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.

trainman, your train is on the right tracks! This 'p' is it for a penny or a pound? Not sure as I'm not from England.

God forbid the day when a Tea Bag costs 1 pound ! I will be the first to convert to water drinking methinks. FYI, 100 Tea Bags of decent quality can be bought in Britain for 99 pence. Although i haven't been back for some time now my Brother turned up last week with four packs for me so i know how much he paid for them.

NB...it's still nice to drink tea from a teapot in cups and saucers but these days that's for 'afternoon tea with scones' when you are out and about or if the Royal Family visit your home. Yes, most folks still drink with milk but i ain't most folks so mine's black.

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

It is not as black and white as the OP makes it out to be.

Most will disagree, but there is more to dislike about living in Thailand then there is to like IMO.

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.

you cannot compare these results...As the average Australian wage is so much higher than here.

That is not really the point as the original post is comparing living expenses on retirement when you have a fixed income. It is about the cost of living differential and not the wage structure. Simply put your savings /pension goes much further in Thailand than it would back home whether it be Australia,Europe ,UK or the US.

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..

Im ex Brisbane resident to and concur the brisvegas costings...I live in hua hin and my costings are probably 2 to 3 times more expensive than yours...but still cheaper than Australia.

HMMM...???

Massages at Nong Prajak have gone up since my last visit. I still get massages downtown for 150 Baht - 2 or 3 a week depending on weather or bodily stress. I often walk around town and prefer a massage near the end of the walk. Experience has taught me to avoid the 'sexual massage' shops, which are difficult to identify from outside.

Likewise, I tend to buy my cheesecake at Tops Supermarket and eat it at home with a glass of tea while watching the news. My wife gets the car washed around the corner for 100 Baht...

The result is that my costs for all of the above are much lower.

Im ex Brisbane resident to and concur the brisvegas costings...I live in hua hin and my costings are probably 2 to 3 times more expensive than yours...but still cheaper than Australia.

HMMM...???

Massages at Nong Prajak have gone up since my last visit. I still get massages downtown for 150 Baht - 2 or 3 a week depending on weather or bodily stress. I often walk around town and prefer a massage near the end of the walk. Experience has taught me to avoid the 'sexual massage' shops, which are difficult to identify from outside.

Likewise, I tend to buy my cheesecake at Tops Supermarket and eat it at home with a glass of tea while watching the news. My wife gets the car washed around the corner for 100 Baht...

The result is that my costs for all of the above are much lower.

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??????

Is Thailand Tim dead yet?

you cannot compare these results...As the average Australian wage is so much higher than here.

If one refers to Thai salaries paid to locally employed (Thais and even some expats) you are right. salaries are by far lower here that in Australia, Europe or the US. However, if you refer to expats employed from overseas, or to retirees with a good pension, or other income from overseas, than their income is comparable to Australia etc., and living here in Thailand, even in Hua Hin, Phuket, Koh Samui and Bangkok is by far cheaper. Even property in Bangkok is cheaper, although compared to other above average locations in Thailand, it is app. double the price and still cheaper than in main cities/towns in Australia etc.

The cost of the massage is way over what you pay, assuming you are talking straight massage, the cost of $86au is more likely to be for 1 hour and the shop down the road from me does it for $55/hr.

Everything else I would say is correct.

I think you misread my post, mate..

I said 1 hour foot massage, and 30 minutes back massage.would be $86..Go to the Chiang Mai massage on Gladstone rd, Dutton Pk, and check the prices.

Glad you agree with the rest!

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 alt=thumbsup.gif>

Out of interest, workers rights here are very similar to Australia (that is real employees that pay social etc) They have :

Three strike rule before they can be sacked

Generous paid sick leave provisions

Annual Leave (admittedly only 7 days)

Paid personal leave (3 days)

Generous Redundancy payouts based on years of service

medical cover (paid by government levy similar to medicare in Oz)

Annual Bonuses are also very common.

These apply to officially employed staff but there are a lot of Thai companies that don't register their staff for social and fly under the radar, For foreign run companies and a lot of large Thai companies the above is the norm

Not to even mention that Aus is full of Aussies.

What the heck is a "casual gym visit"

going there and watching the women

Nothing casual in that. Should be a full time occupation for some. One of life's great pleasures - and it's free.

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

What the heck is a "casual gym visit" alt=tongue.png width=20 height=20>

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

Give the guy a break. I'm sure he meant 'occasional' visit, not a fixed term membership.

BTW in my condo there is a decently equipped gym for owners and it's free.

What pisses me off is the fact that local owners practically never use it. But the renting tourists flock into in droves...

