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British Expat Shares Thai Retirement Costs, Inspires Moves

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21 hours ago, billd766 said:

I suppose a lot will depend on your current age (which I didn't see mentioned), where and when the insurance was taken out and if you have or ever had any health problems.

 

I would also think it would depend if you have ever claimed, what for, and how many times.

The biggest problem here with health insurance is that for medical issues when you make claim they will trawl back through your medical history attempting to find an issue then claim it is a pre existing condition.

I don’t remember every issue I might have visited a doctor for over the last thirty years.

Accident claims are a different story hard to avoid paying out for them.

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  • Why blab about it? Someone did something similar in Chiang mai years ago and the place got inundated with whinging boomer whiteys. Also highlighting visa agents isn’t the smartest move. Just enjoy you

  • StayinThailand2much
    StayinThailand2much

    Wow, where can I get such a health insurance?

  • 60 baht water bill? Either I'm being ripped off or Simon isn't showering enough 😊 A dirty 'farang'? 😊 Maybe he uses the shower at the gym and pool. I've seen a few foreigners save money that way.

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21 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Also highlighting visa agents isn’t the smartest move.

Using a visa agent doesn't mean he doesn't have the 800k banked or the 65k coming in monthly, it just means he doesn't want to deal with immigration so pays someone to do it for him.

 

I use an agent and have 800k banked. While I could easily just do it myself, for the extra 2000 Bhat for the year, I choose not to waste my day. I just show up on my given date/time at immigration, have my photo taken and leave. 

21 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Also highlighting visa agents isn’t the smartest move.

Using a visa agent doesn't mean he doesn't have the 800k banked or the 65k coming in monthly, it just means he doesn't want to deal with immigration so pays someone to do it for him.

 

I use an agent and have 800k banked. While I could easily just do it myself, for the extra 2000 Bhat for the year, I choose not to waste my day. I just show up on my given date/time at immigration, have my photo taken and leave. 

2 minutes ago, 818Pilot said:

Using a visa agent doesn't mean he doesn't have the 800k banked or the 65k coming in monthly, it just means he doesn't want to deal with immigration so pays someone to do it for him.

 

I use an agent and have 800k banked. While I could easily just do it myself, for the extra 2000 Bhat for the year, I choose not to waste my day. I just show up on my given date/time at immigration, have my photo taken and leave. 

I have found that Thai's don't do things correctly and many are poorly educated. You just got lucky and I hope you have no problems in the future.

2 hours ago, Cat Boy said:

(...) they put atop a plate of rice and bring it to you at a table. Yesterday I paid 40 baht for just that. Delicious, freshly and satisfying. 

 

Pruteu, noodle soup, is generally between 40 and 60 baht, cheaper outside Bangkok. 

 

Sounds good, but, personally, I am not a big rice eater. Also, as Simon lives in Nonthaburi, yes, maybe, the '50 baht on average' checks out.

10 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Sounds good, but, personally, I am not a big rice eater. Also, as Simon lives in Nonthaburi, yes, maybe, the '50 baht on average' checks out.

Sorry if I missed the answer to this, but is 50 baht average for each meal? Or each day? You will need more than one meal a day..

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9 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Sounds good, but, personally, I am not a big rice eater. Also, as Simon lives in Nonthaburi, yes, maybe, the '50 baht on average' checks out.

How things change in Thailand. When Thaksin was PM every one was happy. The farmers where making good money with record rice exports. There wasn't one vacant shop in Pattaya. The tourist and expats were getting excellent exchange rates. When the coup took place everything turned to sh*t and has never recovered. I realise that Thaksin carrys a lot of baggage but please tell me any Thai politicians that are squeaky clean. I couldn't care less which party rules in Thailand as long as the military only do what they're paid to do and that's not beating up students at rallys.

It is possible to live here on the cheap, but you might not be able to do much. It depends on your lifestyle. At 35,000 baht a month, that excludes going out to party or fancy restaurants, drinking at bars, owning a vehicle, internet/cell phone service, and or traveling/sightseeing. Stay home in your studio apartment, maybe a one bedroom outside the city central, eat street food only, limit your Grab fees, use a Bicycle (a bit dangerous and definitely hot) you could do it.

22 hours ago, PJ71 said:

This is what 35-45K gets you.

 

Realistically i'd say it's a lot more than that.

I'd say double.

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1 hour ago, Kinnock said:

I'm sure it's possible on this sort of budget, but for a little more life can be so much better here than back home.

 

One big factor is a Thai partner ..... while mine saves me money on not needing to pay for housekeeping, visa agents, airport pick ups and carnal pleasures, she has a property improvement addiction - so what I thought was going to be simple condo refit became a major rebuild, and our 'little, basic house by the sea' evolved into a mansion.  Women like to make nests while us men just want to make eggs.

Been there, done that.

 

What started as a basic two bedroom house, evolved progressively into two kitchens, another bedroom, two carports and a 36 sqm guesthouse. ( attached )

 

IMO the only reason it has stopped is no more land to put it on.

baanlek10.jpg

1 hour ago, Kinnock said:

I'm sure it's possible on this sort of budget, but for a little more life can be so much better here than back home.

 

One big factor is a Thai partner ..... while mine saves me money on not needing to pay for housekeeping, visa agents, airport pick ups and carnal pleasures, she has a property improvement addiction - so what I thought was going to be simple condo refit became a major rebuild, and our 'little, basic house by the sea' evolved into a mansion.  Women like to make nests while us men just want to make eggs.

Sell mansion. Buy man cave or find BIG hole in soi. Can have loud music, beers & many different carnal pleasures.🙃🙃

22 hours ago, JakeC said:

60 baht water bill? Either I'm being ripped off or Simon isn't showering enough 😊 A dirty 'farang'? 😊

Maybe he uses the shower at the gym and pool. I've seen a few foreigners save money that way...

