7 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

Don't comment if you never ate Michellene food quality in your lifetime.

Michellene?

Try to spell correct next time muppet.

On 1/26/2025 at 8:47 AM, KhunLA said:

Unless you lived in Japan, you probably never had Kobe beef.  Had wagyu, and don't care for it.  I'll take a good USA prime any day, over most others.  Much more about who's cooking it.

 

So you're saying high end Michelin Thai food, isn't as good as high end western food or cost the same 

 

News flash ... price doesn't always equal quality.  I've eaten in high end restaurants, along with not so high end, and put out quality food just as good.

I have been in Kobe and ate Kobe beef

Different strokes for different folks.

I can live off £100 a week here.

Treble that if you live with a gal.

On 1/24/2025 at 11:44 AM, Lacessit said:

add in 3-5 million baht for serious medical issues.

I spent near 5 million in a few months on my wife's medical issue. One incident. And her lingering medical issue adds on from there...

Prices are probably double what they were 5-10 years ago. We also take care of many expenses for the family including medical. Can you deny emergency medical for your wife's dad? 

 

All you need is a pencil and paper to figure what you need today, but figuring the future is a crapshoot... and medical will likely be your biggest unknown... as well as how you handle investments and inflation... 

1 hour ago, 1FinickyOne said:

I spent near 5 million in a few months on my wife's medical issue. One incident. And her lingering medical issue adds on from there...

Prices are probably double what they were 5-10 years ago. We also take care of many expenses for the family including medical. Can you deny emergency medical for your wife's dad? 

 

All you need is a pencil and paper to figure what you need today, but figuring the future is a crapshoot... and medical will likely be your biggest unknown... as well as how you handle investments and inflation... 

They could always use the government hospital, which is free for Thais.

It's good enough for me, so it should be good enough for them!

Yes, but there are special treatments that are new, experimental here and expensive at the only hospital to offer the treatment and it was a public hospital. . Her treatment went on for months and surely saved her life. It was not available anywhere else in Thailand. This was not a matter of staying in a comfy room. I don't know the system, but I.assume not every option is 30 baht. And yes, I was paying the hospital bills directly. There were additional expenses of spending months in a condo near the hospital and paying aides to care for her during this time. 

 

I did not keep track of all the expenses involved. And that are ongoing 4 years later. She has a rare and incurable disease which with lots of attentive care, is mostly in remission the last 9 months. If you are coming to live here with no medical insurance, things can happen. 

If you find yourself complaining on forums about 20 baht fares on transport you cant afford to emigrate.

6 hours ago, 1FinickyOne said:

I spent near 5 million in a few months on my wife's medical issue. One incident. And her lingering medical issue adds on from there...

Prices are probably double what they were 5-10 years ago. We also take care of many expenses for the family including medical. Can you deny emergency medical for your wife's dad? 

 

All you need is a pencil and paper to figure what you need today, but figuring the future is a crapshoot... and medical will likely be your biggest unknown... as well as how you handle investments and inflation... 

What your daily life needs, is different from what you need for safety. 

 

I would hate to be stuck in a foreign country if a great disaster happens. Be it a war or nature catastrophe. 

On 1/24/2025 at 10:36 AM, KhunLA said:

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

 

Since good weed is very expensive in USA, his budget could be considered very high.  Depending of course, how much is used to barter for food & services.

States that have dispensaries ( which is most now ) all have cheap high quality weed. Especially when a few are in the same area. Not very expensive at all. 

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

What your daily life needs, is different from what you need for safety. 

 

I would hate to be stuck in a foreign country if a great disaster happens. Be it a war or nature catastrophe. 

Sounds like all you need is a plane ticket out. 

Rent a room. 1000 baht.

Local Thai food is 40 baht a meal. 120 baht a day. 3,720 baht.

Electric and water. 1000 baht.

Amenities from the seven eleven. 1000 baht.

 

That leaves 280 baht from 7,000 baht a month for emergencies or to have some extra fun. 

 

1 minute ago, JeffersLos said:

Rent a room. 1000 baht.

Local Thai food is 40 baht a meal. 120 baht a day. 3,720 baht.

Electric and water. 1000 baht.

Amenities from the seven eleven. 1000 baht.

 

That leaves 280 baht from 7,000 baht a month for emergencies or to have some extra fun. 

