Cost of living in Thailand

[EvenSteven]

It seems that inflation has eroded the advantage Thailand had at one time.  To be sure the cost of living in Thailand does vary but in general I find that even outside of BKK the cost of living doesn't vary enough for me to pack up and move from America to a studio or 1bedroom condo in Thailand for 3 to 6 months of the year, let alone year round.  The cost of groceries is often more in Thailand and eating out is not significantly different.  I can buy a hotdog on the street in America for the same price as street/cart food in Thailand and have less chance of falling ill.  I can drink water out of the tap in my country and not fall ill either.  It seems Thailand is losing its advantage as a cheap retirement destination.

[ukrules]

It's way cheaper over here. There's only 1 city in the entire US which is anywhere near the size of Bangkok and that's New York.

 

How does Bangkok compare in price to New York ?

 

[cheapskatesam]

I recently came back from BKK (see my recent thread).. there are loads of places to eat cheaply and buy cheap groceries if you know where..

If you're buying tins of soup and bread from Villa Market on Sukhumvit you wont be saving much

[nausea]

I don't know about the US, but accommodation and utility costs here are ridiculously low compared to the UK, so it probably only makes financial sense if you make a permanent move and give up your home country residence, or rent it out. Savings on groceries, etc, whilst nice, are not really a game changer, if you're talking from a purely financial point of view.

[HampiK]

When you talk about cheap Thai food.. then it's mean food from Thailand and not foreign food.

I am always surprised about people complain about Thailand have to expensive farang food. Most stuff for farang food has to be imported and I guess there will be a good tax on that.

 

When I stay in Thailand I need about 12'000 baht per Month on food and I could be much cheaper when I not would go to restaurants in Shopping centers like (Yayoi, Coco Ichiban,,...). But now I only stay a few week in Thailand, then go back home.

 

When I stayed in Thailand for 3 years... I only was going to eat in restaurants maye once a week or less... but when I am in Thailand for shorter periods I go to restaurants more often....

 

Edited November 26, 2016 by HampiK

[cheapskatesam]

You can save loads by eating those noodle pots in 7/11 for 19 baht.. you get the hot water as well there. 

[james1995]

I am surprised at the prices now.  50 baht food carts are now the norm.  Used to be 30-40?  Things are also going upscale pretty fast.  You have harbor mall in Pattaya and all these pricey gogo places and it's not cheap anymore for mr cheap charlie expat on his 40,000 baht a month income.  I wish the baht would crash like the other currencies but it doesn't look likely at this point.  I think you can live cheaper in Malaysia or Vietnam than you can in Thailand because their currencies are now weaker than the baht.  That being said, you can still find bargains in Thailand if you look outside the tourist cities.

[EvenSteven]

I still believe that inflation in Asia and the devaluation of foreign currency in relation to the Baht no longer makes Thailand as attractive as it once was.  For example, a loaf of bread is about 40 baht, bananas about 10 baht apiece, and a small jar of peanut butter about 200 baht in Thailand, which is no different and sometimes more than what Americans pay back home.  And I can buy those Chinese noodles in a package for under 25 cents in the States.  But try finding a package of noodles for under 10 baht in a Thai grocery store.  I was surprised how much the price of groceries have gone up in Thailand.  To be sure, restaurant food is a little bit cheaper in Thailand but nothing like some make out to believe.

 

Sure, you can find a small apartment for dirt cheap but the same place can be found in most smaller urban cities in the States too.  But who wants to retire in a dump?  Go anywhere nice and the prices are similar.  I'm not sure there is a lot of difference at the end of the day.  And the difference is usually reflected in the quality of the food and accommodations.

[SaintLouisBlues]

I've noticed a jump of about 50% in the price of sliced pineapple etc. bought on the street. However I imagine it's easier to quote in multiples of 5 baht for the vendors. I doubt the cost of the raw materials has gone up that much, but the cost to the vendor of surviving generally has certainly gone up. I try not to take a taxi at any time (death traps on wheels, one step up from a tuk-tuk IMO) but I've been amazed at the longevity of the 35 baht flagfall

 

For the frugal American who wants to stay in the good ol' US of A, there's this recent article http://www.marketwatch.com/story/5-cool-places-in-america-you-can-live-well-on-less-than-40000-a-year-2016-10-05

[chiang mai]

Many westerners will only shop for food in the large supermarkets, Tops Villa and similar, in Bangkok that represents very expensive food. A cheaper way might be to use say Big C and an even cheaper and usually fresher approach is to use local markets, for many however the latter is a step too far. But if you can overcome your phobia and shop in markets, food shopping in Thailand is very cheap and very safe also.

 

But it's not just groceries that are cheaper, the cost of many things such as water, electricity, telephone, public transportation, most health care costs etc etc, the list is a very long one and I doubt there is much of a comparison between the cost of living here and say the US, unless of course your points of reference is the CBD in Bangkok, 24 hour aircon., Villa supermarket and Bumrungrad hospital.

