It is one of those questions that usually depends on who is answering and how recently they checked their bank account balance, or how bravely they ignored its steady decline.

A lot of men will say relationships improve your financial life. Less nights out, less aimless spending, less chasing birds, shared expenses, the supposed economies of scale, and in some cases a partner who brings in a second income and helps build something stable together.

But then you look at the reality some lads end up in, especially here in Thailand, and the picture changes quite a bit, usually right after the first “small favour” turns into something slightly less small.

What starts as a fairly normal relationship can slowly evolve into a rolling list of financial requests that were never quite part of the original plan. A new phone here, some money to help family there, a bit of land up country that “would be a very good investment for the future,” a "brother" who had a motorbike wreck and needs money for repairs and medical expenses, or a house project that somehow keeps expanding like it has been designed by a committee with no budget constraint and way too much optimism.

Before long, the idea of saving money by being in a relationship starts to feel a bit theoretical and theatrical, like one of those economic plans that only works if nobody actually spends anything at all.

If children come along, the numbers shift again completely, especially once international school fees in Thailand enter the equation, where monthly costs can quietly drift into territory that makes you wonder if the child is being educated or privately sponsored by a hedge fund.

Meanwhile the single guys are just getting on with life at their own pace. No surprise building projects. No emergency transfers for extended family logistics. No sudden discussions about upgrading household electronics that still work perfectly fine, but apparently now have emotional issues.

Just a steady level of freedom, and a bank account that is not constantly being asked to participate in community development plans, merit making donations to the village temple, or yet another upcountry road trip to bring more gifts for the family .

Of course, plenty of men are happy to take all of that on and would not have it any other way. And fair play to them, genuinely, someone has to keep the economy of many of the rural villages moving.

But it does make you wonder, purely from a financial point of view, whether the single bloke quietly living on his own is actually running a far more predictable and efficient operation, or just hasn’t been properly briefed yet.

To each his own, but it has been an interesting one to observe. Most chaps I know with a steady partner seem to have less cash to play with than the single lads, even if they would argue they are getting better value for money elsewhere.

Yes, and many of the single blokes also end up getting much more gratuitous flange.

Edited May 22May 22 by Gary The Git

These types of windups are great. Always so efficient at drawing out all those dudes who haven't been laid in years that love to bang on about how wonderful and beautiful their missus is in order to try and make themselves feel better about the fact the only time they get to see some minge these days is when the wifey buggers off with hubby's credit card for the afternoon and then they can finally bounce from AN back to Pornhub for a quick whiff. Lol. 😂 

Edited May 22May 22 by BilllyGOAT

For me, it doesn't matter, as been in relationships, and single, and budget usually stays about the same, I think.

I don't chase women, though do meet them, so may be a difference in my being single style. Wining & dining a gal, when single or not, isn't much different.

Single, W&D a few times a month vs food monthly, and W&D possibly less in a relationship, sort of balances out.

All other bills, finances will remain the same, whether in or out of a relationship. Present wife has been a financial gain for me / us. A bit different than previous 5 LTR.

Even if the household bills are paid women still need to be entertained. I've been searching for one who will quietly troll this board along with me, but to no avail. Even the homeless chick I cleaned up suddenly wanted to go out and be seen in places like Starbucks and some restaurant at the Hilton. Looking back it was classic manic behaviour. Fun while it lasted now I'm happily off that train and flying solo again.

16 minutes ago, flaming dragon said:

Even the homeless chick I cleaned up suddenly wanted to go out and be seen in places like Starbucks and some restaurant at the Hilton.

I'm really surprised to hear that. Homeless chicks normally turn out to be the best girlfriends. 👯‍♀️ 🥳

Can only go from my personal circumstances but I would say if I didn't have my Thai GF in tow (We've been together 7 years & she's ever asked me for anything) then I would guess my monthly expediture (of approx 120-150K pm) would be at least 30% less.

1. I wouldn't need a 2 bathroom condo, we did 18 months in a 2BR 1 bth condo in Bangkok & I doubt Queen Elizabeth II spent as much time on the throne as she did!

2. We eat completley different foods, I'm (midly) allergic to seafood/fish (makes me itch) & I hate Chicken... But that's more or less the only thing she eats so groceries are more than double from what I would pay for myself.

