Ubon

[shiranai]

Good day, all.

I am currently gathering information in an attempt to decide whether or not to take a job in Isaan- specifically Ubon Ratchathani.

Being a Westerner, the position is obviously teaching English.

My main concern right now is standard of living. Don't think me ignorant, I do NOT expect to live the way we do here in America, but I want to know that me and my family can at least be clothed, fed and safe on the income I will receive. This is for the experience more than anything, and only the duration of a year.

I will be working. My husband (who is an American citizen, but native to Thailand) will be enjoying himself/watching out two year old son.

My son will be two at the time- probably still need some diapers, but won't need to attend school, so that is not a concern of mine.

We can, and look forward to, eating like the Thais. Yum

Do you think it possible to make it off of 17,000 baht, with a 8,000 baht living stipend?

What kind of housing is available? We would not mind living in a one br mansion. No kitchen is fine. Western bathroom would be nice, as well as it being a seperate room.

I have had several sources say the cost of rent/utilities is around 8-10k/month but that 25k baht is pushing it. Besides food and staples, what's going to cost us more than rent/utilities every month?

If you are from/live in Ubon area, would you please share with me some stories and experiences. I want to be informed as possible.

Thank you ahead of time for all your feedback.

よろしくお願いします！

khab khun kha

[kdc1899]

Hello,

Any "mansion" type of place will be at least twice as expensive as the government bill for utilities.

You could easily spend 4K baht per month with moderate A/C usage and quick hot showers and electric cookers. The rent will be at least 6K baht (10K already).

Rice is 30 baht per kilo.

Pork is 140 baht per kilo. Sticky rice is even more expensive.

Bottled water is 30-50 baht per day.

Cooking water is 5 baht per day.

Gas for your car is 35 baht per liter (it's cheaper to buy gas for your your car in America).

Bananas are almost 10 baht each.

Australian carrots ( please never feed your kid any food from china) are 150 baht per kilo.

A whole cooked chicken is 120 baht ( this will provide a nice dinner and chicken salad sandwichs the next day).

Beef is expensive and not very tasty.

There is no good spaghetti sauce in Ubon. There is tomato paste but real tomatos are more expensive than in America.

You can buy a coffee maker but there is no ground coffee in the big three retail outlets. The rest is twice as expensive as America and not very good. The Lao brand is the best of the bad coffee available.

The cow milk is awful.

Diapers cost more here.

Baby formula costs more here.

Your health insurance will not work here (probably).

Health care costs are about the same (in total) as your co pay would cost back home but the doctors here do little educational upkeep on themselves, after they finish their joke of a residency, so you end up paying much much more than your homeland's co-pay because these doctors are not like ours at home.

If you have to go inpatient ( they will try to push you into checking in any chance they get) then your looking at 3K - 6K baht per day at both private hospitals in Ubon.

If you only entertain your kid once per week at the play area at tesco, city mall or bigC, you are looking at 300 baht each time (1,200 baht per month).

Bad internet service will run you 700 baht per month.

Bad T.V. options (with very little english language programing) will cost around 500 baht per month.

If you can find a house (to rent) that already has a single air conditioner (hopefully good quality so you wont have to pay 3K baht per month to still be hot) and a hot shower, you will be lucky. If that house also has a water tank and powered water you should play the lottery the first chance you get { at least 200 baht per month (: }.

Just the air and hot shower discovery will run you 6K baht per month.

I'll stop now.

Sorry bout the tone.

[bergen]

Hello,

Any "mansion" type of place will be at least twice as expensive as the government bill for utilities.

You could easily spend 4K baht per month with moderate A/C usage and quick hot showers and electric cookers. The rent will be at least 6K baht (10K already).

Rice is 30 baht per kilo.

Pork is 140 baht per kilo. Sticky rice is even more expensive.

Bottled water is 30-50 baht per day.

Cooking water is 5 baht per day.

Gas for your car is 35 baht per liter (it's cheaper to buy gas for your your car in America).

Bananas are almost 10 baht each.

