Monthly budget in Thailand

[susanlea]

One guy said he lives off 15,000 baht. The cheapest budget I can manage is 31,000 and that is it. How much do you spend? Could you have fun on 20,000? 

[Nemises]

It’s a big country with lots of different levels of affordability. Where in Thailand does it cost you 31,000?

[NativeBob]

17 minutes ago, susanlea said:

Could you have fun on 20,000? 

I can have fun on any amount as long as it is legal and I'll wake at home. 20K? Easy-peasy.

[Hummin]

17 minutes ago, susanlea said:

One guy said he lives off 15,000 baht. The cheapest budget I can manage is 31,000 and that is it. How much do you spend? Could you have fun on 20,000? 

How many people and animals is in your budget? 

 

Rent or owning appartment house? 

 

Need a breakdown on your expenses to make sense.

 

 

[susanlea]

5 minutes ago, Nemises said:

It’s a big country with lots of different levels of affordability. Where in Thailand does it cost you 31,000?

I can live anywhere on 31,000.

[susanlea]

5 minutes ago, Hummin said:

How many people and animals is in your budget? 

 

Bit too kinky for me but do tell.

[Gottfrid]

25 minutes ago, susanlea said:

One guy said he lives off 15,000 baht. The cheapest budget I can manage is 31,000 and that is it. How much do you spend? Could you have fun on 20,000? 

15k baht, you might in some places be able to live on, but then you live pretty poor, and the fun will be long gone. 

You are lucky that can manage on 31k. Ok, we have some expenses and payments that others might not have, but I can´t fix it under 75k and that´s rare. I figure, I need a spending amount of about 1k per day after all paid to have fun and feel well.

Edited Tuesday at 06:23 AM by Gottfrid

[scubascuba3]

I don't have a budget as such but i seem to spend around 35k give or take 5k. I haven't got a fake wife or girlfriend to tow around, i have a condo so no rent. I quit playing rip off golf courses at 40k a month

Edited Tuesday at 06:27 AM by scubascuba3

[BobBKK]

They did a survey on the old TVF years back - I seem to remember the average Farang income was 60,000?  I don't think it's far off that today I have friends on 45,000, but they own property so no rent. I like wine, girls etc so I budget for 100k. Depends what your lifestyle is.

[Hummin]

9 minutes ago, susanlea said:

Bit too kinky for me but do tell.

Well, it takes a kinky one to make something innocent kinky. 

 

Well done Susan

[n00dle]

my sports habit (cycling wakeboarding) alone runs to around 20k between various fees and transport. Don't ask what the equipment cost tho.

It was even more before I started cycling 8-10 hours per week, but now I eat like a horse.

 

I'd say somewhere in the 60k region and I am a homebody when I'm not active.

my rent is ridiculously low for someone who rents a house in central Bangkok, but I have been here for years.  

 

Even as recentas 10 years ago bangkok was waaaay cheaper.

[ChaiyaTH]

15-30K is survival, unless you maybe are older already + have a 100% paid off house/condo and minimal other bills. I'd say minimum 50K to live properly, double that for a small family with a child and school costs.

 

Even one could live of 30K, that can never possibly include things like yearly travel home, medical costs, visa costs, savings, changing phone/laptop/clothes, maintaining a bike or car etc etc etc. This is just something that can work short-term, to bootstrap a new business or whatever.

 

It never ends well long-term with any of these people that do that, that I have met in 12 years here.

Edited Tuesday at 06:53 AM by ChaiyaTH

[ChaiyaTH]

43 minutes ago, Nemises said:

It’s a big country with lots of different levels of affordability. Where in Thailand does it cost you 31,000?

The where is another big BS item people talk about. It is just as easy to find a 2K room in Phuket as it is in Chiang Mai, if you want that, that is no issue at all. The same goes for all the prices in most grocery or domestic wide shops. Then for food and drinks, there is always budget places, in any city, too. In the south i often pay 20 more per meal than in the north, but the portions and amount of meat inside it is bigger in the south too.

 

The entire point is that that is all irrelevant to what one should minimum have, as a budget, to be sustainable and living a fairly good life.

Edited Tuesday at 06:58 AM by ChaiyaTH

[susanlea]

3 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

15-30K is survival, unless you maybe are older already + have a 100% paid off house/condo and minimal other bills. I'd say minimum 50K to live properly, double that for a small family with a child and school costs.

 

Even one could live of 30K, that can never possibly include things like yearly travel home, medical costs, visa costs, savings, changing phone/laptop/clothes, maintaining a bike or car etc etc etc. This is just something that can work short-term, to bootstrap a new business or whatever.

Room 8,000

Food 10,000

Motorbike or grab 3,000

10,000 leftover for other

 

If room includes free gym and pool that saves. Walk on beach free. Read books online free. Youtube free. Showering, laying on bed and thinking all free.

