Cheapest Area Of Thailand But With Broadband Internet?

[Thaddeus]

Anywhere in Isarn, is much cheaper. I live and have done so in Southern Buriram ,very near the Cambodian border ,for more years than I care to remember. I n TOTAL safety. We have a growing retail community,where pretty much everything you need for your daily existence is available. We have many markets, both morning and evening. In Buriram , you have 3 "Supermarkets", Big C ,Makro ,And Tawekit. All on public transport routes, if you do not have wheels, They are about 70 kms away. I do a bulk buy about every 3 months, Smaller Tawekits are located in our town and the 2 nearest towns.My cost of living ? Well I support ,financially " a family of 6, incl. myself. + buying farm supplies -fertiliser, weed spray , etc..My rent for a 2 storey 3 bedroom house is B 2,500. per month. So, I spend about B 30, 000 a month max. . That includes paying for 2 children going to school.I want for nothing, my daily existence is quite comfortable, thank you very much. Should you desire it, a lot of Western food is readily available.The only area that is a bit dodgy for safety , really is around Khao Phra Viharn, in SiSa Ket province. But where the "action" is , you would not want to live anyway. No farang live there, The rest of Isarn is very safe. There is a lot of nonsense talked. By Bangkok people, who know no better. Who have never been to Isarn ,but pontificate about how horrible Isarn and the locals are. We, on the converse having suffered life in Bkk for some years., are very thankful for having been given the opportunity to escape. So,Here is a realistic starting point for you to look at places and have some idea of what to look for ,and a basis for comparison. Best of Luck

Personally horrible? No, not at all. Grammar Horror? Well....lol :jap:

Isarn (Isaan) = the area, locals = the inhabitants ....... what's the problem?

For the OP.

Asking such questions would indicate that you have no experience of living anywhere in Thailand, the best option for you would be to stick a pin in a map, go there and try it for a while without putting down any roots, and then don't moan if you find out you can't hack it.

If there was any place in Thailand that had good roads, reliable and fast internet, honest police force, no young thugs hanging around, real smiles, cheap rent and just happened to have a Makro next door, I think most of us would be living there...... which would then spoil it.

[Richard4849]

Anywhere in Isarn, is much cheaper. I live and have done so in Southern Buriram ,very near the Cambodian border ,for more years than I care to remember. I n TOTAL safety. We have a growing retail community,where pretty much everything you need for your daily existence is available. We have many markets, both morning and evening. In Buriram , you have 3 "Supermarkets", Big C ,Makro ,And Tawekit. All on public transport routes, if you do not have wheels, They are about 70 kms away. I do a bulk buy about every 3 months, Smaller Tawekits are located in our town and the 2 nearest towns.My cost of living ? Well I support ,financially " a family of 6, incl. myself. + buying farm supplies -fertiliser, weed spray , etc..My rent for a 2 storey 3 bedroom house is B 2,500. per month. So, I spend about B 30, 000 a month max. . That includes paying for 2 children going to school.I want for nothing, my daily existence is quite comfortable, thank you very much. Should you desire it, a lot of Western food is readily available.The only area that is a bit dodgy for safety , really is around Khao Phra Viharn, in SiSa Ket province. But where the "action" is , you would not want to live anyway. No farang live there, The rest of Isarn is very safe. There is a lot of nonsense talked. By Bangkok people, who know no better. Who have never been to Isarn ,but pontificate about how horrible Isarn and the locals are. We, on the converse having suffered life in Bkk for some years., are very thankful for having been given the opportunity to escape. So,Here is a realistic starting point for you to look at places and have some idea of what to look for ,and a basis for comparison. Best of Luck

Personally horrible? No, not at all. Grammar Horror? Well....lol :jap:

Isarn (Isaan) = the area, locals = the inhabitants ....... what's the problem?

For the OP.

Asking such questions would indicate that you have no experience of living anywhere in Thailand, the best option for you would be to stick a pin in a map, go there and try it for a while without putting down any roots, and then don't moan if you find out you can't hack it.

If there was any place in Thailand that had good roads, reliable and fast internet, honest police force, no young thugs hanging around, real smiles, cheap rent and just happened to have a Makro next door, I think most of us would be living there...... which would then spoil it.

Which is exactly why I'm not telling where I live.

[Semper]

Songkhla is the place to head for. Only forty minutes from the airport and from the souths largest city of Hat Yai.

40minutes from the airport. What sort of vehicle do you have?

[dunkin2012]

the OP Hi, I already mentioned that I don't want to live in Bangkok.