Australian carrots ( please never feed your kid any food from china) are 150 baht per kilo.

A whole cooked chicken is 120 baht ( this will provide a nice dinner and chicken salad sandwichs the next day).

Beef is expensive and not very tasty.

There is no good spaghetti sauce in Ubon. There is tomato paste but real tomatos are more expensive than in America.

You can buy a coffee maker but there is no ground coffee in the big three retail outlets. The rest is twice as expensive as America and not very good. The Lao brand is the best of the bad coffee available.

The cow milk is awful.

Diapers cost more here.

Baby formula costs more here.

Your health insurance will not work here (probably).

Health care costs are about the same (in total) as your co pay would cost back home but the doctors here do little educational upkeep on themselves, after they finish their joke of a residency, so you end up paying much much more than your homeland's co-pay because these doctors are not like ours at home.

If you have to go inpatient ( they will try to push you into checking in any chance they get) then your looking at 3K - 6K baht per day at both private hospitals in Ubon.

If you only entertain your kid once per week at the play area at tesco, city mall or bigC, you are looking at 300 baht each time (1,200 baht per month).

Bad internet service will run you 700 baht per month.

Bad T.V. options (with very little english language programing) will cost around 500 baht per month.

If you can find a house (to rent) that already has a single air conditioner (hopefully good quality so you wont have to pay 3K baht per month to still be hot) and a hot shower, you will be lucky. If that house also has a water tank and powered water you should play the lottery the first chance you get { at least 200 baht per month (: }.

Just the air and hot shower discovery will run you 6K baht per month.

I'll stop now.

Sorry bout the tone.

Sounds like you miss your home country.........

And no good spaghetti sauce = terrible!

[janverbeem]

Hello,

Any "mansion" type of place will be at least twice as expensive as the government bill for utilities.

You could easily spend 4K baht per month with moderate A/C usage and quick hot showers and electric cookers. The rent will be at least 6K baht (10K already).

Rice is 30 baht per kilo.

Pork is 140 baht per kilo. Sticky rice is even more expensive.

Bottled water is 30-50 baht per day.

Cooking water is 5 baht per day.

Gas for your car is 35 baht per liter (it's cheaper to buy gas for your your car in America).

Bananas are almost 10 baht each.

Australian carrots ( please never feed your kid any food from china) are 150 baht per kilo.

A whole cooked chicken is 120 baht ( this will provide a nice dinner and chicken salad sandwichs the next day).

Beef is expensive and not very tasty.

There is no good spaghetti sauce in Ubon. There is tomato paste but real tomatos are more expensive than in America.

You can buy a coffee maker but there is no ground coffee in the big three retail outlets. The rest is twice as expensive as America and not very good. The Lao brand is the best of the bad coffee available.

The cow milk is awful.

Diapers cost more here.

Baby formula costs more here.

Your health insurance will not work here (probably).

Health care costs are about the same (in total) as your co pay would cost back home but the doctors here do little educational upkeep on themselves, after they finish their joke of a residency, so you end up paying much much more than your homeland's co-pay because these doctors are not like ours at home.

If you have to go inpatient ( they will try to push you into checking in any chance they get) then your looking at 3K - 6K baht per day at both private hospitals in Ubon.

If you only entertain your kid once per week at the play area at tesco, city mall or bigC, you are looking at 300 baht each time (1,200 baht per month).

Bad internet service will run you 700 baht per month.

Bad T.V. options (with very little english language programing) will cost around 500 baht per month.

If you can find a house (to rent) that already has a single air conditioner (hopefully good quality so you wont have to pay 3K baht per month to still be hot) and a hot shower, you will be lucky. If that house also has a water tank and powered water you should play the lottery the first chance you get { at least 200 baht per month (: }.

Just the air and hot shower discovery will run you 6K baht per month.

I'll stop now.

Sorry bout the tone.

Sounds like you miss your home country.........

And no good spaghetti sauce = terrible!

Bergen,I know you are living in the area of Ubon so please be honest and tell them if 17000 Baht a month is even close to accurate for 2 adults witha 2 year old baby to live off,even in Isaan.

