Is Thailand Value for money

[Henryford]

16 hours ago, Sandboxer said:

People with real money (at least US$ 10m+) live in the Carribbean or other nice places. Thailand is "ok" for us single digit non-pensioned millionaires because it allows us to get a glimpse of what life as a real money millionaire can be like.

 

1 million US$ is frankly f-all in today's western world, easily achieved by anyone with even only half a brain who starts investing in their late teens/early 20s.

 

 

 

 

 

You don't need to invest anything. Anyone with a half decent house in London can sell it for $1 million and live like a king here.

[newbee2022]

On 10/1/2024 at 5:55 PM, Celsius said:

Is Thailand a good value for money - if you have money?

 

In my opinion it was always bad value, even 11 years ago when I moved and cad$ was worth 30 baht.

 

Thailand always wants to take all while giving nothing in return. Actually they will take it even more.

 

They want to tax you, but give you no benefits. As a matter of fact, still report to us every 90 day like a criminal.

 

They want to give you LTR visa, but you have to invest millions, while still giving you nada besides tome tax benefit that may or may not hold up in the future.

 

They want to sell you a long term tourist visa for 30,000 usd.

 

Is 😺 and 🛕 really worth it.

 

This place would be a hard pass with anyone who has brain.

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? 

[Smokey and the Bandit]

On 10/1/2024 at 6:11 PM, couchpotato said:

Such rubbish...

Not always!

[baansgr]

Thais and Thailand haven changed, foreigners have though

[Hummin]

1200 baht a night including breakfest 

 

 

 

 

[newnative]

     Thailand is great value for the money--especially with what is usually your biggest ticket item--keeping a roof over your head.  Whether you buy or rent, there is a huge variety of housing stock at all price points if you choose somewhere like Pattaya.  

     I know--because in the 14 years I have been here with my Thai spouse, we have lived in everything from studio condos to our current 4-bedroom pool villa.  Whatever your housing needs, it's likely available with numerous choices--we saw that firsthand as our housing needs changed as we got older. 

      Could we afford a 4-bedroom with pool in America?   Maybe in a stretch--but we'd be eaten alive by high property taxes, HOA fees, high costs to get someone to repair anything, higher utilities, and likely sky high insurance rates these days. 

     Just a couple examples.  We pay 40 baht a month for garbage pickup, twice a week.  What's that cost these days in the US?  The pool guy cleans and maintains our pool three times a week for 1500 baht a month, not counting supplies.  What's a pool guy run for in the US?  

      Of course, lots of other things are also cheaper, including health care and eating out at restaurants--which we love to do.  Certainly there are other reasonably priced countries to choose from but we like being in Asia.  

[JimmyTobacco]

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.

 

Although this does happen occassionally in Thailand, this is more a question of not knowing where to find the good deals and cheaper places to stay than people actually cheating or overcharging you. Also in my experience, overcharging happens a lot less in Thailand than in nearby countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and especially Laos, where it seems there is some guy selling tickets for every waterfall, hike and hotspring, and they like to throw you off the bus before the final station to force you to take an expensive tuktuk.

 

Also, learning some basic Thai and saying sawadee krap, kop khun krap etc. does help a LOT. I make sure to always be polite and friendly and learned some basic Thai even before my first trip here. People will treat you fairly most of the time.

 

I would say Thailand offers amazing value for money, especially if you bring in western money. Back home, if it is even possible to find a place to live, it will cost you anywhere upwards of 40,000 THB a month, including utilities. That is IF you find a place. In Thailand it is no problem to find a place for less than 10,000 THB a month. If you are willing to spend 40k, you can live in a small palace with a huge garden and pool.

 

Even the garbage and water tax back home cost me over 20k THB yearly. To own a small car, I pay 4000 THB in monthly taxes and insurances. And this is one of the cheaper models. That doesn't include maintenance, which on average cost me 30,000 THB a year. Add fuel, 80 THB per liter of petrol.

 

Going out for some food back home also sets you back at least 600 THB, if you are able to find such a deal.

 

If we are talking about value, I don't think anyone would argue that Thailand offers amazing and cheap food and also some fantastic housing (but also very <deleted>ty housing of course).

Edited 42 minutes ago by JimmyTobacco

[black tabby12345]

.

Edited 37 minutes ago by black tabby12345

[black tabby12345]

Maybe not so much for the tourists(short term visitors staying only 7-10 days).

But for expats, it still is.

When we come to know more about this place, we can find out more options  to reduce the needless expenditure in our daily life.

Frequenting local diners instead of the establishments for the foreigners.

Buying daily commodities at the public local market instead of the big supermarkets.;

their veggies and fruit are lot more expensive than the local market.

Short-term travelers just don't have enough time to learn these things.

That is why they usually spend more money(cost of ignorance) for the goods and services.

Also because of the holiday makers' psychology, they are often willing to expend more while outside their daily life.

 

 

 

Edited 26 minutes ago by black tabby12345