Anywhere in Isarn, is much cheaper. I live and have done so in Southern Buriram ,very near the Cambodian border ,for more years than I care to remember. I n TOTAL safety. We have a growing retail community,where pretty much everything you need for your daily existence is available. We have many markets, both morning and evening. In Buriram , you have 3 "Supermarkets", Big C ,Makro ,And Tawekit. All on public transport routes, if you do not have wheels, They are about 70 kms away. I do a bulk buy about every 3 months, Smaller Tawekits are located in our town and the 2 nearest towns.My cost of living ? Well I support ,financially " a family of 6, incl. myself. + buying farm supplies -fertiliser, weed spray , etc..My rent for a 2 storey 3 bedroom house is B 2,500. per month. So, I spend about B 30, 000 a month max. . That includes paying for 2 children going to school.I want for nothing, my daily existence is quite comfortable, thank you very much. Should you desire it, a lot of Western food is readily available.The only area that is a bit dodgy for safety , really is around Khao Phra Viharn, in SiSa Ket province. But where the "action" is , you would not want to live anyway. No farang live there, The rest of Isarn is very safe. There is a lot of nonsense talked. By Bangkok people, who know no better. Who have never been to Isarn ,but pontificate about how horrible Isarn and the locals are. We, on the converse having suffered life in Bkk for some years., are very thankful for having been given the opportunity to escape. So,Here is a realistic starting point for you to look at places and have some idea of what to look for ,and a basis for comparison. Best of Luck

Personally horrible? No, not at all. Grammar Horror? Well....lol :jap:

Isarn (Isaan) = the area, locals = the inhabitants ....... what's the problem?

For the OP.

Asking such questions would indicate that you have no experience of living anywhere in Thailand, the best option for you would be to stick a pin in a map, go there and try it for a while without putting down any roots, and then don't moan if you find out you can't hack it.

If there was any place in Thailand that had good roads, reliable and fast internet, honest police force, no young thugs hanging around, real smiles, cheap rent and just happened to have a Makro next door, I think most of us would be living there...... which would then spoil it.

Which is exactly why I'm not telling where I live.

there is a rule.... in the cyber-world we don't need to be real. Your fone, address, name, details!!! nope....

Bkk is the last place on earth that i 'd choose to live. Bangkok has the worse Air + noise pollutions. Definitely Not healthy!!!

Issan is OK.... if it's suit your life style......

Consider 1pollution free, 2secured, 3handy, 4reasonable and 5climatic

1. Any place that i can fit myself in and my health won't get worse. There are some costs in maintaining your good health. In a big city, it's harder to find green spots where one can do some exercise.

2. A Security issue is to be considered. If you're too far and isolated, there will be lots of chances that the place will be broken into. And don't risk one's own life. Anywhere there are many junkies there will be very much rough.

3. To commute to a shopping center, to go to a sandy beach and to get to a good hospital are important. Is a Hi-speed internet connection available? comfy!~~~

4. Paying for commodities is worth for what one gets. How much's it to rent a decent flat in Sukhumvit,Silom or Satorn? How much is it for a good meal around the areas?

5. Not too dam***n hot. A sea breeze can cool down the intense heat in a mid summer day though.:jap:

[sam22]

I have 20 mbs+ in Chiang mai and its free with my appartment. There is also a hudge mall and some tesco and big C

[Mosha]

In Ranong, beer in bars 40 baht a small bottle. I run a D-Max. Food and utilities included we are comfortable on 25K Baht/month. Not to everyones liking, but I'm in the sticks and I'm happy. Internet can be hit and miss though. There is a Tesco Lotus in town. Not many expats either.

edit: I don't know rental prices we have our own place

Edited June 21, 2011 by Mosha

[klikster]

Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Udorn, Ubon, Nong Khai, Khon Kaen, Korat, and many more ..

[klikster]

It's great to have a low cost housing option in any number of places upcountry...

But what happens if the OP needs good medical care and/or hospitalization?

And when he says a "supermarket," I'm presuming he means one where he can buy some variety of western products...

And then there's the access to regional transportation issue someone mentioned above.

When you start factoring in those and other similar kinds of considerations, the options get quite a bit narrower.

Chiang Mai

Numerous serviced apartments

Chiang Mai Ram hospital, McCormack, University

Numerous supermarkets .. and Kasem store

Airport - train - buses - cheap local

Khon Kaen

Condo (expensive)

Lots of apartments around the uni

Sinakarin Hospital

Tesco, Big C

Airport - trains - buses - taxis

Korat

Serviced apartments and at least 1 condo

St Mary's Hospital, the Ram

Tesco, Big C, The Mall

Airport - train - buses - taxis

Cha am

Lots of apartments

Hospital? not sure but BKK is 2 hr by car

Shopping - small tesco, the Village Mall in Hua Hin

Transport - about 2 hours to BKK by car or minivan

Edited June 21, 2011 by klikster

[dunkin2012]

Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Udorn, Ubon, Nong Khai, Khon Kaen, Korat, and many more ..

long Lifespan

plus Pattani, Yaya and Narathivas

[Jingthing]

Pattaya offers the best bang for your dollar...

