Inflation in LOS

[David48]

This is a thread about Inflation in Thailand.

For Westerners earning their income from foreign currencies the exchange rate is vital. Those Brits who retired here 8 years ago were getting 50% more baht to the pound than they are now. This needs to be added to rates of inflation to really see the cost of life difference for them here between the two periods.

Give it up lad, you're embarrassing yourself.

I hate to be a late comer into the argument ... you two do seem to be enjoying the sparring match.

However ... I just like to deal with the facts.

The exchange rate has a modest effect on Inflation.

Inflation is a technical term, an economic term.

yingyo, what you are referring to is income.

A rising/falling exchange rate between the currency your income is derived from affects your purchasing power in Thailand ... but not Thailand's inflation rate.

When you refer to comparing 'two periods', what you are referring to is the income differential between these two periods when converted into Thai Baht ... not a differential in the inflation rate.

[jaideeguy]

An interesting list on inflation by country compiled by CIA World Factbook..........http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_territories_by_inflation_rate

for what it's worth.

Swiss is -.9% [that's negative .9%, how can that be??]

US is 2%

LOS is 3.1%

note to self...........these are CIA figures and we know how much we can trust them guys.

[Kudel]

Every day i look at stockmarket tv programmes with al kinds of specialists and some of them have written books on how to invest and make money,not one of them has ever mentioned Thailand in their writings and sayings........

[zydeco]

Every day i look at stockmarket tv programmes with al kinds of specialists and some of them have written books on how to invest and make money,not one of them has ever mentioned Thailand in their writings and sayings........

Sort of makes you wonder why they don't make their money off investing themselves, instead of writing books, doesn't it?

[beachproperty]

Send me 30 baht .....I'll send you my book "How to Make a Million days in One Year"...PM me

[MJP]

If after one year of renting I find I'd rather be somewhere else in Thailand, I will move and rent another apartment for a year, paying in advance.

I will continue to visit a couple of times a year and see my friends and enjoy myself, and then go back to home in the US.

This, in my opinion, is the model way of 'living' in Thailand.

1. Has inflation raised or lowered the price of air fares to Thailand and back to the USA in the past 5 years? (Not 10 or 2 or 3 but 5 years!)

2. How long could one live in Thailand for the price of 3 air round trips a year?

3. Would a person who has the cash to fly back and forth to Thailand 3 times a year worry about 3% inflation?

Nothing to do with costs like this and everything to do with long term life stability. I know people who made the great leap to 'live' here and it's been a disaster with seemingly no way back and no way out.

It is not a good idea to sell up everything and move here. You must keep a base in your home country and an income source from the same.

[kikoman]

great weather, great food and great people!

Say that after 10 years here.

Great Weather, great food and great people!!

June 2, 2014, will complete my 13th year in Thailand!

I still fined her amazing, I am home!!

Cheers:

[impulse]

great weather, great food and great people!

Say that after 10 years here.

Great Weather, great food and great people!!

June 2, 2014, will complete my 13th year in Thailand!

I still fined her amazing, I am home!!

Cheers:

I'm glad you found happiness here.

But think back over the foreigners you've met in 13 years and ask yourself what percentage of them found the same.

Most of my Asian adventure was in China and I'd say it's 1:50 there. I haven't been here long enough to make any comparison.

[thailiketoo]

If after one year of renting I find I'd rather be somewhere else in Thailand, I will move and rent another apartment for a year, paying in advance.

I will continue to visit a couple of times a year and see my friends and enjoy myself, and then go back to home in the US.

This, in my opinion, is the model way of 'living' in Thailand.

1. Has inflation raised or lowered the price of air fares to Thailand and back to the USA in the past 5 years? (Not 10 or 2 or 3 but 5 years!)

2. How long could one live in Thailand for the price of 3 air round trips a year?

3. Would a person who has the cash to fly back and forth to Thailand 3 times a year worry about 3% inflation?

Nothing to do with costs like this and everything to do with long term life stability. I know people who made the great leap to 'live' here and it's been a disaster with seemingly no way back and no way out.

It is not a good idea to sell up everything and move here. You must keep a base in your home country and an income source from the same.

