People keep posting, Thailand expensive, but I'm not seeing it!

[Nick Carter icp]

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

How much is a UK hotel room and 60 min massage?

 

   You can come and stay for free at my place if you want 

[Harrisfan]

6 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   You can come and stay for free at my place if you want 

You might P Diddy me

[hotsun]

8 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

You might P Diddy me

There seems to be a lot of people here who want to do it to you

[NorthernRyland]

3 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

Well, when I moved there in 2003 one Euro was 54 Baht. Now one Euro is only 37 Baht. So that alone is already a loss of 32% of buying power. And the days where you could get a full meal on the street for 20 to 25 Baht are well over as well. Rent is much more expensive, too. A friend of mine from back then just recently moved back to Thailand and he said prices went up quite a bit for a lot of things. Is it expensive in comparison to the west? Probably not, but it's definitely more expensive than it used to be.

 

Yeah these are all facts for sure.

[BritManToo]

4 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

Well, when I moved there in 2003 one Euro was 54 Baht. Now one Euro is only 37 Baht. So that alone is already a loss of 32% of buying power. And the days where you could get a full meal on the street for 20 to 25 Baht are well over as well. Rent is much more expensive, too. A friend of mine from back then just recently moved back to Thailand and he said prices went up quite a bit for a lot of things. Is it expensive in comparison to the west? Probably not, but it's definitely more expensive than it used to be.

But my income has doubled since then ........

[KhunLA]

6 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

Well, when I moved there in 2003 one Euro was 54 Baht. Now one Euro is only 37 Baht. So that alone is already a loss of 32% of buying power. And the days where you could get a full meal on the street for 20 to 25 Baht are well over as well. Rent is much more expensive, too. A friend of mine from back then just recently moved back to Thailand and he said prices went up quite a bit for a lot of things. Is it expensive in comparison to the west? Probably not, but it's definitely more expensive than it used to be.

 

That's not too surprising, as the THB could only get stronger after the crash.  Spanking from the EU hurt just as much for you as the strengthening of the THB.

 

Same for me, almost, as arrived 2000 and TBH 40 to USD, went up to 45, then down to 29.  So as long as it stays about 30+ (25% drop from 2000), I'm happy enough.  Stays 30-35 / $1 USD, rarely dips below, and goes 35+ sometimes.

 

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

But my income has doubled since then ........

 

My income has just about doubled also.  Almost keeps up with the basics, whole food inflation.   Others things have stayed steady, while other things have increased dramatically.  Thankfully I don't need or use the higher end inflated things.

[still kicking]

5 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

How much is a UK hotel room and 60 min massage?

Stupid answer, I never had a massage in my life and don't stay in hotels and what are the wages in the UK?

[pacovl46]

18 hours ago, BritManToo said:

But my income has doubled since then ........

Did it double for everyone else, too?

[BritManToo]

9 minutes ago, pacovl46 said:

Did it double for everyone else, too?

I think it's fair to assume in 20 years or less everyone's income will double.

That's how the world works.

[Andycoops]

22 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Cashew nuts are cheaper in the UK than in Thailand 

Quote actual prices for the same weight then..

 

[Nick Carter icp]

20 minutes ago, Andycoops said:

Quote actual prices for the same weight then..

 

 

99 Pence for 125  grams in ASDA UK , could you go and look in 7/11 and check the price there ? 

[pacovl46]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I think it's fair to assume in 20 years or less everyone's income will double.

That's how the world works.

Not really! No one I inow had their salary doubled over the past 20 years! 

[hotandsticky]

14 minutes ago, pacovl46 said:

Not really! No one I inow had their salary doubled over the past 20 years! 

 

 

Hello..

 

Now you have, my income has quadrupled in that time.

[pacovl46]

20 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Hello..

 

Now you have, my income has quadrupled in that time.

Ok. Good for you! You're not the gold standard, though. 

[ElwoodP]

Off topic posts about health insurance removed.

Please start your own thread if you want to discuss that.

[hotandsticky]

18 minutes ago, pacovl46 said:

Ok. Good for you! You're not the gold standard, though. 

 

Didn't say I was.

 

Just pointing out my situation, which will not be unique 

[pacovl46]

23 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

Didn't say I was.

 

Just pointing out my situation, which will not be unique 

while it might not be unique, you’re clearly the minority here. 

[hotandsticky]

4 hours ago, pacovl46 said:

while it might not be unique, you’re clearly the minority here. 

 

I am obviously in that minority everywhere....that is a simple truism that does not just apply to Thailand. The fact remains that the original comment was a bit sweeping.

[BritManToo]

Today's shopping more expensive at 34bht.

Still 3 large potatoes will make me 3 dinners so not the end of the world.

Decision time, pizza or roast pork, gravy and baked potato for lunch?

