I just went to Pizza Hut and ordered the personal pizza for 250 baht. That is far more than I would ever spend back home for a pizza. I don't know why cheese is so expensive here. It's like a luxury item! Same with cars. Too expensive.

What makes these things so expensive here?

100% of everything except rent/mortgage and cellphone minutes

There is not an item cheaper than comparable quality in canada.

WINE. i quit drinking wine over here

Most Food items are dearer in Thailand than the UK,which seems to be down to excessive Import Duty,and cheese is very expensive, poor quality,and very little choice.

WINE. i quit drinking wine over here

900baht for the mont claire 5liter. It's quite "ok".. after a while you forget what great wine tastes like

Thailand is flat out messed up when it comes to import and export. It's part of the World Trade Organization, but it doesn't follow the rules. It makes rules which it thinks benefit Thailand, but they are dumb.

Thailand is the world's #1 exporter of rice while the Philippines is #1 in importing. With a small base of farmland for its 100 million people, the Philippines simply can't grow enough. Most countries import Thai rice duty free, but Thailand attaches high duties to imported consumer goods from the same countries it exports rice and other farm product to duty free.

The people pay those duties in the price of what they buy in LOS, but they don't get chit for what they grow and sell.

Countries in the WTO should put high duties on anything Thailand exports to burn Thailand for doing the same. For instance, the US is a net exporter of rice and is also a net exporter of cheese and other milk products. No one has more farmland per capita than the US. Look at Thailand or the Philippines, each with about 1/3 the population of the US, and then look at the relative amounts of good farm land. It's staggering.

Thailand is trying to become industrialized, but every WTO country should tax the chit out of anything coming in from Thailand in retaliation for what Thailand does to manufacturers in other countries. If the price of rice got high enough, the US farmers could and would quickly triple production (or whatever it took) and bury Thailand. Simple supply and demand competition because the US rice wouldn't have the duty on it.

Thailand couldn't sell its dimn rice and other products if other countries treated Thailand's exports the way Thailand treats other countries exports.

And why are food/grocery products from Aus priced up to 10 times the Au price when there is a free trade agreement in place?

My answer is simply price gouging by the major retailers who perceive these products will only be purchased by "rich farang".

An example I had a friend bring a 1kg box of dishwasher detergent powder over yesterday, he paid $1.10 and a 500gm here is 480Bht, or $15.50 for half the size pack. That is a 2,750% increase, hardly justified, more blatant thievery.

Edited October 10, 201213 yr by justcruisin

Everything is more expensive than in the bankrupt UK apart from fuel and land.

Supply and Demand (and government taxes/subsidies and interference) that make things more expensive in Thailand than elsewhere.

For reference, (if any one cares) many things such as cars, gasoline, houses, land, guns, ammo, alcohol all seem much much more expensive in Thailand than here in the south west of the united states. Food is about the same or slightly cheaper in the US also, unless eating at a restaurant meals. Although the servings are obviously not the same size!

Also anything imported into Thailand will be more expensive due to tariffs.

I stayed in Chiang Mai for almost 3 months, and glean a lot of info from this forum. I've come to the conclusion that as a retired person it's cheaper to live in the US, other than housing and some utilities...

I get full health coverage here for $US125.00 a month and no age limit. That's Medicare Advantage for those in the know.

I can buy a brand new Toyota Camry LE here right off the floor with no waiting for $US20,000 (615,000 baht) and we have no sales tax. Toyota Camrys are made in the US! So are Toyota pickups!

Plates and registration cost $US160 for four years. My car insurance with full coverage on me and others and my car is about $US500 a year. That's bumping my liability part up to $US500,000.

I can ride a brand new Harley Road King Classic away for $US19,000. I bought my Ford F150 full four door 4x4 XLT loaded for $US33,000 (1 million baht) after rebates.

Good Western food and sundries are way cheaper here than in LOS.

Unless I cut my standard of living in LOS and lose the hobbies and the Harleys and my full size 4x4, I don't believe I'll save a dime. For me living in LOS is about lifestyle and not money. (I do plan to cut my lifestyle and save money but it won't be the same as I live now.)

Geez, I forgot to mention things like electronics. I don't know what they cost in LOS. I can buy a plenty good 14" laptop for $US350 (10,700 BHT) shipped and no tax. Look at the specs and tell me what that would cost in LOS? Seriously, I'd like to know. ??

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16834214599

Edit. Scroll down and click on "details" to see that it comes with a legit copy of Windows 7 home premium installed.

Edit again. Here's a screen shot in case the sale goes away. If it does another sale is always out there.

Edited October 10, 201213 yr by NeverSure

100% of everything except rent/mortgage and cellphone minutes

There is not an item cheaper than comparable quality in canada.

You must live in a different Canada mate

Gasoline

Fruit,Vegetables.meat,fish,rice etc

Warm weather clothing

Ladies clothing

Medicine ( Generic paracetamol is about 30 baht for 100..Canada ( e.g. Shoppers Drug Mart) about 10 bucks?.

