Expat Retiree Cost Of Living--higher And Higher

[jori]

So apart from haircuts and changing a flat tyre (oh sorry, tire)California is OK

[buddy]

Agreed...air-con set to 28 or 29 during the day is fine for me...at nite, start in "sleep" mode at 29 and goes to 31 while I sleep. Cost to cool my 3 BR home at these temps 24/7 last month B 3000. During "winter" months (Nov.-Feb) B 300-400 and during shoulder seasons about B 1000.

Why would you have your aircon on these temperatures, you might aswell just switch them off and save even more money

Because I am COMFORTABLE at those temperatures...as I mentioned, much below that and I start getting the chills. However I know many of my farang friends who NEED to keep their hotel rooms and/or houses at 25 or below...to each his own...but I like my way as it's cheaper.

Isnt 30C equal to 90F in old money? Thats a heatwave in UK and very uncomfortable!

I seem to remember 68F was supposed to be an ideal sleeping temp .Thats less than 22C I believe (but could be wrong!)

All this talk about air-conditioning temperature setpoints and not one has mentioned a "comfort envelope"

This is the temperature range that most human beings will feel comfortable at at a given humidity, that is the reason why you dont have one standard temperature setpoint say set at 25 Degrees Centigrade on your A/C Controller for all Air-conditioners installed the World over.

Human beings metabolism differ from one another and it also changes depending on our age, sex, if your sick, skinny, overwieght etc etc

Try it in a class of 20 students, Jack at the front is OK but Jill at the back is Baltic...No temperature setting is the correct temperature for all, you will all differ!

[craigt3365]

So apart from haircuts and changing a flat tyre (oh sorry, tire)California is OK

Great place to live...except in the major suburban areas due to traffic jams...and of course the 9.3% state income tax!!!!! That's why I love Nevada. 0% state income tax.

[Gary A]

So apart from haircuts and changing a flat tyre (oh sorry, tire)California is OK

Actually Kalifornia sucks. It is truly the land of fruits and nuts. I don't know what is worse, the far left liberals or the political correctness crap. The only time I was really happy there is when I was leaving.

[FarangBuddha]

So apart from haircuts and changing a flat tyre (oh sorry, tire)California is OK

Actually Kalifornia sucks. It is truly the land of fruits and nuts. I don't know what is worse, the far left liberals or the political correctness crap. The only time I was really happy there is when I was leaving.

I second and third your thoughts...I left Mexifornia for Thailand over a decade ago and have never regretted my decision for one minute. Some of the highest taxes in the nation, piss-poor public services (unless you're on welfare or an illegal alien), traffic and transportation very poor, if you speak English, you won't be understood in most neighborhoods, high-crime (both property and personal) in many areas, redicouolus petty local and states laws and regulations mostly designed to extract fines to fund bloated state and local goverments and the public sector unions. And if you have kids, piss-poor and underfunded schools and colleges (due again to the state being over-run with illegal aliens).

The only thing good about Mexifornia is the weather in most areas and some and the stunning natural beauty of many areas of the State (but these don't compensate for the former issues).

[Ulysses G.]

Great food, weather and lots of natural beauty. There are plenty of worse places and that is for sure.

[craigt3365]

I lived in SoCal for 20 years. Loved it. But it is just too dang expensive now...and traffic is really bad now. I left in 1999. As for the poor infrastructure and politics...better than Thailand...for sure. Corrupt, but not nearly as bad as we have it here in Thailand.

We did a 2 week trip there last year. Fantastic. Drove highway 1 from Malibu to Monterey. Then visited Yosemite, Sequoia, and Death Valley. Doesn't get much more beautiful than that. We are off to Sequoia this Friday to visit friends whose property backs up to the national park. Amazing scenery...

If it wasn't for the traffic and incredibly high taxes, I would move back to San Diego in a heartbeat....SoCal has some of the best beaches in the world...they are just too crowded for me...

[Token]

So apart from haircuts and changing a flat tyre (oh sorry, tire)California is OK

Actually Kalifornia sucks. It is truly the land of fruits and nuts. I don't know what is worse, the far left liberals or the political correctness crap. The only time I was really happy there is when I was leaving.

