Monthly Costs For A Single Person?

[willfreeman]

'So that's 1300 ish per day. How the £$%^ are you guys managing to spend that per day? Even if food was 300 a day that's 1000 left over for fuel, internet, mobile phone.... That leaves plenty of room for beers etc.'

whenever a cost of living in chiangmai thread comes up there are the inevitable comments like ' you could live on 30,000 baht a month but it wouldnt be living i spend 60,000 baht blah blah blah, for a family i can see it but how does a single guy go through that if hes not just throwing money away for the hell of it, i budget for 30k a month, dont end up spending it and dont want for anything.

[Khun Watchaporn]

^ Quite simple.

Don't think of day by day, think of month by month.

A 3 day holiday down the beach. 10-20k.

Rent a car (if you don't own one) or bike and do a week of touring.

Sure some people spent 30-31 days p/m eating 30b rat on a stick in a 4k p/m 'apartment', then cannot fathom how others actually live, and the money they spend doing so.

[willfreeman]

the budget was living here not touring the entire country, itemize your expenses, your obviously lavish 'apartment' etc, please explain it to a mere pauper

[Khun Watchaporn]

the budget was living here

Yes living here.

Some of us like weekends away at least every month.

Fly down to the islands or off to a resort, once or twice a month, go back to Europe once a year, new Nikon camera, set of tyres for the bike, car insurance.... things that living includes.... Is 'life' really just some cheap apartment and street food to some, and nothing more?

Best stay there 365 days a year with no holidays, or breaks, or buy anything decent and wonder how others average more than 1000b a day.

And Thailand ain't that cheap any more.

Edited May 8, 2013 by Khun Watchaporn

[heybruce]

I want to be near the Nimman Rd - it's where Thais go out and it looks pretty hip for CM so it's my kind of place. The best there is. I've heard the girls there are the best CM has to offer - I do not plan on paying to have women here - I know it's the done thing in the LOS but I'd rather make the effort and find middle class girls who are not pros. (and of course I will have to learn Thai too) - and I am NOT paying for her life either. I support women's lib!

Right...., as in "I hope you like your right hand". Contrary to western perceptions, virginity is rampant among middle class Thai university women. Unless you look like a K-Pop boy band star you're going to find that the non-pros want a long term commitment from someone who can take care of them, and they'll want a considerable investment in time before they let you get anywhere. Also, unless you have a true gift for languages you'll find that learning Thai isn't a quick and easy thing to do.

[Mapguy]

Having just returned from assisting a foreigner who came to a government hospital with no money and with his bank account just cleaned out by who knows whom, I'd like to reinforce the notion that Thailand is no place to be when you are in trouble and don't have money. This poor fellow laid on a gurney for most of the day, with no one bringing him food, water or even a pot to p--- in.

So, Mr. New Arrival, get yourself some health insurance pronto. If you can't afford that, open an account at Bangkok Bank and sign up for their Personal Accident insurance. It's cheap -- about 5000 or 6000 baht/year. Most of the problems I see are due to accidents, not medical problems.

Oh, and stay off a motorcycle. It's dangerous enough to be a pedistrian here and can be deadly on a motorcycle. Besides that Bangkok Bank accident policy won't cover you if riding on a motorcycle, but it will if you're hit by a motorcycle while walking.

Oh, about a budget -- I've seen single guys live nice lives on 15,000 - 20,000 baht/month. That's a fan room at a guest house in the old city, reading at AUA library, watching sports at the U.N. Irish pub (but not drinking beer), walking everywhere and treating themselves to a lady (for a night) if money is left at the end of the month. Forget regular drinking, a girlfriend or motorbike on that budget.

I'd suggest the OP turn frugal living into a way-of-life for a few months to save money for an accident insurance policy and maybe, down the road, for a health insurance policy.

This is fundamentally very, very good advice --- but still too forgiving or optimistic. It still encourages too many people --- especially older single males --- who have no real sense of what still can happen to them here. It may sound extreme, but I disagree with any encouragement of people who think that they can come to Thailand and live "nice lives" on 15,000 - 20,000 baht a month if they just stay away from motorcycles. Yes, it is possible to live here barely on that amount, but it is not in the least bit advisable. Do the math! Do you want to be a monk or a nun. That costs money, too! And who, exactly, is going to help you when things get beyond your control? NancyL?! It will keep her very, very busy!

