1 hour ago, NorthernRyland said:

that's not his point it's nominal inflation and it's the exact same thing I see too. Food going up to 30-40% over 5 years is very dramatic in any country so the real question is how are the bulk of Thai people affording this? Wages have most certainly not increased that same amount since then.

for a family of 4 getting fried rice and and a drink is going to be 300 baht which for many families could be 25% of the months electric bill. It's not a big number but relative to income this is quite expensive.

I explain to my kid here in Thailand that when I was working my blue collar job in the US I always brought my lunch from home. We only ate out occasionally. If a guy here is making 500 baht a day then he really shouldn't spend 50 baht for lunch or dinner.

I understand many will ridicule me for my belief but that's how I was raised. I don't think even one time in my youth did my father ever bring home take out.

4 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

If you can't afford that, it must be a very sad life.

Nobody said I can't afford that Frits, it was an example of inflation. Very sad that your IQ level didn't allow comprehending that.

2 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

Price for land in my area has increased by a modest 50% since 2016 - 2017. In Isaan 2008 I was looking for a bit of land near ole lady's village, 1 rai was 250K baht on the main road. Today 1 rai will sell for over 1 million baht.

The prices of land are absolutely insane in and around Chiang Mai. Unless you buy 50 sq wah on the extreme outskirts it's totally hopeless for the average person. As a result the only people who can afford land are property developers who are going to pack them tight with a housing project on tiny plots where the roofs are nearly touching.

2 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

If a guy here is making 500 baht a day then he really shouldn't spend 50 baht for lunch or dinner.

I understand many will ridicule me for my belief but that's how I was raised. I don't think even one time in my youth did my father ever bring home take out.

that's how I am too and my family. Going out to eat was a special treat we'd do maybe once a week. I think most Thai people get this too but it was certainly easier in the past and even so Thai people eat way more than I did growing up.

8 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I love being able to harmlessly flirt with women here. They seem to really get a kick out of the attention. Western women are so tired, predictable, deathly afraid of their own femininity, and just boring.

Thrilled to not have to deal with their nonsense.

I bet they are pleased not having to deal with an arrogant predictable misogynist.

On 7/14/2026 at 11:48 AM, Felt 35 said:

What Getting Old in Thailand Actually Looks Like - Jon Canton

Well written without generalizing about how life can change for many as you get older in Thailand IMO.

Felt

An honest and accurate must listen for those who are seduced by the glitter of Thailand and think reality does not apply to them.

15 hours ago, Lacessit said:

IMO property prices and rents have not changed in 15 years here. Restaurant prices have gone up by about 20%, day market fruit and vegetables are not visibly changed.

Everything in Australia just keeps going up, although house prices have cooled off. A pensioner there who does not own the roof over their head is screwed.

That is so blatantly untrue. 10 years ago I was paying 15 baht a kilo for watermelon, 30 baht a kilo for longan, 25 baht a kilo for rambutan and the list goes on and on and on. Eggs are higher, meat is higher, labor costs are higher, airfares are higher, movie tickets are higher, everything is higher, except perhaps rent, as the property market has remained sluggish.

If you are denying the existence of inflation here it is likely due to your wealth or a very substantial monthly income which prevents you from seeing the increases.

Granted inflation here is less than a place like America where inflation is completely out of control, despite all the BS and disingenuous denials coming from a very corrupt government.

10 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Southern California. Admittedly it is crazy expensive now. Also, very unfriendly, when it comes to strangers. And joyless.

And immediate thumbs down from someone who is obviously completely oblivious and has likely not been to Southern California in a decade or two, if ever. There is not a single person I know who lives in Southern California that would deny anything that I just said, so why don't you put your mouth behind your thumbs down @BritManToo

Edited July 16Jul 16 by spidermike007

3 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

I don't really pay attention to food prices to have an opinion, I just pay.

Whoa, that some scary sh!t right there ... I'm agreeing with you 🤣

Now land prices, yea, that's something I notice and care about. Since investing and a basis of our finances and smile factor. Contracted contruction cost has remained about the same, <฿10k m², 2000 to 2020, probably about ฿12k m² now. Our personal experience and actually cost.

Rural land prices for us, have been ...