Don’t forget he is from the UK!!!

If he is eating meals at that price then by the age of 65 he might find it difficult to get insurance cover. Life expectancy of Thais who eat at that price is not too old, bowel cancer from cheap pork offals and the unsterilised fish sauce takes its toll.

Maybe he has good genes!

Tik Tok is a wind up though!

23 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Wow, where can I get such a health insurance?

Only insures his a**e because he’s talking out of it. 🤷🏼

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21 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

Pretty sure Thai Immigration and TAT will groan after reading this. 'Just what we don't want or need - more of his kind.'

 

Seriously though, while it's not impossible to live on that amount each month, it's a pretty frugal existence. No girlfriend? No wife? Just sitting in his room or on the beach road eating khaow niow (sticky rice) and moo daeng (barbecued pork skewers) every day? I guess he can entertain himself daily with his WiFi/Internet. Does he walk everywhere, or does the 3,000 include motocy and tuk tuks or his own bike (including phone at probably 500 baht)?

I don’t spend much more, have great rented condo , pool, gym, I read a lot , have good tv, I swim every day an hour, I do easy gym, I go to the cinema as often as there are good films showing, I’m not a big eater or drink much, but I have a great little restaurant with a super clean kitchen that does all my favorites without sugar and msg. I walk to the fresh market mornings buy all my fruit , I walk along the prom every evening at least an hour to restaurant and back, see friends, have a coffee . I do much more in Thailand than I would at home at my age 73. 
My extras are a week in Bangkok at Christmas and New year, and a trip here and there in or out of Thailand. I don’t have to save, I don’t need to . 

8 hours ago, PJ71 said:

This is a thing? I thought it died it's death coz it was too hard to track?

One of the suckers who got a TIN and paid up.

1 hour ago, Feingeist said:

I'd say double.

Exactly, i plan for 80k pm when i retire.

 

I currently spend about 150K per month, just me and wifey, no debt and we don't really do much at all tbh.

 

Life's expensive.

57 minutes ago, Anthony mellows said:

One of the suckers who got a TIN and paid up.

Not me, i changed nothing.

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

Been there, done that.

 

What started as a basic two bedroom house, evolved progressively into two kitchens, another bedroom, two carports and a 36 sqm guesthouse. ( attached )

 

IMO the only reason it has stopped is no more land to put it on.

baanlek10.jpg

But it looks good and you have a nice place to live.  And you're probably in the same position as me - you want her to have an asset after you've gone.

 

Nice color too.

How original.

1 hour ago, Lucky Bones said:

Sell mansion. Buy man cave or find BIG hole in soi. Can have loud music, beers & many different carnal pleasures.🙃🙃

I'm lucky enough to have both .... she managed the refit of my Bangkok condo into a man cave, and with a woman as hot (and useful) as my Missus, no need to pay for pleasure.

 

You really can have it all in Thailand, just need to choose carefully after taking some extensive test rides 🙂

 

20250722_133312.jpg.b8d71160f0c9b28d196d9e00bc88b208.jpg

 

20250722_132418.jpg.76ea6234811d3148ad37d9fa72165d5d.jpg

22 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Forgot to factor in cost of female company. 

 

Or men?

 

On 9/12/2025 at 4:55 PM, JakeC said:

60 baht water bill? Either I'm being ripped off or Simon isn't showering enough 😊 A dirty 'farang'? 😊

Maybe he uses the shower at the gym and pool. I've seen a few foreigners save money that way...

Lots of places have fixed water bills, use as much as you like, no extra cost.

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2 hours ago, Tazmo said:

If he is eating meals at that price then by the age of 65 he might find it difficult to get insurance cover. Life expectancy of Thais who eat at that price is not too old, bowel cancer from cheap pork offals and the unsterilised fish sauce takes its toll.

Maybe he has good genes!

Tik Tok is a wind up though!

33bht for a pork steak and chips ....... Lotus Fresh chips 75bht/kg, 2x pork steaks 42bht.

Food is cheap if you have a gas hob or air fryer.

 

IMG_20250905_124415.jpg

  • Popular Post
On 9/12/2025 at 4:44 PM, daveAustin said:

Why blab about it? Someone did something similar in Chiang mai years ago and the place got inundated with whinging boomer whiteys. Also highlighting visa agents isn’t the smartest move. Just enjoy your retirement and stf… be quiet. 

As if retirement in Thailand and the cost of living there is some closely guarded secret up to this point, known only by a few in some secret society 🫢

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10 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

33bht for a pork steak and chips ....... Lotus Fresh chips 75bht/kg, 2x pork steaks 42bht.

Food is cheap if you have a gas hob or air fryer.

 

IMG_20250905_124415.jpg

 

   You  must be feeling the pinch because you cannot afford H.P sauce anymore 

so many go on about oooh only  50 baht for food,,, but do not mention,, the portions are so small, you need to buy 3 or 4 of them,  so costing a lot more than 50 baht

11 hours ago, Funkymover said:

so many go on about oooh only  50 baht for food,,, but do not mention,, the portions are so small, you need to buy 3 or 4 of them,  so costing a lot more than 50 baht

 

those thai 50 baht dishes are not enough protein.

 

only 50 baht if you cook at home. 

 

6 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   You  must be feeling the pinch because you cannot afford H.P sauce anymore 

I've switched to salt and vinegar.

Lost my taste for hp and tomato sauce, dunno why.

8 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I've switched to salt and vinegar.

Lost my taste for hp and tomato sauce, dunno why.

 

  299 Baht for  bottle of H.P sauce could be the reason why ?

Hellmans BBQ sauce is my current forte . 

MY H.P sauces can wait until I get some bacon

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