I also see that the OP did mention yummy thai food.I live in Thailand for 16 years and like Thai food,I eat farang food on occasion ,but I have also stayed in Ubon umpteen times and have to say that Isaan food is something different and for sure not my style.

[shiranai]

Thank you for the honest input, kdc. No need to apologize about the tone. This is not the first place I have gone for information and I am getting reports all over the board, which is possibly the most concerning part.

If a mansion is not the best deal, then what other options are there? I was told some places include tv and internet (even if it is crappy). I dont watch tv anyways, but the mans gotta have his sports. Luckily he's fluent in Thai.

We don't need gas and we don't need formula.

Would eating street food be cheaper than buying groceries? That's what others have told me.

I know Isaan food is unique. I know some Lao's who made me Isaan style som tham. Like the other stuff better, but it was still good.

I have been told I can pick up extra classes for extra pay. What amount should I be bringing in to make the tone a good one?

We have family in Bangkok who say 30,000 can be comfortable in the city. I assumed the countryside would be cheaper and that 25,000 would be the same. I have never been, personally, though. So more info and opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again, everyone.

[bergen]

Hello,

Any "mansion" type of place will be at least twice as expensive as the government bill for utilities.

You could easily spend 4K baht per month with moderate A/C usage and quick hot showers and electric cookers. The rent will be at least 6K baht (10K already).

Rice is 30 baht per kilo.

Pork is 140 baht per kilo. Sticky rice is even more expensive.

Bottled water is 30-50 baht per day.

Cooking water is 5 baht per day.

Gas for your car is 35 baht per liter (it's cheaper to buy gas for your your car in America).

Bananas are almost 10 baht each.

Australian carrots ( please never feed your kid any food from china) are 150 baht per kilo.

A whole cooked chicken is 120 baht ( this will provide a nice dinner and chicken salad sandwichs the next day).

Beef is expensive and not very tasty.

There is no good spaghetti sauce in Ubon. There is tomato paste but real tomatos are more expensive than in America.

You can buy a coffee maker but there is no ground coffee in the big three retail outlets. The rest is twice as expensive as America and not very good. The Lao brand is the best of the bad coffee available.

The cow milk is awful.

Diapers cost more here.

Baby formula costs more here.

Your health insurance will not work here (probably).

Health care costs are about the same (in total) as your co pay would cost back home but the doctors here do little educational upkeep on themselves, after they finish their joke of a residency, so you end up paying much much more than your homeland's co-pay because these doctors are not like ours at home.

If you have to go inpatient ( they will try to push you into checking in any chance they get) then your looking at 3K - 6K baht per day at both private hospitals in Ubon.

If you only entertain your kid once per week at the play area at tesco, city mall or bigC, you are looking at 300 baht each time (1,200 baht per month).

Bad internet service will run you 700 baht per month.

Bad T.V. options (with very little english language programing) will cost around 500 baht per month.

If you can find a house (to rent) that already has a single air conditioner (hopefully good quality so you wont have to pay 3K baht per month to still be hot) and a hot shower, you will be lucky. If that house also has a water tank and powered water you should play the lottery the first chance you get { at least 200 baht per month (: }.

Just the air and hot shower discovery will run you 6K baht per month.

I'll stop now.

Sorry bout the tone.

Sounds like you miss your home country.........

And no good spaghetti sauce = terrible!

Bergen,I know you are living in the area of Ubon so please be honest and tell them if 17000 Baht a month is even close to accurate for 2 adults witha 2 year old baby to live off,even in Isaan.

I also see that the OP did mention yummy thai food.I live in Thailand for 16 years and like Thai food,I eat farang food on occasion ,but I have also stayed in Ubon umpteen times and have to say that Isaan food is something different and for sure not my style.

You can rent a house for 4 - 5000 Baht a month.

17000.- a month doesn't sound much for 2 1/2 person, but if you don't smoke or drink, eat local food and are a low spender - I guess it's possible.............

[mike123ca]

Your husband is Thai, He doesn't need a visa or work papers.

