6 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Wages in Thailand haven't raised much at all. If you're referring to how the typical westerner can afford things it's true as westerners are happy to come to a country where things are much cheaper than back home. Prices for most everything in America have risen over the years, so wages should have risen to keep up with the cost of living. Sadly for many they haven't. A lot of people think all Americans are well off, but there are thousands who live paycheck to paycheck and are a few months from losing their homes if they get laid off.

Thai inflation 42%

USA 61%

2006 to 2026

So Thailand is cheaper for farangs on a western income

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

Thai inflation 42%

USA 61%

2006 to 2026

So Thailand is cheaper for farangs on a western income

If you would stop and read posts and not just frantically attack your keyboard you would see how idiotic you have become.

Your post is exactly why many of us choose to live here. Lower cost of living, and we never have to deal with the cold.

Just try enjoying posting for a few days, you might enjoy it.

4 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Fun fact: in 2006, Land in Thailand was 4 x cheaper per square yard than Carpet was in the UK.

(area dependent)

Probably true but farangs can't own land. Farangs on an army pension indexed to inflation would be doing well as Thai inflation is 50% less than farang inflation.

Female company in Thailand-(Nana) was around £15 😄 in 2006

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

Probably true but farangs can't own land. Farangs on an army pension indexed to inflation would be doing well as Thai inflation is 50% less than farang inflation.

Not technically true but no point in splitting hairs.

Just now, marin said:

If you would stop and read posts and not just frantically attack your keyboard you would see how idiotic you have become.

Your post is exactly why many of us choose to live here. Lower cost of living, and we never have to deal with the cold.

Just try enjoying posting for a few days, you might enjoy it.

Make up your mind. Is it cheaper or not? I said its cheaper now than 20 years ago. You abused me and said it was not. You sound very confused. Pick 1 story and stick with it.

2 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Female company in Thailand-(Nana) was around £15 😄 in 2006

Nightlife inflation is probably higher. But thats a different measure and depends on location.

Better ... that's all a bit relative. Much better infrastructure and roadways. Inflation sucks, but worldwide. 25 yrs since here, 100-200% inflation, most everything, except vehicles.

Their was good western food back in 2006, so not much changed there. More available now at the big chain stores.

Thai salaries, minimum wage at least, has kept up with inflation. We use to pay 150 a day, now it's 450 a day. Not sure what 'mid' salaries were, but my daughter makes shy of 100k a month, as does her fiancé, marketing & bank accountant.

For most expats, financially, it sucks, USD / THB like many, has been a roller coaster ride. Arrived @ 40, high 45, low 28, average 30-35. My Soc Sec (govt retirement fund), has doubled over 25 yrs. My pittance of a company pension, has remained the same.

My Income increase less than 100%, exchange rate, down 25%, so not exactly keeping up with inflation.

Still a 3rd world country, as many still don't have chanotes for their land, and many still don't have municipal water or electric. But many new modern things, some, such as BEV & Solar, ahead of some developed countries.

13 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Thai inflation 42%

USA 61%

2006 to 2026

So Thailand is cheaper for farangs on a western income

That's what I said. Westerners have not stopped coming here because they have always been able to afford it. You said Thailand was not better 20 years ago. Not about money .Whats better or worse might be a better option. I wasn't here 20 years ago but go by what I heard from Thais in America and heard from foreigners who came and lived here. It rang true when I moved here and saw what was said was true.

1 minute ago, fredwiggy said:

That's what I said. Westerners have not stopped coming here because they have always been able to afford it. You said Thailand was not better 20 years ago. Not about money .Whats better or worse might be a better option. I wasn't here 20 years ago but go by what I heard from Thais in America and heard from foreigners who came and lived here. It rang true when I moved here and saw what was said was true.

The cities seem better to me. The islands and some beaches are worse due to over development. Ko Lanta used to be peaceful. Now ruined. Ao Nang used to be quiet now ruined.

Hua Hin is better. More cheap hotels and restaurants. Better gyms.

Chiang Mai seems the same. Bangkok is so big its hard to judge.

34 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

But wages have risen 80 to 100%. So even if those prices rose 50% its cheaper in real terms.

Where have wages increased 80-100%? I would guess less than 10% and more like 6-8% in America at least.

11 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

such as BEV & Solar, ahead of some developed countries.

Way ahead of canada on this front. But our lack of sunshine and winter plays huge into that.

4 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Where have wages increased 80-100%? I would guess less than 10% and more like 6-8% in America at least.

America is backward. Tipping society with low wages. UK and Aussie wages have risen a lot. America army pensions are good though.

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

The cities seem better to me. The islands and some beaches are worse due to over development. Ko Lanta used to be peaceful. Now ruined. Ao Nang used to be quiet now ruined.

Hua Hin is better. More cheap hotels and restaurants. Better gyms.

Chiang Mai seems the same. Bangkok is so big its hard to judge.

Tourist areas will continue to be over developed and with that, and more tourists, comes the usual filth and crime. According to my girlfriend and her friends and family, things are more expensive now then when she was in her 20's.

They will cater to tourists as they look for their money, so making improvements means more tourists, at least in their thinking. What they aren't taking into account is the increase in crime and destruction of areas, especially the beach areas, which will eventually cause a decrease in tourism as people go elsewhere with less problems.