Hah, forgot to mention - there are two hot steam wood panelled saunas. As if sweating in Thailand isn't enough without them... alt=laugh.png width=20 height=20>

Ah I too have always wondered why there's a sauna in most proper gyms/fitness centers in Thailand.

It's not like we don't sweat our tail end off enough in this climate.

Though I'm here for the climate, so this is no complaint,

just an observation.

I tried retirement living in Thailand, but now live on the Gold Coast (near Brisbane).

I consider that I live here nearly as cheaply as in Thailand.

I agree that taxis are very expensive, but apart from an occasional airport trip. I never use them.

What I get here -

cheaper wine

free medical and dental (in thailand I need to pay for insurance)

free local bus

low cost quality food

beautiful beaches

rule of law

I am sure that I could think of some other things.

god what are we doing allowing Aussies in here in the 1st place they are marginal Rugby players now Kiwis are great rugby players we need more Kiwi's .. mind you the Rugby league final was an excellent game and the right team won so lets let the few that are here already stay .. but keep your eye on them as they are always trying to mate with you ..

Dreamer

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.

Give the guy a break. I'm sure he meant 'occasional' visit, not a fixed term membership.

BTW in my condo there is a decently equipped gym for owners and it's free.

What pisses me off is the fact that local owners practically never use it. But the renting tourists flock into in droves...

Hah, forgot to mention - there are two hot steam wood panelled saunas. As if sweating in Thailand isn't enough without them...

Yeah, I still refuse to believe that saunas are healthy - all that increased skin temps can't be good, but especially all those hot polluting fumes and steam going into your lungs must sear them. It seems obvious to me, but people still do it and think its so natural and good.

your list wont be complete till we see the relative costs for major surgery

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.

Yes, money is everything. You'll fit in very well in Thailand. alt=thumbsup.gif width=25 height=19>

IMHO, money is not everything.

But you need it to buy the things it isn't........................

Education and health not free. Cost of car more (not pick up), car insurance more, decent house to rent not that cheap. Electric with air con not cheap. Farang food (you cant live on kaaw pad forever).... more expensive... I spend far more here in chiang mai than I would in uk I have 3 kids though. Also in uk I would be working at something ...money going in two directions... and that is a major consideration..... but of course not valid when talking of retirement.

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 alt=thumbsup.gif width=25 height=19>

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 alt=thumbsup.gif width=25 height=19>

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.

"Thais also have a right to become citizens of other countries ..."

Given your rant, are you all that eager to become a Thai citizen?

This question won't win any awards for originality, but why on earth would anyone who feels so discriminated against even want to stay in Thailand? Surely other Meccas of individual freedom and carefree lifestyle beckon for a charmer like you.

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.

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.

.. not to mention the fabulous 1st class health care.

I had an emergency hernia surgery at the Austin hospital recently, one of the best on the planet 0.Baht

Then shortly after was bowled over by a car, back in hospital for 1 week, and 3 weeks at Private Rehab, with the best physio ... 0.Baht I am still going as outpatient. Transport and treatment? paid for by TAC.

Thailand is cheap because 1. there is no tax on motor registration to cover such things.

2. There is very little tax on anything else, so there is no funding to maintain many of the things we take for granted in Australia and other Western countries.

You can't have your cake and eat it. I hope you are well prepared for all possibilities, especially the 'probabilities' that loom in the shadows of retirement.

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

You didn't include crappy one bedroon apt for $350 bucks a week...$35 bucks for carton of cheap beer...$800 bucks plus for car rego...$18 bucks a pack of smokes ...$35 bucks bottle cheap rum...Booze buses and speed cameras evey kilometre...extortionate rates even if you own your home...high electical and water costs...try and get a tradesman under a hundred bucks just to look at a problem...Of course if you are on a basic pension you can always find a cheap caravan , get a mate with a 5 acre block to let you camp on and live like a monk... Give meThailand any day

This post is spot on, can not live a decent life or even close on the Old age pension in OZ with out some other income, Sydney is the most expensive city in the world, the rest of Australia is not far behind, I live on 43,000 BHT a month in Thai, rent a two bed room two bathroom town house, only 8 years old, run a car and a motor bike, play golf once a week, eat very well, have a great life and a good wife, could not get with in a bulls roar of this in Australia, I know because I tried.

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.

Crikey!!

Today's GBP/THB exchange rate is 49.9220. One pence is worth about half a baht.

Your total comparable expenses listed above of 1 baht is TWICE what you would be forking out in Great Britain.

You should get back to Blighty where the cost of your exorbitant lifestyle are much more reasonable.

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.

Only one mug of tea a day? Call yourself English. My expenses must be at least 10 times yours. I must cut down.