Can't afford to live in Thailand anymore

[Berkshire]

Another thought. I lived in different countries and moved on after a while. I would never participate in a forum for expats in such places. What's the point? Why do people continue posting on TV once they have left Thailand? Is their pain caused by substantial loss of "something" so unbearable? Does bashing Thais and "idiots" still living in the LOS help soothing that pain?

Good questions. I often wonder the same.

[CapeCobra]

You may be surprised at the Cost of Living in Canada when you return.

Here's a nicely colour coded map:

http://www.visualcapitalist.com/cost-of-living-around-world/

Utilities costs in Canada are substantially higher

Not only Gas (heat) & Electric but:

mobile: Truemobile @ BHT199 vs. Fido.ca @ CAD$56

broadband: 3BB @ BHT580 vs. Telus.ca @ CAD$63

Remember that you will need 4 seasons of clothing in Canada.

How many pairs of shoes do you need in Thailand?

Then there is the much vaunted Canadian Health Care system.

Which is great - until you need to use it.

Full checkup (full blood tests, EKG, XRAY, etc. etc), including extra consult with cardiologist/more blood work/2nd cardiologist consult was done in an afternoon in Chiang Mai. Without an appointment.

If you could get the same thing done in Canada (which you can't, until you have a problem) the appointments alone would stretch over several weeks.

Plus the driving time to and from each one.

My personal transportation costs (not including the cost of buying vehicles) went up 10x when we moved back to Canada.

Trying comparing the cost of flying Air Canada domestically to Thailand. You might not be traveling much.

Canada is a wonderful country, and there are lots of good reasons to live there, but a lower Cost of Living is not one of them.

Uh...you compared 10MBPS 3BB to 100 (One hundred) Mbps with Telus. 15Mbps with Telus is $30CAD

http://www.telus.com/en/bc/internet/?INTCMP=LNK_frmTile_bottom_all_toInternet

You guys are confusing me. There are 8 bits in a byte, We used to get internet measured in bits when it was slow. (Dial up might be 56Mbps if we were lucky and the phone lines weren't busy.)

10MBps = 10 megabytes ps. 10mbps = 1/8 10MBps or 10 megabits ps. Note the capital "B" in bytes and the small "b" in bits.

Internet speed is measured bits per second. The Baud rate of accoustic couplers for telephone lines was up to 300, 300 baud=300 bits per second. Hayes Smart modem got up to 1200 baud. Nobody would have used 1.2 kb/s for that. Today we use Mbps.

1 Mbps =

1,000,000 bits per second or 1,000 kb/s. If you want to confuse the layman you can also use 125 kilobyte per second. Today, we talk about Gigabit and Terabit for speed and Gigabyte/Terabyte for storage. Using Bytes for speed is not consumer friendly.

1 Gbps would be 125 MBps. Confusing.

56 Mbps for dial up lines? Where?

The FCC raised Broadband definition from 4 Mbps to 25 Mbps for downloading and from 1 to 3 Mbps for upload. That means most of us can't have broadband in Thailand. My 5-8 Mbps from TOT are fast enough for watching Tv on the Internet without buffering pauses.

Cheers, CapeCobra

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[mogandave]

Another thought. I lived in different countries and moved on after a while. I would never participate in a forum for expats in such places. What's the point? Why do people continue posting on TV once they have left Thailand? Is their pain caused by substantial loss of "something" so unbearable? Does bashing Thais and "idiots" still living in the LOS help soothing that pain?

Good questions. I often wonder the same.

Do you keep watching football (football?) after you quit playing?

[CapeCobra]

Another thought. I lived in different countries and moved on after a while. I would never participate in a forum for expats in such places. What's the point? Why do people continue posting on TV once they have left Thailand? Is their pain caused by substantial loss of "something" so unbearable? Does bashing Thais and "idiots" still living in the LOS help soothing that pain?

Good questions. I often wonder the same.

Do you keep watching football (football?) after you quit playing?