You bring up an interesting point. I'm an American and all of the founding fathers/families of my country sold up everything in the old country and moved to America. The founding fathers are my heroes. Thailand is the fourth country I have sold up everything and moved to. You can't really learn much about a country unless you speak the language and live in the country. You may think you do but you don't. Most Thais would do well to heed your advice as they strike me as needing a support system. However I'm an American, "The Lone Ranger" and stuff like that, I'm a big boy and OK on my own, in a foreign land.

Edited October 27, 2013 by thailiketoo

[MJP]

Thailiketoo,

I genuinely wish you the best of luck and hope it all works out well for you.

For many it doesn't and if they have no-one to turn to, no real home to go back to, no family support structure, no career to resume, no prospects of a decent income . . . well perhaps you can imagine the outcome of all that, because I really don't want to.

Personally, I'm fairly happy to not know this country that well, not be taken in by romantic notions and instead manage life between here and home and maintain a career and sufficient income. It may not be ideal, it may be hard work but it's a much safer strategy I recommend to all.

[kikoman]

great weather, great food and great people!

Say that after 10 years here.

Great Weather, great food and great people!!

June 2, 2014, will complete my 13th year in Thailand!

I still fined her amazing, I am home!!

Cheers:

I'm glad you found happiness here.

But think back over the foreigners you've met in 13 years and ask yourself what percentage of them found the same.

Most of my Asian adventure was in China and I'd say it's 1:50 there. I haven't been here long enough to make any comparison.

I could not give you that information, as most of the expat friends I have, as I remember the subject has never come up in our conversations. All of the TV member I met over the years are few and we talk about our hobbies cooking, making your own cheese, ham, bacon, sausage etc. all positive people. The people that moved to LOS from the same Mexican town, after I did i visit with once or twice a year, they are still here. My two brothers that moved to LOS after I did, one is still here and happy, my other brother passed away in Thailand 5 years ago.

All the expat friends, seem happy, any statement beyond that would be purely an assumption on my part., As I have avoided most expats because many are very negative people and I personally will not waste time on such negative people.

If it was a big issue to them, I would have heard about it, I believe since I never hear any, I can only assume it was not an issue!

Cheers:

[metisdead]

A post in which the quoted post had been altered has been removed as per this forum rule:

30) Do not modify someone else's post in your quoted reply, either with font or color changes, added emoticons, or altered wording.

Replies were removed as well.

[thailiketoo]

Thailiketoo,

I genuinely wish you the best of luck and hope it all works out well for you.

For many it doesn't and if they have no-one to turn to, no real home to go back to, no family support structure, no career to resume, no prospects of a decent income . . . well perhaps you can imagine the outcome of all that, because I really don't want to.

Personally, I'm fairly happy to not know this country that well, not be taken in by romantic notions and instead manage life between here and home and maintain a career and sufficient income. It may not be ideal, it may be hard work but it's a much safer strategy I recommend to all.

The point you are making is the less you know about this country the better off you will be. You wrote, "Personally, I'm fairly happy to not know this country that well, not be taken in by romantic notions and instead manage life between here and home and maintain a career and sufficient income. It may not be ideal, it may be hard work but it's a much safer strategy I recommend to all."

So you are telling people that the less you know about a subject the safer you will be. You recommend to all that they not know Thailand that well and that is your answer not to be taken in by romantic notions, and further that going between home and Thailand is a better way not to be taken in by romantic notions.

Did I get it right?

[MJP]

Thailiketoo,

I genuinely wish you the best of luck and hope it all works out well for you.

For many it doesn't and if they have no-one to turn to, no real home to go back to, no family support structure, no career to resume, no prospects of a decent income . . . well perhaps you can imagine the outcome of all that, because I really don't want to.

Personally, I'm fairly happy to not know this country that well, not be taken in by romantic notions and instead manage life between here and home and maintain a career and sufficient income. It may not be ideal, it may be hard work but it's a much safer strategy I recommend to all.

The point you are making is the less you know about this country the better off you will be. You wrote, "Personally, I'm fairly happy to not know this country that well, not be taken in by romantic notions and instead manage life between here and home and maintain a career and sufficient income. It may not be ideal, it may be hard work but it's a much safer strategy I recommend to all."