Funny thing is, I disliked the idea of going to the USA for years, having disliked the east coast on a trip 30 years ago, but loved my trip to California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona - just loved it all (I'm a Brit). Not at all what I expected. The cost of living was higher than Thailand in my opinion, but the food, whether local or western, in Thailand is cheaper, healthier and more varied than anywhere I went in the States, at least for comparable prices. In the USA, I just loved the way customers don't know the full price of goods until the tax is added on at the till! When I pointed this out to a cashier, I was told that the USA is not a socialist country!!!!!!!

I could just about manage to live in western USA, Australia or Europe (NOT UK!) if I wanted and would love to, but would want and financially need to return to Thailand after a couple of years. And the hot, clammy, boring weather is NOT the reason I like it here. Give me the desert of the USA, sea off Australia, English weather and countryside, but the costs and food of Thailand and I'm in paradise (oh, a bunch of those promised virgins would do nicely too, thank you). Can't wait.

Edited May 13, 2010 by Token

[somtampet]

Thailand is a third world country,prices should reflect that fact

They do if you eat local foods and do not live in luxury housing. Marmite and Branston Pickle are even more expensive in the poorest parts of Africa than they are here.

A man in the real world,i cannot believe lol

[Rimmer]

This topic is growing legs again, please keep on topic which is:

Expat Retiree Cost Of Living--higher And Higher

[FarangBuddha]

This topic is growing legs again, please keep on topic which is:

Expat Retiree Cost Of Living--higher And Higher

Ok...I'm game. I don't really think the actual cost of living in baht is getting more expensive (except for the general inflation rate you have in any economy) but it certainly is if you have to finance your retirement with Western currencies, which have taken it in the chops for the past couple of years.

Purchasing power parity studies generally conclude that the euro is still over-valued by some 30-40 percent against most other major currencies (and probably against the baht as well) so for Continental retirees anywhere in the world, they could be in for an ever increasing "cost of living" for awhile.

Edited May 13, 2010 by FarangBuddha

[jomtienman]

You can save a lot on entertainment & accomodation costs without stinting yourself by shopping around. There is no consistency of pricing. IMHO Cassanovy is one of the top go go bars in Pattaya but Tiger beer is only 80 Baht per pint = 500cc. Airport nearby charges 85 Baht for a half pint of Tiger & Cassanovy is IMHO a beter bar. In my part of the world beer drinkers prefer draft to bottled. Why pay 130 baht for a 250cc bottle i.e. 3.25 times the Cassanovy price ? If you spend a lot of time browsing the websites of real estate agents you wil find that asking rentals for identical condos vary by as much as 40%. (i.e. the dearest is 40% more than the cheapest). Research can get you a lot of goods & services at 5-year-ago-prices. IMHO there is an imperfect market in almost everything sold to farangs in Thailand.

If you like eating Western food out, then Pattaya is getting expensive but I don't.

[Dutchieman]

Hi there you all!

First of all, I'm happy to have found out abt this forum, tnx to all you people posting here with some very usefull info (at least sometimes LOL) for a guy like me preparing to live abroad in the best place possible.

My question in this for me important thread is: I am now getting from my Dutch ABN/AMRO bank abt 43 Bht to 1 euro (I am from Holland, nevertheless not liking cheese, so those costs in LOS will not have an impact on me -haha) ;

is this a good rate these days compared with other major world-currencies ? Or too strong/overrated (the Euro>Bht I mean)

And how do the financial experts on this forum think abt. the possible changes (up/down) to the THB on the EURO ?

For living a nice life (with all "normal" nice things Pattaya has to offer etc.) I suppose/understand from this forum/topics I will need at least 75-100 kBht a month...? (incl. say 25 kBht a month rent for a nice detached house)

My pension/retirement will be abt. 1600 eur. net/net (pls note I am already "worldwide-covered" health-insured then !) and it will go up with inflation yearly. I will get/receive it till the day I leave this planet...

So... 1600 eur => abt. 70.000 BHT.....(give or take) per month net for me...

-should I forget living in your, to me very interesting sounding, "Land Of Smiles"..?

