Lazy Day [Or why I retired away from Australia]

[Suradit69]

What the heck is a "casual gym visit"

"Casual visits" to mean not regular or occasional visits is correct English usage.

adjective: casual

1. 1.

relaxed and unconcerned.

"she regarded his affairs with a casual indulgence"

synonyms:

relaxed, friendly, informal, unceremonious, easygoing, free and easy; More

informallaid-back

"the inn's casual atmosphere"

1. 2.

not regular or permanent, in particular.

synonyms:

temporary, part-time, freelance, impermanent, irregular, occasional

[NBD]

A long way off retirement but some cost comparisons that have me thinking a bit recently

Thailand England

Education c.300,000/year Free

Healthcare c.5000/m insurance Free

BMW 320 c. 3,000,000 c. 1,200,000

Coffee Machine c. 15,000 c. 5,000

Supermarkets are about the same, but I would say you have a bit more variety and (never thought I would say this!) better quality in the UK.

Thailand is cheap for some things, hotels, restaurants, labour (a double edged sword) but not for others, and the things Thailand is not cheap for are becoming more of a priority in my life than the things it is cheap for.

Property can be cheap but if you want a nice place in a good location (and that means Bangkok for most people who work here) then it isn't much different to provincial cities in England.

Many people here mention healthcare..Cost and quality. I was in the emergency medical field for 27yrs in Brissie. Most people there have private medical insurance if they can afford it due to hospitals full, even emergency depts. If your condition is emergency, eg Stroke, heart attack, fell off roof, etc..Then the initial treatment is up with the best in the world. No question, and free ambulance to boot. Anything chronic, eg waiting for valve replacement, bypass surgery, hernia, hip replacement, specialist appointment, then you could be waiting in pain for months, even years. Private insurance will get it done quicker, but still with extra fees up to thousands of bucks..Dental? Long appointment waits and extortionate fees for no better quality than here.

Best bet in Thailand is to get Accident Insurance, and pay for most surgery needs,,Believe me, hip replacements and colonoscopies are dirt cheap compared to the West...Unless you want to wait forever to get it free...

I keep my BUPA in Oz going in case of the unexpected, whatever that may be..Pay for what I need here which is minor, and get it done pronto. There is no free dental in Oz as someone suggested, unless you are poverty stricken and join the loooong queue for Govt dentistry. Most medical problems are lifestyle related here, so much about medical care is up to you...Just my opinion.

No doubt the quality of private hospitals here is terrific - my mother spent a couple of weeks in one last year, and it trumped any of the hospitals I've ever been in in England. Our daughter was born in the same hospital and I couldn't fault it then either. And the prices seemed to be less than 1/3rd of the same procedure in the US.

The thing is it would still hurt me to have to stump up 300k for a health problem, where in the UK it would be free. Unfortunately I'm not in a position to do that easily.

It also wouldn't be too much trouble to take a trip to Bangkok from the UK (as people do) for a hip replacement or similar if the NHS was going to take it's customary 500 years to deliver.

[Jasun]

Things that'll cost you more in Sydney:

Anything to do with housing including buying, selling, renting, building, renovating or maintaining a property.

Anything to do with moving around including petrol, insurance, registration, maintenance, parking, parts and repairs, taking a taxi, train, bus or plane.

Anything to do with eating including fine and casual dining, grocery shopping, cooking it yourself or hiring a maid to do it for you.

Anything that puts a smile on your face including going to the movies, having a beer, getting a massage, shopping, booking a hotel room, browsing the internet, playing a round of golf or just playing around.

If you’re not into eating, sleeping, moving or having fun, Thailand is more expensive.

[weegee]

Mind you I can pick a company for a 6 figure income in Brisbane and be employed in days, I can't work in Thailand. My profession is banned for experienced foreigners)

The price of energy and water is totally buts in oz now, but then again 1L of fuel takes about 10min of the min wage to pay for, compared to over an hour here and I don't know many people on the min wage in oz but most I know here are.

One thing forgotten in Australia.....the cost of Body Corps...........if you own your Unit outright, your still up for a few hundred a month to cover that...

[David48]

Not to even mention that Aus is full of Aussies.

Agreed ... but that's a positive !

Actually, speaking of who actually lives in Australia ...

