Is Thailand Still a Good Place to Spend Time if You're on a Fixed Budget?

[123Stodg]

2 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Thai inflation is 0.4%

False. As of January 2025, Thailand’s annual inflation rate rose to 1.32%, up from 1.23% in December 2024.

[KhunLA]

The query for him is, would he be happy 'without spending much on bars, restaurants, women, and other luxuries.'.   And what about health insurance, or another 'go fund me' in the making.

 

Of course he needs to plop 800k into a bank, or have 65k baht a month income to even qualify to be in TH.  

 

If I had to, I could live on 20k baht a month, but wouldn't want to.

 

PLEASE tell him to stay where ever he is.  Don't think TH wants or needs another poor expat.

[pomchop]

1 hour ago, FriscoKid said:

How much is your rent?

enough to give me a nice condo in an ocean front building in a fantastic location with pleasant ocean and sunset view big pool in a very well run and maintained building with a premium location within easy walking distance of most everything 

[pomchop]

25 minutes ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

If you do not want to get ripped off and cheated with excessive prices or bad services, to some extent Bangkok and the entire area around Hua Hin or Phuket, is to be totally avoided. 

 

The north, Isaan area, Chang Mai are far more welcoming and friendly to foreigners and prices are half of what is applied further southbound.

just understand that the air quality is absolutely horrible for several months each year...i know as i lived up north until i finally reluctantly gave it up as i do sort of like to be able to go outside and breathe a bit most everyday....that is not hyperbole...the air is really really bad around cm and chiang rai and many other areas...not that it is perfect in pattaya but nowhere near as bad.

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, 123Stodg said:

Medical cost is an important issue as you mentioned. But that is something you would have to consider no matter where you live in the world, unless of course you have free or inexpensive government healthcare provided to you in your home country.

 

55,000 Baht sounds like kind of a lot to be spending to live in a rural part of Thailand, especially if you don't go out drinking on a regular basis. I think a lot of people probably do it for a less than 55K. But I guess two people, and if you have rent to pay and other fixed expenses, then maybe that's what it costs. Golf and restaurants 2 to 3 times a week up country shouldn't be that much extra in terms of cost though, would it?

I probably spend about that much on average every month myself and I'm just one person. Expenses just seem to happen. But as I said, I'm not really on a budget.

 

I have massages 3 times a week, about 2500 baht/month.

 

Golf 3 times a week is about 8000 baht/month. It depends on whether I am playing expensive or cheap courses.

 

Restaurants are not expensive. About 5000 baht/month.

 

It all adds up.

 

I have top level private health insurance in Australia. Medical care in Thailand at the government hospitals is not expensive, except when surgery/anesthesia is needed.

 

A few months ago, I was in hospital for two days with pneumonia. Excellent care, 7000 baht. I thought that was a screaming bargain.

 

I did have the advantage of a Thai GF to assist me through the bureaucracy.

[Yagoda]

42 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

No. Don't be silly. AC, potable water, quality food all have a cost. Maids, drivers and  other support staff have a cost. Know why some people have clothing that never smells like wet dog? They launder using filtered, purified water and that costs.

You can rent a Condo outside the city center on a transit line for $300. I pay electric of about $20 a month, $5 a month for phone data, $500 for food etc and rest misc. If you smoke weed, drink or hit the fleshpots its more. Oh the cleaning girl is $15

[Middle Aged Grouch]

7 minutes ago, pomchop said:

just understand that the air quality is absolutely horrible for several months each year...i know as i lived up north until i finally reluctantly gave it up as i do sort of like to be able to go outside and breathe a bit most everyday....that is not hyperbole...the air is really really bad around cm and chiang rai and many other areas...not that it is perfect in pattaya but nowhere near as bad.

Pattaya is a far better option then Hua Hin.

[TedG]

3 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Most Thais live on less.

That’s true.  They live in 2000 baht/month rooms with no AC, no hot water and no kitchen.