Costs Of Living

[mitmig]

My wife and I want to come to Thailand for a couple of years. I'm on a statepension and earn about 1600 Euro (77.000 bath). Some friends of mine living in Pattaya say it's not enough for two people living in the countryside. But I think it will be more than enough. What do you think? My age is 43, according to the new visarules in june 2004, will I get a visa for one year or longer, because in the new rules they only talk about foreigners of 50 years of age or more.

[TizMe]

Mitmig,

There are people here that survive on less than 20,000 bht per month,

There are people that survive on over 200,000 bht per month.

It all depends, just like in your home country I guess.

Without knowing your lifestyle it is impossible to tell you if 77,000 bht will be enough.

Somewhere on this forum there is a poll with many members discussing this subject. Perform a search and read.

[Nam Kao]

Mitmig, that is plenty, your friends dont want to watch you living high on the hog day in day out .

[Khun ?]

Wow that is some pension. If I work 50 years I will not get that much pension.

Then again I would hate to see the taxes if some place pays that much pension.

That is probably more than 70% of farangs staying long term presently live on.

When I am there on vacation do you think you may need a guide or driver.

Have a nice time. Several others have the info you need and will most likely reply soon with the limits on being a young man and long stay.

[maerim]

You say that you are on a state pension and "earn" 77,000 a month.

I am not sure what you mean, are you working as well as the pension?

Are you sure the government from your own country will allow you to still draw this money whist abroad?

And what country are you from as I would like to see about one of these pensions.

[Candyflip]

Its true that cost of living depends on life style but 77,000 baht a month in Thai land is definitely enough for normal living. My experience living in thailand for some good fun , I spend like 35000-45000 baht a month that included accomadation ( siam square area) , eat out 3 times a day, clubbing 3-4 nites a week on sukumvit 11 area and i drink load!, spa treatment once a week, fly to the beach/chiangmai once a month. So 77000 baht is plenty enough even for two, dont worry so much and have fun in Thailand. Chookdee ka!

[singa-traz]

43 ? Do you have kids who still need to go to school ?

If you won't have this expense, then you can have a confortable life here ... depending on your existing lifestyle.

[lopburi3]

At age 43 you do not have any visa option other than the normal 60 day tourist unless you buy the Elite Card. This will cost about 25k up front and 1,900 baht every 90 days for new extensions.

Your income should support you and your wife (if you don't have an expensive wine taste).

[Boon Mee]

77K Baht translates into roughly $2k US and if you can get by w/o a car and don't live in Bangkok (Sukhumvit area) it's probably enough.

But to live like a farang - it's streching a bit.

Good luck - wish I could retire at 43!

[Guest IT Manager]

If I had 77K a month I would take on 2 more kids and send them to school, buy a car on credit over 3 years, eat out every day, buy another motorcycle, smoke more cigaretees, and spend more timeon thaivisa.

The only thing to change would be the extra kids,andthe car.

[Axel]

Just received a flyer from one of the Bangkok Riverside-hotels:

31/12/03 Cafe & Terrace Gala Dinner Buffet Baht 9,999 nett.

Now this sounds reasonable for self-service.

OK, you get something cheaper, Baht 8,888 for set menu or Chinese. Lucky number?

Absolute bargain is the Thai Set Menu at Baht 6,888 nett.

Or perhaps you wait for New Years Day Brunch at a mere Baht 2,999 nett.

Should be good to cure your hang over. Ah from what? Drinks not included in the dinners.

Guess, I will politely reject.

[erco]

A state pension at 43, where?

77k a month for 2 people you will have a comfortable quiete life and manage your budget carefully.

The comments regarding 35- 45,000 baht a month drinking loads and flying to Chiang Mai while living on Siam Square and night clubbing 3 nights a week seems unrealistic, unless he buys his beer and food in a supermarket and drinks and eats it on the street. When I go to Bangkok once every month for a couple of nights it costs me 3,000 a day, 1 drink in a club is between 80/200 baht.