So you are telling people that the less you know about a subject the safer you will be. You recommend to all that they not know Thailand that well and that is your answer not to be taken in by romantic notions, and further that going between home and Thailand is a better way not to be taken in by romantic notions.

Did I get it right?

Of course not. Knowledge has always been power.

But I think very few foreigners (farangs) here ever do really understand the place, they may think they do and that's perhaps even more dangerous. I've been doing this for 13 years now and still don't get it. I deal with practical day-to-day issues of being a single parent and that's about it. I just think you need to maintain a base in your home country and unless you're retired on a cracking pension you must maintain a career too . . . should anything go wrong here, which is does for many, many people.

If this means you don't get the time needed to truly understand Thailand, then so be it. It doesn't really matter that much. What does matter is an individuals (and their kids) long term security. Including yours old boy. So again, I really, genuinely do wish you all the best here and hope it works out whatever you choose to do.

Kindest regards,

Edited October 27, 2013 by MJP

[Ulysses G.]

I agree that prices are going up rapidly in Thailand, but all I know is that I can live VERY comfortably in downtown Chiang Mai on 30,000 a month. I could not even pay rent on a safe, clean apartment in America for that in the city where I come from.

Edited October 27, 2013 by Ulysses G.

[thailiketoo]

Thailiketoo,

I genuinely wish you the best of luck and hope it all works out well for you.

For many it doesn't and if they have no-one to turn to, no real home to go back to, no family support structure, no career to resume, no prospects of a decent income . . . well perhaps you can imagine the outcome of all that, because I really don't want to.

Personally, I'm fairly happy to not know this country that well, not be taken in by romantic notions and instead manage life between here and home and maintain a career and sufficient income. It may not be ideal, it may be hard work but it's a much safer strategy I recommend to all.

The point you are making is the less you know about this country the better off you will be. You wrote, "Personally, I'm fairly happy to not know this country that well, not be taken in by romantic notions and instead manage life between here and home and maintain a career and sufficient income. It may not be ideal, it may be hard work but it's a much safer strategy I recommend to all."

So you are telling people that the less you know about a subject the safer you will be. You recommend to all that they not know Thailand that well and that is your answer not to be taken in by romantic notions, and further that going between home and Thailand is a better way not to be taken in by romantic notions.

Did I get it right?

Of course not. Knowledge has always been power.

But I think very few foreigners (farangs) here ever do really understand the place, they may think they do and that's perhaps even more dangerous. I've been doing this for 13 years now and still don't get it. I deal with practical day-to-day issues of being a single parent and that's about it. I just think you need to maintain a base in your home country and unless you're retired on a cracking pension you must maintain a career too . . . should anything go wrong here, which is does for many, many people.

If this means you don't get the time needed to truly understand Thailand, then so be it. It doesn't really matter that much. What does matter is an individuals (and their kids) long term security. Including yours old boy. So again, I really, genuinely do wish you all the best here and hope it works out whatever you choose to do.

Kindest regards,

Thailand has been affected by foreigners for hundreds of years. The Portuguese gave it cooking styles hundreds of years ago. Thailand began using spoons and forks 70 years ago because they wanted to be like the West and the same can be said for hats and shirts for women and pants for men; all recent new innovations in Thailand and of foreign origin.

An American, William E. Heinecke, started a business here with a two thousand dollar loan and is affecting the eating habits of the entire country because he understands Thai people.

Thailand relies on foreigners for many things including the building of airports and transportation systems. Who do you think designed and built the Skytrain? Farang or Thai? Many Farang understand Thailand and Thais and live and work in Thailand but they did not get there by thinking they could not understand Thailand.

I don't think a base in any other country is necessary. Minor International Plc is one of the largest hospitality and leisure companies in the Asia Pacific region and a good example of a Farang who came to Thailand and changed his home base from America to Thailand.

How did I cope with the exchange rate and inflation in Thailand? I got a job. I came here to retire. I did for a couple of years at the 40 baht to the dollar and then when it went down I started working. No problem. Thai people are easy to work with, for me. I understand Thailand.

Edited October 27, 2013 by thailiketoo

[MJP]

Thailiketoo,

I genuinely wish you the best of luck and hope it all works out well for you.

For many it doesn't and if they have no-one to turn to, no real home to go back to, no family support structure, no career to resume, no prospects of a decent income . . . well perhaps you can imagine the outcome of all that, because I really don't want to.