I'm sure he can also get a job to help supplement the family income.

[bergen]

Your husband is Thai, He doesn't need a visa or work papers.

I'm sure he can also get a job to help supplement the family income.

Yes I think it's needed.

If you can get a cheapish rental, with electric and water included for 5000.- a month, you still have left only 400.- Baht a day - not much for food and other needs!

[MeMock]

Hi Shirani,

There are a few things in the post from KDC1899 that I feel are not correct.

Any "mansion" type of place will be at least twice as expensive as the government bill for utilities.

Not allows true but it can happen. I would suggest finding a small two bedroom house.

You could easily spend 4K baht per month with moderate A/C usage and quick hot showers and electric cookers

If they are in a one or two bedroom place I doubt it would be more then 1,500 baht per month with moderate use.

Bottled water is 30-50 baht per day.

Get the 20 litres delivered to your door step. 10 baht should last three days.

Australian carrots ( please never feed your kid any food from china) are 150 baht per kilo.

Are the carrots in Macro or City Mall from China? I wouldn't know but they are about 30 baht per kg and my kids love em.

[

Edited April 11, 2011 by MeMock

[MeMock]

A whole cooked chicken is 120 baht ( this will provide a nice dinner and chicken salad sandwichs the next day).

They can be a lot cheaper - around 70 baht but perhaps not as big or tasty as the 120 baht ones mentioned here.

Beef is expensive and not very tasty.

Wet age your own - delicious!

There is no good spaghetti sauce in Ubon. There is tomato paste but real tomatos are more expensive than in America.

They are going to eat Thai food.

The cow milk is awful.

Seems fine to me and my young kids.

Edited April 11, 2011 by MeMock

[MeMock]

You can buy a coffee maker but there is no ground coffee in the big three retail outlets. The rest is twice as expensive as America and not very good. The Lao brand is the best of the bad coffee available.

Drink instant coffee - they are doing it Thai style. (I do agree that Laos coffee is the best.)

Diapers cost more here.

I thought they were priced fairly well comapred to back home (Australia anyway). No worries really as the child is two years old so will be potty trained any month now.

If you only entertain your kid once per week at the play area at tesco, city mall or bigC, you are looking at 300 baht each time (1,200 baht per month).

City Mall play area is 20 baht a turn - they never time you. My maths show me that is 80 baht a month, not 1,200. Buy the kid an icecream each time and it might hit 100 baht a month

Bad internet service will run you 700 baht per month.

If you use the internet a lot then this is true. If not then just teether your phone and pay as you go. (5 hours worth for 50 baht etc.)

Edited April 11, 2011 by MeMock

[MeMock]

Sorry bout the tone

Sorry about mine as well as I am not trying to be picky herebut there were so many things there that I felt i should correct before Shiranai has a heart attack!

Find a 2 bedroom house in the 'burbs for 4,000 baht per month and the rest will fall into place.

You said you want your "family can at least be clothed, fed and safe on the income I will receive. This is for the experience more than anything, and only the duration of a year."

You are receiving a Thai income so as long as you can live similar to a typical middle class Thai family then you will be just fine. It will be hard but possible. It will be the best thing for your two year old as well in my opinion. Go for it!

P.S - When is Thai Visa going to bring this message board into the 21st century with easy to you quotes and being able to post it all on one entry and not scattered over four? A limit of 4 quotes is ridiculous.

Edited April 11, 2011 by MeMock

[MeMock]

Your husband is Thai, He doesn't need a visa or work papers.

I'm sure he can also get a job to help supplement the family income.

If they do not have close family or friends to look after the little one the cost of child care would eat up all of his wages unless he had a higher paying job then the average person. Besides what a great opportunity for the two year old to spend such quality time with his father.

If it means you have to tighten your belt a little I believe that doing that so that Dad can be the full time care giver is way better then the alternative.

[mike123ca]

Your husband is Thai, He doesn't need a visa or work papers.

I'm sure he can also get a job to help supplement the family income.

