Who lives on 20k a month ?

[OneMoreFarang]

Maybe it was mentioned already. I suggest find a nice Thai girlfriend. Find one who knows how to live with 10k per month.

Then she will live with you in luxury and take care of everything.

I am serious. I am pretty sure you won't be able to do what she does. I.e. she will go to the fresh market and know the prices and what is in season and all that.

I don't have to live on a small budget, but I am always amazed what my gf is able to buy at the market at very low prices.

 

[newnative]

50 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Why would you want to live in Pattaya if you aren't going to get involved with nightlife there ?

   As you won't be drinking  ,whoring or eating Western food , you may as well go and live in a cheaper Thai town 

      There are lots of people who live in Pattaya part-time or year-round who 'never get involved with nightlife there'.  That includes my spouse and myself, and most of the people we know who also live here.  The location is terrific to start--we can be at our center city Bangkok getaway condo in less than 2 hours--with a drive on the Motorway that's much easier and faster than, say Hua Hin.  Suvarnabumi is only about 1.5 hours away--very convenient as we like to travel.

     Spouse and I have been car-shopping and just about every auto brand imaginable is available in Pattaya, including 3 or 4 of the new Chinese brands.   We ended up buying an suv from BYD, which has a dealership in town.  No need to drive long distances to get to a dealership.  Ditto that for a selection of good hospitals, and good dental and eye care.

    Shopping is excellent, with both Terminal 21 and Central Festival Mall, as well as some other shopping centers.  Movies in English at several different movie complexes.  Good big box stores, including Index, Home Pro, Boonthavorn, and others.   Also good supermarkets with Makro, and several branches of Big C, Lotus, Villa Market, etc.   Plus numerous local food markets.

   Lots of recreation available with golf courses, badminton and tennis courts, public gyms, snorkeling, biking trails, other boating activities, etc.  We love to eat out and Pattaya has tons of restaurants--and you don't need to go to the tourist areas to find them.  We are on the Darkside and there are lots of good restaurants on this side of Sukhumvit.  

    By far the biggest draw has to be both the variety of neighborhoods to choose from and the equally large variety of housing available, at all price points, whether one chooses to rent or own.   There's likely a neighborhood--with a good choice of housing--to fit just about any lifestyle.  Whether you want a big pool villa in a quiet area or an oceanfront condo on one of the beaches--or something more modest--you'll be able to find it in Pattaya.  

[KhunLA]

Y'all need to consider the OP, sitting on 1M Super, but asking about 20k a month budget.  Along with where to live, 3 different places this week, I think.

 

Can I live on 'this much' threads are getting old ... maybe 10 or 15 a year, once a month.

 

Own everything, single person, so it's very doable, and think we can agree on that.   IF, of course you have no health issues, and an oops fund, as health ins won't be included in that budget, I don't think.

 

What kind of life that is, a bit of a question, depending on variables.

 

We own everything, and our monthly budget averaged ฿16,300 a month.  Slight advantage, having Solar.   And we eat very good, 95% in house, if not more, and mostly homemade whole foods.  Which makes a huge difference.

[scottiejohn]

6 minutes ago, newnative said:

The location is terrific to start--we can be at our center city Bangkok getaway condo in less than 2 hours--with a drive on the Motorway that's much easier and faster than, say Hua Hin.  Suvarnabumi is only about 1.5 hours away--very convenient as we like to travel.

     Spouse and I have been car-shopping and just about every auto brand imaginable is available in Pattaya, including 3 or 4 of the new Chinese brands.

Did you read the title of the OP?

If so what has your post got to do with it?

[G_Money]

4 minutes ago, newnative said:

      There are lots of people who live in Pattaya part-time or year-round who 'never get involved with nightlife there'.  That includes my spouse and myself, and most of the people we know who also live here.  The location is terrific to start--we can be at our center city Bangkok getaway condo in less than 2 hours--with a drive on the Motorway that's much easier and faster than, say Hua Hin.  Suvarnabumi is only about 1.5 hours away--very convenient as we like to travel.

