Cost of Living?

[FiftyTwo]

Don't forget health care. Either buy insurance when you get here, or make sure you've got a few million baht handy. An emergency here can easily set you back that much.

I know people who live here on 20,000B per month. It's not a good life, but they get by. I know others who barely make it on 10 times that amount (nice cars, nice home, int'l schools, etc). Just depends on how you want to live.

I know lots of people in the UK living on 20kbht a month.

They are called pensioners.

At least in Thailand they wouldn't need to worry about death by hypothermia.

[FiftyTwo]

Depends on what you define as "comfort"

Is it a few glasses of cheap Hong Thong anti-freeze whisky and a pack of moody Thai throat-burner cigarettes with the well-worn old boiler at the local beer booth

or

is it shaking a leg with a sultry, luk kreung actress/drive-time radio DJ while quaffing Grey Goose from the bottle at that very, very hush-hush establishment in Sathorn where the waitresses bring a sterling silver tray of high-purity Bolivian marching dust to your table within 5 minutes of your arrival.

75,000 won't cut the latter

My definition of comfort, wife 20 years younger than me, at least 2 children and enough money left run a m/c, have coffee every morning and lunch out with my pals.

I do all that in CM on 45k a month

You can keep the alcohol, drugs and hookers, I don't need them (any more).

[khunpa]

I live in BKK and have lived here for 4 years now. You can easily live here fore 75.000 THB per. month, unless you go totally crazy with bars, girls etc.

Because of the political situation and also the relatively low rent here, I would not recommend you to buy something. Just rent and then you can also move to other places, when you want to try something new.

[lovetotravel]

please totally and completely define what you mean by "living"?

I know many Thais who earn 15,000 to 30,000 a month on average. they are very happy living like a Thai.

some of them work for 7 days a week, 12 hours a day with three days off a month.

they don't own cars, condos or houses. they don't travel very far. they don't eat western food. they share their living space with three people.

one person can live on 45,000 per month living a "hybrid" Western/Thai life style.

So just give up most of your western ways.

IMHO, that isn't "living" it's "surviving".

[Ajaan]

I think with the amounts you have listed you are most likely going to be living borderline squalor. You may be able to live in Isaan however you may need to take on a roommate or two.

In my experience you sound like the kind of person who would be better off living where you are. If say you could bring double that amount around 150,000 - 200,000 per month.....then you could possibly live a modest lifestyle. Not being cruel it's just see this a lot and people believe you can live here cheaply. You can, but you can also live in California cheaply too. Outside, no home, food banks, begging, living off of the charitable donations of those well off...etc.Same here.

Stay where you are, grow some tomatoes, join a seniors club to meet others like minded and enjoy what remaining years you have left.

OP: Ignore the douchebag responses.

As most of the responses have noted, 75k is enough for a modest, comfortable life here, even in BKK, as long as you don't go nuts with the nightlife. Though the advice re: inflation that some have given is worth taking seriously.

[canarysun]

Hello,

I have been living in Thailand for almost 3 years and i live on a budget of 15,000 Thai Baht per month ( All In ) and i have a great lifestyle which suits me.I rent a fantastic condo in Pattaya with pool,wifi,for 6,500 per month.If you are living alone then why pay more? The bills are 500 baht per month for water & electric.I do not drink or smoke and dont go to " The Bars " normally most people would get fed up with that after a few weeks.I eat fresh fruit and thai food every day from the market ( less than 100 baht ) i dont eat farang food (only thai food).I live an " outside life every day " walking & beach" most afternoons.I also have days out and travel around using the " wonderful Train " we have here in Thailand.( Pattaya to Bangkok only 31 baht ) all of that and my visa costs work out at 15,000 baht per month.( which is a very high amount of money compared to a Thai wage)

I admit i don't drink but who needs 75,000 baht a month to live on? surely you cannot be serious? This is Thailand not the " Amalfi coast of Italy!!!!

[HardenedSoul]

Hello,

I have been living in Thailand for almost 3 years and i live on a budget of 15,000 Thai Baht per month ( All In ) and i have a great lifestyle which suits me.I rent a fantastic condo in Pattaya with pool,wifi,for 6,500 per month.If you are living alone then why pay more? The bills are 500 baht per month for water & electric.I do not drink or smoke and dont go to " The Bars " normally most people would get fed up with that after a few weeks.I eat fresh fruit and thai food every day from the market ( less than 100 baht ) i dont eat farang food (only thai food).I live an " outside life every day " walking & beach" most afternoons.I also have days out and travel around using the " wonderful Train " we have here in Thailand.( Pattaya to Bangkok only 31 baht ) all of that and my visa costs work out at 15,000 baht per month.( which is a very high amount of money compared to a Thai wage)

I admit i don't drink but who needs 75,000 baht a month to live on? surely you cannot be serious? This is Thailand not the " Amalfi coast of Italy!!!!

Just kidding

Plenty of people need 75,000 to live on. I know I couldn't get by on much less than that.

15,000 a month for a foreigner in Pattaya is not living; it's existence

Edited January 6, 2014 by HardenedSoul

[yourauntbob]

I was thinking about this one today since its asked so often. 1000 baht per month affords you a similar lifestyle as making 1000 dollars per year in America. Obviously the money goes a lot further in the rural areas in both places than the big cities.

Example, someone making 20k per year in Kentucky would live similar making 20,000 baht per month in Chonburi. Someone making 100k in NYC would live similar to someone making 100,000 baht per month in Bangkok.