People watch football without ever having played. Expats from Alpine countries continue interest in winter sports in Thailand. A German living in New Zealand for a few years may become a life-long Rugby fan. Americans may try to watch the Superbowl wherever they happen to be. Are you comparing life in Thailand with actively playing football? Is football a metaphor for sex?

--------

[In Search of Space]

I am nearly Canadian, but still think UK is far more expensive & all the extra benefits, such as sun mean that I would never want to go back to UK. Only reason I go back is daughter and elderly mother

Edited February 1, 2015 by In Search of Space

[georgegeorgia]

OP, I don't know your age, but don't underestimate the value of your health care as you get older. That one issue can break a lot of guys in LOS.

In Canada you can plan and budget. In Thailand the government is a failure at managing the economy, the value of the baht and inflation. They simply don't have a clue what they are doing to themselves. You can't plan anything to any level, as you are seeing.

In Canada at least you have health care and political stability and a predictable rate of inflation "most of the time."

I moved back to the US after only one year of retirement extension. I've visited many times for several months but I won't move back there. If guys were honest with themselves, Thailand is a dirty, corrupt <deleted> compared to their first world country. For those of us who have money or who come from countries where the cost of living is reasonable (USA) I find it better to visit Thailand about once a year for a few months and then come "home."

Good luck with what you decide.

Can I ask what happened??? After only one year on a retirement visa you decided to go back to the USA ?

Edited February 1, 2015 by georgegeorgia

[Rhys]

Dude man up...you know the call..

[georgegeorgia]

I would have to say in many ways Australia is actually cheaper than Thailand.

Im here on a year long work assignment in Sydney Australia.

As for Thailand I was shocked to see many monthly electricity bills basically the same as mine in Australia.

As for fruit I can get a lot cheaper in Australia as they sell by the kilo rather than paying per piece.

Cans of tuna either the same price or cheaper in Australia.

Coffee cheaper in Australia,a 200gm jar from 80baht

Water free by the tap.

2 litre milk in Australia $2...= about 75 baht.

Bacon and cold meats..cheese cheaper in Australia.24 cheese slices from 70baht.

Obviously thai takeaway is more expensive but have found places here in Sydney that sell thai food for under 90 baht a plate.and big portions.

Edited February 1, 2015 by georgegeorgia

[jollyman]

You are best out of it Thailand a pile of CRAP

[SoiBiker]

You are best out of it Thailand a pile of CRAP

Least appropriate username ever?

[mogandave]

Another thought. I lived in different countries and moved on after a while. I would never participate in a forum for expats in such places. What's the point? Why do people continue posting on TV once they have left Thailand? Is their pain caused by substantial loss of "something" so unbearable? Does bashing Thais and "idiots" still living in the LOS help soothing that pain?

Good questions. I often wonder the same.

Do you keep watching football (football?) after you quit playing?

People watch football without ever having played. Expats from Alpine countries continue interest in winter sports in Thailand. A German living in New Zealand for a few years may become a life-long Rugby fan. Americans may try to watch the Superbowl wherever they happen to be. Are you comparing life in Thailand with actively playing football? Is football a metaphor for sex?

--------

No.

[daveAustin]

You are best out of it Thailand a pile of CRAP

Oh what a jolly man.

[georgegeorgia]

You are best out of it Thailand a pile of CRAP

Can I ask why you say that? Could you relate your experiences?

[zierf1]

I'm also blown away by how cheap the US is.

In my neck of the woods (Edinburgh) it's very expensive to live.

Sharing a flat in the city with 2-3 other people would still probably cost $500 per month (excluding bills) if you lived anywhere where the police will go.

Outside the city in a small town my dad rents a small house for over $1000 per month. Crazy.

Yeah but incomes are lower as well. I've never gotten paid more than $13/hr in the US. It's a low wage country.

[Rajhulmaheesh]

Money isn't everything. Go wherever makes you happiest.

Ditch the gf.

[Rajhulmaheesh]

I'm also blown away by how cheap the US is.

