Cost Of Living

[Bravo Mike]

Morning everyone, Im considering moving to Chiang Mai from Australia on a semi permanent basis, I would appreciate some cost of living estimates please.I am not interested in purchasing property I will be leasing an apartment.I know this can be a fairly open ended question but ball park figures would be fine.

[englishoak]

do a search hundreds o fthreads

[Bravo Mike]

do a search hundreds o fthreads

thanks I will try that

[Neeranam]

I have a friend in CM, who is retired and getting about 50,000 baht a month pension - he lives like a king, much much higher standard of life than he had in Melbourne.

He rents a beatiful house for 8,000 BAHT. Pays about 7,000 baht for a brand new car. Still has 35,000 to play with. That works out at 1,000 baht a day - more than enough to get the bet food and get piseed as a fart if he wants. Of course you don't need this much - you could get an apartment for 3,000 nad eat the food that the locals eat for 100 baht a day. You could live a good life with 30,000 a month, especially if you have local Thai friends/family.

[Bravo Mike]

I have a friend in CM, who is retired and getting about 50,000 baht a month pension - he lives like a king, much much higher standard of life than he had in Melbourne.

He rents a beatiful house for 8,000 BAHT. Pays about 7,000 baht for a brand new car. Still has 35,000 to play with. That works out at 1,000 baht a day - more than enough to get the bet food and get piseed as a fart if he wants. Of course you don't need this much - you could get an apartment for 3,000 nad eat the food that the locals eat for 100 baht a day. You could live a good life with 30,000 a month, especially if you have local Thai friends/family.

Thanks Neeranam

[Cassandra]

I have a friend in CM, who is retired and getting about 50,000 baht a month pension - he lives like a king, much much higher standard of life than he had in Melbourne.

He rents a beatiful house for 8,000 BAHT. Pays about 7,000 baht for a brand new car. Still has 35,000 to play with. That works out at 1,000 baht a day - more than enough to get the bet food and get piseed as a fart if he wants. Of course you don't need this much - you could get an apartment for 3,000 nad eat the food that the locals eat for 100 baht a day. You could live a good life with 30,000 a month, especially if you have local Thai friends/family.

I totally agree.How misleading of some to suggest that monthly income of Bt 150,000 up is needed to sustain a satisfactory and fulfilling lifestyle in Thailand.I have a friend who lives with his "wife" in a Chang carton in a ditch near Buriram.His monthly income is Bt 500 yet he manages to get by very well eating passing insects and the occasional stray dog.He can get high whenever he likes by sniffing glue.For entertainment he can roam adjacent fields and see what the buffalo are up to.He also has a little computer on which he can tap out posts to this forum all day.A blissful rural life that should be the envy of those idiots living in Bangkok with their fancy houses, club memberships, medical insurance cover,foreign travel,book buying etc.Needless extravagance.

[Phil Conners]

LOL @ Cassandra!! Excellent satire

A "beautiful house" for 8K? A brand new car for 7K? In your dreams mate

Everything of course depends on how you define "a life in comfort" but I think 150K would be an absolute minimum for a farang wanting a comfortable life here.

[Firefan]

He,he Cassandra - now that was funny! I really enjoy your posts - sharp and intelligent albeit not always "politically correct"

Bravo mike; previous posts have "concluded" from 25000-200000 Baht per month and I have personally, in BKK, been all over that range (not the top end though! - sounds like good times though!) - so they are all "possible".

In order to give you a better guess, I suggest you give us a few more details as to what you expect/single?/drinking habits(not joking - I have friends for whom this is their biggest expense ) and so forth.

Cheers!

[poorfarang]

I never understand people who think 150k is a must have to live here.

What are you spending that money on? Are you pay for a gar/gas? Going to the bar and taking a girl home every night? Are you shopping at the Paragon on a daily basis?

Dont let the nick fool you, im not poor by any means, but I never seem to spend anywhere near this amount.

