I've come across a new site that compares all sorts of data from most countries and cities around the world.

You can check how Thailand compares with other places in various categories such as cost of rent, groceries, restaurants, etc, as well as crime rates for example.

I've compared Phuket, where I now live, with Perth, where I came from. Phuket is not represented in all fields so a complete comparison can't be made. However other cities such as Bkk, CM and Pattaya are available.

Indices Difference

Not enough data to calculate difference in Consumer Prices

Not enough data to calculate difference in Consumer Prices Including Rent

Rent Prices in Phuket are 72.07% lower than in Perth

Restaurant Prices in Phuket are 70.90% lower than in Perth

Groceries Prices in Phuket are 53.18% lower than in Perth

Not enough data to calculate difference in Local Purchasing Power

http://www.numbeo.com

You would need around 6,950.20A$ (205,180.07฿) in Perth to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 87,000.00฿ in Bangkok (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Consumer Prices Including Rent Index.

Indices Difference

Consumer Prices in Perth are 138.80% higher than in Bangkok

Consumer Prices Including Rent in Perth are 135.84% higher than in Bangkok

Rent Prices in Perth are 130.04% higher than in Bangkok

Restaurant Prices in Perth are 372.14% higher than in Bangkok

Groceries Prices in Perth are 97.67% higher than in Bangkok

Local Purchasing Power in Perth is 150.35% higher than in Bangkok

I did another COL comparison between Perth and Bangkok.

It's far cheaper to live in Thailand, but you have more purchasing power in Australia.

Could explain why so many happy retirees are spending their Australian income here!

http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Thailand&country2=Australia&city1=Bangkok&city2=Perth

Try Sydney and you will see how much more expensive it is than thailand. Australia is more expensive than Germany and many other European countries.

one of the main reasons costs are so high in Australia,first keeping all these wild colonial boys in check!!the exorbitant training fees especially in the specified use of knives and forks to eat, and teaching the young men to stop drinking out of urinals,by the time they get to Phuket they have forgotten everything they have learned

So many cool, interesting things on that site! Bear in mind some things as I used it and others before the move from USA and looking now compared to Cebu...

Apples to apples? NOT! For instance, a midrange reataurant in Cebu is a dump and a mall restaurant will be higher than BKK, not lower in price. Midrange in BKK is Fuji or Sukishi where anything that nice in Cebu is P1000 for 2, not P660.

Same for apartments. I keep a great(!) B5k place a block from BTS On Nut, not an overpriced condo with almost the same quality. In Cebu, the price listed on their site is a dump with roosters crowing all night. YMMV.

Don't forget the 'Opportunity Costs'

Expats who have to keep significant amounts of cash in a Thai bank to meet visas, expats who do not have access to credit and loan facilities in Thailand, expats who have to deposit money in a Thai bank to cover the 'credit' they have on their 'Thai Credit Card' and of course expats who cannot legally purchase land or houses with land.

The cost of your groceries is only part of the equation - the above 'opportunity costs' are restricting the access expats have to making money in areas of the economy that most of us have made money in back home throughout our lives.

Don't forget the 'Opportunity Costs'

Expats who have to keep significant amounts of cash in a Thai bank to meet visas, expats who do not have access to credit and loan facilities in Thailand, expats who have to deposit money in a Thai bank to cover the 'credit' they have on their 'Thai Credit Card' and of course expats who cannot legally purchase land or houses with land.

The cost of your groceries is only part of the equation - the above 'opportunity costs' are restricting the access expats have to making money in areas of the economy that most of us have made money in back home throughout our lives.

This Cost of Living index is only a guideline comparing the basics. One of the best guidelines I have seen. Much more enlightening than asking a rum bunch of anonymous strangers on an internet forum what it will cost to live here.

There would be many extra expenses, anywhere, that have not been included. Having to keep cash in a bank here for visas is one that irks, but for me it's no big deal. Interest rates are low everywhere at the moment, and my income and major investments are not in this country.

I have a cyber visa card from my Thai bank which I find works perfectly for all on-line purchases, and the money is debited from my account immediately, which I find convenient. If you're the type of person who needs to live on credit between paydays maybe you shouldn't be living on temporary visas in a foreign country.

True, you don't have the same earning opportunities in Thailand. I did emphasis the better purchasing power in Australia compared to Thailand, and how fortuitous it is for retirees with western incomes living in LOS.

I'd hate to be working for a living here, on Thai wages, and trying to live the same western lifestyle I had back home.

I feel sorry for western working stiffs in Thailand who love the lifestyle, but find money difficult to scrape together to live well.