Utilities

Some Appliances

Telephones+calling rates

beer, cigarettes

taxis,bus fares

etc etc are far less expensive in Thailand

Agreed many imported items and western styled products and services are more expensive ( based on target market methinks) ...you pays your money and takes your choice.

Oh! how I long for a Dairy Queen burger and fries and a large coffee....

Things like imported wine and liquor are more expensive but 2-500 baht premium is not a deal breaker depending on your lifestyle..less than a day's parking in downtown Vancouver or Melbourne...lol

Lucky I have a shipment of baked beans and wine arriving from Australia today then!!

Ive noticed things like fridges are quite a bit cheaper in Thailand than Australia. So are motorbikes and new cars.

If you eat local and live local its alot cheaper.

Lucky I have a shipment of baked beans and wine arriving from Australia today then!!

Baked beans cant be so much cheaper that it warrants a shipment from australia?...you must really love those baked beans!

I tried to have this same discussion with my former employer. Salaries are low but costs are high. Even the gap in housing costs is fast disappearing. Tax is high, education costs are ridiculous.

The Thais are in stupid amounts of debt to pay for all of this so I guess in the end the banks are the winners.

After 2+ years I've had enough and am outta here....

I do notice that when I visit the UK that Thai food is far more expensive than local food, so same same really.

100% of everything except rent/mortgage and cellphone minutes

There is not an item cheaper than comparable quality in canada.

You must live in a different Canada mate

Gasoline

Fruit,Vegetables.meat,fish,rice etc

Warm weather clothing

Ladies clothing

Medicine ( Generic paracetamol is about 30 baht for 100..Canada ( e.g. Shoppers Drug Mart) about 10 bucks?.

Utilities

Some Appliances

Telephones+calling rates

beer, cigarettes

taxis,bus fares

etc etc are far less expensive in Thailand

Agreed many imported items and western styled products and services are more expensive ( based on target market methinks) ...you pays your money and takes your choice.

Oh! how I long for a Dairy Queen burger and fries and a large coffee....

Things like imported wine and liquor are more expensive but 2-500 baht premium is not a deal breaker depending on your lifestyle..less than a day's parking in downtown Vancouver or Melbourne...lol

Rent, the 6,000 baht variety, not the 20-30,000 baht falang type.

Lunch, the 30 to 40 baht variety, not the 400 baht falang type.

Market food, the ta-lat government controlled variety, not the Tops falang type ie: dried fruit at Tops 40 baht for 100 grams; ta-lat 100 baht for 500 grams. Boneless pork at Tops 220 baht per kilo; ta-lat 130 baht per kilo. Etc. (learn some Thai and negotiate ra-kha)

Local transportation: Songthaew 20 baht anywhere (in CM), one subway token in Toronto $3.00 (900 baht!)

You want to live like a farang in Thailand - they'll be happy to take your money. You want to live like a Thai in Thailand, it becomes one of the cheapest places in the world to live. I live well here on a crappy Canadian pension, I wouldn't even be able to pay rent on a 2 room apartment in Toronto let alone eat.

Edited October 11, 201213 yr by DowntownAl

Rice Wine and Bar girls, Alfresco Dining are Took Mark Mark if your aware of the scams

100% of everything except rent/mortgage and cellphone minutes

There is not an item cheaper than comparable quality in canada.

You must live in a different Canada mate

Gasoline

Fruit,Vegetables.meat,fish,rice etc

Warm weather clothing

Ladies clothing

Medicine ( Generic paracetamol is about 30 baht for 100..Canada ( e.g. Shoppers Drug Mart) about 10 bucks?.

Utilities

Some Appliances

Telephones+calling rates

beer, cigarettes

taxis,bus fares

etc etc are far less expensive in Thailand

Agreed many imported items and western styled products and services are more expensive ( based on target market methinks) ...you pays your money and takes your choice.

Oh! how I long for a Dairy Queen burger and fries and a large coffee....

Things like imported wine and liquor are more expensive but 2-500 baht premium is not a deal breaker depending on your lifestyle..less than a day's parking in downtown Vancouver or Melbourne...lol

Rent, the 6,000 baht variety, not the 20-30,000 baht falang type.

Lunch, the 30 to 40 baht variety, not the 400 baht falang type.

Market food, the ta-lat government controlled variety, not the Tops falang type ie: dried fruit at Tops 40 baht for 100 grams; ta-lat 100 baht for 500 grams. Boneless pork at Tops 220 baht per kilo; ta-lat 130 baht per kilo. Etc. (learn some Thai and negotiate ra-kha)

Local transportation: Songthaew 20 baht anywhere (in CM), one subway token in Toronto $3.00 (900 baht!)

You want to live like a farang in Thailand - they'll be happy to take your money. You want to live like a Thai in Thailand, it becomes one of the cheapest places in the world to live. I live well here on a crappy Canadian pension, I wouldn't even be able to pay rent on a 2 room apartment in Toronto let alone eat.

OK, I had to click the "Like This" button on your post. Now go get a Thai girlfriend or wife with extended family and see how you do compared to Canada. In Canada the wife and family probably are self contained financially.

