How Much You Spend Each Month?

[falkan]

After've read the thread "Your Opinion Of Phuket" so I was curious how much you guys spend every month, it seems to vary greatly between all fifteen thousand to several hundred thousand each month

also please tell me which part of Phuket you are living in.

So how much you are spending each month on the following

Rent for apartment/house with electricity and water

Food,

Visa/visa- run

Insurance

Car/bike - purchased or rented

Petrol for car/bike

Nightlife

Telephone

Internet

Phone

what ever if it was something I forgot..

Edited June 29, 2010 by falkan

[crazyawm]

when have $1000 - spend 1000

when have $10 000 - spend 10 000

Money does not matter

[aliiwaa]

when have $1000 - spend 1000

when have $10 000 - spend 10 000

Money does not matter

Money only matters when you don't have it.......

[petercallen]

Generally between 50000 to 65000 baht a month, i own my own car and motorbike and we live a good

lifestyle and i am not tight with money, that does not include traveling overseas but includes renting a

house, you can live on a lot less if you want to.

[thrilled]

Stickman says around 1 million baht A year for bkk.So i'm figureing maybe 2 million for traveling and partying etc.

[paulfromphuket]

Sounds like a market survey to me, I spend what it take to do what I want.

[steelepulse]

A lot!

Edit, I mean a little compared to some.

Edited June 29, 2010 by steelepulse

[KarenBravo]

I could write pages on this subject, but, I won't waste the time.

Your question is "how long is a piece of string", but, using different syllables..........

Edited June 29, 2010 by KarenBravo

[Old Croc]

I thought the question was, how much do you spend, broken down into categories.

The OP acknowledged the overall amounts would vary considerably.

Budgetary questions have been asked before, and can be a great help for a newbie considering living here.

If a reader doesn't want to say what they spend then don't answer.

[boogie]

I thought the question was, how much do you spend, broken down into categories.

The OP acknowledged the overall amounts would vary considerably.

Budgetary questions have been asked before, and can be a great help for a newbie considering living here.

If a reader doesn't want to say what they spend then don't answer.

Well said Old Croc.

I don't live in Thailand so I can't assist the OP but i do find these threads interesting, as long as they don't degenerate too much ! I've followed many threads on this subject and the one thing I find lacking is that quite often when people do post their budgets it does not say for how many people. It would be nice to see whether budgets relate to one person or to a family of four for example

[glegolo]

Falkan!!

You just care and ask for Phuket.. so I will/can not assist you.

Otherwise I find this topic interesting. What it concerns Isaan (I live in Chaiyaphum)

i.e. what does average Joe spend on an average month and on what and on how many

people in the family??

Glegolo

[LivinLOS]

Through the year I average about 120k a month in Thailand.. Thats for me and a wife who doesnt need to send money upcountry.. Living in a modest rental home.. I have some large costs outside Thailand that I dont include, and that doesnt include any adventures I do but does include some basic regional travel for visas / life. Some of course less some more.

I would say discussing this with all my mates and associates that this is fairly normal bell curve with 80 - 150 with most in the 100 - 120 range. Allowing a nice life, a car, nice home, the ability to do you want, have hobbies, eat out, etc without budgeting much. Its NOT living high on the hog IMO, I know a few whose outgoings are well into the couple hundred a month and a couple in the 50 range.

[pschef]

Well I must be quite different from all you guys, I live in Chaing rai area. My family is 3 my wife son and me, we vary between 20 / 25 000 per month. I live fairly well, not out all the time. Just a normal exsistence, that includes:

No Rent house Paid

electricity

water free

Food,

Insurance

Car/bike - both my own

Petrol for car/bike

Nightlife Almost never Social Life at home with Friends

Telephone

Internet

Phone

Sat TV

School fees

[ausinpatong]

Through the year I average about 120k a month in Thailand.. Thats for me and a wife who doesnt need to send money upcountry.. Living in a modest rental home.. I have some large costs outside Thailand that I dont include, and that doesnt include any adventures I do but does include some basic regional travel for visas / life. Some of course less some more.