     Spouse and I have been car-shopping and just about every auto brand imaginable is available in Pattaya, including 3 or 4 of the new Chinese brands.   We ended up buying an suv from BYD, which has a dealership in town.  No need to drive long distances to get to a dealership.  Ditto that for a selection of good hospitals, and good dental and eye care.

    Shopping is excellent, with both Terminal 21 and Central Festival Mall, as well as some other shopping centers.  Movies in English at several different movie complexes.  Good big box stores, including Index, Home Pro, Boonthavorn, and others.   Also good supermarkets with Makro, and several branches of Big C, Lotus, Villa Market, etc.   Plus numerous local food markets.

   Lots of recreation available with golf courses, badminton and tennis courts, public gyms, snorkeling, biking trails, other boating activities, etc.  We love to eat out and Pattaya has tons of restaurants--and you don't need to go to the tourist areas to find them.  We are on the Darkside and there are lots of good restaurants on this side of Sukhumvit.  

    By far the biggest draw has to be both the variety of neighborhoods to choose from and the equally large variety of housing available, at all price points, whether one chooses to rent or own.   There's likely a neighborhood--with a good choice of housing--to fit just about any lifestyle.  Whether you want a big pool villa in a quiet area or an oceanfront condo on one of the beaches--or something more modest--you'll be able to find it in Pattaya.  

Accurate post.

 

However. I don’t think the 20k a month boys will be doing many of the activities you mentioned.

[scottiejohn]

31 minutes ago, khunJam said:

Yes. My house is 150sq meters. I run 5 aircons. We eat out every meal. We go on vacations monthly. Drive a gas guzzler. Easy peazy.

You obviously have very pleasant dreams!

Sleep tight and when you wake up; "welcome to the real world"

[kidneyw]

Easy if you do not play golf.

[AlwaysThere]

10 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Living in Flybird you will start to drink. 

 

I see Lots of foreigners living in Flybird, drinking outside 7eleven, out front of Flybird every afternoon. 

 

ChickyBabes would be your expense, if you're on a budget, I heard the ladyboy's are much cheaper. 

 

 

What are you doing hanging outside Flybird every afternoon? You seem to either be there or Soi Bua Khao. Classy.

[Airalee]

1 hour ago, G_Money said:

All I can say is from reading many of these posts is I count my blessings that I don’t have to live in Thailand the way many have to.

 

Understandable although I for one applaud them.  In some ways they have “beaten the system” and most likely won’t have to deal with the onerous income taxes in Thailand.

 

I would however encourage them to check out Vietnam, as here in Da Nang, I’m seeing that the cost of living is 30-50% cheaper than Thailand and none of the constant immigration hoops to jump through.  Agents handle the visas for a fraction of the cost too and they appear to be easily renewable every 90 days.

 

Sure, there isn’t as much choice but general basics for day to day stuff is much less expensive.

 

฿8-20 for a Bahn Mi sandwich

฿20 for a coffee

฿18 for a 330ml beer in the minimarts 

฿25 for cigarettes

฿80 for a haircut

฿13/kg at the laundry shops (฿18 if you want pick up and delivery)

 

Fast food (McDonald’s) and wood fired pizza 30% cheaper

 

Cheaper rent (about 30% from what I have seen and more for higher end places)

Cheaper healthcare in the international hospital

Cooler weather (currently 71 F)

Cleaner air (compared to what I experienced 10 years ago)

 

No fat women (for those who are in Thailand for that sort of thing)

 

Next to no police presence (unless they are all plain clothes and I don’t see them)

 

Better footpaths/sidewalks (but more motorbikes parked on them)

 

MUCH cleaner beaches

[newbee2022]

2 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

It's obvious we are 2 people at opposite ends of the spectrum. 

 

You having never grown up, only commenting with hostility and antagonizism. 

 

Try scrolling past comments instead of nasty replies. 