I can't use my retirement medical care in Thailand either and if I try to replace it...

Edited October 11, 201213 yr by NeverSure

And why are food/grocery products from Aus priced up to 10 times the Au price when there is a free trade agreement in place?

My answer is simply price gouging by the major retailers who perceive these products will only be purchased by "rich farang".

An example I had a friend bring a 1kg box of dishwasher detergent powder over yesterday, he paid $1.10 and a 500gm here is 480Bht, or $15.50 for half the size pack. That is a 2,750% increase, hardly justified, more blatant thievery.

OK, but how does the price of Thai food stuff's/restaurants in Aussie compare with the cost of the same stuff in Thailand, Although I dont know about Aussie, but certainly the UK and other places I have been to ie Singapore, HK etc the cost of imported Thai food stuffs is significantly more expensive, so based on your rational in these countries they must be gouging rich farangs as well then ?

When you are dealing with imported stuff when living in a foreign country, you dont need them to survive there and can be perceived as a luxury and therefore you are going to get charged more...the simple solution is dont buy something then if you think its too expensive

From my perspetive of being he for a few years, Thailand is getting very expensive...I am going to leave it there as dont want to run the risk of encouraging the usual responses on these sort of post where the local Cheaps Charlies start a competion and publishing their weekly or monthly out going proving who can spend the least to show they are more at one with their Thainess than everybody else, by eating leaves from the side of the road and drinking rain water...

Edited October 11, 201213 yr by Soutpeel

bloody hell there's not enough room,well my cider in the uk.costs £10 to £13 a case of 24,here it cost me 2,400bht=about £49.then there's hp sauce,branston pickle,oxo cubes it goes on and on.

Remember, "you get what you pay for" many things in Thailand are not made to the same quality and spec or have the same back-up service and support you would find in the west so a direct comparison is not always going to work.

Right, live like a Thai and lower your living standards ? My father taught me, one does not move half way around the world to lower his living standards, maybe cool for the first 2 years but after 10+ years, I'm happy to say that I live in a "farang" house eat both cuisines though the farang one comes at a price, love cheeses and wine, so yes even without debts and without having to pay wife's family we spend around 60K per month on living, petrol, eating out, buying farang food and so on..... All about choices I guess, but living like a Thai on cheap rice plates, hmm, all cool in the beginning, gets boring very quickly.

bloody hell there's not enough room,well my cider in the uk.costs £10 to £13 a case of 24,here it cost me 2,400bht=about £49.then there's hp sauce,branston pickle,oxo cubes it goes on and on.

But do you really need these items to live here, sure you would survive without them..

Right, live like a Thai and lower your living standards ? My father taught me, one does not move half way around the world to lower his living standards, maybe cool for the first 2 years but after 10+ years, I'm happy to say that I live in a "farang" house eat both cuisines though the farang one comes at a price, love cheeses and wine, so yes even without debts and without having to pay wife's family we spend around 60K per month on living, petrol, eating out, buying farang food and so on..... All about choices I guess, but living like a Thai on cheap rice plates, hmm, all cool in the beginning, gets boring very quickly.

Exactly...one suspects similar conversations between Thai nationals living in the UK commenting on the price of Som Tam in the UK...and maybe people there are suggesting they should start living like the local's there..

Yes its all about choice...if you think something is too expensive dont buy it then, they are not holding a gun to your head at Villa/Foodland etc...

I was shocked when I saw that a tin of Cambells Mushroom Soup on a UK site was 1.65 GBP ( 80 baht) while I can buy it at Rimping...(not known for their low prices) for 48 baht.....I know its 6 years since I lived in UK,but over a quid for a tin of soup !!!..Maybe Marie Antonette's feelings was right...let them eat cake!

Ive noticed things like fridges are quite a bit cheaper in Thailand than Australia. So are motorbikes and new cars.

If you eat local and live local its alot cheaper.

UK - NEW HONDA WAVE 110i: PRICE £1,800 on the road, appx 88,000 Baht (double the price)

re.

branston pickle

i bought a jar here in 09 and it was about 270 baht or just over a fiver but

i had a craving for a few cheese and pickle sandwiches which was sorted : )

dave2

You want to live like a farang in Thailand - they'll be happy to take your money. You want to live like a Thai in Thailand, it becomes one of the cheapest places in the world to live. I live well here on a crappy Canadian pension, I wouldn't even be able to pay rent on a 2 room apartment in Toronto let alone eat.

Perhaps you are confusing the word "Thai" when what you really mean is "peasant", and the word "farang" for "anyone with standards". If your goal in life is to live as cheap as possible then yes, living like a peasant in cockroach ridden 2000 baht per month studio room, riding on 10 baht buses and eating 30 baht noodles means that Thailand still is cheaper than western countries. However, for most people (including most thais) who aspire to better living standards and have their own car, nice home, their own spending on discretionary items, then Thailand is likely just as expensive or even more expensive than western countries.

Edited October 11, 201213 yr by Time Traveller