Tnx for the answers! ---------------------Tot Ziens! ("<see you!")---------------------(or email me at < email address removed > -tnx!)

Edited April 26, 2011 by metisdead
Not to post email addresses in posts due to potential spam problems.

[guzzi850m2]

Hi there you all!

First of all, I'm happy to have found out abt this forum, tnx to all you people posting here with some very usefull info (at least sometimes LOL) for a guy like me preparing to live abroad in the best place possible.

My question in this for me important thread is: I am now getting from my Dutch ABN/AMRO bank abt 43 Bht to 1 euro (I am from Holland, nevertheless not liking cheese, so those costs in LOS will not have an impact on me -haha) ;

is this a good rate these days compared with other major world-currencies ? Or too strong/overrated (the Euro>Bht I mean)

And how do the financial experts on this forum think abt. the possible changes (up/down) to the THB on the EURO ?

For living a nice life (with all "normal" nice things Pattaya has to offer etc.) I suppose/understand from this forum/topics I will need at least 75-100 kBht a month...? (incl. say 25 kBht a month rent for a nice detached house)

My pension/retirement will be abt. 1600 eur. net/net (pls note I am already "worldwide-covered" health-insured then !) and it will go up with inflation yearly. I will get/receive it till the day I leave this planet...

So... 1600 eur => abt. 70.000 BHT.....(give or take) per month net for me...

-should I forget living in your, to me very interesting sounding, "Land Of Smiles"..?

Tnx for the answers! ---------------------Tot Ziens! ("<see you!")---------------------(or email me at < email address removed > -tnx!)

Hi Dutchieman,

Well why don't you get a 3 month Thai tourist visa and come down and have a look. When you are are here see as much of the country as posilbe and stay some time each place. Some people fells in love with the country right away and somebody says OK for holiday, but living here permanently no thanks.

I think you can have a fine life here for 70k bath pr month, especially if you settle in North, Changmai as an example. Way more expensive to live on the beautiful Phuket Island.

I spend more than 70 k bath pr month, but I have wife & son, house, car & motor bikes, but I am working in the off-shore industry so my situation are complete different that yours.

Good luck and enjoy Thailand, I do

[Phil Conners]

You can easily live a good lifestyle on 70,000 baht/month, but of course much depends on your social lifestyle. If you intend to go to walking street every day, buy lady drinks etc. then that figure would hardly make a scratch.

[gguy]

If you like western food, eating out is cheaper than shopping. I was in Villa last night and the prices shocked me.

You can find a nice western meal for 300 to 400 baht. It is impossible to buy same at comparable price in supermarket especially for single eaters. If you are feeding 10 or more maybe. Then you have to cook and clean up. UGH!!!!!

I order a pizza for Pattaya Pizza for 320B. I can not buy the dough, toppings, and sauce for that price. Even if I could, it would not taste as good and I would have to cook it and clean up. Double UGH!!!!!

[sarahsbloke]

If you like western food, eating out is cheaper than shopping. I was in Villa last night and the prices shocked me.

You can find a nice western meal for 300 to 400 baht. It is impossible to buy same at comparable price in supermarket especially for single eaters. If you are feeding 10 or more maybe. Then you have to cook and clean up. UGH!!!!!

I order a pizza for Pattaya Pizza for 320B. I can not buy the dough, toppings, and sauce for that price. Even if I could, it would not taste as good and I would have to cook it and clean up. Double UGH!!!!!

In CM,

burger and chips 60bht (Hash House)

Thai food with rice 25-35 bht

My average meal cost out is about 50 bht

Nobody needs to spend 300 bht on a meal.

[Spoonman]

I disagree gguy, the only person in my household that eats "western food" is me, I cook some cracking meals and my total food bill per week is less than Bt.2000, from this I cook "western" every night and also take a packed lunch to work 5 days a week.

EDIT: Iam an Aussie, I like dead cow on the BBQ, the dead cow I eat come from AUS.........local "meat" is crap.

Edited April 26, 2011 by Spoonman

[chops]

It's not Thailand that's getting expensive. It's the dollar and the pound which are weak. I don't see Aussies or the Euros complaining much.

