inflation is killing me

[bluweyze]

Fruit cheaper in London?? You must buy your fruit at Tops or Rim Ping. Fruit here excluding pears and cherries is a lot cheaper than the UK

Anyone who thinks Thailand is still cheap to live in is kidding themselves!

I don't agree. I've not lived in another country where I can live comfortably on 1k Pounds a month. There's no taxes apart from sales tax, no community charges, utility costs are exceptionally low (monthly: water - 100 baht/gas - 70 baht/electric - 1,000), diesel is half the price of the West, food is exceptionally cheap in markets and the like (40 pounds a week feeds two people more than comfortably) plus the quality is usually extremely high plus entertainment costs are inexpensive (have you bought a movie ticket in the UK recently). It all depends on lifestyle and how you want to live.

I have absolutely no problem living in Central London on 1,000 pounds a month. What I miss is the large and varied range of food I had there. The eating in Thailand is very restricted. And fruit here, why is it so expensive? Fruit and fruit juice in London is so much cheaper. No need for a car, and I don't have a space to park it in London anyway.

[cmsally]

There is a new phenomena near Muang Mai market selling fruit. It seems to be selling to the Chinese tour groups. Packed full of Chinese and streams of tuk tuks with Chinese going in and out. Strange. It is slightly south of Muang Mai and "Tedx" building

[impulse]

Anyone who thinks Thailand is still cheap to live in is kidding themselves!

Thailand does offer up the opportunity to live a lot cheaper than it's even possible to live back home. That's obvious when a high percentage of the population can live on a combined family income of $10 a day or less.

But not at an equivalent quality of life. Depending on hobbies, activities and expectations, living an equivalent lifestyle in Thailand can be extremely expensive.

Some of the amenities from back home aren't available in Thailand at any price and many that are cost a lot more than they do back home.

BTW, back home is Texas. And I didn't realize how cheap we have it until I met a bunch of Euro travelers and listen to their stories of how expensive things are where they came from.

[masuk]

If you want to experience inflation take a holiday in Sydney.Start off taking the airport link to the main railway terminal,used to be 65 baht now 442 baht.A small bottle of water costs nearly 200 baht,here 10 baht.Inflation is everywhere but at the moment here its minimal despite drought and the political situation

The only thing more expensive in Oz than small bottled water, is printer ink. Shops make about 500% per bottle.

[zeichen]

It is like I pissed in peoples cereal. There is a lot of nasty comments here and vitriol over a very harmless observation of local prices from 4 months ago.

First of all, Not once did I compare Thailand with other countries. This is not a comparison with anything other than local prices over the past 4 months.

I had been in China not the country of my birth. Since I have lived in Thailand for more than half of my life, I consider it my home. So yes, I did return home. I was just stating that I observed a major increase in prices in only 4 months. I wasn't sure why, that is all.

I went to the market and bought some fried pork, cost was 3 pieces for 20 baht before now 2 for 20, that is about 30% increase. The few things that I bought: Tipco juice, butter, milk, veggies, fruit, meats all went up about 30-40%. Price for meat pork loin was 120-128 (fluctuated a little week to week) kilo when I left, now 145 at the same store. Certain fruits and things that I buy per kilo went up. When something was 18 baht a kilo and now is 22 a kilo that is about 30% increase.

This was not meant as a universal increase. I wasn't talking about electricity, gas, heating, etc. I just was stating an observation from when I went to the market yesterday and noticed a sizeable difference in price from last time. I wasn't talking about imported items but yes, I did notice that my favorite pepperidge farm cookies that were 100-105 baht are now 145 baht a bag, I was talking about mostly locally produced items.

Now if I compare prices to 20 years ago, 100-150% increase. Things used to be dirt cheap. Local meals were 15-20 baht each now 35-50 baht. though none of these shops raised their prices since 2 years ago. My comparison was to 4 months ago when I left to now and the general increase cost of produce, and a few goods. Not imported goods, local butters, sausages, nuts, herbs and spices, etc. have made a noticeable increase in 4 months.

[MissAndry]

I went to the market and bought some fried pork, cost was 3 pieces for 20 baht before now 2 for 20, that is about 30% increase. The few things that I bought: Tipco juice, butter, milk, veggies, fruit, meats all went up about 30-40%. Price for meat pork loin was 120-128 (fluctuated a little week to week) kilo when I left, now 145 at the same store. Certain fruits and things that I buy per kilo went up. When something was 18 baht a kilo and now is 22 a kilo that is about 30% increase.

Tipco juices have been on sale the past month.

