Cost Of Living In Chiang Mai, Update, Summer 2012

[MESmith]

expat farong makes no difference to me. That is just a part of the culture I have no problem with. As for high roller I really think expats with higher incomes is better. elektrified has a fair amount for a person with only a family of three. But I would consider it just a expat with more wants than me and a higher income.

Thanks for considering me a "high roller". I only wish... What makes you think you know what my income is any way???

What a bizarre post!

That's one of the charming things about Chiang Mai for someone who isn't a high roller in their own country. Here if you spend 100K baht per month you're hi-so, a high roller, and your conspicuous consumption is the target of contempt from fellow farangs who know in their hearts that they spend the correct amount each month and that anyone who spends more must be a fool. But take that 100K per month back to your home country, and you're just another guy shopping at Walmart.

Indeed that is so true...

All I said in the entire thread is that I can't live on 30K THB because I have a family, school expenses, etc. and he has me pinned as a 'high roller'!

And ONLY 9 rooms!!!!! We've got 10 in our humble abode, if you include all the bathrooms of course, which is where I do my business ;-)

[OriginalPoster]

expat farong makes no difference to me. That is just a part of the culture I have no problem with. As for high roller I really think expats with higher incomes is better. elektrified has a fair amount for a person with only a family of three. But I would consider it just a expat with more wants than me and a higher income.

Thanks for considering me a "high roller". I only wish... What makes you think you know what my income is any way???

What a bizarre post!

That's one of the charming things about Chiang Mai for someone who isn't a high roller in their own country. Here if you spend 100K baht per month you're hi-so, a high roller, and your conspicuous consumption is the target of contempt from fellow farangs who know in their hearts that they spend the correct amount each month and that anyone who spends more must be a fool. But take that 100K per month back to your home country, and you're just another guy shopping at Walmart.

Indeed that is so true...

All I said in the entire thread is that I can't live on 30K THB because I have a family, school expenses, etc. and he has me pinned as a 'high roller'!

And I can't live in 30K because I don't want to. Thailand's a great place to live but not if you live on the same amount of money that the median Thai does.

[hellodolly]

For instance I will pay 150 baht for a movie at airport mall when I could go to KSG for 90 baht. Cost of transportation is the same but I don't like the theater at KSG.

For a senior over 60, the cost of a cinema ticket at Airport Plaza is only 80 Baht for a regular seat and 100 Baht for a better seat with more legroom at the back. For a digital movie it's 110 Baht. You just show any form of ID that confirms your age......though you probably prefer to pay the extra. Vista at KSK very rarely show movies in English any more, they are all dubbed in Thai, when were you last there?

uptheos

I was beginning to think you had forgot me. Get so used to you and another poster following me feel like I am neglected if I don't hear from you guys.

I really don't know how much it cost me for a movie at Air Port Mall. I am over 60 pushing 71. I pay 2,000 baht for a card that comes with discounts and free stuff seems to be a new deal every time I get one. The wife is not 60 so I get the discount on her and occasional I will give the card to the grandson and nephew to go to a movie so I save a little there also. What the total saving is I don't know it might not be a saving but with the discount and the other three people getting in on it I feel it is a good deal.

Been two years at least since I was at KSG part of the reason I took a dislike to it was when I first went there they didn't say if the movie was in English or Thai.

[Cyrus2Ray]

Whatever happened to " when in Rome, do as the Romans do " ??!!

I take this one back too ... come to think about it .. that was Rome, this is Thailand, ...Apples and Oranges.. may be !

[triffid]

I can live on 15000 for me and my girlfriend

costof room is 5000 plus another 1000 for electricity and water(slightly cheaper actually )

As i am fussy about food we do most of our own cooking

There is an organic veggie market so you can get healthy food

plus cooking for oneself i eat more than the portians that are available outside

A normal low end Thai dish is 30-35 per portian but i normally end up eating 2 portians

2-3 times a day so my self alone if i am eating out about 200 baht

but like i said i eat in most days and organically too

A beer is between 44 -70 depending on your brand you like

and a johnny walker whisky is 770

dont even touch the Thai stuff for a couple hundred baht more you get a no bad real whisky

a few self sufficient places around CM where you can stay all in for 200 baht per day and live off the land and learn somw real skills

any questions ask

slainteva

hi, where exactly is the organic veg market?

[uptheos]

But take that 100K per month back to your home country, and you're just another guy shopping at Walmart.

NAH!!

Edited July 1, 2012 by uptheos

[OriginalPoster]

But take that 100K per month back to your home country, and you're just another guy shopping at Walmart.

NAH!!

So how much to you suppose that he spends per month? I bet that it's not less than the "more Thai than thou" folks on ThaiVisa.