If you're a hard core sexpat, I'd move on to other countries in the region. It's so much cheaper for the nightlife and the quality is better.

I hear Myanmar is a happening place these days...

[Penkoprod]

It's not Thailand that's getting expensive. It's the dollar and the pound which are weak. I don't see Aussies or the Euros complaining much.

If you're a hard core sexpat, I'd move on to other countries in the region. It's so much cheaper for the nightlife and the quality is better.

I hear Myanmar is a happening place these days...

While you might not hear Aussies or Euros complaining much, try talking to the Thais about how the prices are going through the roof, for pretty much everything, and forecast to get a LOT worse in the future, when the withdrawal of subsidies, put in place to ease the pressure kicks in.

Penkoprod

[moo9]

This topic is growing legs again, please keep on topic which is:

Expat Retiree Cost Of Living--higher And Higher

Ok...I'm game. I don't really think the actual cost of living in baht is getting more expensive (except for the general inflation rate you have in any economy) but it certainly is if you have to finance your retirement with Western currencies, which have taken it in the chops for the past couple of years.

Purchasing power parity studies generally conclude that the euro is still over-valued by some 30-40 percent against most other major currencies (and probably against the baht as well) so for Continental retirees anywhere in the world, they could be in for an ever increasing "cost of living" for awhile.

Order a non alcoholic soft drink anywhere and you know what is expensive. Non drinkers are subsidising the alcoholics, unfair.

[Spoonman]

This topic is growing legs again, please keep on topic which is:

Expat Retiree Cost Of Living--higher And Higher

Ok...I'm game. I don't really think the actual cost of living in baht is getting more expensive (except for the general inflation rate you have in any economy) but it certainly is if you have to finance your retirement with Western currencies, which have taken it in the chops for the past couple of years.

Purchasing power parity studies generally conclude that the euro is still over-valued by some 30-40 percent against most other major currencies (and probably against the baht as well) so for Continental retirees anywhere in the world, they could be in for an ever increasing "cost of living" for awhile.

Order a non alcoholic soft drink anywhere and you know what is expensive. Non drinkers are subsidising the alcoholics, unfair.

You think so, I can order a beer in most Pattaya gogo's and they come at the same price or less than a softdrink...........do the margins and tell me who is paying more for his drink.............

[moo9]

Considering the debt issues in the US, the trouble in Japan, the Euro is not overvalued. The devopment of currencies based on economic key figures is long done. Today it is about the influx of money used for speculative investments etc.

The Chinese Yuan however must get much stronger, but does the USA want to increase their debt further, on a dollar basis.

The THB is at a fair value of 45-58 against one Euro and let 's say 32 - 35 against USD. And the GBP? Who in the world really needs it nowadays, a relict of colonial history imho

[Dutchieman]

Tnx a lot for some good information on my question. Nice to hear that the Euro is to be considered as not overpriced towards the TBHT.

Can't wait to get here, but OMG, are decent Houses-for-rent really have to be priced at 25 KBht al least or more?

I need a 2 bed, two bathrroom house (detached would be great) with a nice (not big) garden-space, and it can be located off the beaten road i.e. at a distance of even 6-10 mls/15 kms from downtown Pattaya.

(south-Jomtien or North of Pattaya f.e.) Preferred a quiet location, semi-rural or in the hills east?

(near that big lake I saw on Google earth -nice area?)

Renting : for at least one year if I/we like it.

Any offers/possibilities?

I'm serious here.

Bye !

--------------------------

[Langsuan Man]

Tnx a lot for some good information on my question. Nice to hear that the Euro is to be considered as not overpriced towards the TBHT.

Can't wait to get here, but OMG, are decent Houses-for-rent really have to be priced at 25 KBht al least or more?

I need a 2 bed, two bathrroom house (detached would be great) with a nice (not big) garden-space, and it can be located off the beaten road i.e. at a distance of even 6-10 mls/15 kms from downtown Pattaya.

(south-Jomtien or North of Pattaya f.e.) Preferred a quiet location, semi-rural or in the hills east?

(near that big lake I saw on Google earth -nice area?)

Renting : for at least one year if I/we like it.