... could the last KIWI moving over turn out the lights in NZ please ...

[Doc46]

I live in Bangkok excluding the massage I think it would be cheaper if I moved to Brisbane

Ok you go and live there for 12 months rent a place and run a car on a pension ,you be begging to come back to Thailand because you wouldn't have any money to buy a one way airline ticket to Thailand.

[msl3232]

i also live in Brisbane and married to a Thai girl, i think you need to add 30% on to the Brisbane prices, the cheapest massage you will get here is $45 and only for 30 min not 90, i would like to know where i can get my car hand-washed in Brisbane for $31..

nice post

[msl3232]

I live in Bangkok excluding the massage I think it would be cheaper if I moved to Brisbane

Ok you go and live there for 12 months rent a place and run a car on a pension ,you be begging to come back to Thailand because you wouldn't have any money to buy a one way airline ticket to Thailand.

depends where you live in Bangkok sure if you want to live in a penthouse in sukumvit yes you will pay for it, we have an apartment in samut sakon has one bedroom and is nice and tidy we rent it out for 3000b a month thats all we can get for it soon the sky train will go to the mall bangkare you can travel anywhere in bangkok on the skytrain and cheap..

[capt_canada42]

Jesus guys the Aussies on here are all a bunch or whingers maybe i should take back what I said about letting a few of them stay here in Thailand

Edited October 16, 2013 by capt_canada42

[Netizen]

Jesus guys the Aussies on here are all a bunch or whingers maybe i should take back what I said about letting a few of them stay here in Thailand

They are more likely heavily disguised closet poms than Australians.

Edited October 16, 2013 by Netizen

[trainman34014]

Well; interesting but very different from my current Thai life and my former life in Britain....

Jogging in the morning........free...........England.....free.

Mug of Tea (1 bag )........1 Baht...........England.....1p.

Use of fitness Machines in local park.....free......England.....free.

Back Massage (Wife)..........free...........England.....free.

Car Wash (myself)..............free...........England.....free.

Avoiding Cheesecake.........free...........England.....free.

Total...................................1 Baht..........................1p.

I do this as many times a week as i please and i could afford to do it in either country, or any other for that matter.

Have a nice day everyone.

Gosh .....What a boring Kineow life some poms lead .....do you afford any money for luxuries for yourself??????

Yes; loads of Beer and Wine, that's why i like to save money on things i can get/do for free !

[White Christmas13]

Hahahaha try living in Perth....the average rent $400per week, power $300 per month...thai oil massage $55 per hour and so it goes on....im happy to be living in Thailamd

You are right about the rent in Perth but $300 per month on power? You kidding me I live in Perth

and pay $110 for 2 months maybe you should turn of all your appliances when not in use

[David48]

Speaking of Perth and considering that mostly Aussies are reading this.

Scoot Airlines have just released a Perth - Singapore fare for $88

[cpofc]

Jesus guys the Aussies on here are all a bunch or whingers maybe i should take back what I said about letting a few of them stay here in Thailand

Hey! Ease up!

Although I do suspect you may have a point. I have only been to back to Oz twice in the past 10 years, the last time just over 5 years ago, to attend a funeral. Only just recently visiting Oz friends told me I am not going to like what I encounter when I return. Which has to be soon.

yes, I do think Australians are becoming a nation of whingers (I am 5th Gen). We have developed a culture of 'entitlement' in the 'Land of The Great Long Weekend'. I love my country, served it almost all my life, but I don't like to see the direction it is taking. The 'Cargo Cult' and The world owes me a living culture.

I retired somewhat by accident. I had some good things going in Oz but decided to take a break 10 years ago when I pulled the plug and came to celebrate my 50th Birthday. Since I had my 21st Birthday at Utapao (US) Airbase, it seemed only fitting. I only intended to stay 6 months. At my mother In laws place in BKK. My wife said to me, 'What are you going to do there for 6 months? You will be bored shitless and want to come home within 2 months'. Yeah, right. She was just here staying with me for a week.

I was always going to live somewhere in Sth East Asia, since I was a teenager. Being cheap is just a bonus.

I have a marvellous life here. I have everything I want and need and I am flat out spending what I get every month.

