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

[13morris]

this is a list with the price/mo for living in thailand, i have house in bkk, but i live also in italy. the list is study with friends, questions, etc..

the list inlcuding: house or condo for rent around 60 mq, food, 1 wife or woman, extras (wear, bus, office, immigration, etc), NO GOGO BAR and vacancy.

chiang mai 45,000 thb

chiang rai 45,000

pattaya 40,000

phuket 45,000

bangkok central 55,000

bangkok outside 45,000

koh chiang 45,000

isan 45,000

repeat this price not including extras.. with extras add around 50-80%

[IanForbes]

I don't know about others here, but I can live on stir fried rice and veggies, Thai soup, Thai omellets, Pad Thai and a variety of other inexpensive Thai meals that only cost between 30 and 40 baht. I can supplement that with bananas, oranges, pineapple and mangos. You can get the lot for under 100 baht and it will last a few days. I can get fresh squeezed orange juice for 25 to 35 baht a bottle. Water is 7 baht at the 7-11. You only need two meals a day in the Asian heat, and eat fresh fruit as a mid day snack.

There is no need for hamburgers, pizza and western foods unless you just like to treat yourself. Even then you can get by on less than 200 baht per meal.

If you go out with a group it is fun to eat at those places where you cook your own stuff for about 100 baht per person. Even at 300 baht a day that only works out to 9000 baht a month.

An apartment or home rental WILL add a big chunk to the bill if you have a family, but it's usually more room than any single person needs. Long term hotel accommodation can be found outside of central Bangkok. And it's very reasonably priced at from 4000 to 10,000 baht per month.

[robblok]

I don't know about others here, but I can live on stir fried rice and veggies, Thai soup, Thai omellets, Pad Thai and a variety of other inexpensive Thai meals that only cost between 30 and 40 baht. I can supplement that with bananas, oranges, pineapple and mangos. You can get the lot for under 100 baht and it will last a few days. I can get fresh squeezed orange juice for 25 to 35 baht a bottle. Water is 7 baht at the 7-11. You only need two meals a day in the Asian heat, and eat fresh fruit as a mid day snack.

There is no need for hamburgers, pizza and western foods unless you just like to treat yourself. Even then you can get by on less than 200 baht per meal.

If you go out with a group it is fun to eat at those places where you cook your own stuff for about 100 baht per person. Even at 300 baht a day that only works out to 9000 baht a month.

An apartment or home rental WILL add a big chunk to the bill if you have a family, but it's usually more room than any single person needs. Long term hotel accommodation can be found outside of central Bangkok. And it's very reasonably priced at from 4000 to 10,000 baht per month.

When i still ate only thai food i rarely spend more then 100bt a day on food. Now because of my diet and working out hard i just need loads of protein and fresh fruit and veggies. That is why its 300 bt and i sometimes eat out at sizzlers with the gf.

I just boycott the street food because of the sugars and stuff, some people react more then it then others. I lost many kg's because i cook for myself now.

[lazygourmet]

Its possible to socialize without beer and woman.

I agree. I know lots of people who socialise who are teetotal and have given up the women.

But my point is; why would people choose to live in Pattaya if they intend to live on 20,000 per month? Surely far better to move north and 'go native'?

I have no idea why people live in Pattaya.. i live near Bangkok in Nothaburi. But it is a bit odd to live in Pattaya if you dont like the scene. Though before i liked beaches but Pattaya is not really my kind of beach.

I am living in Baan Buathong (not Bang) which is even smaller and no farang around (except teachers from St-Peters). great quality of life, everybody is riding bicycle and large Leo @ THB 40 (yes!) at my local drinking hole!

And if I need some action, downtown is mere 30 minutes by car... off peak times of course!

[PattayaParent]

You should have done a poll.

I spend 4X that amount a month on average.

[robblok]

Its possible to socialize without beer and woman.

I agree. I know lots of people who socialise who are teetotal and have given up the women.

But my point is; why would people choose to live in Pattaya if they intend to live on 20,000 per month? Surely far better to move north and 'go native'?

