Is Thailand Value for money

[Celsius]

Things are not that bad back home. At least these people that can go bankrupt any day still have some support.

 

Unlike Thailand where people use agents to deposit money for long term visa. That is much worse than living paycheck to paycheck.

[liddelljohn]

When I first came to Thailand in 1993 it was very good value ,

The £  was worth only about 42 baht if I remember correctly but it bought £5 worth of good s and services  so Value was excellent .

 

But Today with £ about 44baht  It can buy on average   about £1 worth of goods and services  when averaged out.

When In UK or EU I spend about £2500 a month 100k baht and in Thailand its about the same  ,, But what I get for that money is no different ...

 

Thailand is no longer cheap  many things here cost more than UK  and yes some things are cheaper   thats why I say  the value in Thailand is   on par with UK and EU.. 

 

So no Thailand is no longer a cheap destination for holidays or  expats ,,

[newnative]

1 hour ago, Celsius said:

 

You mention restaurants here are fine, but they are not. Thais cover their meals with some of the worst and unhealthiest sauces on the planet. Let's not even mention the disgusting oil. CNA did a report in Singapore and pretty much concluded that vendors only change oil once a week. You think Thailand is better?  If I order on Grab or go to a restaurant I will always look for a place that does not mix some of their disgusting sauces with the meal. The chicken steak you refer to mis a hit and miss in Thailand. If that Chicken steak comes with a salad it is a given that it will always arrive with the most disgusting mays sauce available.

 

So, BAD value for money because it costs you your health. I do have more confidence in McDonald's. 

 

 

       If that is your opinion of food choices in Thailand then you are yet another member for whom I wonder why you are here.   My spouse and I eat well here, and certainly better than what I was eating in America--which was mostly fast food when I ate out and tv dinners when I ate at home.   

    We like to eat out here but he's a good cook and we also eat at home, as well, taking advantage of all the fresh fruit and vegetables available year-round.   I'll take most of what we eat here over McDonald's any day.  

[KhunLA]

2 hours ago, Celsius said:

 

You mention restaurants here are fine, but they are not. Thais cover their meals with some of the worst and unhealthiest sauces on the planet. Let's not even mention the disgusting oil. CNA did a report in Singapore and pretty much concluded that vendors only change oil once a week. You think Thailand is better?  If I order on Grab or go to a restaurant I will always look for a place that does not mix some of their disgusting sauces with the meal. The chicken steak you refer to mis a hit and miss in Thailand. If that Chicken steak comes with a salad it is a given that it will always arrive with the most disgusting mays sauce available.

 

So, BAD value for money because it costs you your health. I do have more confidence in McDonald's. 

 

 

I think you need to dine at better vendors.  I eat rather healthy when I eat out, most times.   

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, newnative said:

       If that is your opinion of food choices in Thailand then you are yet another member for whom I wonder why you are here.   My spouse and I eat well here, and certainly better than what I was eating in America--which was mostly fast food when I ate out and tv dinners when I ate at home.   

    We like to eat out here but he's a good cook and we also eat at home, as well, taking advantage of all the fresh fruit and vegetables available year-round.   I'll take most of what we eat here over McDonald's any day.  

Yikes ... fast food & TV dinners.

 

I was single the majority of time in the USA, and I still ate damn good, dining out or in, though very rarely fast food or frozen dinners.

[newnative]

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Yikes ... fast food & TV dinners.

 

I was single the majority of time in the USA, and I still ate damn good, dining out or in, though very rarely fast food or frozen dinners.

I was a non-starter as a cook.  I dusted my stove rather than cleaned it.  

[newnative]

1 hour ago, fredwiggy said:

True, because their homes and everyone in them are included. I'm thinking of the higher percentage of people that owe more then what they have paid off. Many people are just getting by and in danger of losing homes and cars than own them outright. Many are in major debt and are living paycheck to paycheck, although their homes and other assets does increase their net worth. I have known thousands of people while living there, and only a few were doing okay, with the remainder needing to save just to have a yearly one week vacation.

     Color me impressed that not only did you know 'thousands of people' but you also knew that 'only a few' of the thousands were doing 'okay'.   I don't know how you managed to keep those 'thousands' of different financial situations in your head.  I, myself, have my hands full just keeping track of my finances.  Forget thousands.  Bravo, you!

      As I said in my previous post, there are certainly lots of people not doing well in the US.  That's a given.  Always been the case, likely always will be the case.  It's interesting, though.  Did a little checking and found there are 37.9 million people living in poverty in the US.  Certainly a lot. 

    But, here's what I found interesting.  There are also 24.5 million millionaires in the US.  That's also a lot--and I suspect the actual number is both higher, and growing fairly rapidly.  And, that number will continue to grow when the many wealthy, aging Baby Boomers pass their wealth, plus the wealth they inherited, themselves, from their Greatest Generation parents, on to their kids.

     

     

[gearbox]

8 hours ago, newnative said:

     And, average USA household net worth was $1,059,470 in 2023, up from $746,821 in 2020.  Sounds about right.  

Average means people like Musk are included in the calculation. I eat chicken, you eat rice, average is chicken with rice.