Edited February 14, 2006 by poorfarang

[LoveDaBlues]

Mike, for an 'average' (I know, hard to define) life style I think Neeranam is pretty close. I spent some time in Chiang Mai. Helped some friends move into a rental house, checked out apartments, etc. One of the neat things I've found about Thailand is there is always a 'better deal' on housing, etc. but are you willing to devote the time to finding the 'better deal'? If not I would lean towards having a little more money say 60-80,000 baht. I could have rented a monster house in downtown Udon Thani for 15,000 baht (must have been 4,000 sf) but decided to look a little more and found a 4br/3ba place I love for 6,000. Once you learn your way around CM you'll find some good food at low/average prices. I suggest you check out 'Blue Diamond' cafe. You'll be pleased I promise; huge portions, quality/fresh, low prices.

Good luck.

[astral]

My wife, son and I spend about 50K a month and live very comfortably.

We own our own house.

[LoveDaBlues]

I never understand people who think 150k is a must have to live here.

What are you spending that money on? Are you pay for a gar/gas? Going to the bar and taking a girl home every night? Are you shopping at the Paragon on a daily basis?

Dont let the nick fool you, im not poor by any means, but I never seem to spend anywhere near this amount.

My wife and myself live in what I consider a pretty nice place. Made more like an American style house than Thai (heck...even has 'American Standard' plumbing fixtures). I'm guessing around 2,000 sf and sitting on 1 rai although the surrounding area is un-developed so in reality sits alone. 4br/3ba and comes furnished. House is around 6 years old. 6,000 baht a month.....fits my needs perfectly. This is my biggest expense. Power bill = 950 baht, water = 240, gas = 90, UBC = 1568, Ipstar = 4280. Currently I'm self-insured as far as health insurance.

I'm not a smoker or drinker (very rarely) so I save a lot in that area. I'm not big on travel so save there also.

I can easily understand why a few would think it takes 150,000 a month to live here. Their life style is probably one of a lot of travel, perhaps a large family, and perhaps the need to 'show off' a bit (larger place than needed, jewelry, etc.) . However, those folks are not the norm and I think when the oft asked question of 'how much does it cost to live in Thailand' is asked I'm still in the camp that believes 150,000 is a pretty ridiculous figure. I will agree that anything less than 50,000 a month is pushing it though.

My 2 satang.

[rishi]

Seeing many of the usual posters, I haven't bothered to check whether both of the usual limits have been mentioned in this particular thread - so, sorry if i repeat something, but here the usual limits come:

Some live a happy life here for about 25,000 b/m, some finds it impossible to live a happy life here for less than 250.000 b/m

[Firefan]

He,he - yeah some of us are cost-of-living-junkies!

You added 50k more to my statement earlier in the thread saying 25k-200k

Cheers!

Seeing many of the usual posters, I haven't bothered to check whether both of the usual limits have been mentioned in this particular thread - so, sorry if i repeat something, but here the usual limits come:

Some live a happy life here for about 25,000 b/m, some finds it impossible to live a happy life here for less than 250.000 b/m

[scotsman]

Me and my wife live here very well on 50,000 a month we own our 2b/2bathroom house and own our own car. I dont drink very much and still have change over

[LoveDaBlues]

Me and my wife live here very well on 50,000 a month we own our 2b/2bathroom house and own our own car. I dont drink very much and still have change over

Scotsman, glad to hear that's doable in Pattaya. My wife has a life-long friend from her little village in Issan who lives near Pattaya. I've never been.....maybe a road trip soon

From reading various posts I thought Pattaya would be way more expensive than Udon Thani. Do you live outside Pattaya or ???

He,he - yeah some of us are cost-of-living-junkies!

You added 50k more to my statement earlier in the thread saying 25k-200k

Cheers!

Seeing many of the usual posters, I haven't bothered to check whether both of the usual limits have been mentioned in this particular thread - so, sorry if i repeat something, but here the usual limits come:

Some live a happy life here for about 25,000 b/m, some finds it impossible to live a happy life here for less than 250.000 b/m

Hey Firefan add me to the list....cost-of-living-junkie!

I even have a basket by the back door....fill it with my diet coke cans, etc. Give it to the father-in-law when it's full he sells the cans somewhere for 1 baht each.....

[JimsKnight]

I can easily understand why a few would think it takes 150,000 a month to live here. Their life style is probably one of a lot of travel, perhaps a large family, and perhaps the need to 'show off' a bit (larger place than needed, jewelry, etc.) . However, those folks are not the norm and I think when the oft asked question of 'how much does it cost to live in Thailand' is asked I'm still in the camp that believes 150,000 is a pretty ridiculous figure. I will agree that anything less than 50,000 a month is pushing it though.