Personally, I'm fairly happy to not know this country that well, not be taken in by romantic notions and instead manage life between here and home and maintain a career and sufficient income. It may not be ideal, it may be hard work but it's a much safer strategy I recommend to all.

The point you are making is the less you know about this country the better off you will be. You wrote, "Personally, I'm fairly happy to not know this country that well, not be taken in by romantic notions and instead manage life between here and home and maintain a career and sufficient income. It may not be ideal, it may be hard work but it's a much safer strategy I recommend to all."

So you are telling people that the less you know about a subject the safer you will be. You recommend to all that they not know Thailand that well and that is your answer not to be taken in by romantic notions, and further that going between home and Thailand is a better way not to be taken in by romantic notions.

Did I get it right?

Of course not. Knowledge has always been power.

But I think very few foreigners (farangs) here ever do really understand the place, they may think they do and that's perhaps even more dangerous. I've been doing this for 13 years now and still don't get it. I deal with practical day-to-day issues of being a single parent and that's about it. I just think you need to maintain a base in your home country and unless you're retired on a cracking pension you must maintain a career too . . . should anything go wrong here, which is does for many, many people.

If this means you don't get the time needed to truly understand Thailand, then so be it. It doesn't really matter that much. What does matter is an individuals (and their kids) long term security. Including yours old boy. So again, I really, genuinely do wish you all the best here and hope it works out whatever you choose to do.

Kindest regards,

Thailand has been affected by foreigners for hundreds of years. The Portuguese gave it cooking styles hundreds of years ago. Thailand began using spoons and forks 70 years ago because they wanted to be like the West and the same can be said for hats and shirts for women and pants for men; all recent new innovations in Thailand and of foreign origin.

An American, William E. Heinecke, started a business here with a two thousand dollar loan and is affecting the eating habits of the entire country because he understands Thai people.

Thailand relies on foreigners for many things including the building of airports and transportation systems. Who do you think designed and built the Skytrain? Farang or Thai? Many Farang understand Thailand and Thais and live and work in Thailand but they did not get there by thinking they could not understand Thailand.

I don't think a base in any other country is necessary. Minor International Plc is one of the largest hospitality and leisure companies in the Asia Pacific region and a good example of a Farang who came to Thailand and changed his home base from America to Thailand.

That's great and all that, but for us down here on the bottom rungs I still recommend maintaining a base back in your home country and a career if you're not retired.

Many Farang firms also got screwed over big time here thinking they did understand the place. But they maintained a base back where they came from and took the losses.

I don't think I'm saying anything revolutionary here. Just sensible. Keep the options open should it all go pear shaped.

EDIT: Apologies, I replied before you edited your post.

Edited October 27, 2013 by MJP

[klubex99]

Yeah there is inflation here.....but so what?.... ITS EVERYWHERE!...

Still cheaper to live here than in the States or Europe. AND great weather, great food and great people!

Where are you living?

Its all relative really. Many things are cheaper in EU and USA than in LOS. The weather is good in lots of EU and USA apart from the colder north. People are people where ever you are, I see nothing more great about the people here than in many places I have been to in Europe and USA.

[AYJAYDEE]

Yeah there is inflation here.....but so what?.... ITS EVERYWHERE!...

Still cheaper to live here than in the States or Europe. AND great weather, great food and great people!

Where are you living?

Its all relative really. Many things are cheaper in EU and USA than in LOS. The weather is good in lots of EU and USA apart from the colder north. People are people where ever you are, I see nothing more great about the people here than in many places I have been to in Europe and USA.

where did he say the people were greater in thailand?

[yingyo]

^ *sigh*

[Thai at Heart]

Thailiketoo,

I genuinely wish you the best of luck and hope it all works out well for you.

For many it doesn't and if they have no-one to turn to, no real home to go back to, no family support structure, no career to resume, no prospects of a decent income . . . well perhaps you can imagine the outcome of all that, because I really don't want to.

Personally, I'm fairly happy to not know this country that well, not be taken in by romantic notions and instead manage life between here and home and maintain a career and sufficient income. It may not be ideal, it may be hard work but it's a much safer strategy I recommend to all.