[QuantumQuandry]

On 10/1/2024 at 6:43 PM, Celsius said:

Well, yes. A bunch of predictable posts followed.

 

Funny you mention predictable.

 

When I saw the attitude of the post, I knew it was one of 3 or 4 people that wrote it.  Of which you were one.

 

Predictable, indeed.

[ericthai]

Actually the exchange rate is much better than when I first came to Thailand. 

 

Back in the early to late 90's it was 25 baht to the USD.  I loved the time during financial crisis (97-99) the baht really lost value. The highest exchange rate I got was 53 THB to USD, if I recall correctly this was around  early 1998.   This was a great time to be a visitor. However our company lost 10 contracts that were in place at the time and our work in SouthEast Asia had  greatly declined.  Luckily for me my company kept plans to move me to Asia. 

[soalbundy]

On 10/1/2024 at 5:59 PM, SingAPorn said:

Foreigners and westerners rarely get a good deal in Thailand as they are usually cheated and overcharged.

It still beats existing in the UK.

[RichardColeman]

I think Thailand is very good value for money - even though in about 7 years I aim to make thailand a part time thing.

 

I would however ask if thailand is value for money for UK pensioners with frozen pensions, or those that need serious hospital care that may be expensive. I have a friend that has pretty much come back here to die with cancer (i think), his life could well end up not being value for money if he only has his pension to pay for end of life pain relief !

[flexomike]

16 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Most notable, would be basic whole foods, which of course rolls over the restaurant's pricing, and some possessed food products.  Wages not keeping up with the rate of inflation.

 

As far as items, considerably more expensive, price increase beyond normal inflation, would have to be land #1, that we've noticed.  Good for investors, but not young couples/families wanting to build equity.   

 

Unless you buy/build a house on a decent piece of land, it's not going to appreciate very much, if at all over 5-10 years.   Our house builds, profits, were all due to the land appreciations.  The house itself, just break even or small profit margin.

 

Big ticket items, contracting a builder, per m², along with auto prices really haven't kept up with inflation, surprisingly.   Healthcare is pretty steady, aside from govt allowing a foreigner charge at hospitals 🙄

What are those possessed foods you are eating - 555, sorry the devil made me do it

[newbee2022]

16 hours ago, BritManToo said:

What used to cost 500bht for an hour now costs 1500bht.

Well, and 1979, when I came here, you got a whole night (or 2)  for it.🤗

[Presnock]

23 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

You answered your question for yourself already. Others might have a different opinion, which is apparently not important for you.

If not Thailand...where are you intend to go then? Canada? More value for your (limited) money? 

Well I could afford to live in the US but not at the same level.  If I stayed in my house prior to selling it after moving to Thailand, my expenses would not have been that high but the weather, food costs, heating in Winter costs, etc had made me decided to retire in Thailand.  I have not regretted that decidsion.  I still think Thailand is a better choice than some others but I also like the PI and possibly VN.  I am sure some EU folks might like the retirements in Portugal or Spain but from what I read on those forums, I still think being in SEA is better.  Some folks like Central American countries, and I have lived there too previously and liked it but the political situations and crime worried me at times so basically Thailand hit all the good things with just a few worries.  As weather changes around the world, even with the annual flooding here, it is still survivable and doesn't get that COLD which is a very big negative for me.  But, to each his/her own opinions, especially those very much younger with many more years to go versus my 77 years of age.

[fredwiggy]

16 hours ago, newnative said:

       If that is your opinion of food choices in Thailand then you are yet another member for whom I wonder why you are here.   My spouse and I eat well here, and certainly better than what I was eating in America--which was mostly fast food when I ate out and tv dinners when I ate at home.   

    We like to eat out here but he's a good cook and we also eat at home, as well, taking advantage of all the fresh fruit and vegetables available year-round.   I'll take most of what we eat here over McDonald's any day.  

In America, you can find food from everywhere in the world, and as good or better than where they originated. This is because America is all countries in one place, where chefs came from their native lands and opened restaurants and used their recipes to create food for Americans. Fast food tastes the same all over. Third rate at best and usually unhealthy. Thailand does have some good restaurants, both western and Thai food. I've had Thai food in Texas that's as good as any I've had here, and my girlfriend is a good cook.

[BigStar]

20 hours ago, Celsius said:

If I order on Grab or go to a restaurant I will always look for a place that does not mix some of their disgusting sauces with the meal.

 

Then you admit you can eat healthy if you choose wisely, just as in the West.

 

20 hours ago, Celsius said:

If that Chicken steak comes with a salad it is a given that it will always arrive with the most disgusting mays sauce available.

 

Not always, if you merely ask them to leave off the sauce or serve it on the side, as in the West.

 

20 hours ago, Celsius said:

So, BAD value for money because it costs you your health. I do have more confidence in McDonald's.

 

A non-sequitur for bashing purposes.

 

Edited October 4 by BigStar

[Celsius]

13 minutes ago, BigStar said:

A non-sequitur for bashing purposes.

 

A non what? Squirter?

[newnative]

11 minutes ago, BigStar said:

 

Then you admit you can eat healthy if you choose wisely, just as in the Wet.

