Those of you who live on 40k a month

[georgegeorgia]

1 hour ago, pimmmm said:

I live in Jomtien for about 40k a month, well kind of, as I have plenty of backup savings, for emergencies.

First off I'm married and she's decent, in that she doesn't ask me for money to send to family or any nonsense like that.
In fact she works online (10-20k a month typically) and sometimes pays for meals out and trips to the cinema. She keeps the rest of to save and help her sister on occasion, I pay rent, bills, food. 

We go out once a week, to restaurant, cinema etc, some times more to a local mookata or something.  We drink very little generally but sometimes we'll go to a bar, maybe once a month, we like Wizard beer.   We have no debts, or bad habits like gambling.

 

We live in a pretty nice 50sq mtr rented condo,  run the air con but not excessively, shopping from Makro, we both can cook. We have a big TV and netflix, 2 bikes, I go to a local gym.  We've travelled a lot in the past so now not so much just in Thailand, go by bus and stay in cheap hotels. Lifestyle is very nice really.  

Without backup savings and investments it's an issue though. I know I'm covered if I really want to buy something, have an emergency, or go on a special holiday. 

 

And dare I ask..do you participate in the "ladies of the night?

 

[Lacessit]

On 4/8/2025 at 12:40 PM, georgegeorgia said:

I'm very interested and please forgive me for not doing a study or a project on this but I just thought of the project idea today a few days AFTER I came back from my study tour of Thailand 

 

I read the Australian aged pension is like 40,000 baht a month or near 

 

And some of you UK also around the same , please may I ask how your lifestyle is on this amount 

 

I did see a few old farangs in Sizzlers in Pattaya secretly filling up their containers in bags next to them with good BUT may I ask for those of you ,does anyone here in PATTAYA live on that amount quite comfortable 

 

Now please if you do ,do you forego the pleasures in life ,cheese ,wine and song or is wine women and song to achieve the budget of your aged pension 

What about the 99b breakfast living in 40k per month 

It always fascinated me seeing bars in Soi Bukhao such as those Sports Bars full ,do expats go to those and pay often WESTERN prices or are they tourists in those places 

 

I remember going to what looked like a open no air con expats sports bar in Jomtien opp the 711 only to see miserable old people inside 

 

The OAP in Australia is 49,000 baht/month.

 

I eat a mix of Western and Thai food, semi-keto diet. Most of my protein and all my cheese is bought in Macro.

 

I don't choose to stay single. If I did, I could live on 40,000 baht/month very easily.

[georgegeorgia]

2 hours ago, Lacessit said:

The OAP in Australia is 49,000 baht/month.

 

I eat a mix of Western and Thai food, semi-keto diet. Most of my protein and all my cheese is bought in Macro.

 

I don't choose to stay single. If I did, I could live on 40,000 baht/month very easily.

Could you do it in Pattaya though is the question?

[grain]

Aussie pension is ok to live on in Oz provided you own your home, but if paying rent you're screwed. If you take to pension to Thailand or elsewhere in SEA then can live well on it provided you don't get crook and end up in hospital, then you're screwed again. Guess it's all of matter of how's the health and how good one is at managing money. 

[pimmmm]

4 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

And dare I ask..do you participate in the "ladies of the night?

 

No, not for me anymore. I stopped a long time ago when I started dating my now wife,  it can be a big expense yeah,

We do think about leaving pattaya area sometimes as dont need the nightlife, but it's ok here know people and  like to be by the sea, don't want to move to hua hin, or and tourist southern place, so where else?

[georgegeorgia]

5 hours ago, grain said:

Aussie pension is ok to live on in Oz provided you own your home, but if paying rent you're screwed. If you take to pension to Thailand or elsewhere in SEA then can live well on it provided you don't get crook and end up in hospital, then you're screwed again. Guess it's all of matter of how's the health and how good one is at managing money. 