Which is of course why most people live there.

That's a big part of it for a lot of us, Bangkok amenities by the sea without Bangkok prices. If you're implying that all or most of us who actually LIVE here long term are 24/7 mongers, you've watched too many UK documentaries.

Edited June 21, 2011 by Jingthing

[klikster]

Please don't tell him to go to Chiang Rai ..

Why? Someone apparently told you.

Or do you perhaps subscribe to the "selfish expat" philosophy, I discovered it and so now it is mine, mine, mine .. all mine!

.. he obviously has seen a brochure about Phuket and wants a postcard beach for cheap with "a supermarket"

Assumption?

Let's keep Chiang Rai unspoilt, It has not got a decent size supermarket, and that's why we like it

Who is the "us you speak for? The whole of Chiang Rai citizenry, no doubt.

[Chiang Rai] .., It has not got a decent size supermarket, and that's why we like it

And Big C is, and Central, and ..

[klikster]

Edited June 21, 2011 by klikster

[aneliane]

Please don't tell him to go to Chiang Rai ..

Why? Someone apparently told you.

Or do you perhaps subscribe to the "selfish expat" philosophy, I discovered it and so now it is mine, mine, mine .. all mine!

yes all for myself

. he obviously has seen a brochure about Phuket and wants a postcard beach for cheap with "a supermarket"

Assumption?

Yes phuket is very well advertised

Let's keep Chiang Rai unspoilt, It has not got a decent size supermarket, and that's why we like it

Who is the "us you speak for? The whole of Chiang Rai citizenry, no doubt.

us who like it rural

[Chiang Rai] .., It has not got a decent size supermarket, and that's why we like it

And Big C is, and Central, and ..

[IanForbes]

For the OP.

Asking such questions would indicate that you have no experience of living anywhere in Thailand, the best option for you would be to stick a pin in a map, go there and try it for a while without putting down any roots, and then don't moan if you find out you can't hack it.

If there was any place in Thailand that had good roads, reliable and fast internet, honest police force, no young thugs hanging around, real smiles, cheap rent and just happened to have a Makro next door, I think most of us would be living there...... which would then spoil it.

Thaddeus probably said it best. I've said the same thing many time on similar requests. NEVER, EVER move somewhere without first checking it out in the off season. Having a holiday somewhere nice is FAR different than actually living there. NEVER invest in real estate where you intend to live without first checking out all the options and possible problems. Are there noisy neighbours? Is it close to transportation and commerce (food, shopping, restaurants, etc)? What is the traffic like? What is the weather like in the off season? Does it flood? Is there reliable water and electricity. How good is the internet and phone service? What are your personal interests and does the proposed homestead suit it? Some folks like the mountains and others like the sea. Some enjoy cities and others want the quiet of a farm.

Jungthing backed up what I said about the Pattaya area. There is more to Pattaya than the 3 square kilometer of central Pattaya beach area. A 20 minute scooter ride takes you well away from the congested beach scene near walking street, and yet you can find anything that suits your needs around town.

[tim armstrong]

Anywhere central to North. Nakhon Sawan area has great food great countryside, nightlife if you want it, and very friendly people. Its also not touristy, but has all facilities and shops. Also fast Internet. Otherwise - Petchabun, Khon Kaen, Chang Mai, Chang Rai.

[jfchandler]

Cha am

Lots of apartments

Hospital? not sure but BKK is 2 hr by car

Shopping - small tesco, the Village Mall in Hua Hin

Transport - about 2 hours to BKK by car or minivan

My wife is a nurse's aide at a private hospital here in BKK, and she says there is no particularly good private hospital option in Hua Hin or Cha-Am....

[welsh1]

Beautiful Chaingrai

But please dont tell everyone

Google says:

"Did you mean Chiang Mai?"

Thanks

Sorry

Chiangrai

Now if i was to pack my bags and move else where in Thailand i could live in Chaing mai..But why on earth would any one want to live in chiangrai.. there's nothing there !!!

[Richard4849]

The smoke and haze up North in the dry season is a deal-breaker for me.

