Poll How Much Income After Tax Do You Have

[robblok]

The problem when you pay no tax / declare no income is when you ask for a loan from the bank. Bankers have frowned in front of my pay slip, that's all what you earn ? And for some friends it was a straight forward "no". They don't care that what you earn is your pocket money because your company pay everything. They have charts, incomes Vs loan amount, and if you don't fit in their chart, you have serious explaining to do. Before it used to be easier but now banks are getting more and more conservative.

Beside a number of administration ask for your tax payment receipts. Based on my experience, they don't really care how much you earn, they have still this basic assumption that if you pay tax, you're an honest citizen, But if you don't, it's suspicious, you're a flight-by-night risk.

JurgenG why would you need a loan if you get the car and house paid for by the company. Also as a red shirt supporter i would think you would love to pay tax to support the poor ?

[hehehoho]

You need 100-200k a month to properly raise a family with a nice house, condo, car, etc..

Agreed.

Although raising a family on the lower end of that scale - 100k p/m - isn't going to be to much fun if your house and car etc aren't paid for. Unless upcountry I think most would struggle with say, 2 kids and a housewife who doesn't work but raises the kids.

[robblok]

You need 100-200k a month to properly raise a family with a nice house, condo, car, etc..

Agreed.

Although raising a family on the lower end of that scale - 100k p/m - isn't going to be to much fun if your house and car etc aren't paid for. Unless upcountry I think most would struggle with say, 2 kids and a housewife who doesn't work but raises the kids.

Im sure it can be done easily, just look at all the Thai's. But it all depends on what you are used too. I am now doing great so i can save most of my money. But the house i live in is nothing special, could even say bad (quality of building) compared to what i had in the West.

But its good enough for me. I think large part is keeping up with the neighbours and peer pressure. I don't have a problem with that so i can pretty much live cheap (relatively) because some would say im spending tons of money.

[PattayaParent]

You need 100-200k a month to properly raise a family with a nice house, condo, car, etc..

Agreed.

Although raising a family on the lower end of that scale - 100k p/m - isn't going to be to much fun if your house and car etc aren't paid for. Unless upcountry I think most would struggle with say, 2 kids and a housewife who doesn't work but raises the kids.

Im sure it can be done easily, just look at all the Thai's. But it all depends on what you are used too. I am now doing great so i can save most of my money. But the house i live in is nothing special, could even say bad (quality of building) compared to what i had in the West.

But its good enough for me. I think large part is keeping up with the neighbours and peer pressure. I don't have a problem with that so i can pretty much live cheap (relatively) because some would say im spending tons of money.

That 100~200k figure would be for families with kids(s) at international school.

Sure Thais can live a lot cheaper but the Thais I know that send their kids to International schools are either very wealthy and the money is no problem or are 'middle class' (for want of a better description) and are spending all their income.

[hehehoho]

I think self-respect comes into it. Many locals live on under 10k per month and live in one room cells with a mattress.

If you are happy with you and your family living in poorly built, substandard housing and your children being educated through the free Thai educational system, then sure, like many Thais you would 'survive' on a small amount like 100k p/m for a family of four.

I respect myself too much to lower myself and my family to that standard. But as long as everyone is happy....

[lazygourmet]

How much income after tax do you have?

what income tax?

+1

[robblok]

I think self-respect comes into it. Many locals live on under 10k per month and live in one room cells with a mattress.

If you are happy with you and your family living in poorly built, substandard housing and your children being educated through the free Thai educational system, then sure, like many Thais you would 'survive' on a small amount like 100k p/m for a family of four.

I respect myself too much to lower myself and my family to that standard. But as long as everyone is happy....

To be honest there is lowering and lowering. I could live in just one room if need be. The house i am in now suffices but is not up to western standards. Its just a town house, and what you are talking about it peer pressure. I am glad i dont have that at all.

I am not sure what i would do if i had kids but schools would get a large part of my income because i do believe those are real important. Having the same big car as the neighbours is a lot less important.

I bought a jazz people were asking me why id did not buy a fortuner. (mind you we are just 2 ppl). Many farang succumb to that kind of peer pressure. I just buy what is needed not what is expected.

[WebBangkok]

On Thaivisa, I earn 1,000,000 baht per month.

But in Reality I earn less than that.

A lot of people in Australia LIVE in Sydney with less than 100K baht per month after tax. They can afford holidays, 500 baht Pad Thai's plus more.

So living in Thailand on that is a piece of piss.

[hehehoho]

and what you are talking about it peer pressure. I am glad i dont have that at all.

Actually not.

What I was talking about was having the self respect to not lower yourself to living a life (with wife and kids) in Thailand that you wouldn't in the West.

Many Thai families survive on under 20,000thb.