Very true, the only thing stopping people is that high health insurance premiums in Thailand 

 

[BritManToo]

10 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

Very true, the only thing stopping people is that high health insurance premiums in Thailand 

 

So don't buy health insurance!

[georgegeorgia]

7 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

So don't buy health insurance!

Yes your right !

 

Of course if you were to get Cancer,you may have to go back to your old country as many youtubers did , steadyeddy and was it Nev that died a few years ago ,

 

[kinyara]

I set my budget here on  £10k a year here so around the 40k baht a month. The way I look at it is when I reach pension age I'll have a large pay rise as my other company pensions will also kick in as well as the state pension so I should be more than comfortable. At the moment I own my condo but don't have health insurance, it would be a struggle renting and paying health insurance. My plan is to sell my condo around pension age and rent then, the funds raised will be my back up health fund.

[simon43]

On 4/10/2025 at 11:46 AM, KannikaP said:

If you go back to UK for medical treatment and they prove that you have lived mostly abroad, you must pay 150% of the actual cost.

Not true!

 

If you have lived mostly abroad and return to the UK, as long as you state that you have returned to the UK to live there permanently, then you will receive NHS treatment free from the word go.

[KannikaP]

8 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Not true!

 

If you have lived mostly abroad and return to the UK, as long as you state that you have returned to the UK to live there permanently, then you will receive NHS treatment free from the word go.

You mean tell them lies?

As many many immigrants and asylum seekers do. !

 

[kinyara]

2 hours ago, simon43 said:

Not true!

 

If you have lived mostly abroad and return to the UK, as long as you state that you have returned to the UK to live there permanently, then you will receive NHS treatment free from the word go.

 

I thought you had to wait 6 months until you were eligible for treatment upon returning to the UK. 

[gk10012001]

On 4/9/2025 at 12:16 AM, Packer said:

 

Foreign teachers get Thai social security health insurance for life. 

They get it for life?  I assume you mean as long as they keep teaching?  Also, how good and comprehensive is the insurance?  I imagine it covers most routine things, some broken bones etc.  I would be skeptical if it covers really major surgeries, or has no total cost limits.

[gk10012001]

23 hours ago, kinyara said:

I set my budget here on  £10k a year here so around the 40k baht a month. The way I look at it is when I reach pension age I'll have a large pay rise as my other company pensions will also kick in as well as the state pension so I should be more than comfortable. At the moment I own my condo but don't have health insurance, it would be a struggle renting and paying health insurance. My plan is to sell my condo around pension age and rent then, the funds raised will be my back up health fund.

An interesting plan.  Not sure that selling out will benefit you in the long run though.  Rents do increase, properties get sold out, you have to move, etc.  None of those things are easy to handle the older one gets

[Packer]

5 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

They get it for life?  I assume you mean as long as they keep teaching?  Also, how good and comprehensive is the insurance?  I imagine it covers most routine things, some broken bones etc.  I would be skeptical if it covers really major surgeries, or has no total cost limits.

 

Yes, any foreign worker (teachers included) get Thai SSO health insurance for life having worked here for at least 12 months. After leaving work they just need to register at the SSO office within 6 months, around 430 baht is automatically deducted from their chosen bank account every month. I know a few people that were instantly covered for around 500,000 baht after having sudden and serious illnesses. One of their private health insurances refused cover, another didn't even use their private insurance as the Thai SSO immediately covered the 400,000 baht of immediate treatment. 🙂 Most open a bank account specifically for it and stick 5000 THB into it at the start of each year. 

 

If they have 15 years of work within the SSO by the age of 60 they will also get a small pension for life. Capped at something like 3500 baht per month. Enough for a nice lunch or dinner with the wife or husband on the monthly payday. 🙂

[jacko45k]

23 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

They get it for life?  I assume you mean as long as they keep teaching?  Also, how good and comprehensive is the insurance?  I imagine it covers most routine things, some broken bones etc.  I would be skeptical if it covers really major surgeries, or has no total cost limits.