... 50k / rai 2000, Udon Thani, sold 2007 for 600k

... 120k / rai, 2010, UT again, sold 2023/24 for 500k

... 76k / 0.25 rai, 2015 PKK

... 250k , same size, same soi 2022

... 350k, same size, same soi, 2024/25 worth 500k now

3 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

I explain to my kid here in Thailand that when I was working my blue collar job in the US I always brought my lunch from home. We only ate out occasionally. If a guy here is making 500 baht a day then he really shouldn't spend 50 baht for lunch or dinner.

I understand many will ridicule me for my belief but that's how I was raised. I don't think even one time in my youth did my father ever bring home take out.

You should have worked in the tech sector, free food from the in-house chef, free vending machines, breakfasts provided from a nearby cafe, management taking us to posh hotels for breakfast.

26 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

I bet they are pleased not having to deal with an arrogant predictable misogynist.

Only a SIMP would make such a statement About Western women. It's very likely that you're living there and just simply trying to make an excuse for your state of affairs.

Every single person that I know in America disagrees with you so perhaps you're lacking in actual facts? Or this is just some sort of political agenda.

3 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

And immediate thumbs down from someone who is obviously completely oblivious and has likely not been to Southern California in a decade or two, if ever. There is not a single person I know who lives in Southern California that would deny anything that I just said, so why don't you put your mouth behind your thumbs down @BritManToo

You started it!

Just now, BritManToo said:

You started it!

Maybe I did. But you're not finishing it, and you refuse to cite details as to why I said something that you think is incorrect or inaccurate.

On 7/15/2026 at 7:32 AM, KhunLA said:

Article is BS, and gets a bit selective with some numbers.

The Youtube channel linked ... that guy who runs the channel ... his entire channel is bashing everything about Thailand. Every imaginable aspect of Thailand you can think of .... he must have had a bad experience in Thailand and now spends his waking life trying to make Thailand look bad and convince all expats to leave.

On 7/15/2026 at 8:18 AM, SiSePuede419 said:

Jon, now do one about how depressing it is growing old in Blackpool instead of Chiang Mai. ✅

Seriously, you know how easy it is for British blokes to make a million quid here in Thailand?

It's easy! Just bring 4 million quid when you arrive and leave while you still have a million left. 🤑

I went to Blackpool in the winter a few years ago. I found it quite nice to be honest! Fresh food in Sainsbury's at a similar price to Bangkok, healthy walks along the promenade, people very friendly, nice gym near to the supermarket, good rail links, excellent doctor service. I think pessimists moan about whatever their location is.....

4 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

The Youtube channel linked ... that guy who runs the channel ... his entire channel is bashing everything about Thailand. Every imaginable aspect of Thailand you can think of .... he must have had a bad experience in Thailand and now spends his waking life trying to make Thailand look bad and convince all expats to leave.

So the same life ambitions of 90% of AN posters, concerning everything & anything about TH & USA. Whether living in or ever been to either country.

Some folks just got enjoying life and speading the love down to a science

Edited July 16Jul 16 by KhunLA

On 7/15/2026 at 8:41 AM, Gecko123 said:

The affordability crisis back home, potential threats to the solvency of safety net programs in the West, and the political climate have significantly complicated the calculation about the advisability of repatriating back to the US. If I had to decide today, I'd say my plan B is to repatriate at age 75. Access to Medicare is a major driver behind my leaning in this direction.

The other option is moving to a cheaper country than back home that offers residency and gives access to healthcare.

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

So the same life ambitions of 90% of AN posters, concerning everything & anything about TH & USA. Whether living in or ever been to either country.

Some folks just got enjoying life and speading the love down to a science

To be fair, that guy has a valid point.

Thailand would be a more ideal retirement destination with residency and access to healthcare.

Just saying, he is a doom and gloom guy who is trying to convince everyone to leave.

Anyway, I just met an 84 year old guy. Next time I see him I will ask him how he is doing with his healthcare issues ..

Edited July 16Jul 16 by save the frogs

11 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

To be fair, that guy has a valid point.

Thailand would be a more ideal retirement destination with residency and access to healthcare.

Just saying, he is a doom and gloom guy who is trying to convince everyone to leave.