I would wager that all the English-speaking people who think that they (usually socially-standed elderly men from the UK, America or Australia) can come to Thailand and live realistically on 15-20,000 a month absolutely do not understand the realities of life! There are more than daily common bhat-to-bhat expenses to consider. Indeed, as NancyL put it, you won't have a pot to piss in.

[FolkGuitar]

the budget was living here

Some of us like weekends away at least every month.

Fly down to the islands or off to a resort, once or twice a month, go back to Europe once a year, new Nikon camera, set of tyres for the bike, car insurance.... things that living includes....

Resorts once or twice a month... travel around the world each year, newest model camera....

Isn't this how everyone lives?

Marie Antoinette's reported response when she was told the French peasants had no bread to eat: "Let them eat cake."

If a person needs to 'get away' once or twice a month, maybe they aren't in the right place to begin with?

It ceases to be a vacation, turning instead into an escape.

[Khun Watchaporn]

the budget was living here

Some of us like weekends away at least every month.

Fly down to the islands or off to a resort, once or twice a month, go back to Europe once a year, new Nikon camera, set of tyres for the bike, car insurance.... things that living includes....

Resorts once or twice a month... travel around the world each year, newest model camera....

Isn't this how everyone lives?

One or two weekends away p/m in a country like Thailand, a new camera when the time comes (not newest model)... yes, I think that is how everybody lives unless they are unable to financially.

Edited May 9, 2013 by Khun Watchaporn

[Naam]

the budget was living here

Yes living here.

Some of us like weekends away at least every month.

Fly down to the islands or off to a resort, once or twice a month, go back to Europe once a year, new Nikon camera, set of tyres for the bike, car insurance.... things that living includes.... Is 'life' really just some cheap apartment and street food to some, and nothing more?

Best stay there 365 days a year with no holidays, or breaks, or buy anything decent and wonder how others average more than 1000b a day.

And Thailand ain't that cheap any more.

sell that old Ferrari built in 2009 and buy a new one

[FolkGuitar]

the budget was living here

Some of us like weekends away at least every month.

Fly down to the islands or off to a resort, once or twice a month, go back to Europe once a year, new Nikon camera, set of tyres for the bike, car insurance.... things that living includes....

Resorts once or twice a month... travel around the world each year, newest model camera....

Isn't this how everyone lives?

One or two weekends away p/m in a country like Thailand, a new camera when the time comes (not newest model)... yes, I think that is how everybody lives unless they are unable to financially.

Marie Antoinette thought so too.

(Why is that woman sitting over there knitting?)

[Malthus101]

Well, I don't need a holiday for the next 9 months, we've go the mountains here anyway so if I need o get away from the hustle and bustle of Chiang Mai (?) I'd more likely just bugger off into the mountians for a couple of days.

I haven't taken an official holiday in the UK for about 12 years so I should be able to handle 9 months! At that point I have to leave Thailand anyway for Visa reasons so will probably go to Cambodia or Laos. They have beaches. (one of them... I think)

I also bought a lovely new camera before coming out so no new one for me! I do need some computer monitors though, this will cost a bit.

Where's the best place for cheap good qulity monitors? Just any of the computer markets around CM?

One thing at a time....

Thanks y'all.

[murph33]

dude, do you have a visa? what about the cost of maintaining some legal status in thailand. this can get expensive!

[Khun Watchaporn]

dude, do you have a visa? what about the cost of maintaining some legal status in thailand. this can get expensive!

Nonsense.

Shoebox apartment = 3k p/m

Food = 3 x 30b p/d.

Why people need more than 6k p/m is just beyond me. I don't want for anything and budget for 5,700.

[Malthus101]

dude, do you have a visa? what about the cost of maintaining some legal status in thailand. this can get expensive!

I have 6 months already, each one extendable at immigration. How much is that? Then I need to do border runs at the end of each, then leave the country and return for the remaining 3 months. That COULD add up. Cross that bridge when I come to it.

Thanks.

[jbrain]

This must be topic number 378 this month with the question if it is possible to survive as a clochard in Thailand.

May I suggest to the adminstrators of this board to have a running ticker at the top of the portal page which get's updated every so many seconds if a new record in low cost living is established.

[finy]

$1000 per month is easy in the beginning, but after a while you might find yourself spending more which can soon add up.

