How realistic my plan is

[Thongkorn]

You are not classed as a Falang , because you are a kek. They call you the Same as Indians, no insult intended.

[Loles]

Considering most Thai Factory workers live on 8000 Baht a month, it is not impossible.

As long as you dont have a tendency to drink beer or play around with the women - then why not!! go for it and good luck!

Factory workers don't need visa. And don't do visa runs out of the country. He also need some kind of health care planning or insurance.

And what's the point in comming here and live like a thai factory worker?

And factory workers don't live alone, they are minimum 2 (mostly 3-4) people with salaries live in one room, which is 2000 B. They don't use net, aircon, gym, only watch TV.

My idea 10 K B is NOT enough at all to live in TH.

[bushwacker]

Well, you could do it on 10K but that sure will not be a fun adventure. No idea how you are living at home in SL so hard to say if this is a step up or down. But it sure sounds like less than the bare minimums. Your utilities sound really low. For example my internet is B631/month. If you are living in an apartment then it could easily be what you stated but the reliability could be questionable. Sounds like you will be living with a fan and no air conditioning. If so, hope you will be living on the correct side of the building to not get the heat of the sun. Eating the same thing 3 or 4 times a day, every day ... well ... not for me.

But hey, you want to live like a monk or a factory worker go for it.

Good luck.

[dotx]

If he's only going to be here for three months, he will have no visa run expenses. Just 1900 for the 30-day extension at immigration. No need to pay for health insurance either for a three-month stay. I've been here much longer than that and I don't have insurance. Sure, it's a risk, but if he's on a tight budget, I'd say skip it.

That said, I'm not sure 10,000 is doable. Or if it is, it will be a very boring three months.

[crazykopite]

You might get away with 15,000 baht per month but even on that you would be stretched if you are earning 40,000 per month why the need to save so much live for today not tomorrow because in this crazy world we live in we do not know what tomorrow will bring

[notmyself]

Maybe the OP is accustomed to hot weather so no aircon required meaning cheaper rent and bill. Maybe prefers not to use hot water which will reduce rent and bill a little more.

I agree with other posters in that 10k is really pushing it though it depends what people like doing. Spent months in Indonesia playing chess mostly and that cost me nothing at all. Great time.

[Alje]

With that kind of budget should be easier to stay in SL and less hassles.

Living in a different country than ours, surprises are all around the corners.

I would analyse and keep in account other unforeseen expenses beside pad Thai, such as Visa, work permit, travel... This is for a legal stay which I strongly recommend

Good luck

[Toscano]

I have the impression that you are thinking to live permanently in Thailand .

If that is the case you have to have a minimum income . As a single man , over 50yrs old , you need a retirement visa . Holders of retirement visas need to have a minimum of Bt400'000 deposited in a Thai bank , as well as an income exceeding Bt40'000 per month . Another variation is Bt800'000 deposited and maintained at 3 months before extending your visa , or

Bt65'000 or more per month . If you were able to get a work permit , you might be alright with slightly less than Bt40'000 .

If you are Srilankan , have relationship problems and suffer depression , I think you are looking for green grass on the other side of the fence .

In reality Thailand is not a culturally rich country in a worldly sense , it is a peaceful backwater , but it can be boring and lonely , even to a man married to a beautiful Thai woman .

My advice is to try staying in Thailand for short periods of 2-3 months at a time , you can get a 1year multi entry visa . Better to give it a try , before you make a permanent move .

[SlideRiceFC]

Without prying into your personal business I'd say if you are fighting any type of mild depression then you should either take a vacation or get your head straight first. Moving to another country is not a cure-all and could introduce more problems. Depending on how you handle anxiety there will be a lot of things that could make depression worse.

If you've got it in your head that this is something you need to do for yourself then Thailand is a good place for a freelancer to live on the cheap but at least get your visa stuff sorted. Making runs across the border will cut into your savings and there's the added stress of not really being a tourist and not being able to get a proper visa/WP as a freelancer because Thai officials would be completely within their rights to deny you entry at any exit/re-entry.

As for your budget, it CAN be done. That being said, I would never want to live that way nor would I wish it on anyone (I think I averaged a cautious 20K a month my first year and it sucked). I'm not a party guy and I don't play the girly bar scene either but what is the point of moving if you're just going to live in a shoebox and eat pad thai every day? You're not working on a recipe to cure depression. I'd say if you can save some then do that beforehand and keep it in the bank. Come over here and do your thing and make sure not to sit there sweating to maintain your 10,000 a month budget. Get out and enjoy yourself. Don't stay cooped up in your room with the computer all day.