 

When you was young, I bet you was the kid that got a beating everyday in the school playground, judging by your replies. 

 

Interesting 😂

Now you told me about myself😂

But where is the opposite? Tell me about yourself! You did something beside insulting? Being hostile? Can't wait to read your CV.😱

[baansgr]

10 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

I think it's called the OA visa 

 

As for health insurance,self insure and use the Australian system if needed 

 

 

How you gonna do that if you are refused to board..seen it happen a few times?

20k a month is plenty, I brought up 3 kids on my own on less than 40k and my rent was.10k of that

[baansgr]

13 minutes ago, Airalee said:

Understandable although I for one applaud them.  In some ways they have “beaten the system” and most likely won’t have to deal with the onerous income taxes in Thailand.

 

I would however encourage them to check out Vietnam, as here in Da Nang, I’m seeing that the cost of living is 30-50% cheaper than Thailand and none of the constant immigration hoops to jump through.  Agents handle the visas for a fraction of the cost too and they appear to be easily renewable every 90 days.

 

Sure, there isn’t as much choice but general basics for day to day stuff is much less expensive.

 

฿8-20 for a Bahn Mi sandwich

฿20 for a coffee

฿18 for a 330ml beer in the minimarts 

฿25 for cigarettes

฿80 for a haircut

฿13/kg at the laundry shops (฿18 if you want pick up and delivery)

 

Fast food (McDonald’s) and wood fired pizza 30% cheaper

 

Cheaper rent (about 30% from what I have seen and more for higher end places)

Cheaper healthcare in the international hospital

Cooler weather (currently 71 F)

Cleaner air (compared to what I experienced 10 years ago)

 

No fat women (for those who are in Thailand for that sort of thing)

 

Next to no police presence (unless they are all plain clothes and I don’t see them)

 

Better footpaths/sidewalks (but more motorbikes parked on them)

 

MUCH cleaner beaches

Don't you have to leave the country every 90 days?..after all, it's one of the few communist countries left 

[RichardColeman]

Think there is several issued need addressing here.

 

1. 20k would not meet visa requirements, so unless you have 800k in the bank - which seems unlikely if you are claiming poverty - then you would need to allow say 1200 baht a month for yearly agent visa.

2, Housing - whilst the house may be free water, electric, gas, housing tax and internet isn't. You use a fan an not air con then I dare say you could live on 2000 baht housing expenses. Utilities can be kept low, but you would need to put at least 500 baht away a month for repairs to the house,

3. Health expenses - that's a hard one, as any health insurance would blow your budget. I have a friend across the road dying of cancer, but its slow, maybe has a year. His money if he had 20,000 may go on pain killers and not food at the end ! You fall off a bike or get sick then you are going to be laughed at on here for raising a go fund me page !

4. Inflation - that 20K will be worth 19,700 next year and 19,300 the year after. in 3 years the 20k is less than 19k. This is why old UK pensioners from the UK living here on the fixed pension are getting worse off each year. This is the reason that atleast 2000 a month of that income should be left as savings

5. Food & travel - Allowing for the house expenses and visa, you'd have over 15,000 - or 500 baht a day to live on. Personally I think that is quite doable. easy for 350 baht on food and 150 on 3 beers a day.

6. You may well lose some money if the thieving government if they implement income from abroad.

 

Is it doable yes, certainly, would i recommend it - Hell no.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[georgegeorgia]

Tell me more about this Da Nang place in Vietnam?

Is Hanoi cheap too ???

[khunJam]

1 hour ago, scottiejohn said:

You obviously have very pleasant dreams!

Sleep tight and when you wake up; "welcome to the real world"

You know nothing about me thank goodness poor boy 

[PeterA]

Car insurance and food is the biggest expense in "almost Issan." About 14,000 car insurance #1 ranked coverage. 6 year old car. 

No health insurance. 

Gas for the car, less than 1, 500 month.  1and a bit tanks. 

Electric, average winter months 700 mo. Average Summer months 1400. 

