Cost of Living in Thailand: How I Spend ฿74,031.83 Every Month

[puukao]

฿

even if you don't have the symbol, just use copy-and-paste

[Lukecan]

Im used to eating out, driving nice german cars, to be able to lead a lifestyle like this comfortably in Thailand, I need an income of at least 150-200k baht. Id probably spend 100k baht, and save the rest.

[jpb1963]

I must be missing something - I chew through over 100k THB (I would have put the THB symbol but I cant find it and I could not copy and paste from above - IT challenged lol) a month when I come home, maybe I should keep a record because stuffed if I know where it goes lol

[55Jay]

I must be missing something - I chew through over 100k THB (I would have put the THB symbol but I cant find it and I could not copy and paste from above - IT challenged lol) a month when I come home, maybe I should keep a record because stuffed if I know where it goes lol

Are you working offshore?

We lived/worked abroad for several years and would come to Thailand twice a year on holiday. Oh yeah, we could burn through some cash.

[Gary A]

I have a top of the line Ford Focus with an automatic transmission and all the bells and whistles. So what? I prefer to drive my pickup truck. I'd rather eat my wife's cooking than go to a restaurant. I don't like to wear long pants or collared shirts. I live exactly the way I choose to live. Trying to be a high roller doesn't appeal to me. I DON'T have to impress anyone like some of the posters here try to do.

I planned my retirement carefully. I'm not rich by any means but my wife and I are comfortable. Thailand is a great place to live and you don't have to be wealthy to be comfortable. This is NOT a nice place to live if you are destitute. Social Security (that I worked and paid for) and a small private pension give me a healthy surplus every month. I am self insured and have a sufficient nest egg, that I have never touched, that will pay for any emergency medical problems that I may have. I fully expect that my nest egg will be inherited by my US children. My Thai wife has a number of small farms that will give her an income after I am dead and gone.

I did have medical insurance the could not be cancelled because of my age. What they did not tell me was that they could raise my premiums to the point that it would be cheaper to pay any medical expense myself. I cancelled the policy at age 65.

[NewInPatts]

If you want to live a western lifestyle you'll end up paying western prices. Rent alone is 75,000 baht/month for a 3br condo near the BTS line.

Add a maid, a dog, a wife, food and you easily go through 200,000-300,000 baht/month. Not bragging or trying to call anyone a cheap charlie.

A simple trip to Villa will set you back 10k/week for some decent beef, organic and healthy food. Add in eating out, weekends at the clubs (not gogo bars) and so on.

Our electricity bill is around 12,000 baht.

Living in the heart of thonglor, paying government rates, not jacked up prices by the condo management.

Not to mention true vision, true internet and the list goes on.. (healthcare...)

Again, just our situation, not trying to make anyone look dumb - I know the old folks probably think I am stupid for burning through that kind of money but you live your life, i LIVE mine.

[VIPinthailand]

you need to work only 10 years on farangland to be able to retire in Thailand.

let s see

you make 50000 a year, 10 years 500k$

save 250k

invest these 250k at 5 or 6% give you 12500 a year.

around 400k bahts a year.

33k bahts a month.

yes, all you need is to work around 10years to retire in Thailand.

I never understand why people wait to be 65.

and if you can live with less than 33k, you can reinvest it, compound interest a few years, you will finish at 50'000 bahts per month which is in my point of view good enough for one person.

if you work 20 years and retire at 45 or 50, you can easily explode the 100k bahts a month.

it s all about saving and investing for a few years

[MaeJoMTB]

you need to work only 10 years on farangland to be able to retire in Thailand.

let s see

you make 50000 a year, 10 years 500k$

save 250k

invest these 250k at 5 or 6% give you 12500 a year.

around 400k bahts a year.

33k bahts a month.

yes, all you need is to work around 10years to retire in Thailand.

I never understand why people wait to be 65.

40% tax on 50k a year. 10% SS (or NI payments) Then local tax, property tax .... etc.