No, I think you are wrong there. Retired teachers will still be covered. 

[gk10012001]

18 hours ago, Packer said:

 

Yes, any foreign worker (teachers included) get Thai SSO health insurance for life having worked here for at least 12 months. After leaving work they just need to register at the SSO office within 6 months, around 430 baht is automatically deducted from their chosen bank account every month. I know a few people that were instantly covered for around 500,000 baht after having sudden and serious illnesses. One of their private health insurances refused cover, another didn't even use their private insurance as the Thai SSO immediately covered the 400,000 baht of immediate treatment. 🙂 Most open a bank account specifically for it and stick 5000 THB into it at the start of each year. 

 

If they have 15 years of work within the SSO by the age of 60 they will also get a small pension for life. Capped at something like 3500 baht per month. Enough for a nice lunch or dinner with the wife or husband on the monthly payday. 🙂

So if they teach for a year, they are then eligible for insurance the rest of their life while living in Thailand?  Do they have to stay in Thailand for any special number of months each year after they stop teaching?  Can they go back to their home country ad then just fly back to Thailand . say on a visa exempt and get any treatment they want ?  Sounds a bit too good to be true.

[Packer]

5 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

So if they teach for a year, they are then eligible for insurance the rest of their life while living in Thailand?

 

They are covered in Thailand for life regardless of what country they live in thereafter. 

 

5 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

Do they have to stay in Thailand for any special number of months each year after they stop teaching?

 

No.

 

5 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

Can they go back to their home country ad then just fly back to Thailand . say on a visa exempt and get any treatment they want ?

 

Yes. They will get any treatment they need, the same as a Thai citizen.

 

5 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

Sounds a bit too good to be true.

 

430 or so baht is deducted from their Thai bank account monthly. As long as they legally worked here for a minimum of 12 months, registered to stay in the SSO within 6 months of finishing work, and their Thai bank account is set up for the 430 or so baht to be deducted every month, they are covered for life the exact same as any Thai citizen. 

 

If they work a minimum of 15 years before the age of 60 they will also get a Thai pension for life, capped at something small like 3500 Baht per month. If living here enough for a nice monthly dinner, if not, a nice $1000 withdrawal every Christmas. 

 

 

Don't get information about Thailand from barstools. 

[Ralf001]

On 4/15/2025 at 11:46 AM, Packer said:

 

I know a few people that were instantly covered for around 500,000 baht after having sudden and serious illnesses. One of their private health insurances refused cover, another didn't even use their private insurance as the Thai SSO immediately covered the 400,000 baht of immediate treatment. 🙂 Most open a bank account specifically for it and stick 5000 THB into it at the start of each year. 

 

 

 

I beleive coverage is capped each year but the figure I do not know, nor if it year total or per visit total.

In 2023 SSO covered 5 milion for me (private hospital).... that was 3 stays.

1 - Jan to March ICU for pneumonia inc intestine surgery due to heavy meds caused a perforation.

2 - 1 week in April for colostomy reversal.

3 - 1 week december for kidney removal.

[Packer]

34 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

In 2023 SSO covered 5 milion for me (private hospital).... that was 3 stays.

1 - Jan to March ICU for pneumonia inc intestine surgery due to heavy meds caused a perforation.

2 - 1 week in April for colostomy reversal.

3 - 1 week december for kidney removal.

 

Good (I mean that it's good you had that covered with no fuss, not good that you had such ailments!) 

 

I imagine a private insurer could have tried getting out of paying, or been a stressful headache to deal with, 5 million Baht is a decent amount if self insured. 

 

[Ralf001]

24 minutes ago, Packer said:

 

Good (I mean that it's good you had that covered with no fuss, not good that you had such ailments!) 

 

I imagine a private insurer could have tried getting out of paying, or been a stressful headache to deal with, 5 million Baht is a decent amount if self insured. 