I'd rather myself and my family live, not just survive.

[robblok]

and what you are talking about it peer pressure. I am glad i dont have that at all.

Actually not.

What I was talking about was having the self respect to not lower yourself to living a life (with wife and kids) in Thailand that you wouldn't in the West.

Many Thai families survive on under 20,000thb.

I'd rather live, not just survive.

You do get different standards here then in the West, the house i am in now is a normal run of the mill townhouse. Nothing fancy not bad either but in the west it would not suffice because its not isolated and its build for a different climate. Also it could have been finished nicer. Plus there are some points that would not be there in the West.

But for here it ok. It has nothing to do with lowering standards. It would have if i were to live in a shack.

[lazygourmet]

I bought a jazz people were asking me why id did not buy a fortuner. (mind you we are just 2 ppl). Many farang succumb to that kind of peer pressure. I just buy what is needed not what is expected.

My neighbor -Thai- is thinking that I am stupid, since he knows that I paid 80k for my new bicycle: "so much money for a bicycle, you must be insane."

... but that's not even the monthly leasing cost for his new 350 CLS

[robblok]

I bought a jazz people were asking me why id did not buy a fortuner. (mind you we are just 2 ppl). Many farang succumb to that kind of peer pressure. I just buy what is needed not what is expected.

My neighbor -Thai- is thinking that I am stupid, since he knows that I paid 80k for my new bicycle: "so much money for a bicycle, you must be insane."

... but that's not even the monthly leasing cost for his new 350 CLS

Yes but you get status from a car.. not so much from a bike I would go for the bike if i liked biking.

[lazygourmet]

Yes but you get status from a car.. not so much from a bike I would go for the bike if i liked biking.

But that is the reason why I left Europe for good -15 years ago-: STATUS...

Not always easy TO NOT follow the traced family path!

At least, my locales here are seeing me more as an ET ; than the Belgian as an alien

[justaphase]

Yups, me, my wife and 2 kids survive on that amount. 2 pickups, 1 moto and 1 kid in school. We have all the modern luxury like aircon, food, beer, ubc and internet but other than that, not much of a life. Hence, every 3 months when the family goes on a break, we break the piggy bank and have a good time.

I can't imagine living here on 30k p/m.

If you have no bills, rent, visa costs etc and it is pure day to day money, then perhaps, but other than that it doesn't allow for much of a life here.

Good on you mate. I live on 35. With a baby boy (4000) and car (10,000) and rent, bills paid (4800) I've got 15 grand or so for the month, 500 baht a day.

Does me, i love my lifestyle here compared to earning 15 english doing a 9 to 5.

My rent alone was 400 pounds.

[hehehoho]

Sounds happy. Good for you.

Hopefully their won't be a rainy day.

[travelmann]

My wife makes the money I contribute bugger all except marital duties which I do so under duress, her income varies but is comprised of rental properties in Thailand 52k month, salary off employer 90k a month and commission normally anything form 30k to 100k a month so average about 50k total 192k normally....................poor farmgirl from up North eh??

[travelmann]

I bought a jazz people were asking me why id did not buy a fortuner. (mind you we are just 2 ppl). Many farang succumb to that kind of peer pressure. I just buy what is needed not what is expected.

My neighbor -Thai- is thinking that I am stupid, since he knows that I paid 80k for my new bicycle: "so much money for a bicycle, you must be insane."

... but that's not even the monthly leasing cost for his new 350 CLS

Ha ha ha funny ask him cant he afford to buy it then???? (Mercedes)

[letitbe]

I'd be very, very surprised if close to 10% of westerners here had less than 30k coming in every month.

I'd guess the number would probably be around 2%.

Probably less than that on this forum as they likely couldn't afford a computer or internet connection.

most i reckon have between 100,000 - 200,000 baht a month which after all is only 2k gbp - 4k gbp a month or around 3300 us$ to 6600 us$ a month. Some get bye on 50,000 but below that particularly if your not single IMO is not possible to have a good lifestyle.I know well now get the I live on 20 satang a day and thais only get 5,000 a month brigade but come of it our maids family of 4 could not survive much on less than 20,000 baht a month with her house no rent or loan and rest. Maybe in issan I dont know but in our village im only forang and most of thais families around earn from around 15,000 minimum to 100,00 baht a month. Remember very few Thai families have only 1 income. Our maid's fmaily has 3 hers (around 9,000 a month) her husband (very poor job as lorry driver) around 6000-8000 a month and her son works for a packing company for 8,000 a month. Ok its not Issan but really im fed up with all those saying we live on 20,000 and that includes beer eating out internet car and our own private jet. All crap

[roamer]

I think self-respect comes into it. Many locals live on under 10k per month and live in one room cells with a mattress.