Living expenses would use most of the rest.

No sex for ten years ?? Most get a wife or gf that costs plenty.

Lucky to get 3% return on investments.

So in your fantasy world easy, for everyone else impossible.

[VIPinthailand]

you need to work only 10 years on farangland to be able to retire in Thailand.

let s see

you make 50000 a year, 10 years 500k$

save 250k

invest these 250k at 5 or 6% give you 12500 a year.

around 400k bahts a year.

33k bahts a month.

yes, all you need is to work around 10years to retire in Thailand.

I never understand why people wait to be 65.

40% tax on 50k a year. 10% SS (or NI payments) Then local tax, property tax .... etc.

Living expenses would use most of the rest.

No sex for ten years ?? Most get a wife or gf that costs plenty.

Lucky to get 3% return on investments.

So in your fantasy world easy, for everyone else impossible.

well have you heard about working women.? yes they exist too. I don't pay for a girlfriend.

have you heard about tax free countries or low tax countries.

nobody forced you to stay in a nanny state.

[Soutpeel]

you need to work only 10 years on farangland to be able to retire in Thailand.

let s see

you make 50000 a year, 10 years 500k$

save 250k

invest these 250k at 5 or 6% give you 12500 a year.

around 400k bahts a year.

33k bahts a month.

yes, all you need is to work around 10years to retire in Thailand.

I never understand why people wait to be 65.

and if you can live with less than 33k, you can reinvest it, compound interest a few years, you will finish at 50'000 bahts per month which is in my point of view good enough for one person.

if you work 20 years and retire at 45 or 50, you can easily explode the 100k bahts a month.

it s all about saving and investing for a few years

I think your living in a very simplistic fantasy land

[Bernard Flint]

you need to work only 10 years on farangland to be able to retire in Thailand.

let s see

you make 50000 a year, 10 years 500k$

save 250k

invest these 250k at 5 or 6% give you 12500 a year.

around 400k bahts a year.

33k bahts a month.

yes, all you need is to work around 10years to retire in Thailand.

I never understand why people wait to be 65.

and if you can live with less than 33k, you can reinvest it, compound interest a few years, you will finish at 50'000 bahts per month which is in my point of view good enough for one person.

if you work 20 years and retire at 45 or 50, you can easily explode the 100k bahts a month.

it s all about saving and investing for a few years

SORRY FOR LAUGHING

[fey]

you need to work only 10 years on farangland to be able to retire in Thailand.

let s see

you make 50000 a year, 10 years 500k$

save 250k

invest these 250k at 5 or 6% give you 12500 a year.

around 400k bahts a year.

33k bahts a month.

yes, all you need is to work around 10years to retire in Thailand.

I never understand why people wait to be 65.

and if you can live with less than 33k, you can reinvest it, compound interest a few years, you will finish at 50'000 bahts per month which is in my point of view good enough for one person.

if you work 20 years and retire at 45 or 50, you can easily explode the 100k bahts a month.

it s all about saving and investing for a few years

SORRY FOR LAUGHING

Living solo for 10 years in the states on $25k would not be pretty or easy.

Using your example, after taxes it would be like living on $18k a year, near poverty level and most people are lucky to get a $50k paying gig for that long.

[Bernard Flint]

you need to work only 10 years on farangland to be able to retire in Thailand.

let s see

you make 50000 a year, 10 years 500k$

save 250k

invest these 250k at 5 or 6% give you 12500 a year.

around 400k bahts a year.

33k bahts a month.

yes, all you need is to work around 10years to retire in Thailand.

I never understand why people wait to be 65.

and if you can live with less than 33k, you can reinvest it, compound interest a few years, you will finish at 50'000 bahts per month which is in my point of view good enough for one person.

if you work 20 years and retire at 45 or 50, you can easily explode the 100k bahts a month.

it s all about saving and investing for a few years

SORRY FOR LAUGHING

Living solo for 10 years in the states on $25k would not be pretty or easy.