3. Utilities: I never use AC but she's most happy when it's blasting all night & she's hiding under the covers... April I was in UK for 4 weeks (+ 1st 2.5 weeks in May) & April's electric bill was 20% higher than when I'm there just because I wasn't there to turn the AC off at bedtime, can guarantee May's bill will be less even if I am only back for 10 days this month.

Would I change things to make it cheaper? Nah, we're happy & that's all that matters to me.

Edited May 22May 22 by SamSpade

Two can live cheaper than one , which is why immigration only requires

400 K Bhat for marriage visa , while it's 800 K for retirement extension,

Thai logic at its best.

regards worgeordie

Yet another one-sided thread started by an accidental INCEL who was never able to find the right woman, doesn't have means to support one anyway, and is desperately trying to convince himself that he's better off renting prostitutes than having a real, loving relationship.

Sure, quite a few men get taken advantage of by gold diggers, but there are many exceptions. And the unique feature of Thai life is that there's an excess of very attractive, loving women who want to spoil their partner, and a chronic shortage of reliable men.

So if you have the means to support a partner, and looks that don't make Soi dogs run in terror, then there's a good chance you can find the real deal ....

.... an attractive woman who will care for you, cater to all your needs and add value to your life. Probably significantly younger than you, so by the time her looks begin to fade you're already dead.

I've had a few 'just for sex' relationships in the past, and they were not for me. Without some mutual, emotional connection it's just having a <deleted> in a pussy.

My Missus is still a 10, and her habit of doing housework in minimal clothing brightens my day. She enjoys sex with me, she supports my business, and I personally benefit from her building projects. Paying for pleasure with someone with her looks, intelligence and English language skills would not be cheap, so supporting the odd tamboon or other 'couple costs' is no big deal.

I agree that PFP is better than being in a bad relationship, but being in a loving relationship beats all the options.

1 hour ago, worgeordie said:

Two can live cheaper than one , which is why immigration only requires

400 K Bhat for marriage visa , while it's 800 K for retirement extension,

Thai logic at its best.

regards worgeordie

Actually, there is some logic behind it. Statistically, men on retirement visas in Thailand are generally older than men on marriage visas. They are also more likely to be living alone and not married to a Thai national.

Because of age alone, they are more likely over time to develop health problems and require hospitalization, while potentially having no immediate Thai family support if something goes wrong.

Retirement visa holders are also expected to be fully financially self sufficient because they are not allowed to work in Thailand. The higher financial requirement is likely intended to ensure retirees have enough savings to support themselves long term without becoming a burden on the system.

By comparison, someone on a marriage or family visa is assumed to have stronger ties and a built in support network through their Thai spouse or family. They can also legally work in Thailand and obtain a work permit, meaning they may still have an ongoing source of local income. That likely explains why the financial requirement is lower at 400,000 baht.

4 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

Even the homeless chick I cleaned up suddenly wanted to go out and be seen in places like Starbucks and some restaurant at the Hilton. Looking back it was classic manic behaviour. Fun while it lasted now I'm happily off that train and flying solo again.

I'm sort of hoping that you are joking about this...but I have a strange feeling that you are not 😊

Single men in Europe can be better off if the wife earns more as it happens more and more often now...🤑....but in Thailand? Small chances to be with a hi-so billionnaires daughter...so I may consider the answer to be Yes. Yes that single men are better of financially in Thailand then those who have to maintain the wife/gf, her jobless borther, the retires parents, the retired parents home, the retires parents medicals, food, expenses, the bike of the brother, a bike for the cousin, vet fees for the sick buffalo, and many, many more ...!!

Probably better off wherever they are.

The absolute mad bit is that most foreign blokes in Thailand, living in houses they paid for out of their own pocket, do not actually own the bloody things.

6 hours ago, Kinnock said:

My Missus is still a 10,

I'm sure her 'cousin' agrees.

12 hours ago, 123Stodg said:

each his own, but it has been an interesting one to observe

Not really. You obsess over other farangs. Go marry one as you would clearly be more happy.

2 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

I'm sure her 'cousin' agrees.