 

 

Not always, if you merely ask them to leave off the sauce or serve it on the side, as in the West.

 

 

A non-sequitur for bashing purposes.

 

    Hey, there.  Just a quick note that it was not me with the Grab quote regarding 'disgusting sauces'.  That was Celsius.   It will likely be a cold day in Hell before I find any sauce 'disgusting', and certainly not the tasty brown mushroom gravy sauce that comes with the chicken breast I mentioned in an earlier post.  

[BigStar]

5 minutes ago, newnative said:

    Hey, there.  Just a quick note that it was not me with the Grab quote regarding 'disgusting sauces'.  That was Celsius.   It will likely be a cold day in Hell before I find any sauce 'disgusting', and certainly not the tasty brown mushroom gravy sauce that comes with the chicken breast I mentioned in an earlier post.  

 

SORRY! My bad. I had read your posts and gave a Like. That thought crossed my mind, that'd I'd quoted that troll from within your post, but then I got distracted and forgot to check.

 

I managed to correct it just now. 🙂 

 

Edited October 4 by BigStar

[WDSmart]

Yes.

[harryviking]

I never consider if a place is worth it or not. I am not actually sure what that means. To me, being an regular visitor to Thailand, living there 1989 to 1992, and from 2000 to 2005, and multiple visits 5-6 months in between, Thailand is like my country number two. I have friends there I stay with and have done so for so many years. I just feel at home in Thailand. Thats it. 

[newnative]

4 hours ago, BigStar said:

 

SORRY! My bad. I had read your posts and gave a Like. That thought crossed my mind, that'd I'd quoted that troll from within your post, but then I got distracted and forgot to check.

 

I managed to correct it just now. 🙂 

 

No problem!

[habuspasha]

I just bought my first lease for a Thai rental (6 mos in Hua Hin), for 1/3 the cost of my partly subsidized  long term rental in Manhattan.  Biggest advantage is the face I wake up to and kiss good-night.  Restaurants in NY are better, but I eat well enough in Thailand.  I can read the New York Times online (though I prefer the paper) and I can listen to WQXR on my laptop (though I prefer the radio).  I can't give up NY but I expect to bring my TGF there for March to August.  Wish me luck.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 10/1/2024 at 11:59 PM, SingAPorn said:

Foreigners and westerners rarely get a good deal in Thailand as they are usually cheated and overcharged.

BS.

Perhaps you were cheated and overcharged, but most won't be.

I generally paid the same as a Thai paid. The exception was national parks and I didn't bother with them, except Samet one time.

[thaibeachlovers]

16 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

In America, you can find food from everywhere in the world, and as good or better than where they originated. This is because America is all countries in one place, where chefs came from their native lands and opened restaurants and used their recipes to create food for Americans. Fast food tastes the same all over. Third rate at best and usually unhealthy. Thailand does have some good restaurants, both western and Thai food. I've had Thai food in Texas that's as good as any I've had here, and my girlfriend is a good cook.

If anyone thinks the food is the most important thing in their life I pity them.

It all ends up looking the same.

More to life than restaurants.

[thaibeachlovers]

20 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I think Thailand is very good value for money - even though in about 7 years I aim to make thailand a part time thing.

 

I would however ask if thailand is value for money for UK pensioners with frozen pensions, or those that need serious hospital care that may be expensive. I have a friend that has pretty much come back here to die with cancer (i think), his life could well end up not being value for money if he only has his pension to pay for end of life pain relief !

For me, Thailand is far better value for money than any western country. It's not even expensive unless one wants to live like a nob, and eat at Dukes, LOL.

 

My hotel room all included was a zillion % better than the only thing I can afford back home for more than I was paying in LOS, which is only slightly above living in my car.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 10/3/2024 at 11:36 PM, liddelljohn said:

So no Thailand is no longer a cheap destination for holidays or  expats ,,

That may apply to holidays, but if not able to afford to live in LOS one is trying to live above one's means. The answer is not to come on here and complain, but to live within one's means, even if that means not eating at Dukes or drinking and smoking and renting women.

[fredwiggy]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If anyone thinks the food is the most important thing in their life I pity them.

It all ends up looking the same.

More to life than restaurants.

The most important thing in life is your relationships. With your wife, or partner, children, friends and most of all, with God. Food is important because you can't live without it, and God gave us taste buds for a reason, otherwise we would all just eat things that are healthy and it wouldn't be about taste.

[thaibeachlovers]

14 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

The most important thing in life is your relationships. With your wife, or partner, children, friends and most of all, with God. Food is important because you can't live without it, and God gave us taste buds for a reason, otherwise we would all just eat things that are healthy and it wouldn't be about taste.

 

Dietary wise life is making a joke on us- healthy food just isn't tasty and enjoyable as food supposedly bad for us.

 

If I wasn't pre diabetic I'd still be eating loads of sugar. Don't and never cared about food any more than filling the petrol tank.

Favourite food is hot dogs. Saves on expenses as never a need to eat at restaurants, except fast food if in a rush. In Thailand I did eat at a restaurant all the time ( Gekkos in Chiang Mai ), bit of a dump but great food at not much more cost than cooking for myself. Lovely hot dogs too.