If they do not have close family or friends to look after the little one the cost of child care would eat up all of his wages unless he had a higher paying job then the average person. Besides what a great opportunity for the two year old to spend such quality time with his father.

If it means you have to tighten your belt a little I believe that doing that so that Dad can be the full time care giver is way better then the alternative.

We send the 2 year old to kindergarten, I will admit she wasn't happy the first week, but now she loves going to school.

I wish the 5 year old would be a little bit more motivated like his younger sister.

MeMock _ What is City Mall play area? I'm always looking for places to bring my 2 kids to play.

[MeMock]

MeMock _ What is City Mall play area? I'm always looking for places to bring my 2 kids to play.

Just another typical Thai style play area. Balls, balloons and jungle gym all wrapped up in mounds of protective material so they little ones don't hurt themselves.

I used this one almost every day when I was a house dad in Ubon because it was within walking distance but it is also much quieter then the other ones at Tesco and Big C.

It is located next to the food court in the basement of City Mall.

[citizen33]

I'd say the simple answer is that the money isn't enough. There is absolutely nothing in reserve for any emergency and prices in the shops have been going up alarmingly. I don't try to count every penny but nor do I go overboard, and there is many a time when I spend over 10K on a single trip to Tesco or Big C.

[ronz28]

I don't live there but from what I have read, its not possible. Just normal expenses are that much if not more. One medical bill, accident, trip home or unplanned expense would put you in financial jeopardy. You need additional income.

[MeMock]

I'd say the simple answer is that the money isn't enough. There is absolutely nothing in reserve for any emergency and prices in the shops have been going up alarmingly. I don't try to count every penny but nor do I go overboard, and there is many a time when I spend over 10K on a single trip to Tesco or Big C.

If they are going to be eating Thai food then they will not need to even visit Tesco.

[mike123ca]

I'd say the simple answer is that the money isn't enough. There is absolutely nothing in reserve for any emergency and prices in the shops have been going up alarmingly. I don't try to count every penny but nor do I go overboard, and there is many a time when I spend over 10K on a single trip to Tesco or Big C.

If they are going to be eating Thai food then they will not need to even visit Tesco.

Fruits, vegetables and meats are very expensive when compared to the farmer markets.

[Sandgroper1066]

I live in Ubon and my BASIC costs per month for two adults are:

Rent 5000 Baht for a three bedroom, two bathroom house with one airconditioner and cold water showers.

Electricity: 400-450 Baht

Water: 130-150 Baht

ADSL Internet and phone line: 740 Baht

Groceries and sundry household items: 6000-8000 Baht

As I said these are my BASIC costs on top of this there are "entertainment" costs. I hope this is of some help to you.

Cheers

[zzaa09]

Hello,

Any "mansion" type of place will be at least twice as expensive as the government bill for utilities.

You could easily spend 4K baht per month with moderate A/C usage and quick hot showers and electric cookers. The rent will be at least 6K baht (10K already).

Rice is 30 baht per kilo.

Pork is 140 baht per kilo. Sticky rice is even more expensive.

Bottled water is 30-50 baht per day.

Cooking water is 5 baht per day.

Gas for your car is 35 baht per liter (it's cheaper to buy gas for your your car in America).

Bananas are almost 10 baht each.

Australian carrots ( please never feed your kid any food from china) are 150 baht per kilo.

A whole cooked chicken is 120 baht ( this will provide a nice dinner and chicken salad sandwichs the next day).

Beef is expensive and not very tasty.

There is no good spaghetti sauce in Ubon. There is tomato paste but real tomatos are more expensive than in America.

You can buy a coffee maker but there is no ground coffee in the big three retail outlets. The rest is twice as expensive as America and not very good. The Lao brand is the best of the bad coffee available.

The cow milk is awful.

Diapers cost more here.

Baby formula costs more here.

Your health insurance will not work here (probably).

Health care costs are about the same (in total) as your co pay would cost back home but the doctors here do little educational upkeep on themselves, after they finish their joke of a residency, so you end up paying much much more than your homeland's co-pay because these doctors are not like ours at home.