Water a month 100. 

Wifi; 749 month

Food from markets and Tesco,4,000 month. 

eating out local food 3 to 4 times a month 500. 

Don't hit the bars, live simply and comfortably. 

[Airalee]

57 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Don't you have to leave the country every 90 days?..after all, it's one of the few communist countries left 

Officially, I believe that the 90 day tourist visas can only be extended for 1 month before having to leave the country but I have been told that they can unofficially be extended for 3 months.  My brother, who has lived in Vietnam for the better part of 15 years told me that the agents can get things handled so that one doesn’t have to leave the country.  This was in Phu Quoc so things may be different there.  
 

Probably best to visit different agencies in whatever city you are in to see what the options are.  I cannot say for certain but I suspect that the rules are flexible much like the people who pay an agent to handle their “retirement” visas in Thailand when they don’t meet the financial requirements.

 

The real estate agent who found an apartment for me said she could handle things and get a 90 day extension but I’m unaware of whatever the process is on her end.  I didn’t ask how much it would cost.

[baansgr]

2 minutes ago, Airalee said:

Officially, I believe that the 90 day tourist visas can only be extended for 1 month before having to leave the country but I have been told that they can unofficially be extended for 3 months.  My brother, who has lived in Vietnam for the better part of 15 years told me that the agents can get things handled so that one doesn’t have to leave the country.  This was in Phu Quoc so things may be different there.  
 

Probably best to visit different agencies in whatever city you are in to see what the options are.  I cannot say for certain but I suspect that the rules are flexible much like the people who pay an agent to handle their “retirement” visas in Thailand when they don’t meet the financial requirements.

 

The real estate agent who found an apartment for me said she could handle things and get a 90 day extension but I’m unaware of whatever the process is on her end.  I didn’t ask how much it would cost.

👍 

[Cardano]

You could not in all honesty call it living, barely surviving would be more appropriate.

[Airalee]

44 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Tell me more about this Da Nang place in Vietnam?

Is Hanoi cheap too ???

I haven’t been to Hanoi in 7 or 8 years but when I was there, I did look at apartments for rent and they were substantially less expensive than what I was paying in Chiangmai at the time.

 

I would suspect that Hanoi and HCMC would be more expensive than Da Nang as they are the two major metropolitan areas.  How much, I can’t say.

 

The vibe in Hanoi is much different than here in Da Nang (which considers themselves to be “south”) and when I was in Hanoi, the woman who I had befriended spoke very negatively of the south and I suspect that there is lingering resentment from the old days. People are much more laid back and friendly in Da Nang.  I’ve never been to any other cities so I can’t speak for them. 

[G_Money]

6 minutes ago, Airalee said:

Officially, I believe that the 90 day tourist visas can only be extended for 1 month before having to leave the country but I have been told that they can unofficially be extended for 3 months.  My brother, who has lived in Vietnam for the better part of 15 years told me that the agents can get things handled so that one doesn’t have to leave the country.  This was in Phu Quoc so things may be different there.  
 

Probably best to visit different agencies in whatever city you are in to see what the options are.  I cannot say for certain but I suspect that the rules are flexible much like the people who pay an agent to handle their “retirement” visas in Thailand when they don’t meet the financial requirements.

 

The real estate agent who found an apartment for me said she could handle things and get a 90 day extension but I’m unaware of whatever the process is on her end.  I didn’t ask how much it would cost.

Do you have any issues with the language barrier?

 

Is some English spoken by locals in the major cities?  Do you use language apps?

[bubblegum]

21 minutes ago, PeterA said:

Car insurance and food is the biggest expense in "almost Issan." About 14,000 car insurance #1 ranked coverage. 6 year old car. 

No health insurance. 

Gas for the car, less than 1, 500 month.  1and a bit tanks. 

Electric, average winter months 700 mo. Average Summer months 1400. 

Water a month 100. 

Wifi; 749 month

Food from markets and Tesco,4,000 month. 

eating out local food 3 to 4 times a month 500. 

