Minimum required to live comfortably at a young retirement age

[Ben Zioner]

12 minutes ago, PomPolo said:

I'm guessing ph is phone @Ben Zioner and @KhunLA as opposed to acidity 🙂  all good on that one, only 300 per month for AIS definitely one of my lower bills 🙂

Nice to meet you Pom.

 

@KhunLA seems to thrifty, even with keystrokes. 

[KhunLA]

23 minutes ago, PomPolo said:

I'm guessing ph is phone @Ben Zioner and @KhunLA as opposed to acidity 🙂  all good on that one, only 300 per month for AIS definitely one of my lower bills 🙂

Phones @ 359 & 200, home internet @ 631

[PomPolo]

19 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

Nice to meet you Pom.

 

@KhunLA seems to thrifty, even with keystrokes. 

 

1 minute ago, KhunLA said:

Phones @ 359 & 200, home internet @ 631

All good chaps, all input appreciated!  Only been back in the country the last couple of years so forgot everything I knew about Thailand from 2016 which isn't a bad thing I was definitely a bit dafter back in those days
🙂

[FritsSikkink]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Western food costs the same as Thai food if you cook it yourself.

that all depends on what quality of Western food you cook. Top quality steak or baked beans on toast.

[PomPolo]

5 hours ago, howerde said:

I retired at that age, the first thing you need to sort out is Health Insurance, i am self insured, what are you going to do all day? the first 6 months is relaxing then it hits, with no hobbies interests etc you will be bored out of your mind and end up drinking most days at home(seen it so many times with people living in rural locations)

I live in Bangkok, with dogs, 7 aquariums. used to go to the driving range, do all my own cooking using quality products, there is not enough time in the day to get things done, weekends cinema maybe eat out, or down to Hua Hin. for me average 100 000 a month and i do go abroad a few times a year for holiday

Hi @howerde you could be me by the sound of things 🙂
Definitely live Rural in Sakon Nakhon, although stopped going to the bars hasn't stopped me buying a few beers to drink in the house!
My only hobbies at the moment are electronics and microcontroller programming which doesn't really get me out that much, the misses has a farm here and most of her family do also so do get out and about a bit on that, miss my buddies a bit in the city but do get back every now and again.  Very true though on the boredom in rural locations I think it is more down to who you can communicate with also, my Thai is reasonable but not fluent so limits who I can have a proper conversation with.
My main hobby the last year has been building the house so that has kept me busy and given where I live probably one of the less expensive areas of Thailand to build a house but I have well 'westernised' it 🙂 my toilet is probably bigger than any condo I have ever lived in and plenty of room in the bedroom for office desk and my wall mounted 55" TV, super-fast Fibre, Isan hes definitely progressed since I got married to my first wife (I know I never learn) here in 2010 🙂

[Celsius]

20-50 baht a day

[KhunLA]

37 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

that all depends on what quality of Western food you cook. Top quality steak or baked beans on toast.

Not really, as @BritManToo emphasis on "if you cook it yourself", I take as raw whole food ingredients, being same quality used no matter what, 'western' or 'Thai' food you are preparing.  

[PomPolo]

6 minutes ago, Celsius said:

20-50 baht a day

I'm knocking around with you fella. 

Its like that joke that got told on BGT about a guy walking into a bank and the cashier could only give him 3 quid from his account, and there was a homeless guy outside the bank and said to him "mate can you lend me 50 pence to get something to eat" and he said "no worries I'm coming with you if you can eat for that" (the guy on BGT told it much better than me 🤣)

[PomPolo]

@Celcius Damn didn't have the end bit of the joke here it is! From 2:35 full joke 🙂

 

[SiSePuede419]

8 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Western food costs the same as Thai food if you cook it yourself.

False.

Thai ingredients can be purchased for as low as 5B at a wet market.

Farangs buy food at Big C, Tops & Makro which would charge more for the same thing.

Plus imported food always costs more.

Authentic Italian pizza they might import big bags of flour from Italy and might cost 150B.