If you have to go inpatient ( they will try to push you into checking in any chance they get) then your looking at 3K - 6K baht per day at both private hospitals in Ubon.

If you only entertain your kid once per week at the play area at tesco, city mall or bigC, you are looking at 300 baht each time (1,200 baht per month).

Bad internet service will run you 700 baht per month.

Bad T.V. options (with very little english language programing) will cost around 500 baht per month.

If you can find a house (to rent) that already has a single air conditioner (hopefully good quality so you wont have to pay 3K baht per month to still be hot) and a hot shower, you will be lucky. If that house also has a water tank and powered water you should play the lottery the first chance you get { at least 200 baht per month (: }.

Just the air and hot shower discovery will run you 6K baht per month.

I'll stop now.

Sorry bout the tone.

Sounds like you miss your home country.........

Or would like to transform his very Thai surroundings into more Western models. Very common. Some just can't {or refuse to} adjust.

[bergen]

I live in Ubon and my BASIC costs per month for two adults are:

Rent 5000 Baht for a three bedroom, two bathroom house with one airconditioner and cold water showers.

Electricity: 400-450 Baht

Water: 130-150 Baht

ADSL Internet and phone line: 740 Baht

Groceries and sundry household items: 6000-8000 Baht

As I said these are my BASIC costs on top of this there are "entertainment" costs. I hope this is of some help to you.

Cheers

I'm not sure what comes under entertainment costs..

With your dancing skills, you should be able to make a few baht - but then of course you would need a work permit.

[Sandgroper1066]

I live in Ubon and my BASIC costs per month for two adults are:

Rent 5000 Baht for a three bedroom, two bathroom house with one airconditioner and cold water showers.

Electricity: 400-450 Baht

Water: 130-150 Baht

ADSL Internet and phone line: 740 Baht

Groceries and sundry household items: 6000-8000 Baht

As I said these are my BASIC costs on top of this there are "entertainment" costs. I hope this is of some help to you.

Cheers

I'm not sure what comes under entertainment costs..

With your dancing skills, you should be able to make a few baht - but then of course you would need a work permit.

Do you need a work permit just to bring pleasure to the masses?

[zzaa09]

I'd say the simple answer is that the money isn't enough. There is absolutely nothing in reserve for any emergency and prices in the shops have been going up alarmingly. I don't try to count every penny but nor do I go overboard, and there is many a time when I spend over 10K on a single trip to Tesco or Big C.

If they are going to be eating Thai food then they will not need to even visit Tesco.

Fruits, vegetables and meats are very expensive when compared to the farmer markets.

That will always be the case. More often than not, these are the factors that some struggle financially month-to-month, they insist to exist on items that are processed, foreign, and found only in their convenient and modern "supermarkets".

[kdc1899]

Hello,

Any "mansion" type of place will be at least twice as expensive as the government bill for utilities.

You could easily spend 4K baht per month with moderate A/C usage and quick hot showers and electric cookers. The rent will be at least 6K baht (10K already).

Rice is 30 baht per kilo.

Pork is 140 baht per kilo. Sticky rice is even more expensive.

Bottled water is 30-50 baht per day.

Cooking water is 5 baht per day.

Gas for your car is 35 baht per liter (it's cheaper to buy gas for your your car in America).

Bananas are almost 10 baht each.

Australian carrots ( please never feed your kid any food from china) are 150 baht per kilo.

A whole cooked chicken is 120 baht ( this will provide a nice dinner and chicken salad sandwichs the next day).

Beef is expensive and not very tasty.

There is no good spaghetti sauce in Ubon. There is tomato paste but real tomatos are more expensive than in America.

You can buy a coffee maker but there is no ground coffee in the big three retail outlets. The rest is twice as expensive as America and not very good. The Lao brand is the best of the bad coffee available.

The cow milk is awful.

Diapers cost more here.

Baby formula costs more here.

Your health insurance will not work here (probably).