 

 

My private insurer did deny claim, I self admited (I went as I thought I was severly dehydrated and needed a hour or two on IV fluids) to Bangkok Jomtien hospital for the pnuemonia, few days later AFTER being put into a coma (blood oxygen level at 60%)  and onto breathing machines my insurance declined, I was then moved to my SSO registered hospital.

[KannikaP]

On 4/8/2025 at 2:40 PM, KhunLA said:

Yes, you can live on ฿40k, although, you have to be married to qualify for a long term visa on that amount.

I have 'my own' house, not married but living together for 15 years, own car, and we live on Bht 35k per month, available by the Combination Retirement Method ie Bht 420k in my own bank account, and 35k per month via Wise, totalling over 800k, allowed by my IO in Phitsanulok.

Health insurance is out of the question at my age, so I used the Government University Hospital the couple of times I needed it. Reasonable prices, Bht 40k for gall bladder removal by keyhole.

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

I have 'my own' house, not married but living together for 15 years, own car, and we live on Bht 35k per month, available by the Combination Retirement Method ie Bht 420k in my own bank account, and 35k per month via Wise, totalling over 800k, allowed by my IO in Phitsanulok.

Health insurance is out of the question at my age, so I used the Government University Hospital the couple of times I needed it. Reasonable prices, Bht 40k for gall bladder removal by keyhole.

Your situation, 800k, for ret. visa ext, is doable.  But if someone only has 40k a month, and not married, then not doable.

 

I live on <20k a month, but bring in more than 65k needed for the ret visa ext., so not an issue.  If only 40k a month, I'd need to get a visa based on marriage.

[KannikaP]

17 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Your situation, 800k, for ret. visa ext, is doable.  But if someone only has 40k a month, and not married, then not doable.

 

I live on <20k a month, but bring in more than 65k needed for the ret visa ext., so not an issue.  If only 40k a month, I'd need to get a visa based on marriage.

Please read what I said. I bring in 40k per month for my Retirement extension having also 420k in my bank. 

[Packer]

21 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

If only 40k a month, I'd need to get a visa based on marriage.

 

Retirement visas/extensions are available for 25k first year 15k extensions after the first year ZERO funds needed. 🙂 

[KhunLA]

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Please read what I said. I bring in 40k per month for my Retirement extension having also 420k in my bank. 

Yes, I read and understood.  You read the topic, and what I posted.  Unless married, 40k is not enough, unless like you, they have money in the bank, and use the combination method.

 

'If only having 40k a month" ... no, you don't qualify for ret visa or ext of.

[KhunLA]

1 minute ago, Packer said:

 

Retirement visas/extensions are available for 25k first year 15k extensions after the first year ZERO funds needed. 🙂 

Yes, endorse illegal activity and skirting the rules ... well done.   Now complain about how corrupt TH is.

 

And when the low life has an oops ...

 

... no prob ... 'go fund my stupidity'

[georgegeorgia]

On 4/14/2025 at 9:47 AM, kinyara said:

I set my budget here on  £10k a year here so around the 40k baht a month. The way I look at it is when I reach pension age I'll have a large pay rise as my other company pensions will also kick in as well as the state pension so I should be more than comfortable. At the moment I own my condo but don't have health insurance, it would be a struggle renting and paying health insurance. My plan is to sell my condo around pension age and rent then, the funds raised will be my back up health fund.

10,000 pounds around $20,000 AUD , I guess it can be done ,no drinking or Wine Women and Song though 

 

I wonder where that saying came from?

WINE WOMEN & SONG 

[georgegeorgia]

10 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Please read what I said. I bring in 40k per month for my Retirement extension having also 420k in my bank. 

But you already admitted there was no ...Wine Women & Song !!!

[georgegeorgia]

Look, I know going by many threads on here that many of you DO survive on 40,000 baht a month in Pattaya and we are talking Pattaya not the back of Da Nang 

 

Do you guys go out to Sports Bars or have meals at farang cafes ?