I have no idea why people live in Pattaya.. i live near Bangkok in Nothaburi. But it is a bit odd to live in Pattaya if you dont like the scene. Though before i liked beaches but Pattaya is not really my kind of beach.

I am living in Baan Buathong (not Bang) which is even smaller and no farang around (except teachers from St-Peters). great quality of life, everybody is riding bicycle and large Leo @ THB 40 (yes!) at my local drinking hole!

And if I need some action, downtown is mere 30 minutes by car... off peak times of course!

I live in baan lumpini .... say 4 km from the carefour direction sai noi. Think we live quite close.

[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.

Is that a typo ? 12,500 ? if not then you are my hero.

No, not a typo.

Does that mean I now have to wear my underpants outside of my shorts??

Where's the nearest telephone box??

I'll post a full list of our expenses later - have to pop to the village before dark, out of bread. (the sliced type!).

[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.

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.

Yeah, I was referring to the % of folks that come to me for bridge financing. Typically these folks aren't savers or else they wouldn't be calling. Real savers IME are rare.

[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.

Yeah, I was referring to the % of folks that come to me for bridge financing. Typically these folks aren't savers or else they wouldn't be calling. Real savers IME are rare.

I know they are rare of all my clients (i do accounting) only a few save the rest spend the money.

[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.

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.

I have GF, she works and stay with me for free:) (i am 48 she is 39). I bougth a gold chain for her 2 month ago and 1 times in 4 months we travel with her to Kanchanoburi and Chiang May (I also work as Russian language teacher). I think we eat for life not live for food. I should say it does not means i have no money. I just like this style of life.

[villagefarang]

Reading all these posts really takes me back. Back about twenty years ago, when I used to live on less than 1000 baht per day. Go back thirty years and I was good on 100 baht per day. Fortunately those days are long gone.

Life can be as cheap or as expensive as you wish, here in Thailand. Life is generally more comfortable with more but doable on less. Thanks for the memories.

[Lancelot]

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.

You are wise.

Many guys come here at a relatively young age, stay a long time and don't save a single baht.

Then reality set in...

[basjke]

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.

Weren't you the guy who lived in those 20 million baht all paid for houses together with your rich girlfriend a few topics ago?

[Mosha]

OK I'm in <<<<. House is paid for. Phone - internet about 1000. Electric 1200 True vision 1400. We run an Isuzu 2.5 D MAX. We drink almost daily, she smokes. Less than 30K/Month? Piece of piss.

[Soutpeel]

**Removed*

You are making some sweeping statements about the posters personal life, which I would assume you know nothing about....

Based on your post let me make some sweeping statements as well....came here as an "English" teacher and got the GF banged up, and there is no place like Blighty...

Edited February 10, 2010 by cdnvic
removed quote of deleted post

[Mosha]

No place like Blighty? dam_n me I went back 2 1/2 years ago. Couldn't wait to get back "home".

[Soutpeel]

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.

Weren't you the guy who lived in those 20 million baht all paid for houses together with your rich girlfriend a few topics ago?

and flogging 18 Rai of land as well, if I remember correctly

[manjara]

I buy food for 5 people for around 100 quid a week (including the ready food/restaurant), there's no way I would manage that in the UK!

My wife spends no money on herself either (you see no budget for hairdresser, spa etc), so neither of us are being extravagant.

We live well, in terms of food etc, I'll drink 2 or 3 bottles of wine a week and we go on trips to the beach but, yes, it shocks me that I spend 3000 quid a month in Thailand. I used to wonder if she was supporting some Thai guy, but then I tracked everything and found out it did all go on 'legit' expenses.

I play golf when I'm away on business, but it would be good to play in Thailand sometime!

Edited February 10, 2010 by cdnvic
removed quote from deleted post

[Gary A]

I think a lot of spending behavior is dictated by the wives. My wife doesn't care for any fancy restaurants especially farang restaurants. She doesn't frequent beauty shops but may go to one once every couple of months. She is a farm girl and believe it or not she doesn't own a dress nor even a tube of lipstick. No makeup at all and she doesn't need it.