Any offers/possibilities?

I'm serious here.

Bye !

--------------------------

Watch the TV Classifieds, just use the drop down for Pattaya. If you are planning to live outside of Pattaya (the darkside) I hope that you are prepared to purchase and maintain a car

[guzzi850m2]

Tnx a lot for some good information on my question. Nice to hear that the Euro is to be considered as not overpriced towards the TBHT.

Can't wait to get here, but OMG, are decent Houses-for-rent really have to be priced at 25 KBht al least or more?

I need a 2 bed, two bathrroom house (detached would be great) with a nice (not big) garden-space, and it can be located off the beaten road i.e. at a distance of even 6-10 mls/15 kms from downtown Pattaya.

(south-Jomtien or North of Pattaya f.e.) Preferred a quiet location, semi-rural or in the hills east?

(near that big lake I saw on Google earth -nice area?)

Renting : for at least one year if I/we like it.

Any offers/possibilities?

I'm serious here.

Bye !

--------------------------

Watch the TV Classifieds, just use the drop down for Pattaya. If you are planning to live outside of Pattaya (the darkside) I hope that you are prepared to purchase and maintain a car

Or a motor bike.

It is very difficult so say: this area is the best. Different people different taste(s). Its best to rent a hotel room first and then go around a look for yourself. Don't worry there are LOTS of houses to rent, so you can easily find something that suits you, don't just jump into something you might not like after two weeks.

Well we are way off OP topic again, Rimmer is proberly getting angry

[sarahsbloke]

I have to wonder why anyone would want to live in Pattaya!

2-3 times more expensive than up north, beaches are awful, high crime rate, too humid, there are girls all over Thailand if that is what you are after.

My 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom house with small lawn and driveway costs 5,000bht a month 8km from CM town centre.

I have a very nice lake 1km away, but there is a 20bht entrance fee.

Edited April 27, 2011 by sarahsbloke

[Phil Conners]

I have to wonder why anyone would want to live in Pattaya!

2-3 times more expensive than up north, beaches are awful, high crime rate, too humid, there are girls all over Thailand if that is what you are after.

My 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom house with small lawn and driveway costs 5,000bht a month 8km from CM town centre.

I have a very nice lake 1km away, but there is a 20bht entrance fee.

Do we really need to turn every thread into Pattaya bashing?

• You can find 5,000 baht houses here too. You get what you pay for.
  
• I don't care about beaches, haven't been to one for at least a year, but when I want to there are pristine beaches around Sattaheep, about half an hours drive from here.
  
• You have crime in any big city with a busy entertainment district.
  
• 3-4 International schools, ca. 10 multilingual/private schools, 6 malls, umpteen farang supermarkets, restaurants and cinemas, 3 private hospitals, within an hour from Bangkok and the swampy airport. The list goes on...
  

It might not be everybody's cup of tea and if you don't like it you don't need to live here, but stop the bashing please. (we will take care of that ourselves )

[guzzi850m2]

I have to wonder why anyone would want to live in Pattaya!

2-3 times more expensive than up north, beaches are awful, high crime rate, too humid, there are girls all over Thailand if that is what you are after.

My 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom house with small lawn and driveway costs 5,000bht a month 8km from CM town centre.

I have a very nice lake 1km away, but there is a 20bht entrance fee.

Chang Mai is very nice agreed for sure, but you have two month up there ( I believe) with very bad air due to burning of the fields.

I like the buzz of Pattaya, good shopping, cheap/good foreign owned restaurants, good selection of schools for my son when the time comes.

Near BKK & Sw. airport also ads to the plus side for me.

20 bath for entering the lake area is a complete rip-off

[Spoonman]

I have to wonder why anyone would want to live in Pattaya!

2-3 times more expensive than up north, beaches are awful, high crime rate, too humid, there are girls all over Thailand if that is what you are after.

My 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom house with small lawn and driveway costs 5,000bht a month 8km from CM town centre.

I have a very nice lake 1km away, but there is a 20bht entrance fee.

The fact its 19km's from my place of employment factors heavily in my choosing to live here in Pattaya, then I guess if there was no work I would not have bothered with Thailand to start with.