Deutsche Bank says Australia is one of world's most expensive countries

by: Stephen McMahon, April 23, 2013

AUSTRALIA has become one of the most expensive places on the planet, as the price for everything from a Big Mac to an iPhone exceeds that of most other major developed countries.

The surge in prices over the past decade has seen Sydney become the most expensive destination for a weekend getaway in the world, more than double the cost of New York.

In the past 10 years prices have soared around 200 per cent for average items such as bread, wine cigarettes and petrol as households battle against a strong Australian dollar while the rest of the global economy slows.

Despite a slight fall in prices over the past 12 months, Australia and Japan are rated by the Deutsche Bank survey as the most expensive in the world, while the US is the cheapest country.

Only France and Singapore are more expensive locations for a pint of beer. Australian pubs charge $US8.20, almost double the price in the UK, New Zealand and Germany.

Deutsche Bank global strategist Sanjeev Sanyal said prices in Australia are among the most expensive in the world, overall costs being higher than most of its rivals and most other cities offering some cheaper services.

"Singapore is a cheap place to get an MBA, but not if you want a car or a pair of Levi's jeans. Indian cities are usually cheap, but pizzas cost the same as New York," he said.

"But Australia and Japan are very expensive across a wide range of products, while the United States is generally the cheapest developed country."

And it is not just services that are overpriced. The cost of a new Volkswagen Golf at $US37,442 is almost $US8000 than in the UK and more than $US10,000 more expensive than buying the same model in New York.

The survey just shows average prices in US dollars and lets the price comparisons tell the story rather than drilling down into the data.

Item/Australian price/US price

Big Mac/$4.90/$4.37

Two litre bottle of Coca-Cola/$3.61/$2.35

Pint of beer/$8.20/$6.00

Pair of Levi's 501/$115/$56

iPhone/$819.33/$649

20 pack of Marlboro/$17.21/$12.31

Cab ride for 3km/$10.77/$10.75

Movie tickets/$17.95/$13

Men's haircut in CBD/$27.69/$30

Daily car rental/$95.50/$95.80

Five-Star hotel room/$933(Sydney)/$419(New York)

New Volkswagen Golf/$37,442/$26,044

*Deutsche Bank research. All prices in US dollars

[Gnasher328]

Obviously a lot of pro's and con's depending on circumstances and preferences. But what I don't understand is why the really negative posters are even in Thailand or reading this? If it's that bad why not just go home?

[robhufton]

Jesus guys the Aussies on here are all a bunch or whingers maybe i should take back what I said about letting a few of them stay here in Thailand

Hey! Ease up!

Although I do suspect you may have a point. I have only been to back to Oz twice in the past 10 years, the last time just over 5 years ago, to attend a funeral. Only just recently visiting Oz friends told me I am not going to like what I encounter when I return. Which has to be soon.

yes, I do think Australians are becoming a nation of whingers (I am 5th Gen). We have developed a culture of 'entitlement' in the 'Land of The Great Long Weekend'. I love my country, served it almost all my life, but I don't like to see the direction it is taking. The 'Cargo Cult' and The world owes me a living culture.

I retired somewhat by accident. I had some good things going in Oz but decided to take a break 10 years ago when I pulled the plug and came to celebrate my 50th Birthday. Since I had my 21st Birthday at Utapao (US) Airbase, it seemed only fitting. I only intended to stay 6 months. At my mother In laws place in BKK. My wife said to me, 'What are you going to do there for 6 months? You will be bored shitless and want to come home within 2 months'. Yeah, right. She was just here staying with me for a week.

I was always going to live somewhere in Sth East Asia, since I was a teenager. Being cheap is just a bonus.

I have a marvellous life here. I have everything I want and need and I am flat out spending what I get every month.

Deutsche Bank says Australia is one of world's most expensive countries

by: Stephen McMahon, April 23, 2013

AUSTRALIA has become one of the most expensive places on the planet, as the price for everything from a Big Mac to an iPhone exceeds that of most other major developed countries.

The surge in prices over the past decade has seen Sydney become the most expensive destination for a weekend getaway in the world, more than double the cost of New York.

In the past 10 years prices have soared around 200 per cent for average items such as bread, wine cigarettes and petrol as households battle against a strong Australian dollar while the rest of the global economy slows.