 

The places I have gone to have fun I am not sure 280 baht would cover it, isn't enough to buy a lady drink these days 🙂

6 minutes ago, PomPolo said:

The places I have gone to have fun I am not sure 280 baht would cover it, isn't enough to buy a lady drink these days 🙂

Your idea of fun is paying a prostitute to drink with you. I hope the prostitute turns away when sneezing so you don't get splattered in the previous guy's spermatozoa. Or do you pay the prostitute extra for that? 

1 minute ago, JeffersLos said:

Your idea of fun is paying a prostitute to drink with you. I hope the prostitute turns away when sneezing so you don't get splattered in the previous guy's spermatozoa. Or do you pay the prostitute extra for that? 

Hahaha,  I usually buy a bottle of Listerine for them out of the 280baht I have left a month for fun and emergencies

10 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

States that have dispensaries ( which is most now ) all have cheap high quality weed. Especially when a few are in the same area. Not very expensive at all. 

I'm sure 'expensive' is relative.  Peeking in Philly area, wouldn't call any of the prices I'm seeing cheap.

$40 / 7 gr, cheaper if buying 14 or 28g, but still silly priced in my world.

 

On topic, if farming or dealing, then, selling/bartering weed for products/food and or services, he is working, one way or another.

16 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

I'm sure 'expensive' is relative.  Peeking in Philly area, wouldn't call any of the prices I'm seeing cheap.

$40 / 7 gr, cheaper if buying 14 or 28g, but still silly priced in my world.

 

On topic, if farming or dealing, then, selling/bartering weed for products/food and or services, he is working, one way or another.

Yes. He is certainly not " living" on $2.90 a day. 

42 minutes ago, alex8912 said:

Sounds like all you need is a plane ticket out. 

If you have something to come back to, and you settled here with lady married or not with kids as well. What then? 

2 hours ago, Hummin said:

What your daily life needs, is different from what you need for safety. 

 

I would hate to be stuck in a foreign country if a great disaster happens. Be it a war or nature catastrophe. 

For me, I am glad I am here - I have been here a long time, I would not want to be anywhere else. 

3 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

For me, I am glad I am here - I have been here a long time, I would not want to be anywhere else. 

As 56 years old, I might have a different run than what you had if you arrived before 2005. 

 

The best years I experienced was from early 2000 to mid  2017. From there just downhill. 

 

Except during covid. My best 2 years in Thailand ever.

On 1/24/2025 at 9:01 AM, PomPolo said:

Hello all, just wondered peoples thoughts were on this.

I currently have a retirement visa in Thailand down to my savings and age however I can't touch my personal pension until I am 57 years old.
I live in the north of Thailand and my wife and I have just built a house so rent would not be an issue.
I am not a huge drinker but will meet up with friends every now and again but don't hit the bars every day.
I am sure similar questions have been asked before I won't go into full details of the value of my personal pension but I think it is reasonable.
At a retirement age of 57 in my circumstances people with more experience of Thailand than myself what would you recommend/suggest as a minimum retirement fund and not working, I understand questions like this are subjective and relative depending on point of view and circumstance but just looking for peoples point of view?

My wife and I have been here for 12 years from the US. We usually don’t go over 3,000 a month and we have a condo in Cha Am right on the beach and another condo with a city view in Nonthaburi, we own 2 cars and we self insure, we get physicals every year 1500 dollars for the 2 of us. Even MRIs. Blood tests every 6 months, we both have good genes, never been in the hospital and we are in our late 70’s. We have a bank of money saved for medical needs. We eat healthy and very well, cook ourselves and eat out at the Salad Factory or Wine Connection once a week. And take vacations in Thailand and out of Thailand, Australia and New Zealand, Spain and Italy. Life is very good for us in Thailand, if we were in the US we would probably be homeless living in a tent somewhere.

This is such a subjective question and varies widely for just about everyone.  No real "wrong" or "right" answer for this.  Therefore, I can only speak for me.  I have a house that is paid off in Thailand so that does help a lot.  For me, the minimum amount would be 70KTHB a month.  

Having not read this thread, I'm wondering if anyone has asked yet, "How long is a piece of string?" Everytime somebody asks how much money they need, somebody else comes along and starts talking about string. Strangest thing!

On 1/25/2025 at 9:34 AM, BritManToo said:

(moat house), that's under 400bht for a decent night out.

