Just arrived back in Chiang Mai from Australia yesterday after spending 2 months away there and in Bali. I have noticed that in 2 months the ozzie dollar has dropped about 30% against the thai baht and combined with price rises here of about 20% across the board, this place is certainly getting substantially more expensive. I dread to think what relative prices must be like in coastal areas such as phuket. Its starting to get up to Australian price levels in some areas. I suppose other members from Europe and Canada have also seen a marked rise in their relative cost of living here.

For several reasons I am going to spend the majority of my time in Bali/Indonesia in the next 12 months. The Indonesian rupiah has fallen with the Australian dollar at about the same rate, therefore making little impression on living costs. Bali is appealing more and more to me as relatively cheap beachside location, for the time being at any rate.

I think days of seeing the Australian dollar buying about 28-34 baht is over and we`ll never see it again......I will pray everyday we will though

Yeah well, shit happens. Welcome back

Don't let the cheaper costs in Bali fool you , as soon as the local vendors twig on to the sudden influx of multiple tourists , they will up the anti also , starting to happen here in Cambodia , stupid , greedy people .They do not realise this affects the locals also , which is them , the vendors , do they realy believe we have to stay and put up with their shenanakings ? They came , they saw , they got ripped off , they left , as many are finding out , it is getting as cheap to live in your home country without a visa .

I Have been in phuket 2 years now, and I can see the prices rising a little bit, though I am in a much smaller community, nothing of the likes of Patong say, which is through the roof. Just checked the aussie dollar, its at 22.2 baht, scary, and the canadian at 27.3 yikes.

Was looking at the prices of some of the ocean view properties in Phuket and was surprised how really expensive they are, certainly compared to Chiang Mai. Was thinking of another property down there, but I think I can get a cheaper place in SE Queensland Australia that is actually clean, properly built and maintained, and a first world country. Prices are market driven, so this isn't a whinge, just that it has made me decide to buy back home. Thinking towards the latter part of next year willl see optimum buyers prices.

Was looking at the prices of some of the ocean view properties in Phuket and was surprised how really expensive they are, certainly compared to Chiang Mai...

I think ocean view properties in Chiang Mai are pretty dämned expensive!

Was looking at the prices of some of the ocean view properties in Phuket and was surprised how really expensive they are, certainly compared to Chiang Mai...

I think ocean view properties in Chiang Mai are pretty dämned expensive!

And very, very tall.