Local Thai pizza places use the cheapest local Thai flour available and might cost 100B.

I cook at home a lot in Thailand and it's more expensive to cook at home than to eat the cheapest street food.

Of course it's cheaper to eat Farang food at home than in a restaurant.

But home cooked Farang food isn't cheaper than Thai street food.

It's just not. 😁

[jas007]

After reading all these responses, I can only conclude that I have no real grasp on the value of money in Thailand. 

 

Off the top of my head, my initial thought was 140,000 baht a month. More than enough with money left over.  Any less than that and I'd have to start having a budget.

 

Today's fairly typical for me.  Without breaking it down, I'm sure I'm at about 3000 baht. 

 

 

[Will B Good]

6 hours ago, PomPolo said:

I'm knocking around with you fella. 

Its like that joke that got told on BGT about a guy walking into a bank and the cashier could only give him 3 quid from his account, and there was a homeless guy outside the bank and said to him "mate can you lend me 50 pence to get something to eat" and he said "no worries I'm coming with you if you can eat for that" (the guy on BGT told it much better than me 🤣)

 

 

In Yorkshire ...can you lend me 10p? I don't want to break into a 50.

[KhunLA]

2 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

False.

Thai ingredients can be purchased for as low as 5B at a wet market.

Farangs buy food at Big C, Tops & Makro which would charge more for the same thing.

Plus imported food always costs more.

Authentic Italian pizza they might import big bags of flour from Italy and might cost 150B.

Local Thai pizza places use the cheapest local Thai flour available and might cost 100B.

I cook at home a lot in Thailand and it's more expensive to cook at home than to eat the cheapest street food.

Of course it's cheaper to eat Farang food at home than in a restaurant.

But home cooked Farang food isn't cheaper than Thai street food.

It's just not. 😁

I hope you realize you are making no sense at all.  

 

I shop where the Thais do, at Makro & the fresh / wet markets, though 99% at Makro.  You're implying people buy ingredients to make western food at Makro, or other chain, but when making Thai food, they shop at less expensive fresh market.   That's ridiculous.

 

So do you think we have 2 kitchens/frigs at the house, and have one full of stuff to make Thai food from, and have one for making western food from 

 

Add to that, we're not allowed to use imported ingredients for Thai meals, or Thai ingredient for western meals.

 

Usually, but not always cheaper to make western food at home, instead of restaurants, especially if you don't buy in bulk.  

 

Nobody suggest western food is cheaper than Thai street food, though that also is relative to apples & apples comparison.

[SiSePuede419]

2 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Western food costs the same as Thai food if you cook it yourself

4 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Nobody suggest western food is cheaper than Thai street food

 

Reading comprehension isn't your forte because that's EXACTLY what someone suggested. 🤣

[KhunLA]

4 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Reading comprehension isn't your forte because that's EXACTLY what someone suggested. 🤣

Yes, read and agreed with @BritManToo post, and I read it as, if making western & Thai food at home, cooking it yourself, then it's cheaper than eating Thai food out.  He didn't mention street food, but I guess if you made the exact same 'bowl of noodle' with same ingredients, it would be cheaper to cook it yourself.

 

All things being equal, they are selling it higher than their cost, hence the profit margin, that you would save.  Without using the petrol, or electric, to go pick up.

[SiSePuede419]

14 hours ago, KhunLA said:

So in reality, he had a job & income, weed farmer & barter instead of $$$.   So does not live on 100 baht a day.

Incorrect.  He had a house and stove and various material possessions.

He had no job or income.

He wasn't a professional, so he didn't get paid.

Barter is the same as using money.

Instead of money he traded weed for rides into town, money to buy coffee and dog food.

Yes, he lived on 100B a day plus expired food from the food bank 

You're wrong. 🤣

[BritManToo]

9 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Authentic Italian pizza they might import big bags of flour from Italy and might cost 150B.

Local Thai pizza places use the cheapest local Thai flour available and might cost 100B.