Anyway, I just met an 84 year old guy. Next time I see him I will ask him how he is doing with his healthcare issues ..

Thailand healthcare is very good and it's reasonable enough to self-insure, and take care of everything out of pocket. If something really major happens then such is life, I've had a good run and I'm ready for the Reaper.

For me reasonably priced healthcare insurance is not a consideration, but rather access to very good healthcare, which I have here.

Edited July 16Jul 16 by spidermike007

59 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

I bet they are pleased not having to deal with an arrogant predictable misogynist.

I'm definitely not a misogynist however I do prefer younger women and I prefer attractive and pleasant women. In America if you're content to get with an old woman your age, who's is difficult, and not much to look at, then relationships are not a problem.

Edited July 16Jul 16 by spidermike007

All of the main input costs for agricultural production in Thailand have increased exponentially in the past 20 years.

Back in the early 2000's diesel fuel was capped through government subsidies. Since 2004 these blanket subsidies were lifted because they became too expensive for the government. Back in the early 2000's, if memory serves me well a liter of diesel was about 15 or 17 baht. Before the Iran war it was about 28 to 30 baht. Today, you're paying in the neighborhood of 36 to 39 baht/liter.

Twenty years ago a 50 kg sack of urea could be had for 450 baht. Now they go for 1000 to 1200 baht.

Twenty years ago the minimum wage for farm labor was probably 200 baht/day. Now, rates start more like 400+ baht per day.

With these basic agricultural production costs having demonstratively increased in cost, claims that there has been no food inflation in Thailand simply defy logic. It is doubtful that those making such ludicrous claims are so well-heeled that they have failed to notice these increases. It's more likely these claims are troll like attempts to make themselves appear to be more deeply integrated into "the real Thailand" and more 'in the know' on an anonymous forum where their wild claims can never be definitively fact checked and debunked.

Edited July 16Jul 16 by Gecko123

2 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

In America if you're content to get with an old woman your age, who's is difficult, and not much to look at, then relationships are not a problem.

Correct.

Amazingly sometimes can't blame them with hookups being easy on the internet the older ones RAISE their standards for a partner higher than the younger ones and have high expectations and are difficult to afford when you are working much less on a limited retirement income.

Retirement in America works best if you're a hermit, misfit or bedridden. 😄

38 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

You should have worked in the tech sector, free food from the in-house chef, free vending machines, breakfasts provided from a nearby cafe, management taking us to posh hotels for breakfast.

I missed out on the good life it seems.

12 hours ago, CallumWK said:

Really? A fried rice chicken was 25-30 baht at a roadside restaurant a few years ago. It is now 60 baht at the same restaurants.

If it's still the same price at your restaurant they most likely reduced the size and the chicken meat.

Eggs in the supermarkets have increase in price by 25% in the last 3 years.

But hey, you always claim here that you don't eat Thai food, so how would you know.

Not where we eat. Wife just came back from picking up some Khao Soi, and <20% increase over 6 yrs, if not almost 10 yrs. Same serving size, and this from a very comfy, AC venue.

New menu size last visit, month or so ago ... oldest menu I could see on Gmap, but same price, 50 ish, since we've been here, 2017.

Edited July 16Jul 16 by KhunLA

14 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

With these basic agricultural production costs having demonstratively increased in cost, claims that there has been no food inflation in Thailand simply defy logic. It is doubtful that those making such ludicrous claims are so well-heeled that they have failed to notice these increases. It's more likely these claims are troll like attempts to make themselves appear to be more deeply integrated into "the real Thailand" and more 'in the know' on an anonymous forum where their wild claims can never be definitively fact checked and debunked.

My income inflation has made any Thai inflation irrelevant.

My mortgage repayments are the same as they were 12 years back when I moved in, the condo I rented for 5kbht/month still rents today for 5kbht/month. My electricity is still 4bht/unit, my internet has risen from 640bht/month to 680bht/month (but only because I added HBOmax). Petrol was 34bht/l in 2010 and it's still the same price.

Health insurance the same, ZERO, as I never had any.