Started in 7-11, 2 for 108bht. Moved to Tesco Lotus, 2 for 116bht, Now on at Rimping 55bht each.

Can't see a 30-40% rise there. Were they really only 40bht a carton 4 months ago?

Edited July 17, 2016 by MissAndry

[cmsally]

Milk seems to have been the same price for at least a year or so. I always buy Meiji, no change.

Veggies and fruit mostly gone up because of the weather and long dry season.

[Mark123456]

Anyone who thinks Thailand is still cheap to live in is kidding themselves!

I don't agree. I've not lived in another country where I can live comfortably on 1k Pounds a month. There's no taxes apart from sales tax, no community charges, utility costs are exceptionally low (monthly: water - 100 baht/gas - 70 baht/electric - 1,000), diesel is half the price of the West, food is exceptionally cheap in markets and the like (40 pounds a week feeds two people more than comfortably) plus the quality is usually extremely high plus entertainment costs are inexpensive (have you bought a movie ticket in the UK recently). It all depends on lifestyle and how you want to live.

What about import tax? At 30% + for most items, they don't really need many other taxes. I expect the customs & excise office is a huge contributor to the government coffers.

Edit: Actually only around 6% of the annual tax take according to a chart I just found. That surprises me - maybe it's just me buying imported goods all the time

Edit 2: Although, when you compare that 6% to the UK figure of 0.4%, it is relatively massive.

Edited July 17, 2016 by Mark123456

[chiang mai]

Anyone who thinks Thailand is still cheap to live in is kidding themselves!

I don't agree. I've not lived in another country where I can live comfortably on 1k Pounds a month. There's no taxes apart from sales tax, no community charges, utility costs are exceptionally low (monthly: water - 100 baht/gas - 70 baht/electric - 1,000), diesel is half the price of the West, food is exceptionally cheap in markets and the like (40 pounds a week feeds two people more than comfortably) plus the quality is usually extremely high plus entertainment costs are inexpensive (have you bought a movie ticket in the UK recently). It all depends on lifestyle and how you want to live.

What about import tax? At 30% + for most items, they don't really need many other taxes. I expect the customs & excise office is a huge contributor to the government coffers.

Edit: Actually only around 6% of the annual tax take according to a chart I just found. That surprises me - maybe it's just me buying imported goods all the time

Edit 2: Although, when you compare that 6% to the UK figure of 0.4%, it is relatively massive.

I buy very few things that are clearly imports, certainly I don't buy any longer things from the West that I used buy many years ago.

[MartinBKK]

If you donot likethe prices here go homeand see how you will likethem. Iam going back to the states in august I can imaginehow much they have went up

The only things I find cheaper here than in the UK are eating out, property, electricity, and water (and probably Internet). Admittedly those are all very important, especially property as we all need somewhere to live, but a lot of the food (in supermarkets), alcohol, good quality electrical equipment, reasonable quality clothing, and anything else I buy on a regular basis all seems to be cheaper back home. Basically if you want quality it's usually imported and therefore costs a fortune.

EDIT: There are probably loads of other things that are much cheaper here I just don't happen to buy them or do them.

I just came back from 2 months in Portugal and you can basically say the same thing about there. I found eating out, accomodation, electricity, water and taxis much more expensive but everything else is either the same or less than the prices in CM. After the minimum wage came in a few years ago i noticed the prices here start to rise very quickly.

[anto]

The OP mentioned milk going up which totally discredits his argument .The carton i buy for B45 ,has been the same price as far back as i can remember.

[cmsally]

Tipco orange juice was for sale in a shop that does wholesale next to Ming Kwan veggie restaurant (Wat Phra Singh) . They had it marked at 52 Bt

Not much goes missed by me.

[meatboy]

my 2 favourite,heinz baked beans,tesco uk 4 for 2.69gbp.

thailand price tesco lotus 100bht for 1 = 2.00gbp.

spam tesco uk 1 x 340grms 1.99gbp.

thailand price 1 x 340gms.230bht. = 4.60gbp.

would the op tell me where he buys butter 500gms.= 72bht.

thats not inflation its farang virus the scurge of thailand.

[MissAndry]

my 2 favourite,heinz baked beans,tesco uk 4 for 2.69gbp.

thailand price tesco lotus 100bht for 1 = 2.00gbp.

spam tesco uk 1 x 340grms 1.99gbp.

thailand price 1 x 340gms.230bht. = 4.60gbp.

would the op tell me where he buys butter 500gms.= 72bht.

thats not inflation its farang virus the scurge of thailand.

Not really a fair comparison as you are comparing local with imported products.

In Thailand the Local product baked beans would be "Ayam Brand' and are 3 tins for 99bht, same price as the UK.