I cook at home a lot in Thailand and it's more expensive to cook at home than to eat the cheapest street food.

Of course it's cheaper to eat Farang food at home than in a restaurant.

But home cooked Farang food isn't cheaper than Thai street food.

It's just not.

I cook pizza at home all the time, bread flour is around 40bht in the local bakery suppliers.

Tomatoes from the wet market, mozzarella from Makro is about the biggest expense.

But a large pizza with several toppings costs around 50bht (depending on toppings) to make.

 

Had hot dogs for lunch yesterday, Prime English breakfast sausages around 14bht each, so lunch with 2 hot dogs cost around 30bht (OK I cheat and wrap in sliced bread). 

[daveAustin]

Not read most answers, heard it a thousand times, but I’d go with Brit’s assessment… 20k a month is doable, but best to double that as a base. You’ll get the ‘I couldn’t live on 100k’ blah blah, but these mommy’s boys are typically supporting families, while wife-beater-wearing alcoholic mongerers are also x5. 

Have a blow out then get in your niche. Avoid getting too deep with loose women. 
‘Semi’ retired early 30s. 😉

[thaibeachlovers]

21 hours ago, howerde said:

I retired at that age, the first thing you need to sort out is Health Insurance, i am self insured, what are you going to do all day? the first 6 months is relaxing then it hits, with no hobbies interests etc you will be bored out of your mind and end up drinking most days at home(seen it so many times with people living in rural locations)

I live in Bangkok, with dogs, 7 aquariums. used to go to the driving range, do all my own cooking using quality products, there is not enough time in the day to get things done, weekends cinema maybe eat out, or down to Hua Hin. for me average 100 000 a month and i do go abroad a few times a year for holiday

You nailed it with the medical insurance. If one can't afford it one can't afford to live in LOS.

 

Own a house- the OP doesn't own it, or at least won't be able to live in it if he and wife fall out or she dies. Better keep the wife and her family sweet.

 

Don't forget the incidentals- dentists, travel to get visa extensions etc, or agents.

 

Better find something to occupy himself that is physical- inactivity kills.

 

As for how much needed. other than insurance, and visa extensions, payment for Dr visits etc depends entirely on what lifestyle the OP wants.

[thaibeachlovers]

10 hours ago, jas007 said:

After reading all these responses, I can only conclude that I have no real grasp on the value of money in Thailand. 

 

Off the top of my head, my initial thought was 140,000 baht a month. More than enough with money left over.  Any less than that and I'd have to start having a budget.

 

Today's fairly typical for me.  Without breaking it down, I'm sure I'm at about 3000 baht. 

 

 

Rich people rarely understand what it's like to live for not rich people.

 

If that 3,000 does not include rent and insurance, unless one fornicates with prostitutes or eats at Dukes every day, I have no idea how anyone could spend that much in a day.

[PomPolo]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

You nailed it with the medical insurance. If one can't afford it one can't afford to live in LOS.

 

Own a house- the OP doesn't own it, or at least won't be able to live in it if he and wife fall out or she dies. Better keep the wife and her family sweet.

 

Don't forget the incidentals- dentists, travel to get visa extensions etc, or agents.

 

Better find something to occupy himself that is physical- inactivity kills.

 

As for how much needed. other than insurance, and visa extensions, payment for Dr visits etc depends entirely on what lifestyle the OP wants.

Very true @thaibeachlovers was definitely using the term 'own' a house loosely I guess we are all at the behest of our hosts in some way 🙂 had enough bad relationships to be quietly confident this one might work 🙂
Did used to go to the gym a bit but been a bit busy with the house so might resurrect that this year - was the new years resolution just not got round to it - there's always 2026 🙂

[Ralf001]

10k a week.... not including rent and utlities.

[KhunLA]

7 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Barter is the same as using money.

Instead of money he traded weed for rides into town, money to buy coffee and dog food.

Bartering is trading for something.  