 

I've lived in the US for many years and we enjoy a good standard of living that is comparable to many middle class Americans, we don't cut corners nor scrimp and save so here's some of our (two adults) costs of different things:

 

Groceries - 7k month

Electric - 900 (1,500 per month for two months during the very hot season)

Water - 200 month

Telephone line charge - 169 month

Dinner out for two at a good restaurant - 750

Yearly all risks contents insurance - 6k

Doctor/specialist consultation - 300/400

Dental filling - 800

 

Hope that helps.

[OMGImInPattaya]

5 hours ago, ukrules said:

It's way cheaper over here. There's only 1 city in the entire US which is anywhere near the size of Bangkok and that's New York.

 

How does Bangkok compare in price to New York ?

 

Never heard of Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, or the SF Bay Area...and people say Americans don't travel.

 

For the op...you were likely living as a tourist so things seemed expensive. The major expenses of accomodation (rent let's say), food, transportation, and utilities three of the four can be significantly cheaper in Bangkok, while the forth (food) as you found, is often the same or more if eating a Western diet.

[Berkshire]

8 minutes ago, OMGImInPattaya said:

Never heard of Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, or the SF Bay Area...and people say Americans don't travel.

 

For the op...you were likely living as a tourist so things seemed expensive. The major expenses of accomodation (rent let's say), food, transportation, and utilities three of the four can be significantly cheaper in Bangkok, while the forth (food) as you found, is often the same or more if eating a Western diet.

 

BKK has about 8.3 mil, so yeah, NYC is the only US city that's close.  LA is around 4 mil, Chicago under 3. 

[Naam]

1 hour ago, SaintLouisBlues said:

For the frugal American who wants to stay in the good ol' US of A, there's this recent article http://www.marketwatch.com/story/5-cool-places-in-america-you-can-live-well-on-less-than-40000-a-year-2016-10-05

by spending 118,000 Baht a month a bachelor can have in Thailand a very comfortable lifestyle and not a frugal one

[mania]

47 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

 

BKK has about 8.3 mil, so yeah, NYC is the only US city that's close.  LA is around 4 mil, Chicago under 3. 

 

Did they say population or did they say size?

 

[Don Mega]

I find it incredibly cheap here, all in my monthly costs are less than $400, back home that number would be $4000.

[Mitkof Island]

Sounds like your eating the same crap food you left behind in America. Your living the same lifestyle you did in America. Typical foreigner unwilling to adjust to Southeast Asia. Your NOT in Kansas any more. Wake up !

[mania]

For us it is basically even

But...we own in both places

If we had to rent I would of course call Thailand cheaper

 

 

[Kwasaki]

OP don't see the point of the post other than your going to stay in America right.

[JAFO]

This thread content has been discussed on this site multiple times and always ends up in a huge debate but with that said the OP's observations are fair in that the price of things have risen in all areas. But isn't that to be expected?  Its also rising in the US as well.

 

Chiang Mai stated it very well that from a food aspect if you are going to shop at Villa, Topps and  some other western focused food stores the cost is significantly higher and in some cases way higher than the US due to import tax. If you shop at local markets it is significantly cheaper. But a great majority of westerners tend to avoid the local markets because they fear health issues or they do not speak the language at all and its just easier to shop at stores where they recognize the packaging. I recently stopped by a Villa Market while in BKK to get a few bags of Frito Scoop corn chips to go with the Salsa I make. There was a foreigner in line checking out with a small basket full of US style food and other supplies. His bill was 13k + baht. That's a lot of money for what it appears he purchased. But again his life, his choices. But 13K baht in the local markets would last me a month easy, (lunch and dinner) and house supplies are extremely cheap at Big C and local markets as well.. I personally love the fresh local fruit versus imported as you know it has not  been treated with who knows what to last that long to get here. 

 

In the end Its all about expectations and adaptability when moving abroad. 

 

[Mitkof Island]

23 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

I find it incredibly cheap here, all in my monthly costs are less than $400, back home that number would be $4000.

 

23 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

I find it incredibly cheap here, all in my monthly costs are less than $400, back home that number would be $4000.

Yes it is incredibly cheap here IF you have a brain.

[Mitkof Island]

3 minutes ago, JAFO said:

This thread content has been discussed on this site multiple times and always ends up in a huge debate but with that said the OP's observations are fair in that the price of things have risen in all areas. But isn't that to be expected?  Its also rising in the US as well.

 

Chiang Mai stated it very well that from a food aspect if you are going to shop at Villa, Topps and  some other western focused food stores the cost is significantly higher and in some cases way higher than the US due to import tax. If you shop at local markets it is significantly cheaper. But a great majority of westerners tend to avoid the local markets because they fear health issues or they do not speak the language at all and its just easier to shop at stores where they recognize the packaging. I recently stopped by a Villa Market while in BKK to get a few bags of Frito Scoop corn chips to go with the Salsa I make. There was a foreigner in line checking out with a small basket full of US style food and other supplies. His bill was 13k + baht. That's a lot of money for what it appears he purchased. But again his life, his choices. But 13K baht in the local markets would last me a month easy, (lunch and dinner) and house supplies are extremely cheap at Big C and local markets as well.. I personally love the fresh local fruit versus imported as you know it has not  been treated with who knows what to last that long to get here. 

