What % Of Farang Do You Think Live Here On <40k A Month?

[vrsushi]

Just wonder what you all think. If they don't pay rent then lets say 30k.

[anonymouse]

A lot of variables here

where do they live in Thailand?

Do they have family?

Do they drink?

Do they Whore?

What age are they?

I'm a married man with two kids in Chiang Mai, so it's a no.

I'd say for a healthy single guy living in Chiang Mai if he rented an apartment in town for around 8k, bills at a couple of thousand it would still give him a 1000 baht a day to play with. So yes in this situation.

[WeeGB]

We have a great life on less than 12,500 baht a month, up here in Phetchabun. Me, the wife, four dogs, some rabbits, and some turtles. We have fresh food everyday, Sat. TV, Internet. Built our own home, so no rent. I'm a smoker, but don't drink, or chase women - I'm too old to catch them anyway . In all countries, life is what you make it.

[robblok]

I try to live on 40k a month the rest i save. Its actually quite easy to do i think. I must say i do have a wife that works too and pays a half of most things. I think i could live on 30k if i really wanted too, maybe less.

[StasD]

I live in Pattaya on 12 000 baht a month. 6300 for Niran condo (including water, electo etc), 350 for GPRS internet, the rest for food, mobile phone and 2 times massage. No beer, no whisky , no bar girls. I lost 10 kilos and feel myself excellent. now I am going to relocate to Auytthaya for massage school. I hope i will spend there the same because I have found 2 floors downtown with smallest garden for 5000 bath a month.

[SeanMoran]

Yup. Sure beats the poverty back home in Australia for the same money.

18,000 p/f wouldn't go past 40,000 p/m.

[lovelomsak]

I could live on 15,000 easy. but i usually spend around 25,000. I have to mention. I checked my electric and water bills yesterday for the year and realized I have had free electric and water all year, where else in the world do you get free from utilities. Here because i use little energy the government gives it to me free.

[lovelomsak]

Yup. Sure beats the poverty back home in Australia for the same money.

18,000 p/f wouldn't go past 40,000 p/m.

just curious what does 18,000p/f wouldnot go past40,000p/m mean?

[Phuket1]

My mortgage is already 39000 baht so lets not talk about the missus and kid who loves shopping and my bottle of beer ofcourse.

[lazygourmet]

When I was living in Koh Phangan, I used to be "Less than zero"... but that will make a long story.

Otherwise, back to Bangkok, having the house, the car & the bikes fully paid... plus several months salary in advance for the maid and our fridge & freezer always filled up, I am not even spending 100 baht/day... If I not going out, of course

[Moonrakers]

My wife daughter and I normally need about 2,500/week, plus bills, rent etc.

It really is quite easy to live comfortably on <40k and that includes going out with friends and taking holidays on the beach.

Of course though, more would always be nice.

[kurnell]

I get by on 250k a month. But I am paying off a house and employ 2 nannies to look after the 2 kids.

[SeanMoran]

Yup. Sure beats the poverty back home in Australia for the same money.

18,000 p/f wouldn't go past 40,000 p/m.

just curious what does 18,000p/f wouldnot go past40,000p/m mean?

18x26/12=39.

f=fortnight

m=month.

[simon43]

Just because you have the money does not mean that you have to waste it

I'm back earning a couple hundred thou baht a month, but me and the mrs are quite happy with our 2,500 baht/month condo

We're moving soon to rural Krabi where the rent is 8,000 baht a month for a detached house and garden. But by spending less, we save more - which we both agree is more important than frittering it all away.

To be honest, I have learnt my lesson from a few years ago when I was earning millions - and spending millions

Simon

(Frugal, but definitely not a tight-fisted, cheap-charlie)

[IanForbes]

I've posted this before on other forums.

Average Monthly expenses

Room = 4000 baht

Food = 6000 baht

Transportation = 2000 baht to 6000 baht depending on where I travel in Thailand.

Ladies = 16,000

Bar bill and incidentals = 15,000

Total of about 56,000 baht

I could cut out some of the ladies and most of the bar bills (made up of mostly buying lady drinks for my friends) and I could live well under the 40,000 baht limit. I could cut down on the food costs, but I eat western food occasionally.

I can afford to pay more and still live within my budget, But I enjoy life and spoil myself while I still can.

It's still cheaper than living at home in Canada where I have to lead a monogamous lifestyle.

[Soutpeel]

Just because you have the money does not mean that you have to waste it

I'm back earning a couple hundred thou baht a month, but me and the mrs are quite happy with our 2,500 baht/month condo

We're moving soon to rural Krabi where the rent is 8,000 baht a month for a detached house and garden. But by spending less, we save more - which we both agree is more important than frittering it all away.

To be honest, I have learnt my lesson from a few years ago when I was earning millions - and spending millions

Simon

(Frugal, but definitely not a tight-fisted, cheap-charlie)

Simon, you are still hiding from your EX aint you...???

