Cost Of Living In Thailand - Our Actual Monthly Spend

[8milesfromhome]

I thought it would be interesting to post our actual cost of living in Thailand, as before we arrived here I was searching for something like this!!

http://8milesfromhom...and-one-couples

We are in our late 20's with a Cocker Spaniel dog, living in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand.

Hope you find this useful.

8 Miles from Home.

@8milesfromhome

http://8milesfromhome.tumblr.com/

[Banzai99]

Nice site, good luck to you.

Edited July 3, 2012 by Banzai99

[dingdang]

im impressed...

the pictures and videos are absolutely, ultimately beautiful...

i dont remember having seen such beautiful scenes and - its like compositions - before...

[simple1]

A couple of observations:

You only have third class car insurance. If you are unlucky enough to have an accident this is a decision you will deeply regret. Invest in first class car insurance - do it now!

No allowance made for medical insurance - again an omission you will regret if you or your partner have an accident or fall serious ill.

After addressing these two issues, update your blog

[steelepulse]

I have a feeling your link drops will get snipped, so you might want to post the cost here. As mentioned above, no car, health or renters insurance?

[chiang mai]

At 23k baht a month in Pai the OP(s) is living a spartan existence, power to you but I suspect the attractions of the lifestyle will wear off after a while, if it doesn't wear off out of choice, expect the cost of living increases and inflation to make life uncomfortable soon, I feel sorry for the spaniel though, how could you.

[Banzai99]

I have a feeling your link drops will get snipped, so you might want to post the cost here. As mentioned above, no car, health or renters insurance?

I have always had car insurance, but in nearly 22 years in Thailand I have never had health insurance, maybe I am just fortunate but I have only ever been to a hospital to have a tooth pulled.

Wonder how much money it would have cost me for 22 years health insurance?

I know , it could have all gone wrong IF I had fallen ill or IF I had an accident, but it didn't happen, I do have number 1 car insurance, that, I am careful about, and my GF has medical insurance that costs 20,000 per year.

For me, other than a traffic accident, I self insure.

[simple1]

I have a feeling your link drops will get snipped, so you might want to post the cost here. As mentioned above, no car, health or renters insurance?

I have always had car insurance, but in nearly 22 years in Thailand I have never had health insurance, maybe I am just fortunate but I have only ever been to a hospital to have a tooth pulled.

Wonder how much money it would have cost me for 22 years health insurance?

I know , it could have all gone wrong IF I had fallen ill or IF I had an accident, but it didn't happen, I do have number 1 car insurance, that, I am careful about, and my GF has medical insurance that costs 20,000 per year.

For me, other than a traffic accident, I self insure.

Fair enough for the self insurance for medical, but the impression I get from the blog is they don't have much spare cash. Unless their employer provides for them. if so should be referenced in the blog.

[DP25]

Oh dear, the Starbucks brigade have arrived......

They're spending 23k per month for 2 people, I don't think they're drinking at Starbucks too often

[Mosha]

I have a feeling your link drops will get snipped, so you might want to post the cost here. As mentioned above, no car, health or renters insurance?

I have always had car insurance, but in nearly 22 years in Thailand I have never had health insurance, maybe I am just fortunate but I have only ever been to a hospital to have a tooth pulled.

Wonder how much money it would have cost me for 22 years health insurance?

I know , it could have all gone wrong IF I had fallen ill or IF I had an accident, but it didn't happen, I do have number 1 car insurance, that, I am careful about, and my GF has medical insurance that costs 20,000 per year.

For me, other than a traffic accident, I self insure.

The only stay in hospital I've had here, was caused by a doctor.

[cdnmatt]

How do you live without air conditioning? That's the only way your electric bill could be that cheap. We only have air in the bedroom, but I need my air when I sleep. I'm a pussy like that.