I would say discussing this with all my mates and associates that this is fairly normal bell curve with 80 - 150 with most in the 100 - 120 range. Allowing a nice life, a car, nice home, the ability to do you want, have hobbies, eat out, etc without budgeting much. Its NOT living high on the hog IMO, I know a few whose outgoings are well into the couple hundred a month and a couple in the 50 range.

dont know how you manage to exist on such a meagre amount mate:

Edited June 30, 2010 by ausinpatong

[petercallen]

I don't know about other people, but i find some of the claims for living expenses way over the top.

My expenses have been the same in Kathu, Kata and chalong and include everything the OP asked

about, the amount varies each month and does not include one of purchases, we are a couple and do

not frequently go to bars but enjoy going out for a meal with friends, we mostly eat at home as my wife

is an excellent cook and i now eat a lot of Thai food, i also eat steak, lamb and anything else i want

when ever i feel like it.

I cannot see how anyone would spend 2million baht a year unless they lived in 5 star hotels and were

supporting 5 lady friends.

When i want to eat lamb i buy it at Makro ( the last leg cost 305 baht a KG) same imported lamb at less

than half the price of most other outlets, i also buy most other imported goods there.

We do not use restaurants which rely on the tourist trade, we use good local restaurants in Chalong one

of which is directly on the beach, you walk from your table straight onto the sand and only pay about a

quarter of the price you pay in tourist areas (Thai food only).

Life is what you make of it and we all chose are own lifestyle.

We are of to Phangnha province, taking our time getting of the beaten track and enjoying the sites and

people of Thailand and the cost will come out of our monthly budget 50000 to 65000 baht a month.

[QED]

Always see huge variances on these kind of threads, and I always seem to be at the high end of it. I know from my salary going in and what is left in my bank at the end of each month, I average150k per month. Where it all goes I have no idea. I am single - here's a breakdown:

Rent for apartment/house with electricity and water 20,000 + 1,500 + 300

Food, varies 10,000

Visa/visa- run n/a

Insurance 0 - provided by company

Car/bike - purchased or rented 0 - as above

Petrol for car/bike 0 - as above

Nightlife the big variable

Telephone 0 - as above

Internet 700

Restaurants 10,000

Total 42,500

So it would seem I am spending around 100k on wine, women and song - that's quite scary.

Actually I did buy a new motorbike last month for 50k and still came within the 150k. Most months I will do a trip somewhere or have a major purchase in the 20-40k range. So it's not too bad really.

Sh!t I am gonna buy one of those little accounting books and write everything down for a month.

Signed - crap with money, always have been always will be.

[ausinpatong]

I don't know about other people, but i find some of the claims for living expenses way over the top.

My expenses have been the same in Kathu, Kata and chalong and include everything the OP asked

about, the amount varies each month and does not include one of purchases, we are a couple and do

not frequently go to bars but enjoy going out for a meal with friends, we mostly eat at home as my wife

is an excellent cook and i now eat a lot of Thai food, i also eat steak, lamb and anything else i want

when ever i feel like it.

I cannot see how anyone would spend 2million baht a year unless they lived in 5 star hotels and were

supporting 5 lady friends.

When i want to eat lamb i buy it at Makro ( the last leg cost 305 baht a KG) same imported lamb at less

than half the price of most other outlets, i also buy most other imported goods there.

We do not use restaurants which rely on the tourist trade, we use good local restaurants in Chalong one

of which is directly on the beach, you walk from your table straight onto the sand and only pay about a

quarter of the price you pay in tourist areas (Thai food only).

Life is what you make of it and we all chose are own lifestyle.

We are of to Phangnha province, taking our time getting of the beaten track and enjoying the sites and

people of Thailand and the cost will come out of our monthly budget 50000 to 65000 baht a month.

my response to the high livin livinlos was strictly 'tongue in ckeek'' mate

my costs and way of life near mirror yours in fact.

average 60,000 and live real well...

