Budget Living In Bangkok For 4 Months

[Nynke]

Hello!

I know that there are many topics about this, but I couldn't really found what I was looking for, so I decided to start a new topic:) I hope that's ok?

Next year I will do an internship in Bangkok for 4 months (Feb - May). I've been to Thailand before, 4 years ago so know a bit obout the prices, but in 4 years a lot can change.

The company found an studio for 8,500 baht/month, I know that there are cheaper studio's to find, but this one is REALY close to the company (Just 30 meters), so I will save money on transport and I prefer the short walk, instead of taking a tuktuk or taxi everyday. (The closest MRT station is a 25 minutes walk).

But what budget should be reasonable for food / drinks? I don't smoke, do not drink any alcohol, I will not go out to any clubs etc (I know I sound boring..) and I intend to buy most of my food at foodstalls on the street (Love Thai food) and buying water and orther drinks at BigC for example in bigger quantities.

And are there other expensis out there that I didn't think about? I know that electricity and water would be around 2000/2300 baht/month. Internet is free at this studio, I don't know the cost of the laundry machines but I think that it would be not that expensive.

I intend to use the weekends / sunday to do some sightseeing in Bangkok so I will reserve a budget for that too.

Greetings!

[Nisasina]

Depends which are you will stay in BKK? The living cost in BKK now, should be around 150-300 baht for 3 meal(i consider for Thai people) but if you eat more or go to the fine restaurant, you will pay more for sure. Btw, welcome to Thailand

[Nynke]

Thanks! I will stay in the Chatuchak district, close to the Major Cineplex Ratchayothin.

[ShopBoy]

Ratchayothin area could get you by 300 baht per day as what Nisasina said.

[Psych01]

Your standard Thai food from a street vendor would usually be somewhere between 25-50bht, depending on what the dish is, and area you are actually staying (Touristy or Thai). I do smoke, I drink 1-2 sometimes 3 big bottles of Chang (45bht per bottle) a day at the local and eat 3 Thai meals per day. If I did not drink a beer, then I would struggle to spend 300bht a day.

[CPT]

Your utilities estimates sound about right, I pay about 1,300 B in electricity for a studio apartment, 120 B for water (min charge), and 300 B for cable (required, can't refuse it even if you don't want it). You could spend as little as 90 B per day on food eating streetfood (better quality food than restaurants, not such great atmosphere), But I would count on a bit more. On days when I only eat streetfood I typically spend about 20 B for a morning snack, 35 B for lunch, and 45 B for dinner plus a bottle of water or tea at 10 or 20B respectively. A food budget of around 150B would be adequate and add an additional 100-150B per day for various necessities, laundry (30B per load), transport (bus, motorbike taxis, express boat, and occassional BTS/MRT, no taxis and NO tuk tuks), and occassional admision charges (generally 50-100B at popular tourist attractions). As the others said, 300B per day sounds about right living on a budget in a non-touristy part of Bangkok which comes to about 20,000 baht per month with rent and utilities.

You will probably want a data package if you have a smartphone as apartment operated wifi can be of varying quality. 2GB a month costs around 535B and comes with unlimited wifi from truemove to give you an idea of pricing (fits in the 20k / month).

[varun]

As the others said, 200-300 baht/day sounds about right.

[mrtoad]

Ratchayotin area has plenty of cheap places to eat, and the MRT is walking distance. Fairly good area to live IMO.

[Mooner]

Ok, you do not drink or smoke but are you a big shopping person. Chatachuk market is a big lure at the weekends. Then there is the Central close to you.

Once you start meeting friends you could find yourself spending more as you socialize. It is possible to spend very little in Bangkok but it can be a great city minus the traffic and heat. In my opinion try to save a bit of money and enjoy the city!

[Nynke]

Thanks alot for al of your replies! Also a good advice, CTP, about the data package! I never thought about that, 4 years ago we bought a prepaid simcard, we didn't had a smartphone at the time

And Mooner, it's good that you mention that when you get to know friends, you will spend more. I've been to the chatuchak market the last time, and it's a good place to spend money

I will definitely enjoy Bangkok. I just don't feel like spending a lot of money on food in fancy expensive restaurants, when food on the streets is cheaper and really good When I save some money on those kind of things, I can spend it on more fun things:P it's my plan to travel for a month when i'm done with my internship, so I will have to save some money

[thrilled]

I've heard spending 100k A month no problem.St 300 baht A day I couldn't do it.I tip 300 baht.

[yoslim]

I've heard spending 100k A month no problem.St 300 baht A day I couldn't do it.I tip 300 baht.

Another wannabe high-so

[Soi Sauce]

Buy a fan and your lekkie bill will be less than 500.

Edited May 20, 2013 by Soi Sauce

[maccaroni man]

it may be easier to start by giving us a budget and we can suggest ways to spend your money.

[Rhys]

prepare yourself for hidden cost and unexpected purchases required for your internship and school. best wishes..it can be done..but you will find yourself tempted by the lure of Bangkok....and all that..

[Nynke]

Buy a fan and your lekkie bill will be less than 500.

Yes I was planning to do that But I didn't knew that it would be that much of a difference in the electricity bill!

Oh and I would prefer not to spend more than 25.000 Baht a month (total). But I didn't knew if it was a reasonable budget Anything less would be great

My studio would be 8500 baht, + +/- 2000 baht for water / electricity = 10500 baht (Or less, when I buy a fan:P) so that way I would have around 480 baht a day to spend on food / drinks, transport, sightseeing in the weekends etc.

4 years ago, when I was backpacking through Thailand with my boyfriend, we had a total budget of 1000 baht a day for us 2, for everything, including hostel etc.

[mrtoad]

I've heard spending 100k A month no problem.St 300 baht A day I couldn't do it.I tip 300 baht.

Thanks for the update, I must remember to tip a days wages to people in future.

[dddave]

Because of a legal situation (now resolved) I had to live on a budget of B23,000/Mo. for almost 3 years, ending just last year.

Room (70 sq/m studio) and associated expenses: water, electricity, (Minimal a.c.) and very basic cable/internet came to about B9000/mo.

I budgeted B300 p/d food (about B9000 p/m) which worked pretty well. I did have minimal cooking facilities: hot plate and several electrical cookers along with a refrigerator so I would often cook for myself. This really didn't save that much as groceries are expensive...street food can actually be cheaper.

Transportation was about B1000 to 1500 p/m...I learned my local bus routes and used them whenever I had the extra time to spare. I actually got to enjoy the A.C buses...nice way to relax and watch the city go by,...not so much the non-a.c. buses but using buses does save a lot of money over the course of a month.

Mobile phone was about B500/mo.

Something always came up to eat up the remaining baht...never ended a month with a surplus.