27 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Once back in the time, yes, but for someone passed middle age?

It becomes a forced negative habit

Survive means also thrive physically and mentally, but I'm not going to argue with you, since it is a definition question. Seems like an very touchy theme for many, when it comes to life quality.

I have seen those who spend 100k or more on rent every month, who are completely miserable compared to a few other who pays less rent in a year included electric and water.

It seems as if you are countering your own argument here. On the one hand you suggest that you need a minimum of 30k after safety money, insurance, some travelling expenses, etc in order to thrive physically and mentally, but then counter it with your knowledge of people spending over 100k and being completely miserable.

I think you are using your own perspective on life, rather than the ability to see it through someone else's lenses.

One thing I don't understand, is why the OP is using a figure of 15k. What happens with the other 30k? @georgegeorgia

1 minute ago, IsmeUno said:

Looks like a kid. 👎

20yo women

Large number of off-topic posts were removed.

If you wish to talk about the female companions, please do it in The Lounge and not derail other topics.

On 4/1/2026 at 3:02 PM, Lacessit said:

I live on an average of 60 K/month.

I could probably live on 30 K if I gave up my Thai GF, golf, and eating out 50% of the time.

We can live simply for periods of time, even for months, and then use the savings to enjoy the good life for a while, whether that means traveling to Europe, around Thailand, or anywhere else for that matter.

The point is to have some carrots along the way, not to make sacrifices just to survive, like giving up golf or never going out when you live in Pattaya. That is why you live there in the first place, right?

We are living on a farm not because we have to, but because we want to. We both enjoy the freedom the farm gives us, and it also makes my wife happy to be close to her family. Happiness is not just one thing. There are several factors that need to come together. It is not only about growing what we eat. Having no stress from neighbors is another important factor as well. We also have something to get up for every morning, with daily routines and responsibilities we cannot skip. On top of that, having my own fully equipped gym right there helps me stay in shape and gives me no excuses.

But back to the topic: living on 15,000 baht a month in Pattaya is possible. The real question is whether you can be happy doing it. That takes some carrots along the way, and a good amount of savings for security. Nobody should spend everything they have every month, even if the same amount is coming in again next month. You need to be able to save something at the end of each month and put it in the bank for future disasters and future carrots.

16 minutes ago, Hummin said:

We can live simply for periods of time, even for months, and then use the savings to enjoy the good life for a while, whether that means traveling to Europe, around Thailand, or anywhere else for that matter.

The point is to have some carrots along the way, not to make sacrifices just to survive, like giving up golf or never going out when you live in Pattaya. That is why you live there in the first place, right?

We are living on a farm not because we have to, but because we want to. We both enjoy the freedom the farm gives us, and it also makes my wife happy to be close to her family. Happiness is not just one thing. There are several factors that need to come together. It is not only about growing what we eat. Having no stress from neighbors is another important factor as well. We also have something to get up for every morning, with daily routines and responsibilities we cannot skip. On top of that, having my own fully equipped gym right there helps me stay in shape and gives me no excuses.

But back to the topic: living on 15,000 baht a month in Pattaya is possible. The real question is whether you can be happy doing it. That takes some carrots along the way, and a good amount of savings for security. Nobody should spend everything they have every month, even if the same amount is coming in again next month. You need to be able to save something at the end of each month and put it in the bank for future disasters and future carrots.

It's all a matter of perspective. You seem to imagine that you need carrots if you live in a beach resort. At least that is what you appear to convey. For me, it's already the good life.

I live almost exclusively in beach resorts and very rarely 'go out'. Mainly because I am already outside. Large balconies make for outside living. Plus a beach is a few steps away. Good food at my location or can eat out at at the thousands of available relatively inexpensive restaurants. Or get a 'Grab' delivered whilst sitting at the beach with friends

No responsibilities. Complete freedom. What is better than that?

From my perspective, you are describing routines that you cannot escape. Surely farm work keeps you fit...but you need a gym too 😊

That sounds like a normal working life and going to the gym afterwards. Complete freedom? We have quite different ideas of what that means.

If you think that I'm criticising, you'd be wrong. I think it's great that you have created a sustainable lifestyle.

But you have a weird idea of life in a beach resort. There is just much more available than in the middle of nowhere....including the sea.

From a regular tourists point of view - some of us fall in that category - e.g. two months at a time in an AirBnB or hotel - it can be a bit expensive - assume no cooking - and you have the costs of home as well.

The cost of six months a year in Thailand on its own becomes more expensive than probably others who are here for the full 12 months.

