Living in Thailand is very cheap?

[KhunLA]

6 hours ago, Tom100 said:

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Spain&country2=Thailand&city1=Torrevieja&city2=Pattaya\

 

On a quality-adjusted basis, Spain offers better value for MANY things based on my 1 month trip this year to: Zaragoza, Valencia, Alicante, A Coruna, Santander, Pamplona and Vittoria-Gasteiz and Oviedo. Plus the weather is better and most cities have good public libraries. 

 

Plus a can of beer starts at12 baht and a litre of wine starts at 36 baht (Mercandona, Lidl, Aldi). 

 

That's why I don't live in a tourist town.  A couple big ones, pluses for me, a Yank, in TH, my income isn't and won't be taxed, along with no real RE Taxes in Thailand, keeps owning (house, not apartment) or renting prices down.

 

And I kind of like the weather, (location depended for both SP & TH) though a bit warm at times, AC & Solar handles that, inexpensively, but cooler region means lots or air pollution, so fair trade.  Couple months of poor air, not too bad compared to North of us, as we're below Hua Hin 100 kms, and air purifiers keep things healthy for us.

 

Throw in cost of BEVs, along with that solar again, and our monthly bills are a pittance.   I know many, especially single retirees can't pull that off, and EU may have some advantages for citizens of / healthcare, maybe.

 

 

6 hours ago, Tom100 said:

Alcohol prices are far lower in Spain. See https://tienda.mercadona.es/categories/169

 

Dairy prices are far lower too. 

 

Besides prices, the Spains air quality is excellent. 

 

Alcohol is low low low priority and we rarely indulge.   Along with being a 'whole foods' eater, so very little processed foods, which are more expensive that raw whole foods.

 

 

[Nick Carter icp]

5 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

"......been abroad for 30 years now....."

 

And in your mind that translates into ...."haven't been back to the UK for 30 years"

 

You must struggle to survive in this world.

 

   I certainly struggle to understand what you mean .

If you had been abroad for 30 years , then you wouldn't have been back to the UK for 30 years .

   Or are you from a different Country (like France) and you were abroad whilst you were in the UK ?

  Being abroad for 30 years means that you hadn't been back to the UK for 30 years . 

   Or did you mean that you had been abroad for 30 years in total and NOT 30 consecutive years ?

[FritsSikkink]

On 12/4/2024 at 10:52 PM, Confuscious said:

Exactly.
It's not only the cost of food or the rent and expenses, but also the health care and other expenses.
And that is cheaper for me in Spain than in Thailand.

So you couldn't afford to live in Thailand.

[Nick Carter icp]

35 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

You seem to be struggling with the difference between visiting and living.....

 

If I went to Spain for a fortnight.....people would say I was visiting Spain.

 

If I worked in Germany for 25 years people would say I was living in Germany.....

 

Not a difficult concept.

 

  So , was you abroad when you were in the UK ?

You visited the UK to work , but you were still abroad living  in Thailand whilst you were in the UK working ?

  I am not the Taxman , you don't have to spin yarns with me 

[Will B Good]

6 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   I certainly struggle to understand what you mean .

If you had been abroad for 30 years , then you wouldn't have been back to the UK for 30 years .

   Or are you from a different Country (like France) and you were abroad whilst you were in the UK ?

  Being abroad for 30 years means that you hadn't been back to the UK for 30 years . 

   Or did you mean that you had been abroad for 30 years in total and NOT 30 consecutive years ?

 

Why would stating "I've been abroad or lived abroad for 30 years' automatically mean I have never 'visited' the UK during those 30 years?

 

What is your first language?

[Will B Good]

1 minute ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  So , was you abroad when you were in the UK ?

You visited the UK to work , but you were still abroad living  in Thailand whilst you were in the UK working ?

  I am not the Taxman , you don't have to spin yarns with me 

 

So, were you.......I was living abroad and visited the UK.

 

Why do you think I worked in the UK?

[Nick Carter icp]

20 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

Why would stating "I've been abroad or lived abroad for 30 years' automatically mean I have never 'visited' the UK during those 30 years?

 

What is your first language?

 

   English is my first language .

If you were in the UK last year , then you would nt have been abroad for the last 30 years .

   Once you go back to the UK, then you stop being abroad .

As you were in the UK last year , then you haven't been abroad for the last 30 years  

[Will B Good]

2 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   English is my first language .

If you were in the UK last year , then you would nt have been abroad for the last 30 years .

   Once you go back to the UK, then you stop being abroad .

As you were in the UK last year , then you haven't been abroad for the last 30 years  

 

 

 

You're correct.....I wholeheartedly agree with you.