Health care costs are about the same (in total) as your co pay would cost back home but the doctors here do little educational upkeep on themselves, after they finish their joke of a residency, so you end up paying much much more than your homeland's co-pay because these doctors are not like ours at home.

If you have to go inpatient ( they will try to push you into checking in any chance they get) then your looking at 3K - 6K baht per day at both private hospitals in Ubon.

If you only entertain your kid once per week at the play area at tesco, city mall or bigC, you are looking at 300 baht each time (1,200 baht per month).

Bad internet service will run you 700 baht per month.

Bad T.V. options (with very little english language programing) will cost around 500 baht per month.

If you can find a house (to rent) that already has a single air conditioner (hopefully good quality so you wont have to pay 3K baht per month to still be hot) and a hot shower, you will be lucky. If that house also has a water tank and powered water you should play the lottery the first chance you get { at least 200 baht per month (: }.

Just the air and hot shower discovery will run you 6K baht per month.

I'll stop now.

Sorry bout the tone.

Sounds like you miss your home country.........

Or would like to transform his very Thai surroundings into more Western models. Very common. Some just can't {or refuse to} adjust.

Why would I adjust to anything?

I think she will soon be tired of eating the same five ingredients every morning, afternoon and night. If she want's to eat like a rich Thai person who has similar daily caloric intakes and variety of food and drink options as a typical working class westerner than she will need more than 25K baht per month.

[ubonrthai]

"Bottled water is 30-50 baht per day."

We buy 22 baht 18.9L jugs of water.

"Gas for your car is 35 baht per liter (it's cheaper to buy gas for your your car in America)."

Depends on where you're coming from. It's usually very similar to the U.S. average.

"Beef is expensive and not very tasty."

Not completely true. Lotus has decent ground beef, but only buy it when it looks really fresh. They will leave it out too long when nobody buys it. They also have nice ribeye cuts. Certainly not fantastic beef but it serves the need. You can also get decent cuts from local fresh markets. I go there to buy ground beef cheaper. You can choose your cut and they'll grind it for you. Or learn from the master! http://goo.gl/XpXrw

"There is no good spaghetti sauce in Ubon."

Also not true. Lotus has great American style spaghetti sauce in a jar. Can't remember the brand. Hunts maybe. Stinking expensive though. Nice replacement for rice once in awhile. There's tons of pastas to choose from. There's only one choice of packaged mac & cheese I've found. It's not very good, but serves the craving. I'm about as stereotypical American as you can get when it comes to food and have no problems getting my staple cravings. Beef, spaghetti, pizza, mac & cheese, pancakes. You know, healthy stuff like that. The only thing missing for me is American cheese, better cereals, and Mt. Dew. Like I said, healthy stuff! Thai food is much cheaper and so we eat that the majority of the time.

"You can buy a coffee maker"

or Birdy 3 in 1 is the best instant coffee in the world.

"The cow milk is awful."

I don't like it either, but I've had American visitors say they like it. I've also recently discovered that the Chokchai brand tastes better.

"Diapers cost more here."

It varies. Bulk newborn Huggies from amazon are $0.24/diaper. Yesterday I paid the equivalent of $0.23/diaper for Mamy Poko newborns at Lotus. Depends on the promotions. U.S. is probably cheaper if you're using coupons and watching sales.

"Your health insurance will not work here (probably)."

You could get BUPA insurance..

"If you only entertain your kid once per week at the play area at tesco, city mall or bigC, you are looking at 300 baht each time (1,200 baht per month)."

1,200b on a 2 year old? Plenty of free ways to entertain your kid.

[kdc1899]

Thank you for the honest input, kdc. No need to apologize about the tone. This is not the first place I have gone for information and I am getting reports all over the board, which is possibly the most concerning part.

If a mansion is not the best deal, then what other options are there? I was told some places include tv and internet (even if it is crappy). I dont watch tv anyways, but the mans gotta have his sports. Luckily he's fluent in Thai.

We don't need gas and we don't need formula.

Would eating street food be cheaper than buying groceries? That's what others have told me.

I know Isaan food is unique. I know some Lao's who made me Isaan style som tham. Like the other stuff better, but it was still good.