[hmltngls]

Does anyone know of a good reliable house/contents Insurer in Thailand. The policy offered by my Bank does not give cover if the house is not occupied for 2 weeks or more, even though we have an alarm and live on a small 'security guarded' project. Thanks

Hmltngls

By the way, we live quite well on c 50/60,000 bt. monthly, excluding any major purchases--BUT--it is not as easy as it was 2 years ago!!!!!

Edited June 30, 2010 by hmltngls

[somtampet]

All my life i have spent a pound and saved a pound,so you can work it out,as i spend between 50-80,000 a month depending on bills,school fees etc etc etc etc.I have friends who spend 80,000 a month on booze,now how stupid is that,not even thinking about their health,and single guy friends of mine live in 2bed/2bathroom condos in Bngkok for 60-80,000 a month.They are total wasters and dont realy have much to do with them now as they have been swallowed up by the Bangkok lifestyle,and mentality.

[steelepulse]

my response to the high livin livinlos was strictly 'tongue in ckeek'' mate

my costs and way of life near mirror yours in fact.

average 60,000 and live real well...

Is 3500 USD or 4000 AUD really high living? I would say not.

[likewise]

House and care paid for.

Monthly expenses are internet, electricity, water, UBC, guard service at the moo barn we live, petrol for car, all this amounts to about 10 to 12000 baht/month.

Food and stuff for in house about 10000 baht/month. Other costs like restaurants, drinks, some shopping, ranges from 30 to 40000 baht/ month. Total around range 50 to 60000 baht/month.

Yearly costs are car insurance, health insurance totaling about 50000 baht/ year for both.

Edited June 30, 2010 by likewise

[TaoNow]

OK Falkan, since you and I got hammered on the other thread for daring to suggest that one could have a comfortable life in Phuket for as little as 15,000 baht per month, here is the breakdown of my expenses in the first year I lived here (2009).

Let me preface this by saying I do not begrudge anyone else for living at a higher level of expenses. My point was that you can modulate your lifestyle in Phuket from "humble" to "jet-set" in a way that can't be done easily in other provinces. As long as it's a quality life then that's fine. My minimum criteria for a "quality" life is (1) you have a healthy lifestyle; and (2) you have regular social interaction with the locals on equal (unbought) terms.

The following is the approximate expenditure of a single, unattached male, age 60, with no dependents, no debts or financial obligations (other than that to Immo for the annual retirement extension).

Rent: 2,600 baht per month. I live in a one-room apartment (with private bathroom) on the top floor of an appartment building in central Phuket town. The room has a balcony that overlooks a quiet neighborhood and provides excellent views of the Western hills that separate Phuket town from Patong. Wonderful for sitting with coffee in the morning or a cold beer in the evening for sunset.

Utilities: The minimum is 100 baht for water and 100 baht for electricity, and I rarely go over the minimum. So 200 baht a month. Note that I only use a small fan, no A/C, no fridge. The only electrical device I use (other than fan) is a small pot to boil water and a reading lamp next to my bed.

Transportation: Since I am in no hurry, and Phuket is a fairly compact town, I walk to where I need to go during the week. This involves many kilometers a day of gentle exercise which is good for health maintenance, meeting people, and exploring new shops and restaurants that spring up throughout the year. On "weekends" (Fri-Sun) I rent a motorcycle to visit the beaches and explore other parts of the island. Since becoming familiar with the shop owner, he only charges me the preferred rate of 120 baht per day for the bike. Gas is about 140 baht for the three days. So that comes to (360+140, *4) about 2,000 baht a month.

Internet: I go to a local 24-hour internet cafe that charges me 9 baht per hour. I usually spend about 3 hours a day, checking e-mail, reading news, and pursuing on-line hobbies. About 1,000 baht per month.

Books: 300 baht a month.

Beach chair: 500 baht a month

Beer and coffee: 3,000 baht a month.

Meals: I stick to the places that sell dishes for 40 baht or less and have friendly staff. The best palces are ones in which the owner (or relative) prepares the food herself/himself. The daily cost is 40 baht *3 plus drinks/dessert makes that about 200 baht per day or 6,000 baht a month.

Sports activity: 400 baht a month

Sundry supplies and replacements: 500 baht a month.