He is bartering with weed.  He's either a dealer, buys & sell, with weed left over as a profit to barter with.  Make no mistake, drug dealing is a job.

 

Or, he grows the weed himself, and farming weed, is a job.   So he doesn't live on ฿100 a day, as the weed has value.   Quite a bit, depending on location and quality of.

 

When I left the USA, a 1/4 oz / 7 gr was selling for $50 / ฿1700

If he's trading 7gr of weed for food, every week, then he's living on at least ฿1700B plus ฿700 (100 a day), so ฿2400 a week, ~฿10k a month.

 

Instead of your imaginary ฿3000 a month.   I doubt if 7gr of good weed still sells for ฿1700 also, so he spends, barters much more than 10k baht a month.

[KannikaP]

21 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

Single 2 Million a year,

Married 3M/Y,

Marries 2 kids 4M/Y.

 

That's normal lifestyle, 200 Sqm House without pool, 2 [Honda] cars, 8 weeks holidays, cleaning lady, DIL as paid [expensive gardener].

Are you saying that a couple need 2 -3 M per year. Rubbish.

Me, the Mrs, son at Uni, working daughter with 4 year old. 250 sq mtr house, diesel Vigo & City paid for, as is pool-less house. Cook mostly here, I like my English stuff, moderate beers, mostly do my own garden with help from relatives.

Live on Bht 35k per month, with one trip to UK per year.

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Rich people rarely understand what it's like to live for not rich people.

 

If that 3,000 does not include rent and insurance, unless one fornicates with prostitutes or eats at Dukes every day, I have no idea how anyone could spend that much in a day.

Went out last night with a pal, moose cider in first bar 100bht (jungle bar), 2 tacos with chips and dips and a coke 200bht (la Casita), followed by a small Leo in rooftop bar with live music 85bht (moat house), that's under 400bht for a decent night out.

[Ben Zioner]

Just now, KannikaP said:

Are you saying that a couple need 2 -3 M per year. Rubbish.

Me, the Mrs, son at Uni, working daughter with 4 year old. 250 sq mtr house, diesel Vigo & City paid for, as is pool-less house. Cook mostly here, I like my English stuff, moderate beers, mostly do my own garden with help from relatives.

Live on Bht 35k per month, with one trip to UK per year.

We obviously have different lifestyles. Mine is the one I have brought with me from Geneva, where I retired as an IT executive. 

[connda]

$1000 USD.  But - you have to meet the Thai financials to stay so the amount you need to "comfortably live" is subjective, but it has to be at least 65k THB.  The Thai government will insist you have an income stream of 65K / month which you can live on comfortably imho.

Now, from your own point of view, define "comfortable."  When I first got here I lived in the Thai community in an apartment which cost 1200 THB / mo and I was perfectly comfortable.  4th floor, view of Doi Suthep, sandwiched between Thapae and Loi Kroh in Chiang Mai.  Walking distance to where I wanted to go.  Life was grand.
Now I live in a rural Thai village.  With all the money I saved we now have 1 rai of land, two houses, and a good life.  Comfortable! 

[connda]

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I cook pizza at home all the time, bread flour is around 40bht in the local bakery suppliers.

Tomatoes from the wet market, mozzarella from Makro is about the biggest expense.

But a large pizza with several toppings costs around 50bht (depending on toppings) to make.

 

Had hot dogs for lunch yesterday, Prime English breakfast sausages around 14bht each, so lunch with 2 hot dogs cost around 30bht (OK I cheat and wrap in sliced bread). 

Nice!  You got a Pizza Oven?

[connda]

Btw - I'm sure that some member's definition of "comfortable" is a budget of $10K USD per month.  Maybe more.  I doubt the Marc Fabers of the world live like most of us here.  I'm not knocking it.  But defining "comfort" is a subjective, personal thing to do.

[GypsyT]

19 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

Western food costs the same as Thai food if you cook it yourself.

Really?

 

No matter how I cook my Norwegian salmon still is 1300 THB kg...