If you are happy with you and your family living in poorly built, substandard housing and your children being educated through the free Thai educational system, then sure, like many Thais you would 'survive' on a small amount like 100k p/m for a family of four.

I respect myself too much to lower myself and my family to that standard. But as long as everyone is happy....

Self edit. Reason for edit. Not worth the time or effort.

[KeyserSoze01]

A lot of people in Australia LIVE in Sydney with less than 100K baht per month after tax. They can afford holidays, 500 baht Pad Thai's plus more.

So living in Thailand on that is a piece of piss.

You are quite right. I've done this exercise many times, evaluating places to live while maintaining the standard of living I choose. The outcome is always the same. I can live comfortably in any country on around 70K baht per month and want for nothing. Nice home, toys, shopping, entertainment, etc... Nothing magic about Thailand, other than the fact that western goods are more expensive and quality educational costs are higher.

The poll is moot as everyone's requirements are different. One person cannot get by on less than 150K baht per month, while another struggles to spend 60K baht. It's all highly subjective based on an individual's wants, needs and desires. When you consider the mean income for the resident population of a country, anything above that level is gravy.

[smokie36]

I notice one person polled 20-30k....total respect to you sir....that requires proper budgeting.....but you still owe me a beer carmine!

[roamer]

I notice one person polled 20-30k....total respect to you sir....that requires proper budgeting.....but you still owe me a beer carmine!

Yeah did yourself in there mate. Smokie will have it all on video

[smokie36]

I notice one person polled 20-30k....total respect to you sir....that requires proper budgeting.....but you still owe me a beer carmine!

Yeah did yourself in there mate. Smokie will have it all on video

What's "video"? Sheesh get with the times buddy....

[jingjoe8]

I spend between 50 to 60000bht a month,but earn 2 1/2 times that from income streams outside of thailand.

After seeing too many expats spend everything they earned and running out when income slowed up or exchange rates hurt them,i decided to find a lifestyle i enjoyed without putting my longterm life in thailand at jeopardy.

I don't want to be that sad,financially bankrupt expat at the airport going home and pondering on where it all went wrong

[robblok]

I spend between 50 to 60000bht a month,but earn 2 1/2 times that from income streams outside of thailand.

After seeing too many expats spend everything they earned and running out when income slowed up or exchange rates hurt them,i decided to find a lifestyle i enjoyed without putting my longterm life in thailand at jeopardy.

I don't want to be that sad,financially bankrupt expat at the airport going home and pondering on where it all went wrong

Im like you spending only part of what i own a small part. Not like them living large who have to adapt if income dwindels.

[KunMatt]

Would be interested to know how any farang "lives" here on less than 20k a month. I could do it on my own but I wouldn't call it living and I'd be better off back in the UK.

I have a Thai style flat I run just as a bag drop/occasional place to stay if needed when passing through BKK and I think that is dirt cheap at 4k a month plus bills, so if anyone was living in a place like that and earning less than 20k a month they would have less than 15k a month for food, travel, shopping, etc. I'm far from a snob but I just don't see the point, I usually end up spending at least 2k or 3k a day on groceries, shopping etc, just regular things.

And how do people pulling in less than 20k pay for their visa or the visa runs I assume they have to do?

[gregb]

As said previously, without knowing how many people in your family, income by itself is meaningless. Someone making 30k but living alone may have nearly the same standard of living as one making 80k but supporting 4 people and paying for school.

The poll should really be changed to per capita income.

[PattayaParent]

I spend between 50 to 60000bht a month,but earn 2 1/2 times that from income streams outside of thailand.

After seeing too many expats spend everything they earned and running out when income slowed up or exchange rates hurt them,i decided to find a lifestyle i enjoyed without putting my longterm life in thailand at jeopardy.

I don't want to be that sad,financially bankrupt expat at the airport going home and pondering on where it all went wrong

Im like you spending only part of what i own a small part. Not like them living large who have to adapt if income dwindels.

Me too.

I spend about 30% of my income.

[PattayaParent]

As said previously, without knowing how many people in your family, income by itself is meaningless. Someone making 30k but living alone may have nearly the same standard of living as one making 80k but supporting 4 people and paying for school.

The poll should really be changed to per capita income.

Just multiply the figures used in the poll by 12.

The poll results will still be the same though.

[taiwangirl]

As said previously, without knowing how many people in your family, income by itself is meaningless. Someone making 30k but living alone may have nearly the same standard of living as one making 80k but supporting 4 people and paying for school.

The poll should really be changed to per capita income.

Just multiply the figures used in the poll by 12.

The poll results will still be the same though.

I think that the poster meant that the poll should be income per family member. So, should be total income divided by the total number of people supported by that income. That would change the poll somewhat.