And how do you manage to keep a dog on 393 baht/month? I wish. I have 3 dogs, two large and one tiny, and I don't really know, but I bet they're around 15,000/month. Actually, maybe even a little more, especially if they get sick. Then again, that's probably why everyone is scared of my dogs. Large, strong, well fed, well taken care of.

We lived pretty cheap before, and I have to say, it grows old quite quickly. After a while, you start missing the simple things like bell peppers, lemons, a nice sirloin steak with a glass of wine, and the list never ends. And you grow quite sick of khao man gai and guaio-tiaow. Living cheap is a neat adventure, but after about 6 months, you just want your Western luxuries back. And in Thailand, you will pay for them. The import tax here will quickly cancel out how cheap your rent is.

Edited July 3, 2012 by cdnmatt

[notmyself]

How do you live without air conditioning? That's the only way your electric bill could be that cheap. We only have air in the bedroom, but I need my air when I sleep. I'm a pussy like that.

There must be a great deal of inefficient aircon units around in the kingdom. I too use aircon at night so it's on for perhaps 9-10 hours every day. I also run a high end PC which sucks a great deal of juice when video rendering which is perhaps 3-4 hours a day (1500W PSU). With fridge, fan, lights etc. my monthly bill bounces from between 1000 to 1300 Baht.

[TommoPhysicist]

How do you live without air conditioning? That's the only way your electric bill could be that cheap. We only have air in the bedroom, but I need my air when I sleep. I'm a pussy like that.

And how do you manage to keep a dog on 393 baht/month? I wish. I have 3 dogs, two large and one tiny, and I don't really know, but I bet they're around 15,000/month. Actually, maybe even a little more, especially if they get sick. Then again, that's probably why everyone is scared of my dogs. Large, strong, well fed, well taken care of.

If you stop using air-con at night you acclimatize quickly, and you don't feel as hot during the day.

Thais feed dogs whatever is left over from their meals, no special dog food, so no great expense ..... rice is cheap.

I still enjoy eating guey teow sen lek nam sai, cow soy, geng hang lay and pat Thai hore kie after being here years.

Edited July 3, 2012 by TommoPhysicist

[hotandhumid]

1. I need 140k a month for me and the family.
   

[dingdang]

pulling the fridge/freezer plug at night, cuts the bill half

even though i am not used to aircon (should be "acclimatized", the sleep with is much more refreshing, relaxing than without...

Edited July 3, 2012 by dingdang

[tinfoilhat]

pulling the fridge/freezer plug at night, cuts the bill half

even though i am not used to aircon (should be "acclimatized", the sleep with is much more refreshing, relaxing than without...

Are you for real?

living under a footbridge on sukhumvit could save me money too, but i prefer my house

[Jimi007]

pulling the fridge/freezer plug at night, cuts the bill half

even though i am not used to aircon (should be "acclimatized", the sleep with is much more refreshing, relaxing than without...

Are you for real?

living under a footbridge on sukhumvit could save me money too, but i prefer my house

LOL! Good one! I'm of Scottish decent, but you guys are keneow..

[SJN]

Nice site...impressive....good details and all;)

[lee808]

1. I need 140k a month for me and the family.
   

The champagne lifestyle !

[Chonburiram]

I thought it would be interesting to post our actual cost of living in Thailand, as before we arrived here I was searching for something like this!!

http://8milesfromhom...and-one-couples

We are in our late 20's with a Cocker Spaniel dog, living in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand.

Hope you find this useful.

8 Miles from Home.

@8milesfromhome

http://8milesfromhome.tumblr.com/

It would have been nice if you, as the op, would have posted your expenses first... instead you give us a link to your blog I didn't bother to click.

After reading from another member on what a budget you are vegetating I was happy I did refuse.

393 (!) Baht for a dog - how anal does one have to get to calculate his expenses down to 393 Baht ¿

[GreenSnapper]

Nice photos. What camera do you use?

[JaiLai]

There are several things missing from the expenses which would make a fair difference :

1. Nothing mentioned about groceries?

2. Nothing mentioned about house hold like, cleaning materials for mopping floor / cleaning dishes / bathrooms / windows etc.