In my neck of the woods (Edinburgh) it's very expensive to live.

Sharing a flat in the city with 2-3 other people would still probably cost $500 per month (excluding bills) if you lived anywhere where the police will go.

Outside the city in a small town my dad rents a small house for over $1000 per month. Crazy.

SOCIALism is not chaep!

[samuibeachcomber]

Another thought. I lived in different countries and moved on after a while. I would never participate in a forum for expats in such places. What's the point? Why do people continue posting on TV once they have left Thailand? Is their pain caused by substantial loss of "something" so unbearable? Does bashing Thais and "idiots" still living in the LOS help soothing that pain?

Good questions. I often wonder the same.

If you've lived in thailand a long time but have had to return home for financial or health reasons and miss thailand so much, posting on thai visa is one way of keeping in touch............sometimes its hard to let go,like in a good relationship you might have lost.

[Rajhulmaheesh]

I'm also blown away by how cheap the US is.

In my neck of the woods (Edinburgh) it's very expensive to live.

Sharing a flat in the city with 2-3 other people would still probably cost $500 per month (excluding bills) if you lived anywhere where the police will go.

Outside the city in a small town my dad rents a small house for over $1000 per month. Crazy.

Yeah but incomes are lower as well. I've never gotten paid more than $13/hr in the US. It's a low wage country.

You must have no skills at all......lol. A pizza delivery guy in a decent area makes $18 an hour.

[samuibeachcomber]

I'm also blown away by how cheap the US is.

In my neck of the woods (Edinburgh) it's very expensive to live.

Sharing a flat in the city with 2-3 other people would still probably cost $500 per month (excluding bills) if you lived anywhere where the police will go.

Outside the city in a small town my dad rents a small house for over $1000 per month. Crazy.

Yeah but incomes are lower as well. I've never gotten paid more than $13/hr in the US. It's a low wage country.

yes everything is relative.In australia the average hourly rate would be $20-25 ....but everything is so much more expensive.

[samuibeachcomber]

You are best out of it Thailand a pile of CRAP

Oh what a jolly man.

thailand is what you make it.....just like any other place.

[dunque]

Why the Thai Baht is tied to US currency is beyond me, since it's obviously damaging to Thai economy, exports, and the tourist industry etc.

The Thai baht hasn't been pegged to the US dollar since the 1998 Asian financial crisis.

Prior to 1998 the Thai baht was pegged to the USD at approx 25 baht per dollar. Since 1998 the Thai baht has floated against the US dollar, and ranged from approx 50 baht to 27 baht per dollar.

Maybe in name Gecko 123 but it's certainly acting like it's tied, why would the Baht be so strong?

Presumably it is strong because it is in demand - tourism, trade, expats remittances etc - I very much doubt that the Bank of Thailand would have the resources to prop up the currency to any degree.

[cscraig]

...

broadband: 3BB @ BHT580 vs. Telus.ca @ CAD$63

...

Canada is a wonderful country, and there are lots of good reasons to live there, but a lower Cost of Living is not one of them.

Uh...you compared 10MBPS 3BB to 100 (One hundred) Mbps with Telus. 15Mbps with Telus is $30CAD

http://www.telus.com/en/bc/internet/?INTCMP=LNK_frmTile_bottom_all_toInternet

Telus is CAD $30/month for the first six months for new customers. $63 thereafter. I've looked at switching to other Canadian ISPs, but the rates are similar.

Granted the speed specs are different, but can't tell much difference...except for streaming Ice Hockey ;-)

Canadian mobile charges are some of the highest in world, though they do have a lot of territory to cover.

The differences add up quickly for a family.

[CaptHaddock]

In Canada you can plan and budget. In Thailand the government is a failure at managing the economy, the value of the baht and inflation. They simply don't have a clue what they are doing to themselves. You can't plan anything to any level, as you are seeing.