Its obviously not exact, but gives you an idea.

[notmyself]

My old fella died some 3 years back and I miss him. He told me any things while I was growing up, one of which was to not buy the house if you cannot buy the land under it. I retired in 2007 aged 39 because I took heed of words such at that.

[celso]

My fixed expenses each month are 26k in Bangkok. That is for my 1 bedroom apartment, utilities, gym membership, monthly salon and spa trip, boxing and thai classes. Good value - I have a happy and stimulating lifestyle here.

BUT, I could easily blaze through 50k in a weekend on clothes, restaurants, electronics, entertainment. Or a few nights out on the town. Without much effort or thinking. Bangkok is very consumerist.

So your expenses will depend entirely on what you feel you 'need' and your financial control.

Look at the reverse: I have university friends who spend 15k a month, including rent, going out, and food.

It's a flexible city. But no doubt one of the cheapest international cities in the world, I cant think of many other major cities that compare.

Edited January 6, 2014 by celso

[wym]

I was thinking about this one today since its asked so often. 1000 baht per month affords you a similar lifestyle as making 1000 dollars per year in America. Obviously the money goes a lot further in the rural areas in both places than the big cities.

Example, someone making 20k per year in Kentucky would live similar making 20,000 baht per month in Chonburi. Someone making 100k in NYC would live similar to someone making 100,000 baht per month in Bangkok.

Its obviously not exact, but gives you an idea.

Very rough, but useful comparison.

However my lifestyle living on around THB 100K in Bangkok - 2005-2010 was MUCH more enjoyable than when I made USD 250K living in Manhattan.

And that's even without the female factor, which in my case calling it "significant" is a gross understatement - what I enjoy most about Thailand isn't available at ANY price in farangland.

[Jasun]

I moved to Thailand around 10 years ago. I rented at first, the advice then was the same as is being given now - never buy. I bought anyway. To buy the same size property today would cost 50-80% more, and the rent I have saved would just about buy another condo.

I've been lucky in that I haven't had problems with neighbours and am happy with the area, two things that can lead to problems.

If you're going to buy, my advice would be to find a quality block with good management, and a high owner-occuper ratio. Be sure the block isn't too big so you're not competing on resale. And don't touch anything that isn't foreign freehold.

If you're nomadic or want space, then rent a house.

[yourauntbob]

I was thinking about this one today since its asked so often. 1000 baht per month affords you a similar lifestyle as making 1000 dollars per year in America. Obviously the money goes a lot further in the rural areas in both places than the big cities.

Example, someone making 20k per year in Kentucky would live similar making 20,000 baht per month in Chonburi. Someone making 100k in NYC would live similar to someone making 100,000 baht per month in Bangkok.

Its obviously not exact, but gives you an idea.

Very rough, but useful comparison.

However my lifestyle living on around THB 100K in Bangkok - 2005-2010 was MUCH more enjoyable than when I made USD 250K living in Manhattan.

And that's even without the female factor, which in my case calling it "significant" is a gross understatement - what I enjoy most about Thailand isn't available at ANY price in farangland.

my lifestyle living in NYC on 70k a year was similiar to my experience here living on 55k per month. i know the ladies are nice, but i think you were probably living a better lifestyle on 250k in manhattan unless you were just saving massively there and not here.

[rct99q]

I think with the amounts you have listed you are most likely going to be living borderline squalor. You may be able to live in Isaan however you may need to take on a roommate or two.

In my experience you sound like the kind of person who would be better off living where you are. If say you could bring double that amount around 150,000 - 200,000 per month.....then you could possibly live a modest lifestyle. Not being cruel it's just see this a lot and people believe you can live here cheaply. You can, but you can also live in California cheaply too. Outside, no home, food banks, begging, living off of the charitable donations of those well off...etc.Same here.

Stay where you are, grow some tomatoes, join a seniors club to meet others like minded and enjoy what remaining years you have left.

OP: Ignore the douchebag responses.

As most of the responses have noted, 75k is enough for a modest, comfortable life here, even in BKK, as long as you don't go nuts with the nightlife. Though the advice re: inflation that some have given is worth taking seriously.

OP - up to you, you can listen to what you want to hear from bozo's like supposed teachers or short term expats living on 20,000 baht a month eating mama's. Or take the advice of some that balance it out and at the end of the day are telling you, your quality of life MAY not be as good as they say.

I do not wish to jinx you in any way.....but have seen too many people come here with too little and suffer a major medical emergency and has left them penniless. Could happen at home as well. But at least at home you have friends, family and social service programs that will provide you the assistance you would require.

[Friendly Stranger]

Very decent answers.

I'm only going to speak for guys with no dependants. I guess it's like with anything, it all depends on what you view as important and essential. For example, my budget only includes shelter, food & living allowance with everything else being disposable as it does not affect my life if I don't have the extras, it's nice but not essential in the grand scheme of things.

Nothing wrong with living the same lifestyle as back home but the beauty of being here is that you can live whatever lifestyle you choose as for me the longer I've lived here the cheaper it gets.

IMO, renting is the way to go as the days of buying a place here as an investment are over, most areas anyways. Also, if you ever wanted out, the turnover in Thailand will not be kind to you.

Important issues people considering living here lose sight of in my opinion:

Easy accessibility to money (wiring/emailing) between countries.

Health care plan which includes preventative.

Knowing a lawyer you can trust.

Contingency plan if you must leave at a moments notice.

Embassy/contacts at home.

Someone had already mentioned, never burn your bridges back home, especially if you're still of working age.