2 hours ago, Hummin said:

We can live simply for periods of time, even for months, and then use the savings to enjoy the good life for a while, whether that means traveling to Europe, around Thailand, or anywhere else for that matter.

The point is to have some carrots along the way, not to make sacrifices just to survive, like giving up golf or never going out when you live in Pattaya. That is why you live there in the first place, right?

We are living on a farm not because we have to, but because we want to. We both enjoy the freedom the farm gives us, and it also makes my wife happy to be close to her family. Happiness is not just one thing. There are several factors that need to come together. It is not only about growing what we eat. Having no stress from neighbors is another important factor as well. We also have something to get up for every morning, with daily routines and responsibilities we cannot skip. On top of that, having my own fully equipped gym right there helps me stay in shape and gives me no excuses.

But back to the topic: living on 15,000 baht a month in Pattaya is possible. The real question is whether you can be happy doing it. That takes some carrots along the way, and a good amount of savings for security. Nobody should spend everything they have every month, even if the same amount is coming in again next month. You need to be able to save something at the end of each month and put it in the bank for future disasters and future carrots.

Everybody has their own idea of what is a comfortable life. To me, that means living without financial concerns. I know I will die solvent. Genetics are saying I will probably die in full possession of my mental faculties, although I am not taking that attribute for granted.

One does not need a fully equipped gym to stay fit. All I need is a couple of YouTube videos and the condo swimming pool. My BP is normal. My BMI is normal. My resting heart rate is 59 bpm, which is elite for my age.

I am a creature of routines. However, they do not include gardening or farming, which I regard as a torment from one of Dante's circles of hell.

56 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Everybody has their own idea of what is a comfortable life. To me, that means living without financial concerns. I know I will die solvent. Genetics are saying I will probably die in full possession of my mental faculties, although I am not taking that attribute for granted.

One does not need a fully equipped gym to stay fit. All I need is a couple of YouTube videos and the condo swimming pool. My BP is normal. My BMI is normal. My resting heart rate is 59 bpm, which is elite for my age.

I am a creature of routines. However, they do not include gardening or farming, which I regard as a torment from one of Dante's circles of hell.

You can play mini golf right? Do not need 9 or 18 hole course ? And be happy with that as a full experience of golf?

As you say, we do have our own ideas, and thats good, and we accept each other’s differences. At least most of them.

1 minute ago, Hummin said:

I mean you can play mini golf right? Do not need 9 or 18 hole course ? And be happy with that as a full experience of golf?

I don't play mini-golf.

If the fact I can maintain fitness without needing a full-scale gym gets up your nose, so be it.

I am a minimalist. That means I only buy what is functional, and what I need, as distinct from want.

I think you must be oblivious to medical costs. Before you prattle on about medical insurance, it is almost impossible to even find a company that will insure me at 82, and even if I could it would be more than 15 000 THB. A lot more.

5 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I don't play mini-golf.

If the fact I can maintain fitness without needing a full-scale gym gets up your nose, so be it.

I am a minimalist. That means I only buy what is functional, and what I need, as distinct from want.

If you cant se the joke, why bother. I live on a farm, no swimingpool, no gym in miles distance, and for me to thrive there, it is one the things a create for myself.

Being minimalistic is to live on a farm, plant trees, vegetables, fruit, have solar, and see the birds coming back to a land that once was exploited.

I do not know who got one or the other up in the nose, but I didnt mean to piss you off, and as said we are all different. For me to have a full equipped gym, is the same as you want a full sized golf course to play on. Or ?

20 minutes ago, Hummin said:

You can play mini golf right? Do not need 9 or 18 hole course ? And be happy with that as a full experience of golf?

As you say, we do have our own ideas, and thats good, and we accept each other’s differences. At least most of them.

I don't think anyone is criticising anyone's differences. More simply highlighting your perception of punishment doesn't necessarily correlate with others. Which is what I try to explain to you in the first instance.

@Lacessit doesn't need to spend money on the gym and perhaps other things you take for granted as necessary. Perhaps also in the case of the OP.

So when you write about carrots and needing to go out, you are really speaking from your own personal perspective.

You appear to believe that you need those things in order to thrive.

14 minutes ago, Hummin said:

For me to have a full equipped gym, is the same as you want a full sized golf course to play on. Or ?

Perhaps this is why you get up people noses (without realising?) You just repeat the same thing.

He perhaps does not need toys 'to play on'. I think you don't understand 'minimalistic' 😊

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

My resting heart rate is 59 bpm, which is elite for my age.

Just so you know, I measured my heart rate, and it's 55 beats per minute.