[muchogra]

This must be topic number 378 this month with the question if it is possible to survive as a clochard in Thailand.

May I suggest to the adminstrators of this board to have a running ticker at the top of the portal page which get's updated every so many seconds if a new record in low cost living is established.

Perhaps it's more interesting to read about what it needs for a high cost living?

[bobl]

This must be topic number 378 this month with the question if it is possible to survive as a clochard in Thailand.

May I suggest to the adminstrators of this board to have a running ticker at the top of the portal page which get's updated every so many seconds if a new record in low cost living is established.

I'd suggest a ticker that gets updated every few seconds with the level of whine about the number of food/cost of living/etc threads, so we know when not to bother signing in...

[CMNightRider]

dude, do you have a visa? what about the cost of maintaining some legal status in thailand. this can get expensive!

Nonsense.

Shoebox apartment = 3k p/m

Food = 3 x 30b p/d.

Why people need more than 6k p/m is just beyond me. I don't want for anything and budget for 5,700.

You obviously don't have a girlfriend. If you did, you would understand why most guys need over 6k p/m to live on. OMG!!

[jbrain]

This must be topic number 378 this month with the question if it is possible to survive as a clochard in Thailand.

May I suggest to the adminstrators of this board to have a running ticker at the top of the portal page which get's updated every so many seconds if a new record in low cost living is established.

Perhaps it's more interesting to read about what it needs for a high cost living?

No my take on all these threads is, that if you need to scratch all your nickel together to survive every month, then stay in your homecountry where you can go to the social security if you can't survive and don't go live in a foreign country.

[muchogra]

This must be topic number 378 this month with the question if it is possible to survive as a clochard in Thailand.

May I suggest to the adminstrators of this board to have a running ticker at the top of the portal page which get's updated every so many seconds if a new record in low cost living is established.

Perhaps it's more interesting to read about what it needs for a high cost living?

No my take on all these threads is, that if you need to scratch all your nickel together to survive every month, then stay in your homecountry where you can go to the social security if you can't survive and don't go live in a foreign country.

wow, jbrain, you are straight-forward or is it mean? Perhaps, it's rare, but my wife and I are not planning to claim our social security when we become qualified.

[jbrain]

This must be topic number 378 this month with the question if it is possible to survive as a clochard in Thailand.

May I suggest to the adminstrators of this board to have a running ticker at the top of the portal page which get's updated every so many seconds if a new record in low cost living is established.

Perhaps it's more interesting to read about what it needs for a high cost living?

No my take on all these threads is, that if you need to scratch all your nickel together to survive every month, then stay in your homecountry where you can go to the social security if you can't survive and don't go live in a foreign country.

wow, jbrain, you are straight-forward or is it mean? Perhaps, it's rare, but my wife and I are not planning to claim our social security when we become qualified.

Yes I'm straight forward. I arrived here almost 2 decades ago, and my intention for my stay was to enjoy life, not that I had to mark on the calendar which day I could afford a beer and which day I could visit Mc D without the need of starving for hunger the next 2 days because I was over budget.

My remarks were also not directed at you, at least I don't see any posts that you need to survive on 29.000 Baht a month.

[muchogra]

jbrain, don't worry, I know your post is not directed at me.

I did not mention my budget because I don't knowwhat it is. I don't have house or car payments to make. Most of all, our kids are grown who need no financial help from us. In fact, each of our 2 kids gave us USD10k each for the 2 bedrooms reserved for them when they come for visit every year.

[Malthus101]

This must be topic number 378 this month with the question if it is possible to survive as a clochard in Thailand.

May I suggest to the adminstrators of this board to have a running ticker at the top of the portal page which get's updated every so many seconds if a new record in low cost living is established.

Perhaps it's more interesting to read about what it needs for a high cost living?

No my take on all these threads is, that if you need to scratch all your nickel together to survive every month, then stay in your homecountry where you can go to the social security if you can't survive and don't go live in a foreign country.

But Jbrain, only if someones home country is deepest Mexico could they find equivalent rent to Chiang Mai. Thats WHY people come here. It's why I'm here. 5000 Baht rent per month? That's £125 per month rent. If I were to find similar accomodation in London (where I'm from) and I MEAN a small shoebox studio waaaaay further out of town than a shoebox here, I would be paying at the very minimum, £1,000 a month, or 40,000 Baht.

5,000 here or 40,000 to live in a xxxxxx, freezing cold city full of total scumbags.