This total comes to about 16,500 a month (or about $500 at today's exchange rate.)

Anyone can PM me for more details if they wish.

[katabeachbum]

OK Falkan, since you and I got hammered on the other thread for daring to suggest that one could have a comfortable life in Phuket for as little as 15,000 baht per month, here is the breakdown of my expenses in the first year I lived here (2009).

Let me preface this by saying I do not begrudge anyone else for living at a higher level of expenses. My point was that you can modulate your lifestyle in Phuket from "humble" to "jet-set" in a way that can't be done easily in other provinces. As long as it's a quality life then that's fine. My minimum criteria for a "quality" life is (1) you have a healthy lifestyle; and (2) you have regular social interaction with the locals on equal (unbought) terms.

The following is the approximate expenditure of a single, unattached male, age 60, with no dependents, no debts or financial obligations (other than that to Immo for the annual retirement extension).

Rent: 2,600 baht per month. I live in a one-room apartment (with private bathroom) on the top floor of an appartment building in central Phuket town. The room has a balcony that overlooks a quiet neighborhood and provides excellent views of the Western hills that separate Phuket town from Patong. Wonderful for sitting with coffee in the morning or a cold beer in the evening for sunset.

Utilities: The minimum is 100 baht for water and 100 baht for electricity, and I rarely go over the minimum. So 200 baht a month. Note that I only use a small fan, no A/C, no fridge. The only electrical device I use (other than fan) is a small pot to boil water and a reading lamp next to my bed.

Transportation: Since I am in no hurry, and Phuket is a fairly compact town, I walk to where I need to go during the week. This involves many kilometers a day of gentle exercise which is good for health maintenance, meeting people, and exploring new shops and restaurants that spring up throughout the year. On "weekends" (Fri-Sun) I rent a motorcycle to visit the beaches and explore other parts of the island. Since becoming familiar with the shop owner, he only charges me the preferred rate of 120 baht per day for the bike. Gas is about 140 baht for the three days. So that comes to (360+140, *4) about 2,000 baht a month.

Internet: I go to a local 24-hour internet cafe that charges me 9 baht per hour. I usually spend about 3 hours a day, checking e-mail, reading news, and pursuing on-line hobbies. About 1,000 baht per month.

Books: 300 baht a month.

Beach chair: 500 baht a month

Beer and coffee: 3,000 baht a month.

Meals: I stick to the places that sell dishes for 40 baht or less and have friendly staff. The best palces are ones in which the owner (or relative) prepares the food herself/himself. The daily cost is 40 baht *3 plus drinks/dessert makes that about 200 baht per day or 6,000 baht a month.

Sports activity: 400 baht a month

Sundry supplies and replacements: 500 baht a month.

This total comes to about 16,500 a month (or about $500 at today's exchange rate.)

Anyone can PM me for more details if they wish.

sh-t. I need to check my budget

My dogs food is 2-3k a month, my maids salary 7k, and we r off to weekly Oishi buffet which is 800 baht food for 2 people. Cost of driving there is 140 baht, so todays lunch is 1000 baht. Fortunately less than Fuji.

[cardholder]

This total comes to about 16,500 a month (or about $500 at today's exchange rate.)

Anyone can PM me for more details if they wish.

I see no allocation for sex ?

[thomo]

Your question is "how long is a piece of string", but, using different syllables..........

No it isn't. It's a actually a very simple question to answer.

How Much You Spend Each Month? what budget you have

See?

If it was 'How much do I need to live in Thailand, then okay, you'd be correct.

An easy life can be had in BKK for you and a significant other, who isn't leaching or wasting money, on 60k or under, in BKK. An honest, good life, lots of cooking good dinners at home, the odd btl of wine or scotch, a restaurant once a week or fortnight, a weekend away once a month.

If both are working 5 days a week, you'll probably only go through 500-600b between ye per day, including a nice homecooked meal. Sat and Sun off with 2000b spending money p/d gives a total of around 7,000 p/w. 28,000 p/m. If you rent a one bedroom condo inc. bills for 15,000 you're looking at around 45k p/m. This would be quite a nice, honest lifestyle.