Meanwhile my pension has risen by 30% and the exchange rate has lost me 14% (that's still a win IMHO). And my urge to party has completely gone (due to age). I did take my wife and her pals out to lunch at Huay Tung Tao this month, 5 of us eating as much as we could, 3 large beers, 1 wine cooler ....... 1,500bht. Entrance free as I'm a pensioner, they paid their own entry.

My son's school fees now 5kbht a term because he's in the Chinese and English special class, I also pay his pals school fees of 3kbht/term as his mom is very poor. Not at all expensive though.

Thailand has to be the biggest bargain in the world for western pensioners IF you have a little self control over your lifestyle.

Lunch at HTT, 3 of the 7 or 8 dishes they ordered.

Edited July 16Jul 16 by BritManToo

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

My income inflation has made any Thai inflation irrelevant.

My mortgage repayments are the same as they were 12 years back when I moved in, the condo I rented for 5kbht/month still rents today for 5kbht/month. My electricity is still 4bht/unit, my internet has risen from 640bht/month to 680bht/month (but only because I added HBOmax). Petrol was 34bht/l in 2010 and it's still the same price.

Health insurance the same, ZERO, as I never had any.

Meanwhile my pension has risen by 30% and the exchange rate has lost me 14% (that's still a win IMHO). And my urge to party has completely gone (due to age). I did take my wife and her pals out to lunch at Huay Tung Tao this month, 5 of us eating as much as we could, 3 large beers, 1 wine cooler ....... 1,500bht. Entrance free as I'm a pensioner, they paid their own entry.

My son's school fees now 5kbht a term because he's in the Chinese and English special class, I also pay his pals school fees of 3kbht/term as his mom is very poor. Not at all expensive though.

Thailand has to be the biggest bargain in the world for western pensioners IF you have a little self control over your lifestyle.

Lunch at HTT, 3 of the 7 or 8 dishes they ordered.

Your foreign income is not the issue. Nor is how much of an impact inflation has had on your lifestyle. Nor is the issue whether Thailand is still a bargain for Western pensioners. The issue is whether there has been inflation in Thailand, something which you have gone out of your way over the years to deny has occurred. I question whether you sincerely believe this, or if you are doing this because it gives you a sense of self-satisfaction and a sense of superiority when other forum members predictably express bafflement over your claims.

Edited July 16Jul 16 by Gecko123

1 minute ago, Gecko123 said:

Your foreign income is not the issue. Nor is how much of an impact inflation has had on your lifestyle. Nor is the issue whether Thailand is still a bargain for Western pensioners. The issue is whether there has been inflation in Thailand, something which you have gone out of your way over the years to deny has occurred. I question whether you sincerely believe this, or if you are doing this because it gives you a sense of self-satisfaction and a sense of superiority when other forum members predictably express bafflement over your claims.

GeographicReference

Pork is more expensive, cheese is cheaper.

Milk is more expensive, chips are cheaper.

Beer is more, cannabis is less.

Toilet rolls are more, Snickers bars are less.

KFC is 30% more, tea bags are 50% less.

Some stuff goes up, other stuff goes down

Overall, for me, no noticeable overall increase.

27 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

My income inflation has made any Thai inflation irrelevant.

My mortgage repayments are the same as they were 12 years back when I moved in, the condo I rented for 5kbht/month still rents today for 5kbht/month. My electricity is still 4bht/unit, my internet has risen from 640bht/month to 680bht/month (but only because I added HBOmax). Petrol was 34bht/l in 2010 and it's still the same price.

Health insurance the same, ZERO, as I never had any.

Meanwhile my pension has risen by 30% and the exchange rate has lost me 14% (that's still a win IMHO). And my urge to party has completely gone (due to age). I did take my wife and her pals out to lunch at Huay Tung Tao this month, 5 of us eating as much as we could, 3 large beers, 1 wine cooler ....... 1,500bht. Entrance free as I'm a pensioner, they paid their own entry.

My son's school fees now 5kbht a term because he's in the Chinese and English special class, I also pay his pals school fees of 3kbht/term as his mom is very poor. Not at all expensive though.

Thailand has to be the biggest bargain in the world for western pensioners IF you have a little self control over your lifestyle.

Yep ... TH or USA, world inflation is totally irrelevant. My income has increasd with 76.6% COLA since retirement 2000, along with 100%+ ROIs (RE) which has made monthly expenses, about the same as when I arrive, if like for like expenses & lifestyle considered.