The point you are making is the less you know about this country the better off you will be. You wrote, "Personally, I'm fairly happy to not know this country that well, not be taken in by romantic notions and instead manage life between here and home and maintain a career and sufficient income. It may not be ideal, it may be hard work but it's a much safer strategy I recommend to all."

So you are telling people that the less you know about a subject the safer you will be. You recommend to all that they not know Thailand that well and that is your answer not to be taken in by romantic notions, and further that going between home and Thailand is a better way not to be taken in by romantic notions.

Did I get it right?

Of course not. Knowledge has always been power.

But I think very few foreigners (farangs) here ever do really understand the place, they may think they do and that's perhaps even more dangerous. I've been doing this for 13 years now and still don't get it. I deal with practical day-to-day issues of being a single parent and that's about it. I just think you need to maintain a base in your home country and unless you're retired on a cracking pension you must maintain a career too . . . should anything go wrong here, which is does for many, many people.

If this means you don't get the time needed to truly understand Thailand, then so be it. It doesn't really matter that much. What does matter is an individuals (and their kids) long term security. Including yours old boy. So again, I really, genuinely do wish you all the best here and hope it works out whatever you choose to do.

Kindest regards,

Thailand has been affected by foreigners for hundreds of years. The Portuguese gave it cooking styles hundreds of years ago. Thailand began using spoons and forks 70 years ago because they wanted to be like the West and the same can be said for hats and shirts for women and pants for men; all recent new innovations in Thailand and of foreign origin.

An American, William E. Heinecke, started a business here with a two thousand dollar loan and is affecting the eating habits of the entire country because he understands Thai people.

Thailand relies on foreigners for many things including the building of airports and transportation systems. Who do you think designed and built the Skytrain? Farang or Thai? Many Farang understand Thailand and Thais and live and work in Thailand but they did not get there by thinking they could not understand Thailand.

I don't think a base in any other country is necessary. Minor International Plc is one of the largest hospitality and leisure companies in the Asia Pacific region and a good example of a Farang who came to Thailand and changed his home base from America to Thailand.

How did I cope with the exchange rate and inflation in Thailand? I got a job. I came here to retire. I did for a couple of years at the 40 baht to the dollar and then when it went down I started working. No problem. Thai people are easy to work with, for me. I understand Thailand.

Bill heineke is Thai. He understood very well that to get ahead get legal protection and no need for silent partners. Edited October 27, 2013 by Thai at Heart

[yingyo]

You'll usually find that those who are on about how cheap and great it is here, how they can live on 30k a month with 5k left over for a splurge are the ones eating 20b noodles 20 times a week and bowing to the motosai taxi drivers.

[kikoman]

You'll usually find that those who are on about how cheap and great it is here, how they can live on 30k a month with 5k left over for a splurge are the ones eating 20b noodles 20 times a week and bowing to the motosai taxi drivers.

I know Thailand is less expensive than living in the US, and can not remember the last time I ate a bowl of store brought noodles, homemade "yes" with our own little pasta machine, and we eat well!

As they say back in the States we eat "High on the hog" most everyday I eat those great $2. a pound imported pinto beans, homemade tortillas corn and flour, homemade chorizo, more homemade ham, bacon, pastrami, tacos Mexican soft shell or American hard shell, burrito's and raise a lot of my own chickens, for meat and eggs, bake all my own bread, raise much of my own vegetables and Mexican dent corn out of which I make my own masa for corn tortillas and nixtamal. I would venture to say I eat more non Thai food as many who spent vasts amounts of money eating in high priced Western restaurants every day.

I do so at a fraction of the cost, because it is all made at home, I know some are going to say look at all that work you are doing, I am retired, I no longer work,what I do now is called a hobby. The Thai wife is an excellent cook of not only Thai but Mexican food, I also eat homemade Thai food but not as much as I did when I first came to Thailand.

But also have an extremely nice great big house much of the building done by the wife, our Thai family and myself. Many would not opted to live my type of life because of the work involved, it is a labor of love done by and for the comfort of our family. We are a very happy busy family and it keeps me out of the bars and I do not have the luxury of being bored.

Yes life is great in Thailand and less expensive then the old country, when I find some "pinto beans" that will grow in Thailand, I will sever the dependence on that daily imported staple needed in my life..