Using your example, after taxes it would be like living on $18k a year, near poverty level and most people are lucky to get a $50k paying gig for that long.

Gik surely?????

[jpb1963]

I must be missing something - I chew through over 100k THB (I would have put the THB symbol but I cant find it and I could not copy and paste from above - IT challenged lol) a month when I come home, maybe I should keep a record because stuffed if I know where it goes lol

Are you working offshore?

We lived/worked abroad for several years and would come to Thailand twice a year on holiday. Oh yeah, we could burn through some cash.

wow you must be like psychic (is that how you spell that?) yeah I do

but I am trying really hard to save lol.

especially seeing as how last ex has chewed into the retirement plan like flea bitten rabbi infested mongrel on its last feed.. did I say that out loud oops.

[thaibeachlovers]

you need to work only 10 years on farangland to be able to retire in Thailand.

let s see

you make 50000 a year, 10 years 500k$

save 250k

invest these 250k at 5 or 6% give you 12500 a year.

around 400k bahts a year.

33k bahts a month.

yes, all you need is to work around 10years to retire in Thailand.

I never understand why people wait to be 65.

and if you can live with less than 33k, you can reinvest it, compound interest a few years, you will finish at 50'000 bahts per month which is in my point of view good enough for one person.

if you work 20 years and retire at 45 or 50, you can easily explode the 100k bahts a month.

it s all about saving and investing for a few years

So for 10 years you never had holidays in Thailand. Why would you want to live in Thailand when you know nothing about it?

I say you never came to Thailand on holidays because if you had, you wouldn't have 250k to invest ( or you had incredibly boring holidays in which you stayed in your hotel room and never had any "fun" ). LOS is not a cheap place to holiday in if you want to have a "good" time, LOL.

I probably spent 50% of my disposable income on holidays in LOS over 10 years and don't regret a single satang ( well a few regrets but not too many ). In fact, my holidays were the reason I worked.

[thaibeachlovers]

you need to work only 10 years on farangland to be able to retire in Thailand.

let s see

you make 50000 a year, 10 years 500k$

save 250k

invest these 250k at 5 or 6% give you 12500 a year.

around 400k bahts a year.

33k bahts a month.

yes, all you need is to work around 10years to retire in Thailand.

I never understand why people wait to be 65.

40% tax on 50k a year. 10% SS (or NI payments) Then local tax, property tax .... etc.

Living expenses would use most of the rest.

No sex for ten years ?? Most get a wife or gf that costs plenty.

Lucky to get 3% return on investments.

So in your fantasy world easy, for everyone else impossible.

well have you heard about working women.? yes they exist too. I don't pay for a girlfriend.

have you heard about tax free countries or low tax countries.

nobody forced you to stay in a nanny state.

Saudi was tax free, but I spent most of what I earned getting out of the place to somewhere I could have some fun ( LOS ). The penalties for having a G F in Saudi were such that I didn't.

[55Jay]

you need to work only 10 years on farangland to be able to retire in Thailand.

let s see

you make 50000 a year, 10 years 500k$

save 250k

invest these 250k at 5 or 6% give you 12500 a year.

around 400k bahts a year.

33k bahts a month.

yes, all you need is to work around 10years to retire in Thailand.

I never understand why people wait to be 65.

and if you can live with less than 33k, you can reinvest it, compound interest a few years, you will finish at 50'000 bahts per month which is in my point of view good enough for one person.

if you work 20 years and retire at 45 or 50, you can easily explode the 100k bahts a month.

it s all about saving and investing for a few years

Sounds like a single point of failure.

Plan B?

[Seizetheday]

HOW I SPEND 300K A MONTH

x wife ( mia noi ) 42,00

X wife car 23k

X wife rent 20k

My car 15k

Int School fees 50k

House Costs ( electric, maid, pool man, gardner, True VisionS, CTH ) 30K

Golf 25k

Bars 60k

Food 30k

Ins 3k

Village Fees 4k

I'm sure many many can beat me!!!