[afarang]

Cha am

Lots of apartments

Hospital? not sure but BKK is 2 hr by car

Shopping - small tesco, the Village Mall in Hua Hin

Transport - about 2 hours to BKK by car or minivan

My wife is a nurse's aide at a private hospital here in BKK, and she says there is no particularly good private hospital option in Hua Hin or Cha-Am....

Who needs private hospitals?. I n 21 years , I have never ventured near one. Over the years the Govt. hospital system has improved greatly. I have been using it, as i say for 21 years.Still alive to tell the tale.Is there not some perverse snobbery here, from farang?

[jfchandler]

I'm not saying the private hospitals and the doctors at them are all great. They're not.

But all you have to do is read the newspapers lately to see article after article of govt. hospitals being vastly short of money and short of staff, lacking thousands of nurses and doctors because so many have fled to the larger cities like Bangkok for better pay and working conditions. And how those that remain are often the young and inexperienced...

I'm sure it's possible to get good medical care from a government hospital, as each one is different. But the more you venture out of the main population centers, I'd say the greater the risk you're taking of encountering either substandard care or substandard medical facilities.

And that aside, the low-cost government hospitals really are meant for Thais... not farangs....who are supposed to have either their own funds or medical insurance to cover their needs. At a time when the government medical system that poor Thais depend on is already so overburdened, to be a farang poaching on Thai government medical care on an ongoing, lifelong basis is a pretty lowly thing to be doing, IMHO.

[afarang]

I take great offence at your insinuation that I am the lowest of the low, simply because as a matter of choice , I patronise a Govt.t. hospital. In my IMHO you are exemplifying a snobby farang. Where does it state that I must have health insurance? At my advanced years that is not possible to obtain.I AM a full fee paying patient at my local Govt. hospital. I am extremely offended by your assertion that you get sub-standard care in sub-standard medical facilities.If you venture out of the main population centres. Would you consider An Amphur hospital , about 430 kilometres from Bkk. is out of a main pop. centre, ?This hospital is definitely not sub-standard, and yes the doctors are fresh out of med. school. But they are very aware of their limitations and as soon as they have a case outside of their abilities, you are bundled off in an ambulance to your provincial hospital.Where you receive specialist treatment. May I be allowed to say the last paragraph of your post is totally appalling and quite disgusting. And extremely dishonest and does not reflect the true state of affairs , .AT ALL..It does however display your ignorance of the true position. I suggest you try patronising your local "Bush " Govt. Hospital . I will say ,that as far as possible , I do not go near the hospital in the mornings, when they are jam-packed. I do that out of common care and decency. Understanding that many patients come by Public transport .which only leaves their villages in the mornings.

[jfchandler]

Thanks for clarifying that you're only using overburdened Thai government hospital resources in the afternoon... not in the morning...in consideration of the local Thais who have no other option for their medical care... The fact that you avoid the morning rush I'm sure comes as great comfort to everyone involved... Been doing the same for 21 years now, huh?

I have great respect for the Thai government medical system and its staff who try to do their best under often terrible conditions, short of staff, short of money and with far too many Thais to care for than their facilities and funding can support...

And then you come along, and add your burden on top of it all... Great guest for Thailand... Hope you're proud of yourself.

[Richard4849]

You're out of line, Chandler. Public hospitals are for and welcome everyone.

[jfchandler]

The understaffing situation at some public hospitals has become worse partly because of the government's extended healthcare programme, which puts more pressure on public hospitals, which are already short on government-provided resources.

Many physicians have left the public hospitals in remote provinces to work in private hospitals in Bangkok and other big cities where they have less work load, better support facilities and more equipment to perform their duties.

The shortage of staff is seen in recent statistics from Medical Council records. It shows that 39,395 doctors are practising around the country, but at least 9,772 more are needed to fully serve the public health system. Dr Chanvej Satthabhud, president of the Trauma Association of Thailand, was recently quoted as saying that there was a critical need for extra physicians to perform emergency treatment for accident victims.

He added that the Medical Council's records also show that we have only 300 emergency surgeons and neurological surgeons working at hospitals across the country, and only 50 of these are now working at rural hospitals nationwide.

The situation in the nursing profession is no better. Thailand needs 180,435 nurses to provide adequate coverage, but the Kingdom now has only 130,710. Again, the shortage is more serious in rural provinces.

[jfchandler]

Published : January 20, 2011 :: 11:01:18

Hospitals count cost of foreigners’ bills

State hospitals in the southern province are shouldering a heavy burden for treating elderly foreigners who cannot afford to pay their medical bills.