PS, You don't need butter.

[NancyL]

Anyone who thinks Thailand is still cheap to live in is kidding themselves!

I don't agree. I've not lived in another country where I can live comfortably on 1k Pounds a month. There's no taxes apart from sales tax, no community charges, utility costs are exceptionally low (monthly: water - 100 baht/gas - 70 baht/electric - 1,000), diesel is half the price of the West, food is exceptionally cheap in markets and the like (40 pounds a week feeds two people more than comfortably) plus the quality is usually extremely high plus entertainment costs are inexpensive (have you bought a movie ticket in the UK recently). It all depends on lifestyle and how you want to live.

What about import tax? At 30% + for most items, they don't really need many other taxes. I expect the customs & excise office is a huge contributor to the government coffers.

Edit: Actually only around 6% of the annual tax take according to a chart I just found. That surprises me - maybe it's just me buying imported goods all the time

Edit 2: Although, when you compare that 6% to the UK figure of 0.4%, it is relatively massive.

Remember the import tax is charged on the "landed cost" which includes the freight.

[meatboy]

my 2 favourite,heinz baked beans,tesco uk 4 for 2.69gbp.

thailand price tesco lotus 100bht for 1 = 2.00gbp.

spam tesco uk 1 x 340grms 1.99gbp.

thailand price 1 x 340gms.230bht. = 4.60gbp.

would the op tell me where he buys butter 500gms.= 72bht.

thats not inflation its farang virus the scurge of thailand.

Not really a fair comparison as you are comparing local with imported products.

In Thailand the Local product baked beans would be "Ayam Brand' and are 3 tins for 99bht, same price as the UK.

PS, You don't need butter.

AYAM BRAND baked beans they wouldnt sell 2tins a year in the uk.

[chiang mai]

Have you seen how much salt the there is in a can of baked beans: http://www.daleynutrition.com/are-baked-beans-good-for-you/

[MarcoBKK]

Milk is under price control and the last increase was in 2012. Most price controlled products are not allowed to rise, specially because the manufacturing cost (according to the government) are lower due to lower fuel costs.

[Mark123456]

Anyone who thinks Thailand is still cheap to live in is kidding themselves!

I don't agree. I've not lived in another country where I can live comfortably on 1k Pounds a month. There's no taxes apart from sales tax, no community charges, utility costs are exceptionally low (monthly: water - 100 baht/gas - 70 baht/electric - 1,000), diesel is half the price of the West, food is exceptionally cheap in markets and the like (40 pounds a week feeds two people more than comfortably) plus the quality is usually extremely high plus entertainment costs are inexpensive (have you bought a movie ticket in the UK recently). It all depends on lifestyle and how you want to live.

What about import tax? At 30% + for most items, they don't really need many other taxes. I expect the customs & excise office is a huge contributor to the government coffers.

Edit: Actually only around 6% of the annual tax take according to a chart I just found. That surprises me - maybe it's just me buying imported goods all the time

Edit 2: Although, when you compare that 6% to the UK figure of 0.4%, it is relatively massive.

Remember the import tax is charged on the "landed cost" which includes the freight.

Yes I know that. That's the same in the UK and every other country though, so it doesn't alter the fact that import duties make up an abnormally high percentage of the government's annual tax take here.

As is normal practice, they apply 30% (or whatever the applicable rate is) to the CIF total, then 7% VAT to the new total. It's an immoral practice that is carried out globally. I call it immoral because you are actually being taxed on a tax when you import goods into almost any country.

Edited July 18, 2016 by Mark123456

[Saan]

If you want to experience inflation take a holiday in Sydney.Start off taking the airport link to the main railway terminal,used to be 65 baht now 442 baht.A small bottle of water costs nearly 200 baht,here 10 baht.Inflation is everywhere but at the moment here its minimal despite drought and the political situation

The only thing more expensive in Oz than small bottled water, is printer ink. Shops make about 500% per bottle.

Some in Australia costed the ink out awhile ago and it was about $4000 a litre then. A good business for someone.

[Peterw42]

I think I would agree with the OP. My wife has a small restaurant, Thai food for Thai customers. I would say at least a 20% price increase (this year) buying stock for the restaurant. Thats shopping at Macro and the local markets.

Seems price rises are mainly for local/Thai produce, not imported.

[zeichen]

Milk is under price control and the last increase was in 2012. Most price controlled products are not allowed to rise, specially because the manufacturing cost (according to the government) are lower due to lower fuel costs.

retailers can charge a variance in prices. yes controlled for wholesale prices is not the same as what individual markets and shops sell. Sugar, milk and many other controlled goods vary 2-10 baht each deepening on the shop.