Cool website though, great photo's.

[hotandhumid]

1. I need 140k a month for me and the family.
   

The champagne lifestyle !

I wish. That just goes on rent/bills/kids/school fees/health insurance/food/petrol/going out/gym membership/wifes allowance etc etc..

[Semper]

I have a feeling your link drops will get snipped, so you might want to post the cost here. As mentioned above, no car, health or renters insurance?

I have always had car insurance, but in nearly 22 years in Thailand I have never had health insurance, maybe I am just fortunate but I have only ever been to a hospital to have a tooth pulled.

Wonder how much money it would have cost me for 22 years health insurance?

I know , it could have all gone wrong IF I had fallen ill or IF I had an accident, but it didn't happen, I do have number 1 car insurance, that, I am careful about, and my GF has medical insurance that costs 20,000 per year.

For me, other than a traffic accident, I self insure.

Your gf is entitled to the 30 baht system (free at the moment) so I wonder why you don't use the 20K for an insurance for yourself? (assuming she's Thai and you're paying for said insurance)

[JaiLai]

1. I need 140k a month for me and the family.
   

The champagne lifestyle !

I wish. That just goes on rent/bills/kids/school fees/health insurance/food/petrol/going out/gym membership/wifes allowance etc etc..

Yes, this is realistic, not Champagne lifestyle.

[David48]

Something that the OP has produced and has proved immensely popular is found here at The Most Cinematic Thailand Videos You'Ve Ever Seen!

The first two videos I (and many others) found quiet appealing.

[SteveLynch]

1. I need 140k a month for me and the family.
   

The champagne lifestyle !

I doubt there is much champagne !

Hot and humid are you happy to pay that much for your lifestyle ?

This has been done a few times before but what the heck

Living in Thailand can be cheap as these two people with the blog have shown,maybe they are new here and the novelty of living and eating cheaply might wear off ,maybe they have no money maybe they will continue it for years ,that is their choice and they seem to be extremely happy and want to share their adventure with friends and others

I live in bkk and as much as I like older cars a mark 1 escort doesn't quite fit the bill that I want my gf driving my kids around in so I choose a better one ,I know where to rent a house for 12 k a month ,but I don't want to live there.

I don't like som tam so I don't eat it ,I like steak and chicken ,I eat them instead .

I spend a lot more than some posters here ,but I also spend a lot less than others I know

My point is some people spend more because they choose to ,if one guy needs 150k a month awesome for him ,if another can do his life in Thailand for 20 a month ,that is awesome for him too ,but neither has the right to belittle or scoff at the other

That said

I would recommend that the bloggers find better insurance ,both health and car .

Trust me when you want some serious surgery done the want to be like a village Thai very quickly abates once you see the 50bht hospitals ,

[SteveLynch]

On another point

Some serious camara skills on that blog ,amazing how the right angle and good lighting can make a 40 year old junker look that good ,well done !

You could alway supplement your income with taking pics ,I'd buy some !

Take care

[tinfoilhat]

On another point

Some serious camara skills on that blog ,amazing how the right angle and good lighting can make a 40 year old junker look that good ,well done !

You could alway supplement your income with taking pics ,I'd buy some !

Take care

dont forget heavy post

[KeyserSoze01]

Nice blog and I enjoyed the first two videos the couple posted here. Although the editing and soundtrack was a bit dramatic for a drive from BKK to Chiang Mai.

It hasn't taken long for all the usual arguments to pop up on this thread. I can't live on that, you haven't accounted for this, that and the other, you can't be happy living on a shoestring, etc... The bottom line is that this couple are making a new life in a country far from home, learning as they go and are obviously on a limited budget. I say two thumbs up for having the guts to give it a go and to document their adventure online. I hope they succeed and can generate some revenue from their online endeavors as they obviously have talent. I for one have added their blog to my favs list and will check in regularly to see how they progress.