My 2 satang.

Its all relative to what your lifestyle is. In the capital... If your a single dude who isn't addicted to any of Bangkoks trappings then you can easily survive on about 15,000 to 35,000 a month depending on location BUT start to add on for ciggies, booze and nights out if you choose the night life. My ex would pay 2,900 baht for a comfortable one bedroom apartment in a tower block with aircon and balcony. Her monthly income would be about 6,000 baht and this was in Bangkok!

Teachers in Bangkok can be on less that 25,000 baht (NET) after all there deductions are accounted for.

If your a guy raising a family then 45,000 upwards is a good benchmark.

If your a hellraising sugar daddy (Go sugar daddy!) with a taste for the night scene (drink, smokes, high maintenance women/hookers every other night) and a flashy apartment.

Then 80,000 to 100,000 may not be enough.

For 150,000 baht a month you'd have to be seriously stupid with your spending to go over! Unless of course there is a dope habit involved!

[Steve2UK]

Bravo Mike, to re-state the obvious - yes, of course your mileage will vary according to personal situation/habits/wants. Seeing as you're talking specifically about Chiang Mai, I'll reproduce a broadly itemised budget that I researched and worked out for myself living there - but in a house rather than a condo.

The house rental is a top-end figure that I reckon to get down to about 10,000 after a while. I assume eating mainly a mix of Thai/European food at home, mainly Thai food out and the occasional European meal out. It also assumes that I already own a car and motorbike - and yes, I do think I need both (you may not).

Rent 15,000

Electricity 3,500

Water 200

Gas 80

Internet (ADSL) 1,250

TV package 2,100

Telephone 1,000

Mobile 600

M/bike (fuel, tax etc) 400

Car (fuel, tax etc) 1,000

Car insurance 2,000

Food 7,500

Entertainment 10,000

Total p.m. 44,630

On top of this total, I personally would allow up to a further 20,000 a month for sundries, occasional travel/scuba, visas and contingency (I plan to self-insure healthwise). That brings the total to a figure of about 59-64k per month. Pick and mix as you like, but that's what I reckon is required for me to live fairly comfortably and provide some flexibility to explore LOS, relieve boredom and treat myself/friends - in other words enjoy life rather than just "exist".

As I've mentioned on previous occasions, I would allow at least a 10% drop in the current exchange rate - i.e. reckon with a stronger baht in the future. That's before you take Thai inflation into account - but maybe your Aus$ income will keep pace with that.............

As has been said, there are many threads on this subject and I think you should read as many posts as your boredom threshold will allow - then you strike your own balance as you filter out the ones that emerge as inappropriate........... e.g. starting with the ones that say 20,000 or 200,000 baht per month.

[Firefan]

Good detailed budget Steve - those nos would be realistic in BKK also I believe. Cheers!

[Bravo Mike]

Me and my wife live here very well on 50,000 a month we own our 2b/2bathroom house and own our own car. I dont drink very much and still have change over

Thanks everyone, I guess it really is an open ended sort of question, like how long is a piece of string.I suppose Im looking for a discussion point on what you get for your money and how far your money will take you.

Like everything everywhere people choose to live at different levels, me Im just looking to be comfortable, Im not into the bar scene so thats a cost I dont have to incur.

Health insurance is another thing I would like to know about, Im healthy now with no issues but ....

who knows what the future holds.

Whilst Im here is there much of an expat scene in Chiang Mai?

[Neeranam]

Some crazy replies. As a local person if they think 150,000 baht is a lot or not.

Someone earning that amount is a millionaire. Similar to someone in my country earning 500,000 pounds a year. Millionaires don't count when stating the cost of living.

I pay 750 baht a month for health insurance.

[Firefan]

He,he - why ask a local person? Do they have to do visa runs? Or pay for visas? Or go on homeleave to visit family and friends? Or do they all require their own place to stay(can stay with family)? Do they "need" western food now and again? Do they not speak fluent Thai to better bargain prices? Do they not know their way around the local markets? Do they not undestand Thai TV and therefore not need UBC? Do they "need" internet since most of family and friends are nearby?

One thing we have not done in this thread is to compare with local salaries - and there are good reason for that! (see above for some).