It's all relative.

[55Jay]

HOW I SPEND 300K A MONTH

x wife ( mia noi ) 42,00

X wife car 23k

X wife rent 20k

My car 15k

Int School fees 50k

House Costs ( electric, maid, pool man, gardner, True VisionS, CTH ) 30K

Golf 25k

Bars 60k

Food 30k

Ins 3k

Village Fees 4k

I'm sure many many can beat me!!!

You dink too mutt.

[Seizetheday]

HOW I SPEND 300K A MONTH

x wife ( mia noi ) 42,00

X wife car 23k

X wife rent 20k

My car 15k

Int School fees 50k

House Costs ( electric, maid, pool man, gardner, True VisionS, CTH ) 30K

Golf 25k

Bars 60k

Food 30k

Ins 3k

Village Fees 4k

I'm sure many many can beat me!!!

You dink too mutt.

Yes, sometimes, but the figures are correct. Many have more than me.

[55Jay]

HOW I SPEND 300K A MONTH

x wife ( mia noi ) 42,00

X wife car 23k

X wife rent 20k

My car 15k

Int School fees 50k

House Costs ( electric, maid, pool man, gardner, True VisionS, CTH ) 30K

Golf 25k

Bars 60k

Food 30k

Ins 3k

Village Fees 4k

I'm sure many many can beat me!!!

You dink too mutt.

Yes, sometimes, but the figures are correct. Many have more than me.

Clearly, you ain't on the 3 Step Easy Retirement Program outlined earlier on this page by Meester "VIPinThailand".

[fey]

you need to work only 10 years on farangland to be able to retire in Thailand.

let s see

you make 50000 a year, 10 years 500k$

save 250k

invest these 250k at 5 or 6% give you 12500 a year.

around 400k bahts a year.

33k bahts a month.

yes, all you need is to work around 10years to retire in Thailand.

I never understand why people wait to be 65.

and if you can live with less than 33k, you can reinvest it, compound interest a few years, you will finish at 50'000 bahts per month which is in my point of view good enough for one person.

if you work 20 years and retire at 45 or 50, you can easily explode the 100k bahts a month.

it s all about saving and investing for a few years

So for 10 years you never had holidays in Thailand. Why would you want to live in Thailand when you know nothing about it?

I say you never came to Thailand on holidays because if you had, you wouldn't have 250k to invest ( or you had incredibly boring holidays in which you stayed in your hotel room and never had any "fun" ). LOS is not a cheap place to holiday in if you want to have a "good" time, LOL.

I probably spent 50% of my disposable income on holidays in LOS over 10 years and don't regret a single satang ( well a few regrets but not too many ). In fact, my holidays were the reason I worked.

See you next year!

[VIPinthailand]

you and your failing marriage had costed you years of saving that could have been instead invested for your early retirement.

it s like guys buying brand new cars instead of second hand car and were making fun of me. I saved hundred thousand of dollars by going cheap.

they got big houses at several thousand dollars , while I saved and kept my money invested, now it brings me more money every year passing . after a few years, i can now rent a house in Thailand while the guys in farangland are still paying tax on their property of 5 bedrooms house that are filled with junks. they could have save the money instead to buy junks and invest in stocks.

now I can enjoy a relaxed life in Thailand while guys in faranglands are still paying lawyers and their Betty the bitch for child support.

10 years only.... now my life is all vacation while guys in farangland are still waiting for 5 pm to leave their dumb office.

[MaeJoMTB]

you and your failing marriage had costed you years of saving that could have been instead invested for your early retirement.

it s like guys buying brand new cars instead of second hand car and were making fun of me. I saved hundred thousand of dollars by going cheap.

they got big houses at several thousand dollars , while I saved and kept my money invested, now it brings me more money every year passing . after a few years, i can now rent a house in Thailand while the guys in farangland are still paying tax on their property of 5 bedrooms house that are filled with junks. they could have save the money instead to buy junks and invest in stocks.

now I can enjoy a relaxed life in Thailand while guys in faranglands are still paying lawyers and their Betty the bitch for child support.