Despite a slight fall in prices over the past 12 months, Australia and Japan are rated by the Deutsche Bank survey as the most expensive in the world, while the US is the cheapest country.

Only France and Singapore are more expensive locations for a pint of beer. Australian pubs charge $US8.20, almost double the price in the UK, New Zealand and Germany.

Deutsche Bank global strategist Sanjeev Sanyal said prices in Australia are among the most expensive in the world, overall costs being higher than most of its rivals and most other cities offering some cheaper services.

"Singapore is a cheap place to get an MBA, but not if you want a car or a pair of Levi's jeans. Indian cities are usually cheap, but pizzas cost the same as New York," he said.

"But Australia and Japan are very expensive across a wide range of products, while the United States is generally the cheapest developed country."

And it is not just services that are overpriced. The cost of a new Volkswagen Golf at $US37,442 is almost $US8000 than in the UK and more than $US10,000 more expensive than buying the same model in New York.

The survey just shows average prices in US dollars and lets the price comparisons tell the story rather than drilling down into the data.

Item/Australian price/US price

Big Mac/$4.90/$4.37

Two litre bottle of Coca-Cola/$3.61/$2.35

Pint of beer/$8.20/$6.00

Pair of Levi's 501/$115/$56

iPhone/$819.33/$649

20 pack of Marlboro/$17.21/$12.31

Cab ride for 3km/$10.77/$10.75

Movie tickets/$17.95/$13

Men's haircut in CBD/$27.69/$30

Daily car rental/$95.50/$95.80

Five-Star hotel room/$933(Sydney)/$419(New York)

New Volkswagen Golf/$37,442/$26,044

*Deutsche Bank research. All prices in US dollars

You have to add at least 20% tip to the US prices

[NBD]

Not really surprising that Australia is expensive several years into a commodity boom with a huge appreciation of it's currency, compared to most of the rest of the developed world who are coming out of a major slump. When I was there in 2006/7 I found it comparable to the UK.

[cpofc]

Obviously a lot of pro's and con's depending on circumstances and preferences. But what I don't understand is why the really negative posters are even in Thailand or reading this? If it's that bad why not just go home?

Never ceases to amaze me either. But then, for some, misery is good. it loves company.

[White Christmas13]

Speaking of Perth and considering that mostly Aussies are reading this.

Scoot Airlines have just released a Perth - Singapore fare for $88

Yes you are right but it is just a promotional first fare commencing on the 9th of December I think

[Cobragold]

Speaking of Perth and considering that mostly Aussies are reading this.

Scoot Airlines have just released a Perth - Singapore fare for $88

This is excluding taxes, try including that in and it's a lot more expansive

[White Christmas13]

Speaking of Perth and considering that mostly Aussies are reading this.

Scoot Airlines have just released a Perth - Singapore fare for $88

This is excluding taxes, try including that in and it's a lot more expansive

I regret to correct you but this price of $88 includes taxes read the article on Perth. News.com

[flyingdoc]

Although I am based in the U.K some of the year, I was recently asked to fly to Brisbane from Samui to attend a skin cancer patient. I had not been for 2-3 years previously, and was absolutely horrified at the prices in the local shop. Have salaries really risen by the same amount?

[Pitts]

What the heck is a "casual gym visit"

That's where you just walk into a gym, see people exercising and sweating, think that looks like work, then turn around and leave.

Hah! That is basically what my visits to the gym are like. With regard to the OP that seems like a very cheap day... I only have Bangkok as a reference but to do all of that there I would assume a price more along the lines of 1000tbh.

[Pitts]

Although I am based in the U.K some of the year, I was recently asked to fly to Brisbane from Samui to attend a skin cancer patient. I had not been for 2-3 years previously, and was absolutely horrified at the prices in the local shop. Have salaries really risen by the same amount?

Not in my experience. The mining / oil & gas industries pay extraordiary saleries now but most other industries seem to have stayed the same over the past few years. It could be that rental prices in Brisbane and Goldie have dropped a lot so people have more disposable income...

[Gsxrnz]

Not to even mention that Aus is full of Aussies.

Agreed ... but that's a positive !

Actually, speaking of who actually lives in Australia ...