My uniform of the day is a T shirt, shorts and sandals. I live precisely as I want. Those guys who still have to work for a living may need nice clothes and socializing. I don't.

[dmax]

i drink , smoke and have the odd tart, i would quite happily live on 40k a month

[TheJoker12]

Where are all the people sending their (multiple children) to 300k+/year international schools? are these really the minority? are these 40k a monthers just bachelors living in scuzzy studios and eating in food courts everyday? i am pretty surprised as i would have thought the 40k baht a month guys were the minority.

i rarely see a luk krueng in non-private school attire ????

Edited February 8, 2010 by TheJoker12

[TheJoker12]

i don't get why these threads have so many bragging about how little they spend like its a contest or noble to be broke!

we don't have air condition, we fan ourselves with banana leafs **claps**

[Heng]

The name of the web forum should have given you a clue. It's not Thai-Visa-and-Yachting-Enthusiasts.com

A lot of people have a need to feel 'normal,' so they need to check once in awhile to make sure that everyone else hasn't passed them by yet (which they often have not).

[Soutpeel]

we don't have air condition, we fan ourselves with banana leafs **claps**

Thats nothing....I used to live in shoe box and eat gravel three times a day

Agreed with you nothing noble about it, but then think about the general demographic of Farangs in Thailand, "English teachers" on 25k to 40k/month and OAP's on goverment pensions on about the same...

[Gary A]

Just remember that the first liar doesn't have a chance. I am referring to those on the low end as well as the high end.

[Kadafi]

My expenses in Thailand :

- Apartment in BKK, 18,000/m

- Travel (car, taxis, etc) 8,000/m

- Food & Drink (supermkt) 20,000/m (weekly supermkt trip usually 5k)

- Dining out/ready food 9,000/m (we probably eat at a restaurant once a month)

- Telephone/Internet/TV 3,000/m

- Clothes 8,000/m

- Bars/Ladies 0/m

- Kids School fees 65,000/m (International school, aged 4 & 6)

- MiL/family 12,000/m

- Maid 7,000/m

- Electric/other bills 4,000/m

Total : 154,000

I notice a bit of an imbalance in how much I pay for food and how much I pay for bars & girls!

Unfortunately I also have a mortgage to pay in the UK and I have a company in Thailand (I didn't count the cost of visas and WPs) which has employees and office rent, accounting etc to pay. The wife has a pension scheme here in Thailand, that I pay 5k a month into, but that's not a lot!

4years from now the Thai mortgage will be paid off, then the apartment will be about 2k/month, other than that, I don't see much room for economy until the kids go!

Still, it's less than 40k/person...

dam_n you spend £3000/month living in a third world Country! you must have a lazy wife with all that ready food and maids cost. None of that budget goes on yourself either, as i see no budget for activities such as golf, gym, bars etc. No fun makes manjara a dull boy....

I buy food for 5 people for around 100 quid a week (including the ready food/restaurant), there's no way I would manage that in the UK!

My wife spends no money on herself either (you see no budget for hairdresser, spa etc), so neither of us are being extravagant.

We live well, in terms of food etc, I'll drink 2 or 3 bottles of wine a week and we go on trips to the beach but, yes, it shocks me that I spend 3000 quid a month in Thailand. I used to wonder if she was supporting some Thai guy, but then I tracked everything and found out it did all go on 'legit' expenses.

I play golf when I'm away on business, but it would be good to play in Thailand sometime!

Fair play, good to hear you have hobbies and your keeping on top of your expenditure....

[rgs2001uk]

Where are all the people sending their (multiple children) to 300k+/year international schools? are these really the minority? are these 40k a monthers just bachelors living in scuzzy studios and eating in food courts everyday? i am pretty surprised as i would have thought the 40k baht a month guys were the minority.

i rarely see a luk krueng in non-private school attire ????

Instead of getting off the BTS at Thong Lor, carry on until you reach On Nut.

Its a regular united nations up there, on line traders, visa runners, e-bayers, gem dealers etc etc, throw into the mish mash the, deadbeats, drifters, losers, boozers, time wasters, scamsters and others of that ilk.