10 years only.... now my life is all vacation while guys in farangland are still waiting for 5 pm to leave their dumb office.

You keep talking dollars, but you clearly aren't a native English speaker, not American ...... so whereUfrom?

(we already know WhereUStay)

[55Jay]

you and your failing marriage had costed you years of saving that could have been instead invested for your early retirement.

it s like guys buying brand new cars instead of second hand car and were making fun of me. I saved hundred thousand of dollars by going cheap.

they got big houses at several thousand dollars , while I saved and kept my money invested, now it brings me more money every year passing . after a few years, i can now rent a house in Thailand while the guys in farangland are still paying tax on their property of 5 bedrooms house that are filled with junks. they could have save the money instead to buy junks and invest in stocks.

now I can enjoy a relaxed life in Thailand while guys in faranglands are still paying lawyers and their Betty the bitch for child support.

10 years only.... now my life is all vacation while guys in farangland are still waiting for 5 pm to leave their dumb office.

Sometimes you say incredibly reasonable things. I agree with this line of thinking. For the most part, it's what I did.

However your 250k retirement plan, as you've laid it out, while certainly possible, is really bad advice.

[fey]

you and your failing marriage had costed you years of saving that could have been instead invested for your early retirement.

it s like guys buying brand new cars instead of second hand car and were making fun of me. I saved hundred thousand of dollars by going cheap.

they got big houses at several thousand dollars , while I saved and kept my money invested, now it brings me more money every year passing . after a few years, i can now rent a house in Thailand while the guys in farangland are still paying tax on their property of 5 bedrooms house that are filled with junks. they could have save the money instead to buy junks and invest in stocks.

now I can enjoy a relaxed life in Thailand while guys in faranglands are still paying lawyers and their Betty the bitch for child support.

10 years only.... now my life is all vacation while guys in farangland are still waiting for 5 pm to leave their dumb office.

You can't retire on $100k-$250k without touching principal. The math does not add up.

So you were making $50-80k a year before taxes and saving half?

Something feels wrong with the math.

If its in real risky stocks that somehow return a little better, your going to be wiped out in the next market downturn.

[VIPinthailand]

I did what this guy wrote on his website

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/how-to-live-a-rich-modern-life-without-debt/

[Tchooptip]

I do spend more or less this amount in OP, lets say an average of 70.000 Baht with a wife but no child, since last year I spent a little more than 800.000 Baht

My wife have a daughter she comes to spend a day (and a night) with her husband every weeks. So a little more air condition for a room, every Sunday 4 people to eat, but it is really only a small difference, plus I do it with pleasure both of them are adorable.

10.000 for my rent paying yearly otherwise 12.000 for a house not furnished in Samui

200 water

333 cable TV 4.000 yearly

750 Wifi

900 My wife and I both our telephones

2.700 electricity bills I pay directly to the company

So I spend around 55.000 Baht on top of that every month, now we have a car (for only 2 months) 2 motorbikes, never both of us on the same one for I hate it I do not give any regular amount of money to my wife but never give her less then 1.000 if she need something, she goes to the "saloon" for hairdressing lets say twice a month 2.000, different creams or other stuff she buy for her maybe 2.000. She buys flowers every weeks for "onepra" if she have no more money I give her 1.000 (flowers 70 Baht ) but it will last till she spends it all. I really do not know maybe I give her 5/6.000 every month?

So we spend + or - 50.000 for every thing else.

[55Jay]

I did what this guy wrote on his website

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/how-to-live-a-rich-modern-life-without-debt/

Some good points, some not so good or, at least not one-size fits all.

You should open a new thread with this.

[fey]

I did what this guy wrote on his website

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/how-to-live-a-rich-modern-life-without-debt/

That's just a spammy website with newsletter sign up and penny pinching tips.

You still have not explained the math about how you saved up enough to retire in those 10 years.