... could the last KIWI moving over turn out the lights in NZ please ...

We believe Kiwis moving to Australia are doing both countries a favour by raising the average IQ's of both countries.

David, I was home in NZ last week and one of my business meetings highlighted the fact that there was a net annual population gain from Australia in the last 12 months. It appears that many ex-pat Kiwis have seen the light and are returning home.

I also spent a week in Sydney and my credit card will be suffering for a long time. Everything is ridiculously priced from simple café food, taxis, public transport, parking etc. I saw a chap pumping so many coins into a parking meter in the CBD I was sure it was going to start playing music and give him a payout any minute!

I had a casual snack there, coffee, sausage roll and small salad, 1 small pastry - AUD15-00 or about 460B. Just got back to Thailand and had Fried rice with shrimp, 2 fried eggs, white rice, coffee, bottled water, orange juice,1 pork dish and 1 chicken dish that I can't remember the names of because the missus ordered them - 475B plus 25B tip.

EDIT: My only consolation was that I took $600 off them at the roulette tables. Annoyingly it only took about 5 minutes to win it so had to spend the rest of the afternoon eating and drinking - that cost me a fair whack of the winnings alone.

TO be fair, NZ no cheaper for similar food.

Edited October 16, 2013 by Gsxrnz

[masuk]

You didn't put down one of the biggest cost over there---Parking---I am from Surfers Paradise lahong29.....but a plastic Australian----just 30 years there it is such a pity the way cost of living has gone there--a great country I was in Brisbane city last month to buy a ticket back here went to the Air Thai office queen street so I could pick out the seat I wanted, found a small car park, $30 --875B an hour.

I had no idea Australia was that expensive! That's nuts! I'll have too keep all this in mind because I was planning a trip there with my GF next year.

I'm at the Gold Coast right now. OMG - the prices!!! Petrol, aka gasoline, changes price according to the day of the week. Today it's $1.50 for 'regular'. i.e. 45 baht.

Just bought two take-aways of Chinese food for dinner. $28.00

Multi story car park - first 2 hours free, 3rd hour $4.40.

Replacement driver's licence $63.00.

Back to Thailand ASAP.

[David48]

I'm at the Gold Coast right now. OMG - the prices!!! Petrol, aka gasoline, changes price according to the day of the week. Today it's $1.50 for 'regular'. i.e. 45 baht.

Just bought two take-aways of Chinese food for dinner. $28.00

Multi story car park - first 2 hours free, 3rd hour $4.40.

Replacement driver's licence $63.00.

Back to Thailand ASAP.

masuk ... I reckon you were at the Australia Fair Shopping Centre!

BTW, what does get my goat up is as of Sept this year the Australian Government has risen their Visa fees as follows ...

Partner Visa (Offshore) currently $2,680 increase to $3,085

Partner Visa (Onshore) currently $3,975 increase to $4,575

By the time you done some medicials, translations etc ... it $5,000 to get your Partner a Temporary 2 year Visa

$5,000 ... <deleted> ...

[Mousehound]

You forgot to mention the other perks.

The Thai Filth, unhygienic food practices, lack of local knowledge, lack of worker rights, lack of tourist rights, tourist scams and so on.

Yep, Thailand is different from Australia

Yes - this describes Australia quite well.

[FiftyTwo]

The more you want to enjoy life, the cheaper it's going to be in Thailand. Start contemplating things like hiring a maid, gardener or driver and the comparison becomes even more one-side. The only exception to the rule would be education.

Hiring a wife is cheaper here too (assuming you aren't paying by the pound).

[thhMan]

You forgot to mention the other perks.

The Thai Filth, unhygienic food practices, lack of local knowledge, lack of worker rights, lack of tourist rights, tourist scams and so on.

Yep, Thailand is different from Australia

Did you mean "Lack of rights" ...PERIOD???

Thought so

No... Thais have amazing rights when they slam their car into a westerner car. Thais also have a right to become citizens of other countries, whereas we have to report at certain intervals to immigration, similar to a criminal on parole. They can own their land, where we cannot, but they can own land in our countries too, should they wish.

I'm meant rights for us falang's..

In that case... Your right... Living in Thailand is not easy and people should understand that you really do not have rights.... Only the perception of it....