 

In fact, I'm beginning to wonder if I have ever been abroad as I have, on occasions, returned to the UK......maybe I never left?

 

Now I understand.

 

I've always lived in the UK and I've only ever visited other countries for the last 30 years.......there....job done.

 

 

[Ralf001]

2 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   English is my first language .

If you were in the UK last year , then you would nt have been abroad for the last 30 years .

   Once you go back to the UK, then you stop being abroad .

As you were in the UK last year , then you haven't been abroad for the last 30 years  

 

 I have lived in Thailand for 20yrs.

 

Earlier this year I  travelled to the country that issued my passport for a 1 week vacation.

 

Does that mean my "have lived abroad" counter  reset from 20yrs to < 12 months ?

 

 

 

 

 

[Will B Good]

Just now, Ralf001 said:

 

 I have lived in Thailand for 20yrs.

 

Earlier this year I  travelled to the country that issued my passport for a 1 week vacation.

 

Does that mean my "have lived abroad" counter  reset from 20yrs to < 12 months ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No.....It means you have always lived in the country that issued your passport and you were only ever visiting Thailand.....albeit an extended visit.

 

5555

[Nick Carter icp]

4 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

 I have lived in Thailand for 20yrs.

 

Earlier this year I  travelled to the country that issued my passport for a 1 week vacation.

 

Does that mean my "have lived abroad" counter  reset from 20yrs to < 12 months ?

 

 

   You were not abroad whilst you were in your home Country .

Ask Will B good for English lessons , I dont give English lessons 

[Ralf001]

6 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   You were not abroad whilst you were in your home Country .

Ask Will B good for English lessons , I dont give English lessons 

 

Ahh ok... so the trip to the USA just prior to my vaction would have reset the living abroad counter then.

[Albo]

On 12/4/2024 at 10:52 PM, Confuscious said:

Exactly.
It's not only the cost of food or the rent and expenses, but also the health care and other expenses.
And that is cheaper for me in Spain than in Thailand.

 

Is it that you find healthcare less expensive in Spain or is it covered because you are UK citizen? Or are you a spaniard? Doubtful. Do you purchase healthcare in Spain? Is it all a car or do you have a plan?

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Ahh ok... so the trip to the USA just prior to my vaction would have reset the living abroad counter then.

 

I'm afraid so..... you are now a newbie in Thailand......enjoy your visit.

 

 

 

 

[terryofcrete]

On 12/5/2024 at 5:13 AM, baansgr said:

Cheap Charlies special 99 baht springs to mind

Charlie's is poor quality now. Used to go there but after last couple of meals I stopped...

[Nick Carter icp]

19 hours ago, Will B Good said:

 

My time will come....various ailments wil eventually demand I return to the UK......but I'm already thinking of returning....been abroad for 30 years now.....starting to feel homesick.

 

    You should have added the word *living* between the words "been" and "abroad"

 

 

My time will come....various ailments wil eventually demand I return to the UK to live ......but I'm already thinking of returning to live permanently ....been living abroad for 30 years now.....starting to feel homesick and want to live back in the UK permanently .

[Will B Good]

5 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

    You should have added the word *living* between the words "been" and "abroad"

 

 

My time will come....various ailments wil eventually demand I return to the UK to live ......but I'm already thinking of returning to live permanently ....been living abroad for 30 years now.....starting to feel homesick and want to live back in the UK permanently .

 

 

I totally agree.....I apologise profusely and profoundly......a lesson I will never forget. Thank you.

[newnative]

      I am in Europe now visiting some countries I have never been to.  I'm not finding Europe to be cheap.  But, as always, the focus should be on the big ticket budget items when deciding if a place is expensive or inexpensive to live in.  For me, as a US citizen, Thailand is cheaper for me.  With better weather.  Brrrrr!

[hotandsticky]

15 minutes ago, newnative said:

      I am in Europe now visiting some countries I have never been to.  I'm not finding Europe to be cheap.  But, as always, the focus should be on the big ticket budget items when deciding if a place is expensive or inexpensive to live in.  For me, as a US citizen, Thailand is cheaper for me.  With better weather.  Brrrrr!

 

 

The two 'big ticket' items are accommodation and sex. Thailand wins hands down on that. Food and drink comes next; Thailand wins that one as well if you buy local - in some cases (notably beer) there is a sacrifice on quality and don't bother with wine unless you want to pay daft prices for average quality.

[KhunLA]

26 minutes ago, newnative said:

      I am in Europe now visiting some countries I have never been to.  I'm not finding Europe to be cheap.  But, as always, the focus should be on the big ticket budget items when deciding if a place is expensive or inexpensive to live in.  For me, as a US citizen, Thailand is cheaper for me.  With better weather.  Brrrrr!