[sabaijai]

I know plenty of Thais -- your average civil servant, for example -- getting by on one-tenth that amount per month (ie THB7700/month).

If you live outside Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket, the general minimum, in my opinion, is about US$750 a month for a couple living well but frugally. The cost of living in BKK, Pattaya and Phuket is roughly double everywhere else.

So I'd say you have more than enough to live comfortably in Thailand.

[Khun ?]

A state pension at 43, where?

77k a month for 2 people you will have a comfortable quiete life and manage your budget carefully.

The comments regarding 35- 45,000 baht a month drinking loads and flying to Chiang Mai while living on Siam Square and night clubbing 3 nights a week seems unrealistic, unless he buys his beer and food in a supermarket and drinks and eats it on the street. When I go to Bangkok once every month for a couple of nights it costs me 3,000 a day, 1 drink in a club is between 80/200 baht.

It is a she and I believe she is also thai from another post she made. Excuse me if this is not correct. Most Thai she's get income from doing this.

[Candyflip]

Erco, if you are the one who send me an email, I hope my answer on email is clear.

People have different ways to spend their money. Spending money on holiday and spending money on normal living is totally different story. If you are tourist, u would wanna make the most of it for the short time, so u always spend alot more money than you normally spend it back home but this guy and his wife will be living there, normal standard living never cost that much in Thailand. 77,000 baht a month will make them live comfortably in Thailand.

[themuse1969]

My wife and I want to come to Thailand for a couple of years. I'm on a statepension and earn about 1600 Euro (77.000 bath).

Well....this Yank is considering Thailand to retire to and my monthly pension will be about 28,000BHT. I will visit later this year.....not as a "tourist"......but as one searching for a home. Clubbing and constant dining out are of no little interest to me. I am more interested in being at home in traditional Thai culture. The only western interest I might bring along is golf but that too can be left behind.

I've lived overseas before and always lived outside of mainstream America when there. Its what one brings to a place, not what one gets out of a place, that creates heaven on earth. HO!

[johnnyk]

If you are with your wife you will not be spending on discos, girls and lady drinks - big savings compared to many expats.

Find a place to live other than Bangkok, Phuket or Pattaya.

If you live upcountry you can live like a king on 40,000. Lots of nice places like Nong Khai, Khon Kaen, Roi Et, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai etc.

Friend of mine lives on 21,000/month. He bought a small condo for cash (has a pool though!) and his Thai GF does the cooking which saves big time on restaurants.

Edited February 20, 2007 by johnnyk

[ronw]

77k/month.....? you can live VERY comfortably on that here in ,or near, Pai....it is still possible to rent a reasonable house for under 5k/ month....and if you eat the local food....very, very cheap!

many expats live quite well on far less than your income....

your best bet would be to get a one year non "O" visa...get to LOS...and travel around until you find a place you like.....the flesh pots of the south are not typical of most of Thailand...

[Lite Beer]

You will have more than enough money , but as Lopburi said you will struggle a bit regarding getting a Visa. Tourist Visas being your only option.

[astral]

Don't forget you need health insurance and some money in the bank for the inevitable "emergency".

[Dakhar]

Let me give you some ideas.

I bring in a little over 200K a month.

What lifestyle does that give me?

Well, I can afford to by gas, and I have a boring Camry. I could not afford a M3 BMW like I had in the states. I can not purchase a home, like I had in the states....

I made 6 figures back home. I lived a modest lifestyle, to be honest, my M3 was 10yrs old.

In Thailand, 200K will not allow you to "role fat" or anything like that. You will be able to afford electricity, hot water, washer machines etc, without even blinking. This to a Thai is wealthy. But to many other nations.... that is just the standard of living.

You will not have a 30 Ft sport fishing boat parked off the coast of Pataya. (Something I dream of) You will not have a BMW, unless you are crazy enough to pay the prices here. You will not have a palacious yard, or home.