Don't hit the bars, live simply and comfortably. 

No health insurance. Now that is exactly the thing you need when poor!

[Phillip9]

12 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Can you live on 20,000 baht per month if you own your own home /condo 

Not including rent or accomodation cost, it is quite possible to live on 20,000 baht per month. 

 

If you don't drink or have an expensive hobby, you wouldn't even need to budget or try very hard to do it.

[scottiejohn]

35 minutes ago, khunJam said:

You know nothing about me thank goodness poor boy 

With your attitude all I can say is thank God that I do know nothing about you apart from your arrogance, if your earlier post was truthful, and pointless wrt to the OP!

[Airalee]

2 minutes ago, G_Money said:

Do you have any issues with the language barrier?

 

Is some English spoken by locals in the major cities?  Do you use language apps?

The language barrier is actually more of a thing when it comes to business signage.  Everything is written in Vietnamese.  
 

People working in the fancier hotels (3 star and up) speak pretty good English…perhaps better than what you would see in Thailand at comparable hotels.  

 

On the lower end ($10 hotels which are everywhere and comparable to a ฿600-800 hotel in Thailand) they speak next to no English but they all have their translation apps on their phones at the ready and I have seen that the translation works better for Vietnamese than it does for Thai.  I have used it with the pharmacists also and have no problem communicating.  
 

In general, people seem to speak less English than in Thailand.

 

The customer service is also much better even though most of the people are only making $200-300/month.  No standoffish attitudes but not a ton of fake smiles either.  Tipping is less of a thing here too but still appreciated and the “thank you so much” seems genuine.  I even had a grab driver side-hug me after getting a 40k Dong (50 baht) tip.

 

I’m extremely happy being here and if Thailand actually enacts the income tax on all income and not just what is remitted, the trip pays for itself multiple times over primarily due to how Thailand views capital gains as income vs how the US taxes long term capital gains.

 

From my perspective, Vietnam will eat Thailands lunch for both the budget traveler and the “wealthy” travelers that they (Thailand) are now trying to court.

[The Cyclist]

25 minutes ago, PeterA said:

Water a month 100. 

 

This is Government water, right ?

 

How much do you spend on drinking water ? I must spend at least a 1500 a month on drinking & cooking water.

 

28 minutes ago, PeterA said:

Food from markets and Tesco,4,000 month. 

eating out local food 3 to 4 times a month 500. 

 

And how much for toiletries / houshold cleaning stuff / clothes washing detergent & fabric softener ?

 

If it works for you, well done, but I think your budget breakdown is actually very limited in what it covers and gives a false impression.

[G_Money]

29 minutes ago, Airalee said:

The language barrier is actually more of a thing when it comes to business signage.  Everything is written in Vietnamese.  
 

People working in the fancier hotels (3 star and up) speak pretty good English…perhaps better than what you would see in Thailand at comparable hotels.  

 

On the lower end ($10 hotels which are everywhere and comparable to a ฿600-800 hotel in Thailand) they speak next to no English but they all have their translation apps on their phones at the ready and I have seen that the translation works better for Vietnamese than it does for Thai.  I have used it with the pharmacists also and have no problem communicating.  
 

In general, people seem to speak less English than in Thailand.

 

The customer service is also much better even though most of the people are only making $200-300/month.  No standoffish attitudes but not a ton of fake smiles either.  Tipping is less of a thing here too but still appreciated and the “thank you so much” seems genuine.  I even had a grab driver side-hug me after getting a 40k Dong (50 baht) tip.

 

I’m extremely happy being here and if Thailand actually enacts the income tax on all income and not just what is remitted, the trip pays for itself multiple times over primarily due to how Thailand views capital gains as income vs how the US taxes long term capital gains.

 

From my perspective, Vietnam will eat Thailands lunch for both the budget traveler and the “wealthy” travelers that they (Thailand) are now trying to court.

Thanks. Good to know.