44 minutes ago, Hummin said:

If you cant se the joke, why bother. I live on a farm, no swimingpool, no gym in miles distance, and for me to thrive there, it is one the things a create for myself.

Being minimalistic is to live on a farm, plant trees, vegetables, fruit, have solar, and see the birds coming back to a land that once was exploited.

I do not know who got one or the other up in the nose, but I didnt mean to piss you off, and as said we are all different. For me to have a full equipped gym, is the same as you want a full sized golf course to play on. Or ?

Please provide your resting heart rate.

1 minute ago, Effective altruism said:

Please provide your resting heart rate.

When I lay down an relax 57 - 60 is normal, but when I do breathholds it goes down under 40, when I was actually training freediving, I got down on the low 30íes.

So didnt know it was a competition. However when the nurses on Bangkok hospital takes my blood pressure I have to ask them to leave the room

2 hours ago, Hummin said:

When I lay down an relax 57 - 60 is normal, but when I do breathholds it goes down under 40, when I was actually training freediving, I got down on the low 30íes.

So didnt know it was a competition. However when the nurses on Bangkok hospital takes my blood pressure I have to ask them to leave the room

It's not. I was making the point I could achieve good physcal fitness without needing a fully-equipped gym.

Heart rate is one of the best predictors of longevity. The sweet spot is 50-65 bpm.

Why do you need nurses to leave the room? White coat syndrome?

2 hours ago, Effective altruism said:

Just so you know, I measured my heart rate, and it's 55 beats per minute.

Can you break your age at golf?

On 4/1/2026 at 12:18 AM, georgegeorgia said:

Once I buy my condo in Pattaya I can easily survive on 15,000 baht a month

Please tell me why if your older than say pension age 67 , why you can't survive on the ( Australian,) pension income of 45,000 a month about $2000 AUD

I'm talking about owning your condo though whether that be a 21cm room in the flybird or a lavish condo overlooking the beach, yes it maybe harder for those paying rent

I know you are on a tight budget but surely a 21 centimetre room is a bit too small for comfort?

Budget? what's that?

3 hours ago, ezzra said:

Budget? what's that?

It's that thing we all have. It starts with the amount of income you have at your disposal.

You can anywhere in the world. But stay away from sex trade cos they will drain you.........i mean drain your money 55555

..

It all depends on your lifestyle but I'm putting my lifestyle including owning m y condo not renting one , so no rent

If say I owned a one bedroom condo at Jomtien beach , I don't need bars ,golf , girls, alcohol,

I prefer to listening to my ABC Radio , YouTube etc and maybe sitting in cafes occasionally

I Would walk every morning miles and buy my food at the markets I prefer to do my own cooking but ..yes but .that may not be cheaper than buying already prepared.

Now I would probably buy into a condo with a decent gym .

as gyms and I think there is only one in Jomtien beach , are expensive more than western gym prices

I could easily live on 15k a month

The gym would be my biggest expense

Do you really need to sit in bars everyday drinking that poison ?

11 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

It all depends on your lifestyle but I'm putting my lifestyle including owning m y condo not renting one , so no rent

If say I owned a one bedroom condo at Jomtien beach , I don't need bars ,golf , girls, alcohol,

I prefer to listening to my ABC Radio , YouTube etc and maybe sitting in cafes occasionally

I Would walk every morning miles and buy my food at the markets I prefer to do my own cooking but ..yes but .that may not be cheaper than buying already prepared.

Now I would probably buy into a condo with a decent gym .

as gyms and I think there is only one in Jomtien beach , are expensive more than western gym prices

I could easily live on 15k a month

The gym would be my biggest expense

Do you really need to sit in bars everyday drinking that poison ?

Seems there is getting more and more elderly men at the beach roads in Jomtien and Pattaya, who just sits there and socialising, so there is options to bars.

Bring a chess board and invite people for a game or two. Would be much better than sitting alone in your appartement in the evenings.

As you say, the sky is the limit when it comes to easy living.

7 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

It all depends on your lifestyle but I'm putting my lifestyle including owning m y condo not renting one , so no rent

If say I owned a one bedroom condo at Jomtien beach , I don't need bars ,golf , girls, alcohol,

I prefer to listening to my ABC Radio , YouTube etc and maybe sitting in cafes occasionally

I Would walk every morning miles and buy my food at the markets I prefer to do my own cooking but ..yes but .that may not be cheaper than buying already prepared.

Now I would probably buy into a condo with a decent gym .

as gyms and I think there is only one in Jomtien beach , are expensive more than western gym prices

I could easily live on 15k a month

The gym would be my biggest expense

Do you really need to sit in bars everyday drinking that poison ?