The gym stuff and all sounds good but you've already admitted you aren't happy with your weight and that begs the question, why are you overweight in the first place? If you aren't in a habit of exercising that's not likely to change here. Thai food is largely fried and sugar-heavy. I don't want to shoot down your plans but if your move is motivated largely by personal/internal stuff that is baggage that will follow you wherever you go.

[Dogbarker]

Visa ? Visa run costs ?

Thank you for pointing that out.

Thailand requires us to get visa prior to arrival, and is valid for 60 days. I think I will have to extend it for another 30 days and that sums up 3 month plan. I don't think I will have to do a visa run, but probably a

flight back to BKK to get visa extended.

Thanks.

To live on such a tight budget you have to think low income .. then you say take a flight back to BKK .. even special offers makes flying usually the expensive option, generally .. consider train or bus ( yes I know safety risk etc etc etc )

do you need to join a gym when there are so many other options ? get a bike ! :-)

You can get an apartment lower than 3500 if your budget is really tight .. ( see adverts dotted around IT malls etc.) and a coat of paint, if the landlord agrees, works wonders ..

Have fun !

[surfinglife]

Doable but not without medical insurance.

My question is why? Why would a Sri Lankan want to bum it in Thailand on a very low budget...hmmm

[BWPattaya]

Dogbarker............"Have fun"..........................not on that amount of money he won't. With so little cash, being stuck in a room, eating the same food every day, not even being able to buy an extra bottle of water etc, it will be no fun at all.

ChiroriSe, be honest with yourself.....why do you really want to live in Thailand, or not want to live in Sri Lanka? If, as some suggest, you are depressed then living so frigally won't help matters. Staying alone in a room all day because you have no money will send you down into deep despair very quickly.

Please re-consider your plans. Whatever you decide, good luck to you.

[Pii Kate]

First thought, NO. My rent 7500/mo., No gym, pool, etc.. modest place on West side of CM. Electric range 450-4000 depending on season.. Water 150/m. Drinking water depends on glass or plastic. I choose glass and spend 500 a m. Transportation 40-200 baht a day several times a week. Plenty of places with meals 35.-50 baht. Consider low cost meals are not to order so high in salt, MSG, etc. definitely not good for obese people. Add phone charges, internet, TV. 10,000 Baht...not likely. Good luck.

[sirchai]

why does he need health care planning or insurance.?

i have been living here for over 25 years and dont have either

Because people like you usually do get sick and need an insurance that covers all.

Seems that you haven't read many posts, where people had huge problems after getting seriously sick, without having any insurance.

A three months travel insurance for the OP seems to be mandatory and dirt cheap.

Asking why somebody would need health care on this forum isn't appropriate, just because you don't have any security, if something would happen.

OP, I'd reckon to spend more than 10 K, as there's always some expenses, you won't think of.

[phuketrichard]

HUH: "people like Me" <deleted> does that mean?

during my time here i have spent 3 nights in Bangkok Phuket hospital which costs 22,000 baht

been to phuket international out patient twice ( 12,000)

insurance would have cost me over 800,000 for the same time period

who are you to judge? I am offering my opinion, you can offer yours

[Tatsujin]

Visas, Work Permit etc all need to be factored in if you want to live and work here legally.

[Sheryl]

Take out a travel insurance policy before you come that will cover any urgent health care costs while here as health care can be costly. These are not usually too expensive.

[Cosmo88]

Welcome to Thailand, I'm sure your budget will work fine! Considering your concern about your weight, you might want to go easy with the Pad Thai though, and have more of Tom Yang Goong and Som Tam & grilled chicken / fish. Bit more expensive but proportionally less sugar and (unknown) oil. :-)

[foxteen]

Two problems I can see.

One I seriously doubt you can live on 10,000 Baht a month.

I think 20,000 baht a month is possible

The other is your status as a "freelancer".

I assume you mean a journalist or writer.

You will need a work permit to do that legally, and that is almost impossible to get in Thailand unless you are hired by a Thai company and are paid by them.

In Thailand ALL work, whether you get paid for it from a Thai source or an out-of-country source requires a work permit.

And to get such a permit you need to have a Thai employer and to be accredited by the Thai foreign journalist group as a foreign journalist/writer.

Very few foreigners can get that accreditation unless they have some valid credentials from outside of Thailand.

Otherwise you would be working illegally and it could possibly mean arrest and maybe being deported.