[Peterw42]

Milk is under price control and the last increase was in 2012. Most price controlled products are not allowed to rise, specially because the manufacturing cost (according to the government) are lower due to lower fuel costs.

retailers can charge a variance in prices. yes controlled for wholesale prices is not the same as what individual markets and shops sell. Sugar, milk and many other controlled goods vary 2-10 baht each deepening on the shop.

That explains why milk is more expensive than whisky at 7/11.

[Peterw42]

It is like I pissed in peoples cereal. There is a lot of nasty comments here and vitriol over a very harmless observation of local prices from 4 months ago.

First of all, Not once did I compare Thailand with other countries. This is not a comparison with anything other than local prices over the past 4 months.

I had been in China not the country of my birth. Since I have lived in Thailand for more than half of my life, I consider it my home. So yes, I did return home. I was just stating that I observed a major increase in prices in only 4 months. I wasn't sure why, that is all.

I went to the market and bought some fried pork, cost was 3 pieces for 20 baht before now 2 for 20, that is about 30% increase. The few things that I bought: Tipco juice, butter, milk, veggies, fruit, meats all went up about 30-40%. Price for meat pork loin was 120-128 (fluctuated a little week to week) kilo when I left, now 145 at the same store. Certain fruits and things that I buy per kilo went up. When something was 18 baht a kilo and now is 22 a kilo that is about 30% increase.

This was not meant as a universal increase. I wasn't talking about electricity, gas, heating, etc. I just was stating an observation from when I went to the market yesterday and noticed a sizeable difference in price from last time. I wasn't talking about imported items but yes, I did notice that my favorite pepperidge farm cookies that were 100-105 baht are now 145 baht a bag, I was talking about mostly locally produced items.

Now if I compare prices to 20 years ago, 100-150% increase. Things used to be dirt cheap. Local meals were 15-20 baht each now 35-50 baht. though none of these shops raised their prices since 2 years ago. My comparison was to 4 months ago when I left to now and the general increase cost of produce, and a few goods. Not imported goods, local butters, sausages, nuts, herbs and spices, etc. have made a noticeable increase in 4 months.

You should know by now that you will get attacked if you post something others don't want to hear.

Shoot the messenger.

I was wondering why my corn flakes tasted salty, lol

[masuk]

If you want to experience inflation take a holiday in Sydney.Start off taking the airport link to the main railway terminal,used to be 65 baht now 442 baht.A small bottle of water costs nearly 200 baht,here 10 baht.Inflation is everywhere but at the moment here its minimal despite drought and the political situation

The only thing more expensive in Oz than small bottled water, is printer ink. Shops make about 500% per bottle.

Some in Australia costed the ink out awhile ago and it was about $4000 a litre then. A good business for someone.

Which is why I don't feel at all guilty about having bulk tanks fitted to my printer and filled; all for 600THB. Yes, the ink is good and hasn't faded on photos in 18months. (and some hasn't washed out of my shirt in a year!!)

[chiang mai]

Milk is under price control and the last increase was in 2012. Most price controlled products are not allowed to rise, specially because the manufacturing cost (according to the government) are lower due to lower fuel costs.

retailers can charge a variance in prices. yes controlled for wholesale prices is not the same as what individual markets and shops sell. Sugar, milk and many other controlled goods vary 2-10 baht each deepening on the shop.

That explains why milk is more expensive than whisky at 7/11.

Really, on what basis is that, the man in the moon accounting principle!

[MissAndry]

So don't buy milk at the 7-11, get it at the dairy where it costs 26bht/liter.

[anto]

So don't buy milk at the 7-11, get it at the dairy where it costs 26bht/liter.

Plus time and gasoline to get to the dairy .

[Peterw42]

Milk is under price control and the last increase was in 2012. Most price controlled products are not allowed to rise, specially because the manufacturing cost (according to the government) are lower due to lower fuel costs.

retailers can charge a variance in prices. yes controlled for wholesale prices is not the same as what individual markets and shops sell. Sugar, milk and many other controlled goods vary 2-10 baht each deepening on the shop.

That explains why milk is more expensive than whisky at 7/11.

Really, on what basis is that, the man in the moon accounting principle!

Ok, not quiet as expensive as whiskey but 2 liter bottle is 100b

[chiang mai]

That explains why milk is more expensive than whisky at 7/11.

Really, on what basis is that, the man in the moon accounting principle!

Ok, not quiet as expensive as whiskey but 2 liter bottle is 100b

And 2 litres of whiskey costs how much?