You do the Math!

Edited May 11, 2013 by metisdead

[jbrain]

This must be topic number 378 this month with the question if it is possible to survive as a clochard in Thailand.

May I suggest to the adminstrators of this board to have a running ticker at the top of the portal page which get's updated every so many seconds if a new record in low cost living is established.

Perhaps it's more interesting to read about what it needs for a high cost living?

No my take on all these threads is, that if you need to scratch all your nickel together to survive every month, then stay in your homecountry where you can go to the social security if you can't survive and don't go live in a foreign country.

But Jbrain, only if someones home country is deepest Mexico could they find equivalent rent to Chiang Mai. Thats WHY people come here. It's why I'm here. 5000 Baht rent per month? That's £125 per month rent. If I were to find similar accomodation in London (where I'm from) and I MEAN a small shoebox studio waaaaay further out of town than a shoebox here, I would be paying at the very minimum, £1,000 a month, or 40,000 Baht.

5,000 here or 40,000 to live in a xxxxxx, freezing cold city full of total scumbags.

You do the Math!

If you're from London, then why do you use $ as your currency?

But no problem with that.If it is so expensive to rent in London, which I believe, how do other Londoners survive ? Must be that all make loads of money, or are they laying dead aside of the roads there?

So my question is, if you can pay 1000 Pound a month on rent, which you are doing as you live there, plus the additional cost of food and utilities, then why you need to do it here with half that budget ?

[Malthus101]

Because for me personally, there I would have to work 70 hours a week. Here I can live without working for a year. After that though, it's back to square one. From what I understand, a lot of folk who retire here are able to draw on their pension. They get the same amount wherever they live in the world. I think I read about a guy from San Francisco who got about $1,000 a month pension. In SF, that pays for rent only. Here, he can live on it.

I do the US Dollar thing so people from all over the world can have an idea of the amount if they read this thread. Same reason we all write in English I suppose, it's the common currency/language of the world. Saves people having to convert from baht to pounds to dollars to their own currency. Everyone meassures against the dollar around the world.

[akspace]

So my question is, if you can pay 1000 Pound a month on rent, which you are doing as you live there, plus the additional cost of food and utilities, then why you need to do it here with half that budget ?

That is a stupid question, normally I have more tact but I can't phrase it any other way. He's already said he is moving to Chiang Mai to study, which suggests he won't be working full time. Even if he was working full time the idea of getting paid the same in Chiang Mai vs London is laughable. Finally there is the fact that living expenses in Chiang Mai are a fraction of what they are in London, so of course things should cost less.

More importantly why should you question how anyone chooses to budget? If you don't want to be frugal is your choice, but don't tell others they should be spendthrifts.

[Khun Watchaporn]

dude, do you have a visa? what about the cost of maintaining some legal status in thailand. this can get expensive!

Nonsense.

Shoebox apartment = 3k p/m

Food = 3 x 30b p/d.

Why people need more than 6k p/m is just beyond me. I don't want for anything and budget for 5,700.

You obviously don't have a girlfriend. If you did, you would understand why most guys need over 6k p/m to live on. OMG!!

Utter nonsense.

Unless you pay for your *ahem* 'girlfriend'.

Edited May 10, 2013 by Khun Watchaporn

[jbrain]

dude, do you have a visa? what about the cost of maintaining some legal status in thailand. this can get expensive!

Nonsense.

Shoebox apartment = 3k p/m

Food = 3 x 30b p/d.

Why people need more than 6k p/m is just beyond me. I don't want for anything and budget for 5,700.

You obviously don't have a girlfriend. If you did, you would understand why most guys need over 6k p/m to live on. OMG!!

Utter nonsense.

Unless you pay for your *ahem* 'girlfriend'. :whisling:

which nightrider seem to be the only one on this forum

[mesquite]

dude, do you have a visa? what about the cost of maintaining some legal status in thailand. this can get expensive!

Nonsense.

Shoebox apartment = 3k p/m

Food = 3 x 30b p/d.

Why people need more than 6k p/m is just beyond me. I don't want for anything and budget for 5,700.

You obviously don't have a girlfriend. If you did, you would understand why most guys need over 6k p/m to live on. OMG!!

Utter nonsense.

Unless you pay for your *ahem* 'girlfriend'.

The most expensive girlfriend is the one that's free.