 

 

[ChaiyaTH]

3 minutes ago, susanlea said:

Room 8,000

Food 10,000

Motorbike or grab 3,000

10,000 leftover for other

 

If room includes free gym and pool that saves. Walk on beach free. Read books online free. Youtube free. Showering, laying on bed and thinking all free.

 

 

Now you make one little crash: 10K outpatient costs on top of the 30K covered by por lor bor, 6K bike damages, 15K new phone that broke. On top of that you also have insurance and visa costs, and then you might visit home once a year (50K at least). Now we already added the 10,000 you had left-over, and that is zero.

 

You not added any serious entertainment, zero domestic plane flights for holidays, a few hotels, birthdays or anything. Sounds like survival as i said.

Edited Tuesday at 07:00 AM by ChaiyaTH

[susanlea]

Just now, ChaiyaTH said:

Now you make one little crash: 10K outpatient costs on top of the 30K covered by por lor bor, 6K bike damages, 15K new phone that broke. On top of that you also have insurance and visa costs, and then you might visit home once a year (50K at least). Now we already added the 10,000 you had left-over, and that is zero.

Note to self - don't crash every month.

[ChaiyaTH]

Just now, susanlea said:

Note to self - don't crash every month.

This was based on 1 event per year, with minimal costs: 10+6+15k only. You really must be super ignorant if you didn't get the point made.

[bubblegum]

My cat alone takes up susan's budget.

[Hummin]

14 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

15-30K is survival, unless you maybe are older already + have a 100% paid off house/condo and minimal other bills. I'd say minimum 50K to live properly, double that for a small family with a child and school costs.

 

Even one could live of 30K, that can never possibly include things like yearly travel home, medical costs, visa costs, savings, changing phone/laptop/clothes, maintaining a bike or car etc etc etc. This is just something that can work short-term, to bootstrap a new business or whatever.

 

It never ends well long-term with any of these people that do that, that I have met in 12 years here.

20 - 30 k is a sustainable living budget for home cooking, but not much more. 

 

Farm budget income this year is 300k

 

We spent yearly 1,2 - 1,5 depending on how many private trips back  Home for both of us, and not paid by work. 

 

[ChaiyaTH]

1 minute ago, Hummin said:

20 - 30 k is a sustainable living budget for home cooking, but not much more. 

 

Farm budget income this year is 300k

 

We spent yearly 1,2 - 1,5 depending on how many private trips back  Home for both of us, and not paid by work. 

 

Yeah it could be fine if you were Thai, have 30 baht healthcare, no visa issues, can own a small paid off home over time etc etc.  Then it would be middle class.

Edited Tuesday at 07:10 AM by ChaiyaTH

[RSD1]

Budgets are so boring. Who needs them? Spend like you've only got a few days left. Be a baller, live a little baby!

[susanlea]

13 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

This was based on 1 event per year, with minimal costs: 10+6+15k only. You really must be super ignorant if you didn't get the point made.

Never had a crash so yes not an expert like you.

[susanlea]

9 minutes ago, bubblegum said:

My cat alone takes up susan's budget.

Your cat eats in restaurants and rents condos. Amazing cat.

[susanlea]

10 minutes ago, Hummin said:

20 - 30 k is a sustainable living budget for home cooking, but not much more. 

 

Farm budget income this year is 300k

 

We spent yearly 1,2 - 1,5 depending on how many private trips back  Home for both of us, and not paid by work. 

 

My favourite restaurant in Bangkok has great 69 baht meals. 3 a day is 207 baht.

[Hummin]

5 minutes ago, susanlea said:

My favourite restaurant in Bangkok has great 69 baht meals. 3 a day is 207 baht.

My 27kg dog budget alone is higher than yours. High quality protein pellets of lamb and salmon, beef from fresh marked, home grown vegetables and rice. 

Edited Tuesday at 07:25 AM by Hummin

[susanlea]

1 minute ago, Hummin said:

My 27kg dog budget alone is higher than yours. High quality protein pellets of lamb and slomon, beef from fresh marked, home grown vegetables and rice. 

Dog food is a rip off. 

[Hummin]

Just now, susanlea said:

Dog food is a rip off. 

Expensive yes, but I have a special dog, need protein and correct nutrition. Also give him quality chews for his joint health

[susanlea]

3 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Expensive yes, but I have a special dog, need protein and correct nutrition. Also give him quality chews for his joint health

Not a regular budget item. Most don't have dogs.

[Hummin]

3 minutes ago, susanlea said:

Not a regular budget item. Most don't have dogs.

Most  expats who have house have pets

 

We have additional adopted two soi dogs 

[georgegeorgia]

56 minutes ago, n00dle said:

my sports habit (cycling wakeboarding) alone runs to around 20k between various fees and transport. Don't ask what the equipment cost tho.

It was even more before I started cycling 8-10 hours per week, but now I eat like a horse.

 

I'd say somewhere in the 60k region and I am a homebody when I'm not active.

my rent is ridiculously low for someone who rents a house in central Bangkok, but I have been here for years.  

 

Even as recentas 10 years ago bangkok was waaaay cheaper.

And never saved to buy a house .