Def recco the Language Exchange Meetup at The Moat House on Tuesday nights at 7:30. No language is exchanged. It draws about 50-70 people, maybe 20% Thai, the rest Chinese, Digital Nomads, and international students. Great mix of ages.

 

Some great meetup groups in Chiang Mai. Also Google Steve's list of events. Tireless Steve lists every event and charity function going on every week.

 

I lived in Nimman:. 4* Apartment behind the mall, eating out very well all day, every day, various massages and drugs, health insurance = about $1,000 a week.

 

I now spend 50% more living in Bangkok (my rent is 65,000K) due to better restaurants and dating.

 

 

On 1/25/2025 at 2:23 PM, Ben Zioner said:

 

 

 

Lamb alert: The Tibet Gate restaurant on soi 33 has many lamb dishes, including a lamb hot pot (880B).

 

-Also crispy deep-fried strips with a little honey and chili.

 

Schezuan places always have a few lamb dishes too.

For health insurance, we used Andy of CNX Insure in Chiang Mai. If I can't recco a biz here, I apologize.

 

An independent agent will explain what they're likely to cover and exclude much more honestly than calling the insurance company directly will. His commission is paid by the insurance company.

 

Me and my ex-wife from America have a fair few health issues. We pay $8,600 a year for the two of us.

 

 

16 hours ago, BritManToo said:

They could always use the government hospital, which is free for Thais.

It's good enough for me, so it should be good enough for them!

        Things might be different in rural areas but if you live in Bangkok medical care can certainly end up not being  'free' for Thais, especially if the care involves operations, intensive care, cancer treatment, or medical services in high demand using limited equipment. 

       My Thai spouse's mother had 2 million baht in medical expenses before she passed away in Bangkok.  If 'free' care was available, he and his siblings would certainly have availed themselves of it, rather than forking over the 2MB. 

       It doesn't do any good if a government medical service is free but unavailable--because it's fully booked at the government hospital or all the available weekly slots for a medical service are already taken at the government hospital.  

1 hour ago, newnative said:

        Things might be different in rural areas but if you live in Bangkok medical care can certainly end up not being  'free' for Thais, especially if the care involves operations, intensive care, cancer treatment, or medical services in high demand using limited equipment. 

       My Thai spouse's mother had 2 million baht in medical expenses before she passed away in Bangkok.  If 'free' care was available, he and his siblings would certainly have availed themselves of it, rather than forking over the 2MB. 

       It doesn't do any good if a government medical service is free but unavailable--because it's fully booked at the government hospital or all the available weekly slots for a medical service are already taken at the government hospital.  

SanSai hospital in CM has all new equipment, I've never had X-rays in bed using a portable X-ray machine before. I didn't even know such machines existed (13k5bht for 4 months in/out patient care as a foreigner), sure it takes all day for non-urgent care, but I can read my book anywhere.

 

My wife also arraigned for an elderly Nordic foreigner to have a broken hip repaired after he toppled off his m/c in his driveway (paid by his gov min m/c insurance after a bit of haggling).

 

My MIL was referred to Suan Dok hospital in central CM for operations (free), top care in some ways better than the NHS as no waiting at all. 

 

My son born in NakornPing hospital (free), again as good as the NHS, they even had home visits after.

 

You live in the wrong place!

Although sometimes I think some Thai people pay because too proud, or unable to complete the government hospital paperwork, or just too ignorant/uneducated to know what to get and where to get it.

 

 

On 1/25/2025 at 2:23 PM, Ben Zioner said:

The same could be said for prime Oz or NZ beef..

 

Try to find Lamb.

 

Wine

 

Brie, Camenbert, Comté, Gruyère, Apremont...

 

And I could go on.

Easy to find frozen lamb.  Villa Market, Robbie’s, accidental butcher, Makro .and so on. Tops Market has all that cheese you’re looking for. And Makro

On 1/25/2025 at 2:59 PM, Ben Zioner said:

 

Good, but every time I check out of Makro I pay over 8000, and we stopped buying their meat as they are "cut illiterate", then we go to tops to find some proper ribeye at 400+ a piece. 

Villa Market, Robbie’s, accidental butcher and more.

On 1/26/2025 at 9:23 AM, GypsyT said:

Michellene?

Try to spell correct next time muppet.

ironic given your own response is a grammatical abortion