We're O&A more, so that actually is the added increase in yearly living expense, averaged over the months. In 2000 I lived easily, very basic, comfy lifestyle on ~15k THB a month. That same basic monthly expense now, would be ~15k THB a month, wouthout the extras we now enjoy. Medical cost due to age, maintanence of this life form, has raised that a bit, but has nothing to do with TH or inflation. All one off expenditures, and out of pocket money expenditures. Oops & retirement funds, still full up.

No mortages/rent, and every house/location move has been in part or wholly paid by sale of previous house. Basically rent free for 25+ yrs.

Utilities, electric, water lowered due to solar & rain collection, with ROI almost completely realizes. Petrol eliminated with BEVs. Use of PEA/PWA, is voluntary and unecessay, but convenient at times, obviously. Usually just mismanagement when at home, and O&A is voluntary.

Have more pocket money & savings than I ever had, since retiring. That's with putting the kid through private school & Uni (out of province), and return on that is immessureable, as now she's earning 97k+ a month, with normal work hrs / 2 days off. She even has RE investments, and all of 27 years old.

Little Bi-atch brings in more than me a month.

Without the wife & RE investing, monthly cost would probably take most of, my SS income. But oops/medical funds would still be the same, and financially, not much would be different. I don't think. As when playing single parent living in 1st house, before meeting wife, not much changed over those 5-6 yrs.

I could possibly have simply stayed there (no thanks), and since paid for, next 20 yrs would have also been rent free. That was a very comfy house, and not much has really changed in the village. Couple new neighbors, (according to Gmap) but that's about it.

Can't really say it was a well planned retirement, considering Thai wife #1, (total ignorant noob), and raising village orphan, didn't see that one coming when I thought about retiring. But honestly wouldn't change a thing.

Don't know how so many, have so many problems, and so few smiles, in retirement. And if I would have continued to work & invest for 20 more years ... Holy Buddha.

Never considered myself well off, or extremely intelligent, along with ... making every kind of working, inversting and relationship screw up one could think of, and still, manage to smile in retirement. Go figure.

I think there's big danger is retiring to somewhere and saying this it.

I've lived abroad from the UK for 30 years. I haven't moved around that much, but I would never just plumb for somewhere and try to make it work....I'd move.

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

To be fair, that guy has a valid point.

Thailand would be a more ideal retirement destination with residency and access to healthcare.

Just saying, he is a doom and gloom guy who is trying to convince everyone to leave.

Anyway, I just met an 84 year old guy. Next time I see him I will ask him how he is doing with his healthcare issues ..

I didn't pay into the tax base, so why should I be entitled to tax funded medical care. And if retiring after 60, my tax contributions would be way less.

Rough estimate, if 7% taken for my 400k & 800k a year income. Say 5 yrs at 400k, and 20 yrs at 800k, is about 1.2M in VAT taxes. I've used priavte (tax subsidizes) schools, and govt hosp for some healthcare.

My total healthcare cost here have been ~627k, I think. Why should the Thai tax payer suppliment my existence, as a guest, when they barely have enough tax money for their own education & health services. That would be giving me half my taxes back already, and I'm sure I'll probably spend the same, if I live another 5 yrs.

So almost all my taxes paid would come right back to me ... hmm, I like it, but far from fair for the Thai tax payer.

I definitely don't like USA tax payers supplementing the illegal immigrants working short time in the USA, as if they lived their since birth, so why would I expect Thais to support me. Not illegal, but time spent in country about the same.

And folks coming here at 60 or 65 yrs old, not paying anything yet, and want their living to be subsidized by a 3rd world country ... that's silly.

But I pay taxes ... yea, you also use the services, roads, utilities, that you didn't pay anything for, or you ancestors before arriving. Think you deserve a free ride from day one.

I accept the system they have before I arrived, and knew it. Why would they or I expect to change. Maybe if I cry hard enough they'll support or supplement my existence.

More likely, tell me to FO back to where I came from. I would.

This is the retirement situation, if you don't like it, simple ...

... stay away.

Edited July 16Jul 16 by KhunLA