Do you folks with all these opinions ever check to see if you know what you are talking about? Here's a graph of the annual GDP growth rates for Thailand and Canada for the period 1993 to 2015. Canada begins the period in a long and deep recession/depression which dwarfs in size and duration even the Tom Yung Kung crisis of 1997 in Thailand. Thailand then recovers particularly well during the Thaksin period until the global crisis of 2008 and the period following, when the economy was damaged repeatedly by successive military and judicial coups destabilizing the legitimate government. Canada's natural resource economy is doing quite more recently now that global trade and, in particular, China have caused resource demand to spike. Canada is a great country with a high standard of living, which cannot be said for Thailand, but Thailand has had spectacular growth and improvement in standard of living during the past thirty years or so second only to China, a huge achievement.

Here's the graph comparing annual inflation rates for the same period. We would normally expect inflation to be higher in developing countries than in those economies that are already fully-developed. Nevertheless, Canada hardly looks better and is certainly much more volatile than Thailand. Canada was in deflation repeated during the period, a much more ominous outcome than inflation, in general.

As for the future, the number of military dictatorships that have successfully managed economic development is very small indeed. Think Myanmar, for example. Therefore, I would put my money on Canada, if that were the only consideration.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Everyone has different criteria. But living on 30,000 baht would put you below the poverty line anywhere in the West. In Thailand it lets you enjoy life. (I think. Never tried to live on 30k per month but it seems doable)

Hmmmmm .......

I live quite happily on 30k a month (+12k for the home loan), and that's 3 adults, 1 teen, 1 child.

The Thai family opposite me live on 25k +17k (deduct their home loan, car loan and private school fees from that) and seem to be doing OK.

I'm living a slightly above Thai middle class life style in CM. I don't have to live on that, it's just all we need.

[georgegeorgia]

Wow...must be hard to actually "save" any money living on 30k especially with a family...i couldnt do it !

Edited February 1, 2015 by georgegeorgia

[Neeranam]

If she is working and wants to live in Thailand , tell her to give you an allowance. Otherwise, find a way of making some money - there are many these days.

[Metapod]

i've lived off 30k a month. you can do okay on it if you eat thai food and have some flexibility and initiative.

if you are a fat old sexpat set in your old ways, then yeah, not possible.

I make a lot more than 30k a month these days but I still really only spend about 30-40k a month (single, no family)

Edited February 1, 2015 by Metapod

[Keesters]

Just another typical foreigner in Thailand.

Sounds like many that while living in Thailand you never ate Thai food. Lived on over priced expensive crap foreign food. Thailand too expensive ? Yea if your diet is booze and foreign food.

sure thailand is cheap if you want to he'lin a rural backwater eat thai food at the market and drink chang...but its not for everyone,some have higher aspirations!

If you don't want to eat Thai food and drink Thai beer, why the hell would you come to Thailand?

because i sometimes like to eat western food and drink a decent beer.I came to thailand for the women,pure and simple.

Including yourself?

[uptheos]

Thailand is a very affordable place for anyone to live.

It can be expensive or amazingly cheap....you just have to cut your cloth accordingly.

The ONE thing that really needs thinking about is health, health insurance or what you would do if a catastrophe struck and your finances were limited.

Other than that live as you choose and be happy.

[tlcwaterfall]

I would have to say in many ways Australia is actually cheaper than Thailand.

Im here on a year long work assignment in Sydney Australia.

As for Thailand I was shocked to see many monthly electricity bills basically the same as mine in Australia.

As for fruit I can get a lot cheaper in Australia as they sell by the kilo rather than paying per piece.

Cans of tuna either the same price or cheaper in Australia.

Coffee cheaper in Australia,a 200gm jar from 80baht

Water free by the tap.

2 litre milk in Australia $2...= about 75 baht.

Bacon and cold meats..cheese cheaper in Australia.24 cheese slices from 70baht.

Obviously thai takeaway is more expensive but have found places here in Sydney that sell thai food for under 90 baht a plate.and big portions.

'Water free by the tap'

Water is not free in Australia. It is expensive and continually getting more expensive.

Water authorities charge not only for the water that is used but also for the infrastructure. Not free.