Most expats in Pattaya are not sitting in bars all day. Most expats living in greater Pattaya are not even located in the bar areas and, of course, are not as visible as the minority who are spending their time there.

Your plan sounds good to me. The great thing about Pattaya condos is most of them come with far more amenities than the condos I lived at in the US. The last condo we owned in Pattaya was fairly typical, I think. There was a very nice pool to enjoy. Plus a fully-equipped air-conditioned gym. Plus both a pool/snooker table and also a ping pong table. And, a library.

Plenty to do, free, without evening leaving the project. When we did leave, we were walking distance to two malls, restaurants, 7-11, a grocery store, and a hospital, not to mention the beach to walk.

Health Insurance that is valid in Thailand, especially if high 60s or past 70 in age is rare or impossible to get from a Thailand company. USA medicare is not usable in Thailand. I do not know what other countries have for overseas insurance. Medical insurance can be a big part of that 15,000 baht each month. I was just in Thailand for 88 days. Even places that have decent prices and quality (such as KISS restaurant for example) , eating say.. two meals a day there, fried rice with chicken or pork and with a basic drink is going to run you >400 baht. Do that 30 days a month and you are at 12,000 baht. Pattaya can still be done relatively cheaply, but prices add up. Phone, internet, ... Not even counting going out, having some western meals, a girl/boy friend etc..

20 hours ago, Hummin said:

Seems there is getting more and more elderly men at the beach roads in Jomtien and Pattaya, who just sits there and socialising, so there is options to bars.

Bring a chess board and invite people for a game or two. Would be much better than sitting alone in your appartement in the evenings.

As you say, the sky is the limit when it comes to easy living.

20 hours ago, Hummin said:

Seems there is getting more and more elderly men at the beach roads in Jomtien and Pattaya, who just sits there and socialising, so there is options to bars.

Bring a chess board and invite people for a game or two. Would be much better than sitting alone in your appartement in the evenings.

As you say, the sky is the limit when it comes to easy living.

20 hours ago, Hummin said:

Seems there is getting more and more elderly men at the beach roads in Jomtien and Pattaya, who just sits there and socialising, so there is options to bars.

Bring a chess board and invite people for a game or two. Would be much better than sitting alone in your appartement in the evenings.

As you say, the sky is the limit when it comes to easy living.

I enjoy playing card games. Not for money. Never did that growing up and still don;t. cribbage is fun. Any of the various rummy games. Canasta is a hoot. Bridge for the more serious people. High Low Jack a popular game in the Northeast USA (Rhode Island) None of these have to involve gambling for money. Can one even bring or posses a deck of playing cards in Thailand. How about some board games? Risk was always fun. Monopoly an old standby. Can a person have dice?

4 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

Health Insurance that is valid in Thailand, especially if high 60s or past 70 in age is rare or impossible to get from a Thailand company. USA medicare is not usable in Thailand. I do not know what other countries have for overseas insurance. Medical insurance can be a big part of that 15,000 baht each month. I was just in Thailand for 88 days. Even places that have decent prices and quality (such as KISS restaurant for example) , eating say.. two meals a day there, fried rice with chicken or pork and with a basic drink is going to run you >400 baht. Do that 30 days a month and you are at 12,000 baht. Pattaya can still be done relatively cheaply, but prices add up. Phone, internet, ... Not even counting going out, having some western meals, a girl/boy friend etc..

Whoa there, you've made some interest calculations there 😊. Fried rice with chicken/pork at KISS is 80 baht. Did your 'basic drink' cost 120 baht?

I'm thinking that 15k is just for day to day expenses, rather than total living costs. I walk past KISS near Soi Diana every now and again. Looking at their clientele stops me from even considering taking a seat there.

Apart from that, it's for tourists, with commensurate prices. Local people don't eat there. It's mainly foreigners and their friends. Local restaurants charge half that price.

If that is what anyone's retirement looks like, give up now.

Learn to cook and to provide for yourself in retirement.

Just choosing to live in that area...why would you? Do you need to be surrounded by hundreds of 'massage' shops and vendors, questionable tourists with their rentals, together with 'normal' tourists of all shapes and sizes?

Many don't even leave that area, so have a completely closeted view of Pattaya.

I think I ate at KISS perhaps twenty years ago, on a visit.

Some good points here regarding eating out if you don't want to cook etc.

I have worked out in the budget I'm going to get sick of eating out 60 baht rice & pork Thai meals everyday

I have to include western food in my budget at least twice a week

Now as I said most of the food in the supermarket in Pattaya are the same prices as aldi in Australia, do your homework please !!!