I am not saying that 77K is not adequate. It is, as long as you accept a lower level of living than what you had in your home land, and at 77K you will live better than a lot of Thais. But the knowledge that you never really have to work again, does have value.

I actually spend less than 20K because I have 0 living expenses. The co. I work for takes care of everything. Travel, Toll fees, gas, even food. So I save most of everything I earn. Maybe one day I will have that sport fisher off the coast of Pataya....

Good luck

[konangrit]

This thread is from 2003....

[Krub]

This thread is from 2003....

So very much alive and full of good info

[younghusband]

I know plenty of Thais -- your average civil servant, for example -- getting by on one-tenth that amount per month (ie THB7700/month).

If you live outside Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket, the general minimum, in my opinion, is about US$750 a month for a couple living well but frugally. The cost of living in BKK, Pattaya and Phuket is roughly double everywhere else.

So I'd say you have more than enough to live comfortably in Thailand.

This subject "how much is enough" always amuses me, because posters, as above, hardly ever point out it completely depends on the individual's lifestyle.Generally it is assumed that farang male residents will put aside a significant part of their income for drinking, clubbing and bargirls.Not so surprising given the very significant blue collar element (majority?) on this forum.In my case I spend virtually nothing on these items although I do import a fair amount of French and New World Wine.It's part of my lifestyle requirement to visit Europe several times a year, and I usually fly business class.My daughter is at a decent Bangkok international school, but we spend a considerable amount on her external education -books, overseas trips etc.I pay a large amount towards my pension and health/life insurance.I employ 4 Thai staff.I save a fair amount.In summary I need about Bt 300,000 pm which is equivalent to Pnds 50,000 pa. a fairly average UK salary for a professional man.Multinational types in Bangkok can easily earn up to 4 times (Bt 1,200,000 per month) this amount.

Edited February 21, 2007 by younghusband

[DWALDO]

Some of the figures being thrown around seem quite extraordinary, my Thai wife to be estimates that 50,000 a month will be adequate for a nice life for her, me and her son. Having been to Thailand many times this figure seems about right to me. When I have been here in the past and jet slied all day drunk every night and chasing women, sure I spent 10,000 a day but to spend 15,000 on accomodation 5,000 for her fathers whisky that should leave enough for a few nights out playing pool and having a few beers. You can eat out every night if you want but not at the top places. As long as I have a million or so for emergencies I'm sure life would be pleasant. I'm 47 and enjoy family life but if I was 25 I'm sure my expences would go up drastically. I know this has diverted off the original thread but all I'm saying is it depends what you want to do.

Dave.

[astral]

Thai wife and three children.

It costs me about 70K a month and we own our own house................

[LivinLOS]

On 77k you can..

It wont be generous.. But it will be liveable.. I fully agree with Dakar above that many things we would consider 'the norm' back home are extreme luxuries here (I always had and enjoyed nice cars.. Look at what an SL costs here and choke) but other aspects make up for it.

It will also depend very very much on where and how you live.

No better answers will be available.. Will be down to you.

[tropo]

Don't forget you need health insurance and some money in the bank for the inevitable "emergency".

That's a bit pessimistic. I would say health insurance is for a possible "emergency".

[tropo]

Let me give you some ideas.

I bring in a little over 200K a month.

What lifestyle does that give me?

You're talking about 68.6K US per year. That's a good income even in the US. You'd have to make around 100K per month to nett that much.

You can live extremely well for that in Thailand.

Edited February 22, 2007 by tropo

[Krub]

Let me give you some ideas.

I bring in a little over 200K a month.

What lifestyle does that give me?

You're talking about 68.6K US per year. That's a good income even in the US. You'd have to make around 100K per month to nett that much.

You can live extremely well for that in Thailand.

I live well in Tokyo for 200k a month (net)

If you have a garanteed regular 200k monthly income there is no need to worry or even discuss about having or not having enough to live in Thailand.

The OP asked for afigure of 77k a month which should be plenty for a 'nromal' life outside of the big centers