 

In the end Its all about expectations and adaptability when moving abroad. 

 

99.999% of foreigners are unwilling to adapt in any way. I wonder why they have so many problems? The foreigner in a bubble syndrome.

[JAFO]

10 minutes ago, Mitkof Island said:

35 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

I find it incredibly cheap here, all in my monthly costs are less than $400, back home that number would be $4000.

 

Yes it is incredibly cheap here IF you have a brain.

 

Well I am not sure if the "Brain" part is true as much as expectations and getting out and about. I live very well here as many do and I always sort of get a laugh when I see these threads get started. To me its WAY WAY bigger then the cost of a pineapple or a kilo of grapes. Its about my personal quality of life and that I am not going to have to work until I die and that at some point my SS bennies will offer me a comfortable lifestyle, I do not have to pay US taxes anymore, no more mortgage etc etc. Of course most look at the smaller monetary costs to compare. I look at it in a much bigger picture of which some do not have a price you can tag to it.

Edited November 27, 2016 by JAFO

[OMGImInPattaya]

1 hour ago, Berkshire said:

 

BKK has about 8.3 mil, so yeah, NYC is the only US city that's close.  LA is around 4 mil, Chicago under 3. 

Greater Bangkok maybe 10M...greater LA and Chicago the same (LA actually more).

[chiang mai]

10 minutes ago, OMGImInPattaya said:

Greater Bangkok maybe 10M...greater LA and Chicago the same (LA actually more).

 

The static population of urban Bangkok is only about 8.5 million but if you include the transient population it swells to about 12 million.

[thehelmsman]

We hit up Makro once or twice a week for meats and veggies. Seafood and chicken fresher and better looking there than the markets. Sometimes fish from market for BBQ. Never go to Tops for anything other than a few specific farang condiments. Makro has pretty much everything including some good fruits. I couldn't even give a monthly budget for food, we just eat good.

[Airalee]

 

39 minutes ago, JAFO said:

This thread content has been discussed on this site multiple times and always ends up in a huge debate but with that said the OP's observations are fair in that the price of things have risen in all areas. But isn't that to be expected?  Its also rising in the US as well.

 

Chiang Mai stated it very well that from a food aspect if you are going to shop at Villa, Topps and  some other western focused food stores the cost is significantly higher and in some cases way higher than the US due to import tax. If you shop at local markets it is significantly cheaper. But a great majority of westerners tend to avoid the local markets because they fear health issues or they do not speak the language at all and its just easier to shop at stores where they recognize the packaging. I recently stopped by a Villa Market while in BKK to get a few bags of Frito Scoop corn chips to go with the Salsa I make. There was a foreigner in line checking out with a small basket full of US style food and other supplies. His bill was 13k + baht. That's a lot of money for what it appears he purchased. But again his life, his choices. But 13K baht in the local markets would last me a month easy, (lunch and dinner) and house supplies are extremely cheap at Big C and local markets as well.. I personally love the fresh local fruit versus imported as you know it has not  been treated with who knows what to last that long to get here. 

 

In the end Its all about expectations and adaptability when moving abroad. 

 

What is "US style food" and what exactly can someone buy to have a small basket (I'm assuming you're referring to one of those hand held baskets) to have a ฿13,000 bill?

 

When I'm in Chiang Mai I shop at Rimping and Tops (Tops when in Bangkok) and I would be hard pressed to run my bill up to ฿13,000.  Imported striploin steaks are around ฿1200/kg so I would need 10kg of steaks to get the tab up to ฿13,000

 

vegetables and fruit of course are more expensive than the wet markets but not enough to warrant such a bill.

 

I'm guessing that the guy you saw had a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue or the Wagyu beef at ฿9000/kg.  Not really a valid comparison.

 

 

[lostinisaan]

  I can buy a hotdog on the street in America for the same price as street/cart food in Thailand and have less chance of falling ill.

 

     A hotdog that contains 85 fat, water, and some other stuff you don't wanna know about?

 

       What you're missing are the eye candies, the climate, culture, smiles, the beaches, plus a lot more.

 

         Enjoy your hotdog, sir. 

 

       

 

        

[Don Mega]

Uggh, I'll take my chances with Thai street food rather attempt a hotdog, rancid things they are.

[Strange]

4 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

Uggh, I'll take my chances with Thai street food rather attempt a hotdog, rancid things they are.

 

If we are honest here, pork balls, blood soup, bologna type meats are just as bad, if not worse, than an american hotdog. 

[Don Mega]

Just now, Strange said:

 

If we are honest here, pork balls, blood soup, bologna type meats are just as bad, if not worse, than an american hotdog. 

 

I dont doubt you at all, luckily I dont eat any of that lot, infact I dont any Thai food as it is all rancid <deleted>.