[sidjameson]

On 5/26/2025 at 11:46 AM, pacovl46 said:

Not really! No one I inow had their salary doubled over the past 20 years! 

Even in the 3rd world UK minimum wage has increased from £5.05 to £12.2 an hour over 20 years. 2.4 times.

[sidjameson]

On 5/26/2025 at 10:19 AM, Nick Carter icp said:

 

99 Pence for 125  grams in ASDA UK , could you go and look in 7/11 and check the price there ? 

Fairer comparison is to Lazada. Both do online delivery. Very little difference.

[BritManToo]

On 5/26/2025 at 4:19 PM, Nick Carter icp said:

99 Pence for 125  grams in ASDA UK , could you go and look in 7/11 and check the price there ? 

172bht for 500gm on Lazada with free delivery.

Works out at 43bht (100p) for 125gm.

So  same price in Thailand

[KhunLA]

Cashews @ Makro 

 

 

@Nick Carter icp

[Nick Carter icp]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

172bht for 500gm on Lazada with free delivery.

Works out at 43bht (100p) for 125gm.

So  same price in Thailand

 

  Keep it the same .

Not large wholesale prices and delivery

What are is the price of 100 grams for local shops  ?

[pacovl46]

5 hours ago, sidjameson said:

Even in the 3rd world UK minimum wage has increased from £5.05 to £12.2 an hour over 20 years. 2.4 times.

It hasn't in Germany! Also, take inflation and rising prices for just about everything  into account and your buying power has nowhere near increased 2.4 times. 

[shdmn]

The biggest expense in Thailand is accommodation, not food.  Looking at prices for tourist accomodation in Bangkok sure makes Thailand look expensive to me.  Can't find any decent rooms in a reasonably decent location for under $50 a night.  I am talking at least western 3 star western standard rooms in a reasonably convenient and quiet location.  Same with AirBnB.  This is for low season (Sept-Oct).  High season it's much worse. 

 

Pattaya accommodation prices still look very reasonable for low season but Bangkok prices have definitely gotten out of hand imo.  I am just talking tourist situations.  So 6 months or less, not long term lease situations.

[georgegeorgia]

4 minutes ago, shdmn said:

Looking at prices for accomodation in Bangkok sure makes Thailand look expensive to me.  Can't find any decent rooms in a reasonably decent location for under $50 a night.  I am talking at least western 3 star western standard rooms in a reasonably convenient and quiet location.  Same with AirBnB.  This is for low season (Sept-Oct).  High season it's much worse. 

 

Pattaya accommodation still looks very reasonable for low season but Bangkok prices have definitely gotten out of hand imo.  I am just talking tourist situations.  So 6 months or less, not long term lease situations.  Bangkok accommodation is probably more affordable for that.

I agree to a certain extent about Airbnb Bangkok....BUT...3 hours away is Manila Philippines,which are double the price of Bangkok for short term rentals .

 

[shdmn]

24 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

I agree to a certain extent about Airbnb Bangkok....BUT...3 hours away is Manila Philippines,which are double the price of Bangkok for short term rentals .

 

I was paying between 1500-2000p ($25-$35) a night for decent AirBnBs in Makati during high season (Jan-Feb).  I can't find anything equivalent to that in Bangkok for less than $50 in low season (Sep-Oct).  In high season it would be more like $60-$75 a night in Bangkok, so approx. twice as much as Manila. 

 

Manila prices don't seem to fluctuate much between low and high season.  Less tourism I guess.  Also, average air quality in the Philippines is much better Jan-Mar compared to Thailand.  Air quality and high season prices are two of the main reasons I am starting to go to the Philippines more.

[still kicking]

2 hours ago, shdmn said:

The biggest expense in Thailand is accommodation, not food.  Looking at prices for tourist accomodation in Bangkok sure makes Thailand look expensive to me.  Can't find any decent rooms in a reasonably decent location for under $50 a night.  I am talking at least western 3 star western standard rooms in a reasonably convenient and quiet location.  Same with AirBnB.  This is for low season (Sept-Oct).  High season it's much worse. 

 

Pattaya accommodation prices still look very reasonable for low season but Bangkok prices have definitely gotten out of hand imo.  I am just talking tourist situations.  So 6 months or less, not long term lease situations.

I disagree with you because I am not keen on Thai food, so I have to buy Farang food. Accommodation is free for me since I have my own place, so my accommodation is free for me. Since I am a wine drinker, I have to drink Thai beer, which I am not too keen on so for me it works out the same as in the West.

[Gottfrid]

On 5/22/2025 at 9:26 AM, BritManToo said:

Pizza for breakfast, cost almost nothing ......

Eeeeh? I am pretty certain that you and me have different views on what can be called a pizza. Out of my point of view, I very much understand that one didn´t cost you much. Man, where is the tomato sauce and cheese? That´s like 2 ingredients that cement this ain´t a pizza. neither is it a hot sandwich.