[SeanMoran]

Just because you have the money does not mean that you have to waste it

I'm back earning a couple hundred thou baht a month, but me and the mrs are quite happy with our 2,500 baht/month condo

We're moving soon to rural Krabi where the rent is 8,000 baht a month for a detached house and garden. But by spending less, we save more - which we both agree is more important than frittering it all away.

To be honest, I have learnt my lesson from a few years ago when I was earning millions - and spending millions

Simon

(Frugal, but definitely not a tight-fisted, cheap-charlie)

I had a wonderful compliment from a friend I've known for a couple of months now, who probably has the right to tell me what's wot as she is employed at a PUB, not a bar, and so understands the relevance of cash in a pocket.

We were talking about my sad and sorry budget just this last week, and I was trying to use the right Thai term, which isn't far off my name, coincidentally.

"Jon" I said, "Kee now!"

"NO!" she cried out. "You not kee now, you jon."

Not that it matters at the end of a month, but I had to admire the respect in her differentiation of the two sets of status.

[tonititan]

To actually answer your question OP, I have no clue! It would be interesting to find out, though.

[roamer]

Just because you have the money does not mean that you have to waste it

I'm back earning a couple hundred thou baht a month, but me and the mrs are quite happy with our 2,500 baht/month condo

We're moving soon to rural Krabi where the rent is 8,000 baht a month for a detached house and garden. But by spending less, we save more - which we both agree is more important than frittering it all away.

To be honest, I have learnt my lesson from a few years ago when I was earning millions - and spending millions

Simon

(Frugal, but definitely not a tight-fisted, cheap-charlie)

Good post and I think you've nailed it. like many others I've "high-lifed" it in Bangkok but I've had great times paying far less away from the madhouse. Her indoors cooks like a dream wherever we are, though having the markets in LOS makes a big difference. Used to miss good bread until she applied her mind to it...cracked that now and her sourdough culture travels everywhere with us. Enough posts already to show it can be done and done happily

[jkinbkk]

Some questions:

You guys who state you get by on less than THB40K/month, what do you do for a living and how do you maintain your legal right to remain in the country (12 month 'non imm visa' and work permits)?

[simon43]

jkinbkk - you mistake expenditure with income. I'm on a reasonably good salary as a software manager, so have no problems with a year-on-year visa extension and work permit. But I spend little simply because I do not need to spend more to have an enjoyable life here

Simon

PS - Soutpeel, no not hiding, just not telling her where I am

[Loz]

In answer to the OP. 30%

If the question was "...under 50k" I think the percentage would leap to over 50%

Personally. Unless I have anything extravegant to buy (rare) somewhere between those two figures suits me most months.

Single guy, rented house. Golfing trumps whoring. Teaching trumps overstay dodging. Also studying at Gradschool. Drive own car. Ride own bike. Live in Isaan. but, no splay toed thingumyjigs in tow.

Edited February 7, 2010 by Loz

[Heng]

Seems like about a 70-30 split with more being around that income level than above it, but I probably run into more lower income people in general: both locals and foreigners than most people.

Edited February 7, 2010 by Heng

[robblok]

Seems like about a 70-30 split with more being around that income level than above it, but I probably run into more lower income people in general: both locals and foreigners than most people.

I thought they were talking about living on 40k not my income. My income is a lot higher then the 40k i just save the rest.

[Ijustwannateach]

At one point- which I have also stated on multiple similar threads before- I was only keeping 22K/month effectively, but was able to live more or less comfortably on it in the suburbs.

I still probably only spend about 30K on rent, living expenses, etc. these days, even living in Bangkok, and I live pretty well. Why spend more? The rest goes to the future.

[johng]

My average expenditure for the past year has been 27,000 baht a month.

[jimbeam1]

I've posted this before on other forums.

Average Monthly expenses

Room = 4000 baht

Food = 6000 baht

Transportation = 2000 baht to 6000 baht depending on where I travel in Thailand.

Ladies = 16,000

Bar bill and incidentals = 15,000

Total of about 56,000 baht

I could cut out some of the ladies and most of the bar bills (made up of mostly buying lady drinks for my friends) and I could live well under the 40,000 baht limit. I could cut down on the food costs, but I eat western food occasionally.

I can afford to pay more and still live within my budget, But I enjoy life and spoil myself while I still can.

It's still cheaper than living at home in Canada where I have to lead a monogamous lifestyle.

I like your post. Totally aggree.

jb1

[ronz28]

In building wealth for retirement, etc. its not so much how much you make but what you don't spend. Its good to hear how it can be done in Thailand.

[13morris]

Many legends in this topic..

in bkk if you not have 50,000-60,000 thb/month better return in your origin country..

[syd barrett]

I live in Pattaya on 12 000 baht a month. 6300 for Niran condo (including water, electo etc), 350 for GPRS internet, the rest for food, mobile phone and 2 times massage. No beer, no whisky , no bar girls. I lost 10 kilos and feel myself excellent. now I am going to relocate to Auytthaya for massage school. I hope i will spend there the same because I have found 2 floors downtown with smallest garden for 5000 bath a month.

Great post. What do you do?

If no beer/women/ why Pattaya? How do you socialise?

12,000 baht a month? I spend that on food alone in a month.