Not that anyone ever asked, but this bloke has posted countless times, across countless different topics, that his wife is a perfect ten, I’m starting to think it’s been peer reviewed, independently verified, and accepted by the scientific community as undisputed fact. Honestly, at this point, how could it not be, even if he doesn’t actually have a wife. And if you still don’t believe it, don’t worry, just ask him. He’ll tell you again within a second. 😂

9 hours ago, Kinnock said:

Yet another one-sided thread started by an accidental INCEL who was never able to find the right woman, doesn't have means to support one anyway, and is desperately trying to convince himself that he's better off renting prostitutes than having a real, loving relationship.

Sure, quite a few men get taken advantage of by gold diggers, but there are many exceptions. And the unique feature of Thai life is that there's an excess of very attractive, loving women who want to spoil their partner, and a chronic shortage of reliable men.

So if you have the means to support a partner, and looks that don't make Soi dogs run in terror, then there's a good chance you can find the real deal ....

.... an attractive woman who will care for you, cater to all your needs and add value to your life. Probably significantly younger than you, so by the time her looks begin to fade you're already dead.

I've had a few 'just for sex' relationships in the past, and they were not for me. Without some mutual, emotional connection it's just having a <deleted> in a pussy.

My Missus is still a 10, and her habit of doing housework in minimal clothing brightens my day. She enjoys sex with me, she supports my business, and I personally benefit from her building projects. Paying for pleasure with someone with her looks, intelligence and English language skills would not be cheap, so supporting the odd tamboon or other 'couple costs' is no big deal.

I agree that PFP is better than being in a bad relationship, but being in a loving relationship beats all the options.

Keep posting that on every topic. It will trigger the nongs.

12 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

Even if the household bills are paid women still need to be entertained. I've been searching for one who will quietly troll this board along with me, but to no avail. Even the homeless chick I cleaned up suddenly wanted to go out and be seen in places like Starbucks and some restaurant at the Hilton. Looking back it was classic manic behaviour. Fun while it lasted now I'm happily off that train and flying solo again.

Mine is entertained by her friends, 3 of them chatting on the patio all afternoon yesterday, they want coffee so I hand one of them 100bht, off she goes to get them drinks (I didn't want one), comes back and hands me the 40bht change.

3 ladies happy all afternoon for 60bht ........ good value IMHO.

To quote B.B. King:

If you want to have a party

Then you've gotta spend some cash.

This is a poor country. My GF is upper middle class and might see $35K in a good year. I used to see that in a good month. It would be absurd to ask for separate checks.

If I want to eat seafood with her, that means: 1) never 2) she makes it 3) we eat somewhere in the a-end of Nonthaburi to save 20% 4) I pay to go to a good place like Sri Trat Seafood.

Using the powerful new idea called arithmetic that the OP has somehow stumbled on to, I am forced to agree with him that it indeed therefore costs more for two yellow curry crab meat entrees than it does for one. Maybe double?

Yes, there is the occasional score like her bringing me a big bag of mangosteens that cost her a third of the Villa Market price from where she bought them off of a back of a truck outside of her house.

But the OP would astutely point out that I need to eat a truck load of local priced fruit to break even on a single spa visit for the two of us. Of course, if I live in Roi Et, my break even point kicks in sooner.

Net/net, most people are unsurprised to find out that it costs money to have a GF.

I hear that in Scandi countries and Germany, you only have to toss them a ham sandwich every now and again. And yet, like me, he is passing on this tantalizing deal to live here instead.

But I also get to share a life with a lovely and supportive person. If I marry her and she or her family have a health problem, then yes, I should help out, given that it's essentially a pittance to me.

As a functional adult, I can set boundaries on that and say no, like I recently did to a fund for children to stick gold leaf on Buddha statues.

If she is unhappy about that, she can go and pound sand. But I did feel like a dick on the gold leaf thing and did eventually toss her five hundred baht. Manipulation?

This is like the Passport Bros demanding trad wives who they will "lead", but aren't in any way trad guys. leaders, and have no $$$.

Again, a hilarious example of such goof ball posturing from our happy cohort leaps immediately to mind here.

8 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

My GF is upper middle class

But you are in the minority.

Most foreigners are hitched up with girls from lower socioeconomic class.