I went to Hua Hin when I was married over 5 years ago and it was the same as any other resort area I've visited here. . Hookers bothering me while I was walking with my wife and daughter, beaches average and noise high. Food was the usual local varieties.

1 minute ago, Harrisfan said:

America is backward. Tipping society with low wages. UK and Aussie wages have risen a lot.

How is America backward? They are the number one country in power and people still move there by the thousands yearly. It has everything all other countries have and freedom some don't. Tipping is necessary anywhere the restaurants rip off their employees with tiny wages. Wages have increased in Australia 3% yearly on average, but the cost of living has also increased.

2 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

Tourist areas will continue to be over developed and with that, and more tourists, comes the usual filth and crime. According to my girlfriend and her friends and family, things are more expensive now then when she was in her 20's.

They will cater to tourists as they look for their money, so making improvements means more tourists, at least in their thinking. What they aren't taking into account is the increase in crime and destruction of areas, especially the beach areas, which will eventually cause a decrease in tourism as people go elsewhere with less problems.

I went to Hua Hin when I was married over 5 years ago and it was the same as any other resort area I've visited here. . Hookers bothering me while I was walking with my wife and daughter, beaches average and noise high. Food was the usual local varieties.

Beach area prices vary with seasons. Lanta offers deluxe chateaus for 900 baht in low season. 2500 baht in high.

The island has been ruined though.

5 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Way ahead of canada on this front. But our lack of sunshine and winter plays huge into that.

Canada is a beautiful country where I'd like to visit yearly, but living there mirrors the American Midwest. Harsh winters in both places with Canada also having an extreme amount of black flies and mosquitoes during the warm seasons.

3 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

which will eventually cause a decrease in tourism as people go elsewhere with less problems.

This is already happening. Thailand down what 8 percent last year and viet nam up 20 percent in the same time frame.

Its only going to get worse unless huge changes happen in thailand.

Not holding my breath.

1 hour ago, Harrisfan said:

You are 20 years older. You are slower. Less fit. Less atttractive.

Guys in 2006 said it was better in 1986!

If anything its better now cause there's more farang food!

I moved here in 2006.

I honestly believe it was better then.

Farang food was not an issue.

26 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Female company in Thailand-(Nana) was around £15 😄 in 2006

US$10 per day for the girlfriend experience at the beginning of the 80's.

Multi role position (excuse the pun), food guide, tour guide, imperfect translator etc.

Just now, blaze master said:

This is already happening. Thailand down what 8 percent last year and viet nam up 20 percent in the same time frame.

Its only going to get worse unless huge changes happen in thailand.

Not holding my breath.

Less the better. Huge numbers ruin places. Krabi has been wrecked by endless Indian restaurants and endless backpacking tourists.

1 hour ago, Harrisfan said:

How so? The average wage was less 20 years ago. Plane tickets have come down in price. I pay less now than 20 years ago. Food prices have risen 20 baht which adjusted for inflation is no different.

Which food has risen 20B ?

1 minute ago, fredwiggy said:

Canada is a beautiful country where I'd like to visit yearly, but living there mirrors the American Midwest. Harsh winters in both places with Canada also having an extreme amount of black flies and mosquitoes during the warm seasons.

And now a huge tic problem in my province. Todays walk. pattaya sidewalks eh.......pfffft 😆

1 minute ago, blaze master said:

This is already happening. Thailand down what 8 percent last year and viet nam up 20 percent in the same time frame.

Its only going to get worse unless huge changes happen in thailand.

Not holding my breath.

I've been watching this since I've moved here, with things coming true that I heard from expats living here. They still like the islands and have enough cash to pay, but they still live in the smaller towns in Isaan. I don't see anything getting better here, especially for the locals. Expats can leave when things get bad or move around easier.

2 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

I moved here in 2006.

I honestly believe it was better then.

Farang food was not an issue.

Less farangs made it better or some other reason?

Just now, Harrisfan said:

Less the better. Huge numbers ruin places. Krabi has been wrecked by endless Indian restaurants and endless backpacking tourists.

I lived in hat yai in early 2000s Krabi was glorious. Easy weekend get a way.

1 hour ago, Harrisfan said:

Prices in Australia have risen 70% since 2006. Wages have doubled.

Airline tickets have fallen 30%.

Thai hotels were 400 baht then and 400 baht now.

Krapow moo was 30 baht then and 50 baht now.

The thai baht was 28 baht then and now 22 baht.

So apart from currency Thailand is actually cheaper now lol

1 baht has always been 1 baht.

The rate of what ever currecny you are converting means <deleted> all.

1 minute ago, blaze master said:

And now a huge tic problem in my province. Todays walk. pattaya sidewalks eh.......pfffft 😆

Ticks? They're getting worse all over the US as well. Being a hunter I have to keep a close eye when I'm moving a deer I've shot. Lyme disease is no joke and spreading. I didn't think about the ticks in Canada but seeing there is so many animals, I'm sure they're a problem during the ice out until freeze up.

1 minute ago, Ralf001 said:

1 baht has always been 1 baht.

The rate of what ever currecny you are converting means <deleted> all.

Not if people are paid in dollars. Conversion matters.

2 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Less farangs made it better or some other reason?

there was no issue in 2006 eating farang food.