Such is the infamy of this band of brothers that local stores are now putting up signs in English reading, no credit, cash only.

These wasters can usually be found passing their time outside some local sorry store knocking back chang and smoking krong thip as they wait for their next victim, the snotty nosed luk kreung is fast asleep in the scuzzy 18 sqm condo they inhabit, while mom is working the night shift.

[Soutpeel]

Where are all the people sending their (multiple children) to 300k+/year international schools? are these really the minority? are these 40k a monthers just bachelors living in scuzzy studios and eating in food courts everyday? i am pretty surprised as i would have thought the 40k baht a month guys were the minority.

i rarely see a luk krueng in non-private school attire ????

Instead of getting off the BTS at Thong Lor, carry on until you reach On Nut.

Its a regular united nations up there, on line traders, visa runners, e-bayers, gem dealers etc etc, throw into the mish mash the, deadbeats, drifters, losers, boozers, time wasters, scamsters and others of that ilk.

Such is the infamy of this band of brothers that local stores are now putting up signs in English reading, no credit, cash only.

These wasters can usually be found passing their time outside some local sorry store knocking back chang and smoking krong thip as they wait for their next victim, the snotty nosed luk kreung is fast asleep in the scuzzy 18 sqm condo they inhabit, while mom is working the night shift.

[GuestHouse]

One of the best threads I've read on TV for a long time.

I've just done the math on our spending (and excuse the 'creative accounting') but if I take out all the spending that is related to my work - example renting an apartment in this part of Thailand when we already own an house in another part of Thailand. Then our spend drops dramatically to not much above Bht50K a month.

Like many have said, if you your life in Thailand does not revolve around the bars and rent-a-woman then you can live very well here on small amount of money.

The big crunch is as Simon pointed out - What is earned and what is spent.

Anyone who has not already got their pension/income in old age sorted out is kidding themselves if they are earning less than 40K a month and living well on it - They day of reckoning will come.

[TheJoker12]

My expenses in Thailand :

- Apartment in BKK, 18,000/m

- Travel (car, taxis, etc) 8,000/m

- Food & Drink (supermkt) 20,000/m (weekly supermkt trip usually 5k)

- Dining out/ready food 9,000/m (we probably eat at a restaurant once a month)

- Telephone/Internet/TV 3,000/m

- Clothes 8,000/m

- Bars/Ladies 0/m

- Kids School fees 65,000/m (International school, aged 4 & 6)

- MiL/family 12,000/m

- Maid 7,000/m

- Electric/other bills 4,000/m

Total : 154,000

I notice a bit of an imbalance in how much I pay for food and how much I pay for bars & girls!

Unfortunately I also have a mortgage to pay in the UK and I have a company in Thailand (I didn't count the cost of visas and WPs) which has employees and office rent, accounting etc to pay. The wife has a pension scheme here in Thailand, that I pay 5k a month into, but that's not a lot!

4years from now the Thai mortgage will be paid off, then the apartment will be about 2k/month, other than that, I don't see much room for economy until the kids go!

Still, it's less than 40k/person...

dam_n you spend £3000/month living in a third world Country! you must have a lazy wife with all that ready food and maids cost. None of that budget goes on yourself either, as i see no budget for activities such as golf, gym, bars etc. No fun makes manjara a dull boy....

I buy food for 5 people for around 100 quid a week (including the ready food/restaurant), there's no way I would manage that in the UK!

My wife spends no money on herself either (you see no budget for hairdresser, spa etc), so neither of us are being extravagant.

We live well, in terms of food etc, I'll drink 2 or 3 bottles of wine a week and we go on trips to the beach but, yes, it shocks me that I spend 3000 quid a month in Thailand. I used to wonder if she was supporting some Thai guy, but then I tracked everything and found out it did all go on 'legit' expenses.

I play golf when I'm away on business, but it would be good to play in Thailand sometime!

Fair play, good to hear you have hobbies and your keeping on top of your expenditure....

If they were your kids Kadafi I am sure you would send them to public schooling and keep that money for yourself eh?

Edited February 8, 2010 by TheJoker12