From this point on you can start adding whatever you want. 10,000 put into the bank every month? A weekend away for 5,000b. etc etc.

[ausinpatong]

my response to the high livin livinlos was strictly 'tongue in ckeek'' mate

my costs and way of life near mirror yours in fact.

average 60,000 and live real well...

Is 3500 USD or 4000 AUD really high living? I would say not.

cool, thats your opinion mate..

as i and many others said...live real well on 60,000..

[thomo]

This total comes to about 16,500 a month (or about $500 at today's exchange rate.)

Anyone can PM me for more details if they wish.

I see no allocation for sex ?

Or items such as clothes, vitamin tablets or anything else that might pop up.

He is quite happy with that lifestyle and that's all that matters. Well done.

I don't think many would be comfortable living without a TV, Fridge, computer, internet, kitchen, and a diet that doesn't consist of anything above 40b Thai food three times a day.

Unfortunately this probably says more about us than you.

[QED]

Always see huge variances on these kind of threads, and I always seem to be at the high end of it. I know from my salary going in and what is left in my bank at the end of each month, I average150k per month. Where it all goes I have no idea. I am single - here's a breakdown:

Rent for apartment/house with electricity and water 20,000 + 1,500 + 300

Food, varies 10,000

Visa/visa- run n/a

Insurance 0 - provided by company

Car/bike - purchased or rented 0 - as above

Petrol for car/bike 0 - as above

Nightlife the big variable

Telephone 0 - as above

Internet 700

Restaurants 10,000

Total 42,500

So it would seem I am spending around 100k on wine, women and song - that's quite scary.

Actually I did buy a new motorbike last month for 50k and still came within the 150k. Most months I will do a trip somewhere or have a major purchase in the 20-40k range. So it's not too bad really.

Sh!t I am gonna buy one of those little accounting books and write everything down for a month.

Signed - crap with money, always have been always will be.

Ooops, forgot to include maid part-time 4,000 (cheaper than a girlfriend) and UBC 2,200.

[TaoNow]

Reply to Cardholder and Thomo:

- sex is free (but infrequent)

- no vitamins or prescription drugs. Occasionally an aspirin or cold tablet.

- I only have a few sets of clothes. They are intentionally durable (can last for years). When I do have to replace an item, the budget for that comes under the 'sundry/replacements' category I listed.

- my cell phone is a pay-as-you go plan with DTAC. I hardly make any calls. People call me or I communicate via the Internet.

- I did not list health insurance cost since my plan with AIA is one in which they will refund all my premium payments with interest over a period of ten years. So no net cost.

Even at 40 baht a meal, I find that the food quality in Phuket town is excellent. The ingredients are very fresh, especially the seafood. I have never gotten sick from eating at the places I regularly go to. And I have never gotten bored of the food. Thai cuisine is quite sophisticated and contains a wide variety of ingredients. You need to read the Cornucopia column of the Bangkok Post weekly Brunch magazine to understand this. Then you will learn that even the simplest Thai dishes have a complexity and nutritious value that is hard to find elsewhere in the world (for the small amount you pay).

Any other questions?

TN

[falkan]

Rent for apartment/house with electricity and water - 2600tbh +500tbh for electricity and water

Food, 8000tbh

Visa/visa- run got a NON-IMMIGRANT "ED" VISA from Hull every year, dont remember what it cost but need to do a visa run every 90days = 1500tbh

Insurance have insurance through my local bank Siam bank but can not remember what I paid per month

Car/bike - purchased or rented purchased a bike 3 years ago 25000tbh

Petrol for car/bike 800tbh

Nightlife I am not a big spending loader take my whiskey in and buy a mixer usually cost around 100tbh then two coca cola 100tb 200+200 = 400tbh

Telephone

Internet 840tbh cat telecom

Phone 100tbh a month, never call, got internet

what ever buy me a t-shirt and jeans sometime in the month in the local market 300tbh

= 15040

So around 15000-17000tbh usually stop in every month