For sure, similar to taxes, as soon you are single + earn above medium you are heavily taxed (easy 1K EUR/USD a month or more). Same you can still live very cheap in Thailand as long of sticking to the single part. This are both wins. However as soon establishing a family here, it almost always changes it entirely.

However plenty of the single people that come here do not even have a 24K a year income, wether that is a active remote income or a passive retirement income. In that case i am not sure they are in reality, long-term, health and insurance etc considered, better off.

Edited May 23May 23 by Spider5511

1 minute ago, save the frogs said:

Sam

1 minute ago, save the frogs said:

But you are in the minority.

Most foreigners are hitched up with girls from lower socioeconomic class.

Same rules apply:

Make sure you comfortable with the likely money deal before taking your trousers off.

Or just bang and run.

Or get a hi so dentist girlfriend, like one popular poster here did and have them support you.

Like all of us, I hope she's happy in her "value" hut on Koh Phagnan.

Edited May 23May 23 by Prubangboy

6 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

Or get a hi so dentist girlfriend,

the dentists are blocking me on the dating apps

only the ones who need money don't block me

Yes. One things for sure, we're not building or buying houses to give 51% to our partner and her family! Mug's game.

There was a funny bit on Reddit about how Passport Bros bragging about imaginary GF's always claim she's a dentist.

Think about it, Dentists are men 95% of the time in Asia. And a woman dentist would have likely married a Thai guy fellow dentist back in college who's cheating on her by now

And yet, the number of sub par Joe Blows claiming to have dentist GF's defies all math.

Why don't they claim to be dating brain surgeons? I would.

Again, people have agency. They are not drugged, only have their hands moved around on a bank loan to buy a house.

They may in fact see some self interest in investing into a relationship. Like Britman2 and other posters here do.

If I'm with my partner for 2 years, I can see buying that little house on the river I put up of pictures of. If she put in even 20%, I would be very surprised.

We provide, they make a home and give us sex. Many here have failed to get that 300,000 year old memo.

8 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

Think about it, Dentists are men 95% of the time in Asia. And a woman dentist would have likely married a Thai guy fellow dentist back in college who's cheating on her by now

I was convinced that thailand dentists was dominated by females, and what I found

Thailand seems to have more female dentists than male dentists.

The clearest data I found says that female dentists became the majority in Thailand from the early 1990s onward. By 2010, newly registered dentists were about 69% female and 31% male. One Thai study also found that among active dentist respondents, 62.6% were female and 37.4% were male.

The Thai Dental Council’s current statistics page gives updated numbers of registered dentists and graduates up to 2026, but the public table I found does not clearly split them by male/female. It shows 652 newly registered dentists in 2026, but not gender.

So the safe answer is:

Thailand’s dental profession is female-dominated, probably around two-thirds female among newer dentists, with men around one-third. The exact current total workforce percentage is harder to confirm from public data, but the trend is clearly more female than male.

That's great info. Thanks.

If some Autistic Bogan is lucking into a free tooth cleaning, I am all for it.

He has stressed repeatedly the importance of dental hygiene in cold approaching very young women in malls.

5 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

That's great info. Thanks.

If some Autistic Bogan is lucking into a free tooth cleaning, I am all for it.

He has stressed repeatedly the importance of dental hygiene in cold approaching very young women in malls.

Small hands has some advantages 😁

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

I was convinced that thailand dentists was dominated by females, and what I found

Thailand seems to have more female dentists than male dentists.

The clearest data I found says that female dentists became the majority in Thailand from the early 1990s onward. By 2010, newly registered dentists were about 69% female and 31% male. One Thai study also found that among active dentist respondents, 62.6% were female and 37.4% were male.

The Thai Dental Council’s current statistics page gives updated numbers of registered dentists and graduates up to 2026, but the public table I found does not clearly split them by male/female. It shows 652 newly registered dentists in 2026, but not gender.

So the safe answer is:

Thailand’s dental profession is female-dominated, probably around two-thirds female among newer dentists, with men around one-third. The exact current total workforce percentage is harder to confirm from public data, but the trend is clearly more female than male.

I would have guessed 60% female. The ponytail poster guessed 95% male lol