Thailand. I have no hesitation to buy a pad kapow moo and a beer for 100 baht in Thailand but in Australia that same meal with beer would be 450 to 600 baht and I just don't do it. It means a better life in Thailand in comparison.

[Captain Monday]

On 1/12/2023 at 1:30 AM, still kicking said:

I am not in the USA my rent is about 480 AUD a fortnight, have not had an increase for about 6 years just live on my AOP since I lost a lot in LOS and my pension is about 1140 AUD a fortnight so why should I complain, I can afford 1 or 2 overseas holidays every year 

Was watching tv news in in AUS  section about Melbourne rents I thought that is not so high?

 

Then I realized the rents were quoted per fortnight not monthly. 

 

Anywhere decent in US rental costs  are completely out of control.