Many years ago I met an Indian woman who was writing a book on the differences and similarities between the Indian Ramayana stories and the Thai version of the stories.

She was sponsored by UESCO, the U.N. organization, on her cultural research grant.

She was astounded to find out that to do that research and write in Thailand she had to apply for a work permit.

She only was successful because UNESCO interceded with the Thai government to get her the permit .... based on a "cultural exchange" decision the Thais made under UNESCO pressure.

hahaha yes cultural exchange works as long has been approved.Amazing Thailand

[foxteen]

I Live in Chiang Mai and my rent is 3000 baht ..feel happy and got everything to live well.Free internet so can be on Thaivisa 24 hours..ohhhhhh

[larsjohnsson]

HUH: "people like Me" <deleted> does that mean?

during my time here i have spent 3 nights in Bangkok Phuket hospital which costs 22,000 baht

been to phuket international out patient twice ( 12,000)

insurance would have cost me over 800,000 for the same time period

who are you to judge? I am offering my opinion, you can offer yours

When he only have 10.000 baht a month budget, he could not afford to pay those hospital bills that you payed.

So your post increase the reason he should have some kind of insurence.

[allanos]

Since by your own admission you are overweight, perhaps you should forego taxis in favour of walking about as much as possible. It will keep your weight under control, and you might even shed a few pounds. It will also assist you budgetary planning as you will not be paying taxi charges. Hence, a double-whammy!

[peterquixote]

I think the original poster Newbie, has grossly underestimated the costs of living.

10,000 baht a month is only $US 300 per month.

This is nearly an absurd idea, unless he wants to be a monk and have no expenses.

If you think you can live on $US10 a day, you are in for some very big surprises.

electricity, phones, travel, food, emergencies, the girl next door, get real.

A salary of 40,000 baht per month is not much even by Thai standards, this is year 2014, not 2547.

[how241]

Considering most Thai Factory workers live on 8000 Baht a month, it is not impossible.

As long as you dont have a tendency to drink beer or play around with the women - then why not!! go for it and good luck!

+1...You'll be OK...You sound like you have thought about this more then many do. Good Luck.

[Sheryl]

HUH: "people like Me" <deleted> does that mean?

during my time here i have spent 3 nights in Bangkok Phuket hospital which costs 22,000 baht

been to phuket international out patient twice ( 12,000)

insurance would have cost me over 800,000 for the same time period

who are you to judge? I am offering my opinion, you can offer yours

1. The OP will not have the wherewithal to pay for health care that you had.

2. You have been lucky thus far. No guarantee that he would be ....nor that you will continue to be. A single catastrophic illness/accident will easily run into millions of baht. (Of course, in his case with such limited budget, even a routine illness will be a problem).

2. Travel insurance is a lot cheaper than longer term policies.

[phuketrichard]

HUH: "people like Me" <deleted> does that mean?

during my time here i have spent 3 nights in Bangkok Phuket hospital which costs 22,000 baht

been to phuket international out patient twice ( 12,000)

insurance would have cost me over 800,000 for the same time period

who are you to judge? I am offering my opinion, you can offer yours

1. The OP will not have the wherewithal to pay for health care that you had.

2. You have been lucky thus far. No guarantee that he would be ....nor that you will continue to be. A single catastrophic illness/accident will easily run into millions of baht. (Of course, in his case with such limited budget, even a routine illness will be a problem).

2. Travel insurance is a lot cheaper than longer term policies.

sure he will; he is making 40,000 baht/month ( just not out of what he wants to live on.

in 25 years have spent 46,000 baht, TOTAL

I admit i have been lucky but to me insuranc is like gambling,

Your betting your going to need it, they ( the insurance compant) is betting you wont.

Regardless,

10,000 baht .month wont cut it

15-20,000 will easlily for one person that does not drink or whore around

[allanos]

I have to agree that medical insurance is a gamble. Over more than 30 years, and realising that my family and I were in a pretty good state of health, I decided to self-insure. Apart from occasional visits to doctors for minor problems, I once had to pay for surgery for my son (2-day hospitalisation), and surgery for my ex-wife (5-day hospitalisation). Thus far, and being well aware that we are all getting older, I am well on the winning side of costs vs. benefits.

[larsjohnsson]

It's also a huge difference to do the "medical insurence gamble" if you have money. Then you can pay the hospital if you have an trafic accident or an operation. But if you don't have much money or only a 10000 baht a month budget. Then you can't pay and the hospitals will not take care of you.

[slipperylobster]

You will be ok, and single (like that or not).