Anyway; what health insurance is that? Great price but: What is the top cover? Does it include evacuation to home country? in-patient/out patient cover levels? What are the exclusions? Cronic illness cover? Dangerous sports?

Cheers!

[Steve2UK]

Health insurance is another thing I would like to know about, Im healthy now with no issues but ....

who knows what the future holds.

Whilst Im here is there much of an expat scene in Chiang Mai?

Your health insurance premium will depend on a] your age and b] the level of cover you choose (including the details that Firefan mentioned - and maybe more). Easy enough to get an online quote from Goodhealth Worldwide. I've seen many people recommend Bupa Thailand - but I'm not sure you can get an online quote from them (though, presumably, an e-mail to them could achieve the same).

When I looked into this (aged 55), I was quite struck by how many people in a comparable situation in terms of age and not requiring "family cover" have decided to self-insure - on the basis that they're able to view all but the most complex medical treatment in Thailand as relatively very cheap/affordable. Plainly, there's got to be a personal cost versus risk assessment in this; some would say it's too much of a gamble - while others wouldn't. "Up to you"............

As to the expat scene - my totally subjective take on it is that there's enough. Sometimes - more than enough......... The question seems to imply that you haven't been to Chiang Mai yet; if so - are you planning to visit before making your move?

[Neeranam]

""""""""""""He,he - why ask a local person? Do they have to do visa runs? Or pay for visas? Or go on homeleave to visit family and friends? Or do they all require their own place to stay(can stay with family)? Do they "need" western food now and again? Do they not speak fluent Thai to better bargain prices? Do they not know their way around the local markets? Do they not undestand Thai TV and therefore not need UBC? Do they "need" internet since most of family and friends are nearby?"""""""""""""""""

You need to do a visa run, if you are here illegally - I did it once about four years ago - great train to Aranya Pratet - 47 baht from Ekkamai. Visas and spening money in the casino - 5000 baht.

I went to visit my family last month - say 100,000 a year - save 10,000 a month.

UBC + internet - 3,000 a month.

Go to tesco, you don't need to bargain. Or send your butler!

Oh, a butler is about 8,000 a month, throw in a maid too - you can get a good maid and butler for 15,000 a month. they can then go to the market and barter for things.

What about eating at a Western restaurant twice a week - 500b if pizza hut - let's say 5000 for a fancy place.

Maid, Butler/driver, visa trip once a month with spending money, one trip home a year, cable tv, and high speed internet. Grand total of 38,000 baht a month on things that Thai people don't need.

So the nurse earning 6,000 - add 38,000 and you will need 44,000 a month to live comfortably in Bkk with a maid and butler.

Where does the other 106,000 a month come in?

Bits and bobs, ha ha.

Buy a learn yourself Thai book and get down the market, it's fun sometimes mingling with the natives.

[Firefan]

Did not know that all visa runners are illegal!? I hang out with several and they have not hurt me..yet...

Anyway; the OP wanted to know about cost of living for him, nobody can answer that as we all agree, but to bring up a nurse earning 6000 Baht is of course plain silly, as is to compare with with a Thai local cost of living in general.

I do not need 150-250k mentioned by some (50k+paid condo is fine for me), but fully understand that others do.

Cheers!

[Cassandra]

Health insurance is another thing I would like to know about, Im healthy now with no issues but ....

who knows what the future holds.

Whilst Im here is there much of an expat scene in Chiang Mai?

Your health insurance premium will depend on a] your age and b] the level of cover you choose (including the details that Firefan mentioned - and maybe more). Easy enough to get an online quote from Goodhealth Worldwide. I've seen many people recommend Bupa Thailand - but I'm not sure you can get an online quote from them (though, presumably, an e-mail to them could achieve the same).

When I looked into this (aged 55), I was quite struck by how many people in a comparable situation in terms of age and not requiring "family cover" have decided to self-insure - on the basis that they're able to view all but the most complex medical treatment in Thailand as relatively very cheap/affordable. Plainly, there's got to be a personal cost versus risk assessment in this; some would say it's too much of a gamble - while others wouldn't. "Up to you"............

As to the expat scene - my totally subjective take on it is that there's enough. Sometimes - more than enough......... The question seems to imply that you haven't been to Chiang Mai yet; if so - are you planning to visit before making your move?