I have been told I can pick up extra classes for extra pay. What amount should I be bringing in to make the tone a good one?

We have family in Bangkok who say 30,000 can be comfortable in the city. I assumed the countryside would be cheaper and that 25,000 would be the same. I have never been, personally, though. So more info and opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again, everyone.

Hello,

I guess you will not have a car or motor bike if you don't need gas.

If you tell us the general area of the school you will be walking (busing) to we could give you a better idea of rental options, markets and toddler entertainment venues in your immediate area.

I have very very active 2 and 3 year old girls. They both go to nursery school. If they had to stay in the house all day every day we would need many doses of anti anxiety meds to make it throught the week . When searching for a rental, choose a place that has toddlers in the general area and make friends with the parents quickly so your kid can have friends to play with (zero baht and priceless for your husband. Being with a 2 year old 24/7 gets old quickly.).

The weekly trip to Tesco's play area is also an eat out afternoon. If we eat at the food court it will cost 50 baht per person. The playpen is 30 baht. Each mechanical ride is 10 baht.

Your kid is off the formula already (congrats). My 2 gals drink the 7 grain rice milk (Tesco) in the morning and evening and once during school. The boy is still getting free milk from the mom.

My 3 year old can eat som tom lao much more phet than her momma can eat ( she still can't handle the stuff I can gorge on but she's getting there).

The gals can eat street food. They have always lived in Issan though. Be careful eating street food much till y'all adjust to all the new and interesting organisms you will be introduced to. Be careful with the tap water. Use bottled even for brushing your teeth for awhile.

7K baht will get you a good (Pure Brand) R/O and Ultraviolet combo water purifying unit (will easily pay for itself).

If you are going to do tutoring and will not have a vehicle it would be best to rent a house and have some area for your office. Look at Thai Visa Classifieds in the Ubon section to get an idea what folks are charging for Thai and English lessons. The rates for teaching English are geared towards "rich" Thai gals who are hooked up with a falang. Take 60% off those rates and you will be in the neighborhood of what you can get tutoring a Thai university kid (etc).

You can get dvds for 20 baht at most street markets. Cartoons are great for parking a kid on a sofa for an hour during the day. The "Scholar" series dvds are sold at Tesco (130 baht) and are fun and educational. Bring "Baby Einsteen", "Baby Mozart" (etc) from America (can't get those dvds here).

The nursery schools in the private schools here cost about 2k baht per month. Some have air conditioning and actual health standards in the kitchen. It's an awsome deal. Similar options in BKK can easily cost 2-400 K baht per year. The kid gets lots of friends to play with and your other half can either work or spend the day networking to get you more clients.

I think you can easily clear 50K per month ifyou get out there and win clients.

Good luck to ya.

Edited April 15, 2011 by kdc1899

[johnnyk]

Yor salary plus housing allowance is 25K, not a lot but you should be able to pick up 10K more doing private lessons. 35K a month in Isaan is decent. Put the Thai husband out to work even part-time for at least another 10K.

Why did you take such a low-paying job? Bottom end teaching salary shouldn't be less than 30K a month.

[shiranai]

Thanks, everyone, for your honest and informative input. Opinions seem to be all over the board. I have more information but Im not any closer to making a decision with it.

I didn't take the job. I'm looking on more information as to whether or not I should (can).

If I wanted money I'd go for a better paying job. The offer is at the Ubon Rajabat University. The University I graduated from and them have a relationship and I'd be doing some work along those lines as well.

Entertaining a 2 year old doesn't cost anything more than some sunscreen and fresh air.

[kdc1899]

The fresh air is over for the rest of the year. This place is as hot as the sun; and, old and young are advised to not be out in the heat and sun. The weather may be mild enough for young and old to return outside in December.

If you live in South Florida (as I do) then you have a seventy percent knowledge of how hot and humid Issan is (Ubon is the eastern most part of the time zone in Thailand so the oppressive heat begins around 06:30).

There is a nursery shcool right there on university grounds that has an airconditioned main room.