Many retired foreigners who came to Thailand with the hope of settling down here are now struggling after spending their pensions wastefully and marrying Thai women, some of whom left them after their money ran out. Lots of foreigners have fallen ill and been admitted to local hospitals. Their relatives back home refuse to pay for their treatment on being contacted by the embassy, Vachira Phuket Hospital’s public relations centre said. The embassies regard the matter as personal. They will provide help to their nationals only in cases of emergency or disaster. “So we’ve treated these patients based on professional ethics until the last moments of their lives. Funeral rites and merit-making ceremonies are held for them,” a source at the centre said.

The state-run Vachira Phuket Hospital admitted a record 377 foreign patients, mostly Britons, in the 12 months to Sept 30, 2010. There were also cases of foreigners who died outside of hospital but were brought in for autopsies. They died of causes ranging from road accidents to drowning and suicide. The hospital last year spent 1.3 million baht treating 17 penniless foreigners. It was the third consecutive year that the hospital had logged unpaid bills. The hospital bore costs of more than 1.2 million baht in 2009 for 22 foreign patients, a 50% rise from the 800,000 baht in costs to treat 17 patients in 2008, the centre said.

“These patients are mostly European men,” the source said. “They didn’t take out health insurance. They renew their visas every year and have no savings.” Some of them produced fake financial statements to have their visas renewed. Each foreign national seeking the renewal of his or her retirement visa must have at least 800,000 baht in their bank account or show they have earnings of at least 65,000 baht a month.

The source said foreigners’ savings often were quickly used up on entertainment and women. Some who wanted to build families in Phuket married Thai women who later took off with their money. In a lot of cases, the patients require long-term treatment for chronic illnesses such as alcoholism and liver and heart diseases. The source said the government should review its policy and focus on quality tourism. Stricter screening of visa applications was needed. Foreign residents must be required to have health insurance. The government should even set up a fund to help foreign patients with some of their financial costs, the source said.

http://www.ethailand.com/news/hospitals-count-cost-of-foreigners-bills-64304.html

[afarang]

I hope you do not believe everything you read in newspapers, especially The Thai English Language Press, which has become ------. I do not know where you get the idea that Thai hospitals are "overburdened".This may be true in Bkk.. It is not true here. Short of staff? Short of money? Where did you get that from.?The Nation? It is not true. When I first moved here , there was only one doctor , Now there are 4. The living quarters for the hospital staff have expanded, and have grown by at least 4 times the original. That means there are so many new residential buildings for staff. That also means that there are now 4 times as many staff. Never are the beds for inpatients 100% occupied .There is plenty of staff ,to run the hospital 24 hours a day. I base my observations on practical experience, not on some "pie in the sky" second hand anecdotes And , yes I am extremely proud of myself for using what is a community resource and proving that I belong to this community. .Whenever ,I have a need to go ,I am warmly welcomed, by all the staff.Your post is full of incorrect and dishonest statements.

[redwood13]

Cha am

Lots of apartments

Hospital? not sure but BKK is 2 hr by car

Shopping - small tesco, the Village Mall in Hua Hin

Transport - about 2 hours to BKK by car or minivan

My wife is a nurse's aide at a private hospital here in BKK, and she says there is no particularly good private hospital option in Hua Hin or Cha-Am....

Bangkok Hospital opened in Hua Hin a few months ago.

-redwood

[gmac]

Have I stumbled into some medical forum by mistake? I thought I was going to read about areas of Thailand where it is cheaper to live but still having decent internet!

[afarang]

Have I stumbled into some medical forum by mistake? I thought I was going to read about areas of Thailand where it is cheaper to live but still having decent internet!

Sure you can. My in-depth posts on (1) Page one ,post number 25 and (2) Page two , post number 28

[afarang]

You still don't get it do you? I am talking from practical experience NOT from abstract reporting. You have never answered one of my points ,Never talked about My content, facts or figures.You believe everything you read? In the Thai press?That strikes me as the same as believing everything the murdoch media tells you. Are you that blind? Nobody suggests that the Thai medical system is perfect, but in my experience it sh8ts all over the Western system.Certainly ,I plead that if I had an illness that was going to cost me more than a return Air-fare home , or that kind of treatment was not available in Thailand, sure I would go home. I am very lucky to have available to me the best of both worlds. I don't believe the article that says Westerners don't pay. I must admit ,in my hospital .you are not released .until you DO pay. No pay? no Escape. 55555555No release. What a load of crap that article spouts. Strikes me as poor Hospital management. But then again ,It does mention Phuket. Suffice to say ,I have never been there and have no intention of living or visiting that artificial environment, with all its attendent pollution and scams.May i suggest , you avail yourself of the benefits of our local hospital system ,and then become qualified to comment on its good and bad points.May I welcome you to the real world. Isarn. !!!! Caution!! .NO snobs allowed