Cheers:

[NeverSure]

You'll usually find that those who are on about how cheap and great it is here, how they can live on 30k a month with 5k left over for a splurge are the ones eating 20b noodles 20 times a week and bowing to the motosai taxi drivers.

I know Thailand is less expensive than living in the US, and can not remember the last time I ate a bowl of store brought noodles, homemade "yes" with our own little pasta machine, and we eat well!

As they say back in the States we eat "High on the hog" most everyday I eat those great $2. a pound imported pinto beans, homemade tortillas corn and flour, homemade chorizo, more homemade ham, bacon, pastrami, tacos Mexican soft shell or American hard shell, burrito's and raise a lot of my own chickens, for meat and eggs, bake all my own bread, raise much of my own vegetables and Mexican dent corn out of which I make my own masa for corn tortillas and nixtamal. I would venture to say I eat more non Thai food as many who spent vasts amounts of money eating in high priced Western restaurants every day.

I do so at a fraction of the cost, because it is all made at home, I know some are going to say look at all that work you are doing, I am retired, I no longer work,what I do now is called a hobby. The Thai wife is an excellent cook of not only Thai but Mexican food, I also eat homemade Thai food but not as much as I did when I first came to Thailand.

But also have an extremely nice great big house much of the building done by the wife, our Thai family and myself. Many would not opted to live my type of life because of the work involved, it is a labor of love done by and for the comfort of our family. We are a very happy busy family and it keeps me out of the bars and I do not have the luxury of being bored.

Yes life is great in Thailand and less expensive then the old country, when I find some "pinto beans" that will grow in Thailand, I will sever the dependence on that daily imported staple needed in my life..

Cheers:

This is a very nice statement about how you don't buy, but rather make or raise, much of what you consume. I admire it.

People in other countries can do the same.

But what does it have to do with the rising costs of things in Thailand?

I am increasingly finding the cost of an even semi-Western style of life in Thailand to no longer be a bargain.

As with your example of pinto beans, Thailand charges horrendous import duties. In Mexico, pinto beans are peasant food. In Thailand, Thai street food is peasant food.

And the price keeps rising steeply.

[Nautilus05]

I'll just leave this here:

http://thethirtiesgrind.com/2013/09/19/absurd-vancouver-property-september-19-2013/

$800k (23.75 million baht) for that thing in Vancouver.

[kikoman]

Neversure,

I feel it does state to the rising cost of goods in Thailand and was a response to a posters comment that stated in part "are eating 20 b noodles 20 times a week" to me that poster misconception of one having to cut down on the foods you eat to accommodate our "I love Thailand life style"!

The way I deal with the rising cost is to produce my own. A way of life championed by the Royal Self Sufficiency Project in Thailand and is my way of dealing with rising cost of many Thai and imported food items.

The cost of living is rising all over the world, what has effected my spendable income is not Thai inflation but the economic problems from my home country and the devaluation of the dollar. I could not live the life style I enjoy in Thailand on the same amount of income in my home country. as I no longer pay any rent or make a house payment in the last (7)years.a cost in the home country on rents for my family would be unreachable compared to the same quality of a house in LOS.

I know I will run into the " you can not own property in your name" argument, that is immaterial to me, as I am securing the future of my family after I am gone, The same as a man does in the home country.

When I left the old country I was renting am apartment for $600. a month if I would been still be paying rent in the states in the full 12 years I have been in Thailand I would have spent a total of $86,400.00 on rent with nothing to show for that expenditure. that is not counting the extra 5 months of this year.

So I do not consider that argument valid as applied-ed to my situation.

I recognize this can be done by any person, any where else on earth, but is what is different to my lifestyle in my home country, many of the topics talk about on the thread, would not be considered Thailand based, like the cost of property in the US.

Cheers:

Edited October 28, 2013 by kikoman

[Ulysses G.]

You'll usually find that those who are on about how cheap and great it is here, how they can live on 30k a month with 5k left over for a splurge are the ones eating 20b noodles 20 times a week and bowing to the motosai taxi drivers.

Or maybe they just take in account where they are and do not insist on living exactly like they did when they were living somewhere else. I have moved around a lot during my lifetime and always acclimated to each place that I moved individually.