On health insurance for the category you mention (aged 55 not requiring family cover) it's a dilemma if you live in Thailand.You are quite right that medical treatment is very affordable.The problem is the unexpected, involving expensive treatment and hospitalization for several months.This could be a real financial challenge if no cover.My suggestion for those that wish to minimise insurance costs is to seek cover so that medical bills up to a specified limit are excluded, ie cover only kicks in for the catastrophic.

[Steve2UK]

On health insurance for the category you mention (aged 55 not requiring family cover) it's a dilemma if you live in Thailand.You are quite right that medical treatment is very affordable.The problem is the unexpected, involving expensive treatment and hospitalization for several months.This could be a real financial challenge if no cover.My suggestion for those that wish to minimise insurance costs is to seek cover so that medical bills up to a specified limit are excluded, ie cover only kicks in for the catastrophic.

Cassandra, that's a very interesting point and I have thought about it. So far, my assumption has tended to be that I would get myself back to the UK and be able to use the state NHS (free) healthcare scheme for anything that major (for sure - not that simple in the event of a sudden, urgent emergency). In any case, it's looking more and more like I may be excluded from the NHS system if I am not resident in the UK for x number of years.

I'm definitely interested to explore what health insurance would be available to me in Thailand along the lines you describe - i.e. excluding generally minor stuff that I would "cover" myself and therefore restricted to the major "catastrophic" (hopefully much less likely) stuff. Most of what I've seen when I researched the subject seemed to be structured around limiting the cover to minor treatments rather than excluding them. What you're describing (and interests me) is the opposite of that.

Is it just a matter of reducing the premium by accepting a very large excess - or do you know of specific schemes that can be tailor-made in this way and maybe which would exclude a pre-existing condition but, for example, still provide cover for treating severe injury?

Edited February 15, 2006 by Steve2UK

[LoveDaBlues]

Health insurance is another thing I would like to know about, Im healthy now with no issues but ....

who knows what the future holds.

Whilst Im here is there much of an expat scene in Chiang Mai?

Your health insurance premium will depend on a] your age and b] the level of cover you choose (including the details that Firefan mentioned - and maybe more). Easy enough to get an online quote from Goodhealth Worldwide. I've seen many people recommend Bupa Thailand - but I'm not sure you can get an online quote from them (though, presumably, an e-mail to them could achieve the same).

When I looked into this (aged 55), I was quite struck by how many people in a comparable situation in terms of age and not requiring "family cover" have decided to self-insure - on the basis that they're able to view all but the most complex medical treatment in Thailand as relatively very cheap/affordable. Plainly, there's got to be a personal cost versus risk assessment in this; some would say it's too much of a gamble - while others wouldn't. "Up to you"............

As to the expat scene - my totally subjective take on it is that there's enough. Sometimes - more than enough......... The question seems to imply that you haven't been to Chiang Mai yet; if so - are you planning to visit before making your move?

On health insurance for the category you mention (aged 55 not requiring family cover) it's a dilemma if you live in Thailand.You are quite right that medical treatment is very affordable.The problem is the unexpected, involving expensive treatment and hospitalization for several months.This could be a real financial challenge if no cover.My suggestion for those that wish to minimise insurance costs is to seek cover so that medical bills up to a specified limit are excluded, ie cover only kicks in for the catastrophic.

This is exactly what I did in the states. I paid the first $5,000 USD for any health problems. This cut my monthly premium in half. I'm rarely sick so couldn't see paying for something I never need. However the first 2 companies I have met with here don't allow this option.

[richard10365]

50,000+/month is what my pension has been paying me for the last 2 years. I don't live in the big city and find it very cheap to live. I live with my wifes family so I don't pay rent. I am doing other things with my money. I'm never really broke.

It would depend on your lifestyle if 50,000 is enough or not.

[Gary A]

Well, let's see. A bar-fine every night 500 baht. Pay the lady in the morning 1,500 baht. Ring the bell once a week at 10,000 baht each time. Drinks for you, your lady of the day and her friends EVERY night at 4000 baht.

That's about 220,000 baht a month without actual living expenses. YES! I could see where some would need 250,000 baht a month just to squeak by. Maybe we need to put the minimum for some at 300,000 baht a month.

As for myself I do quite well on 25,000 baht a month. Of course that excludes buying new toys or other capital expenses that I really wouldn't need.