Edited July 1, 2012 by OriginalPoster

[wigantojapan]

I can live on 15000 for me and my girlfriend

costof room is 5000 plus another 1000 for electricity and water(slightly cheaper actually )

As i am fussy about food we do most of our own cooking

There is an organic veggie market so you can get healthy food

plus cooking for oneself i eat more than the portians that are available outside

A normal low end Thai dish is 30-35 per portian but i normally end up eating 2 portians

2-3 times a day so my self alone if i am eating out about 200 baht

but like i said i eat in most days and organically too

A beer is between 44 -70 depending on your brand you like

and a johnny walker whisky is 770

dont even touch the Thai stuff for a couple hundred baht more you get a no bad real whisky

a few self sufficient places around CM where you can stay all in for 200 baht per day and live off the land and learn somw real skills

any questions ask

slainteva

hi, where exactly is the organic veg market?

i grow my own organic food ,so sorry i cant tell you were the market is,but its in the university area near the original pun pun on wednesdays

Also along the canal road is an organic shop run by the kings project

if i buy i buy in the pun pun shop in santitham

[dionys]

If I may I would like to ask another question regarding the cost of living in CM. Is it possible for an expat (farang, alien, foreigner, acaudillar, cudzinec, auslynder, ytranger, inostranec), ok that should cover that, get some sort of medical insurance? From all the postings it seams like it is outlawed to be sick in CM. Or if it does happens it’s like the old story about the tough grandma that buried three husbands and two of them were just napping.

PS.: uptheos

Love them Wal-Mart fashion shows. Sort of flat chested, ein't she?

[chiang mai]

There's lots of medical treatment and health insurance options open to you, private hospitals of note include CM RAM hospital whilst the semi-private teaching hospital of Sriphat is closely associated with the Chiang Mai Medical Faculty of CMU, there is also a whole host of smaller medical clinics/specialists spread around CM. Costs are highest at places such as RAM whilst Sriphat is more reasonably priced, governement hospitals are the cheapest of all. Perhaps you should take a look at the pinned thread in the CM forum entitled CM doctors and medical specialists and read the half page summary at the end of the post.

Others more knowledgable about the insurance aspect will no doubt post their thoughts in due course.

[elektrified]

If I may I would like to ask another question regarding the cost of living in CM. Is it possible for an expat (farang, alien, foreigner, acaudillar, cudzinec, auslynder, ytranger, inostranec), ok that should cover that, get some sort of medical insurance? From all the postings it seams like it is outlawed to be sick in CM. Or if it does happens it’s like the old story about the tough grandma that buried three husbands and two of them were just napping.

PS.: uptheos

Love them Wal-Mart fashion shows. Sort of flat chested, ein't she?

Yes there are many insurance companies in Thailand that will offer health insurance policies. If you are 64 or older it becomes very difficult however. There are inpatient and outpatient plans available. Most people have inpatient plans only. Outpatient plans are over-priced IMHO and going to the doctor or clinic if you have a minor ailment is not very expensive. I think it costs less even if you go to a clinic several times a year than the cost of outpatient coverage (which doesn't cover everything anyway).

[kaptainrob]

Royal organic shop is on NW side of Canal Rd/Suthep Rd intersection. There's a coffee shop almost on the corner itself and then what looks like a gate into CMU grounds... turn in there, traffic permitting, and park inside on right. The shop itself is modern, timber and glass, and also houses a cafetaria.

I notice BigC Hang Dong have a large selection of Organic vegetables at very reasonable prices... from 9bt a bunch of greens.

[Ulysses G.]

Royal organic shop is on NW side of Canal Rd/Suthep Rd intersection.

The shop itself is modern, timber and glass, and also houses a cafetaria.

What kind of food is served in the cafeteria? I have never noticed it.

[KRS1]

250 baht a day, additional 1000 baht every 7 days.

Eating Vegetarian Thai food with the occasional western meal, snacks, sodas, candy bars and a few beers during the week.

Rent & electricity depends on what your standards are. The people that are single and spend over 50k month not including rent are usually the same people that have credit card debt back home and often borrow money from friends to stay afloat in LOS (usually British).

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Royal organic shop is on NW side of Canal Rd/Suthep Rd intersection.

The shop itself is modern, timber and glass, and also houses a cafetaria.

What kind of food is served in the cafeteria? I have never noticed it.

He probably means cafe, not cafeteria. They have coffee and cakes. (And maybe some pre-made sandwiches and salads in plastic boxes).

Edited July 3, 2012 by WinnieTheKhwai

[IconicX]

Nice to listen in. Learning a lot. Can't wait to get to CM.

[AnnyLing]

Royal organic shop is on NW side of Canal Rd/Suthep Rd intersection. There's a coffee shop almost on the corner itself and then what looks like a gate into CMU grounds... turn in there, traffic permitting, and park inside on right. The shop itself is modern, timber and glass, and also houses a cafetaria.

I notice BigC Hang Dong have a large selection of Organic vegetables at very reasonable prices... from 9bt a bunch of greens.

The organic veggies come with a Certificate of Origin and a lab test I assume?

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Royal organic shop is on NW side of Canal Rd/Suthep Rd intersection. There's a coffee shop almost on the corner itself and then what looks like a gate into CMU grounds... turn in there, traffic permitting, and park inside on right. The shop itself is modern, timber and glass, and also houses a cafetaria.

I notice BigC Hang Dong have a large selection of Organic vegetables at very reasonable prices... from 9bt a bunch of greens.

The organic veggies come with a Certificate of Origin and a lab test I assume?

If it's Doi Kham / Royal Project then yes, they do regular lab tests.

[Cyrus2Ray]

just trying to bring this topic back to life... but perhaps "Resistance is Futile" ... just let it go as it may.

I do think it has already had its full useful life ( run ) so far.

it was really informational and I did get the answer to my question, thanks to all contributors !!!