Yep, them big ticket items, and prices based on high labor cost add up fast, and negate any small price differences in everyday items, that some may use or not, and not being processed foods & alcohol, in our case, especially imported.

 

TH wins for us, with these ...

Home purchase & maintenance

Auto (BEV) & MC purchase & maintenance

Solar system purchase

No taxes, mere 7% VAT, basically for TH

Cost and more importantly, available access to healthcare.  I'll take Thailand healthcare on demand vs Q'ing for so called free 'universal' healthcare, that you may or may not receive in a timely manner.  Which you paid for, with all those higher taxes anyway, so free is a stretch.

 

[Confuscious]

2 hours ago, Albo said:

 

Is it that you find healthcare less expensive in Spain or is it covered because you are UK citizen? Or are you a spaniard? Doubtful. Do you purchase healthcare in Spain? Is it all a car or do you have a plan?

I am niot an UK citizen.
My Healthcare is covered with the EU healthcare (S1) card.
When I would need more extensive healthcare, eg.: surgery, it's only a 1 hr flight to Belgium and that wouldbe covered by the healthcare insurance (repatriation).

I have the DOUBLE nationality, SPANISH - BELGIAN and I don't give a f....ck about what you think.

I don't need to purchase healthcare anywhere in Europe as an EU citizen.

My plan is to live again in the EU-zone and maybe later, if my health is good enough, make short trips to anywhere and still be covered by the EU healthcare system which would repatriate me if I would have health problems whilst on vacation.

 

[baansgr]

2 hours ago, terryofcrete said:

Charlie's is poor quality now. Used to go there but after last couple of meals I stopped...

Yes it's crap and always has been but people getting a meal for 99 baht think it's fantastic..

The name suits the people that go there..cheap mongers 

[Confuscious]

23 minutes ago, Confuscious said:

I am niot an UK citizen.
My Healthcare is covered with the EU healthcare (S1) card.
When I would need more extensive healthcare, eg.: surgery, it's only a 1 hr flight to Belgium and that wouldbe covered by the healthcare insurance (repatriation).

I have the DOUBLE nationality, SPANISH - BELGIAN and I don't give a f....ck about what you think.

I don't need to purchase healthcare anywhere in Europe as an EU citizen.

My plan is to live again in the EU-zone and maybe later, if my health is good enough, make short trips to anywhere and still be covered by the EU healthcare system which would repatriate me if I would have health problems whilst on vacation.

 

[Ralf001]

5 hours ago, Will B Good said:

 

I'm afraid so..... you are now a newbie in Thailand......enjoy your visit.

 

 

 

 

Sweet, that'll help with the bar girlies when they ask me how long I have been here 7 months it is !

[ChaiyaTH]

On 12/5/2024 at 12:30 PM, CallumWK said:

 

Just another misconception from the same "experts" that know MSG is unhealthy.

 

First of all, fruitwine isn't juice with alcohol in it, it's wine to which fruit juice got added. Something comnpletely different.

 

Next, I always see members brag on here that they buy fruit juice in the supermarket, and ferment it to the best wine money can buy.

Ok please tell me what restaurant sells real red wine for < 100 baht per glass, I'd like to stock up on whatever that wine is then. You will start a price war in the industry!

 

You might be able and buy a <deleted>ty bottle for that wholesale not but certainly not to sell it for that.

[CallumWK]

13 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Ok please tell me what restaurant sells real red wine for < 100 baht per glass, I'd like to stock up on whatever that wine is then.

 

 

See you there.

 

https://restaurantguru.com/Cheap-Charlie-Pattaya-Pattaya/menu

 

[dayo202]

14 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Ok please tell me what restaurant sells real red wine for < 100 baht per glass, I'd like to stock up on whatever that wine is then. You will start a price war in the industry!

 

You might be able and buy a <deleted>ty bottle for that wholesale not but certainly not to sell it for that.

Sailor bar soi 8 Pattaya, large glass of red wine is 70฿

[georgegeorgia]

32 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

 

 

See you there.

 

https://restaurantguru.com/Cheap-Charlie-Pattaya-Pattaya/menu

 

This is not a bar but a restaurant,please that's all I ask 

[KhunLA]

Sixteen Grapes ... if you like Oysters 

 

[geisha]

On 12/4/2024 at 4:52 PM, Confuscious said:

Exactly.
It's not only the cost of food or the rent and expenses, but also the health care and other expenses.
And that is cheaper for me in Spain than in Thailand.

True, the free health care I have in France keeps me here. On retiring I wanted to retire to Thailand. I’d spent stays through winter around 4 months up to then.

That and the new tax laws etc has put an end to that. I have a good sunny life here, I wouldn’t risk the move at my age.