Selling up and leaving Thailand

[autanic]

On 26/06/2017 at 7:10 PM, sidjameson said:

Lovely report autanic.

Sounds very tempting. Can I ask what's your monthly budget? 

Your observation on friendship is an interesting one. 

Many older, educated but idle types knocking about there??

My monthly budget is around £1200 GBP. (50,000 thb).

I earn much more but I find I simply do not spend it. So I am actually putting money aside, which I could never do back in Thailand.

There are MANY more Ex-Pats living in Cambodia than you would expect. Maybe its the dense concentration in a specific area, but its vibrant and busy.

 

I would highly recommend anyone who has lived, worked or visited long stay in Thailand to try Cambodia, seriously I doubt you will be disappointed.

[steven100]

Ok,  good bye ... don't forget to write .. 

[autanic]

1 minute ago, steven100 said:

Ok,  good bye ... don't forget to write .. 

Very predictable I am afraid.

[steven100]

Thailand is a good place ....  alot of fun and nice people.  It's relatively easy to get around and you can buy everything needed.

Cambodia is ok,  just a bit more dusty and backward ....

[autanic]

Just now, steven100 said:

Thailand is a good place ....  alot of fun and nice people.  It's relatively easy to get around and you can buy everything needed.

Cambodia is ok,  just a bit more dusty and backward ....

I think Thailand is a great place. I also think Cambodia is a great place.

There are things you can get in Thailand that you cannot get in Cambodia.

and vice versa.

 

I spent a long time living in Thailand, but there are aspects of living there that I could no longer tolerate and it was spoiling my experiences. The whole working thing for one in Thailand is nothing short of unfair if you are a falang. Visa if your under retirement age were harder to get and the cost of living ever increasing.

 

Cambodia has a problem with flies and rotten food being offered up on every street corner. The rats are having a field trip.

 

Its hard to compare to the two because they are both much better than slogging it out in Blighty.

[sanemax]

On 4/12/2017 at 9:56 PM, Minnie the Minx said:

Isn't the point of retirement though buying a place not renting? Rent is dead money unless you are a landlord raking it in.

 

If you are receiving a regular income, some may prefer to pay a percentage of that out in rent money, rather than using a lump sum to purchase a property . That also gives you the freedom to move somewhere else . A monthly choice as to either move somewhere else, or stay where you are

[autanic]

32 minutes ago, sanemax said:

If you are receiving a regular income, some may prefer to pay a percentage of that out in rent money, rather than using a lump sum to purchase a property . That also gives you the freedom to move somewhere else . A monthly choice as to either move somewhere else, or stay where you are

 

I agree with Sanemax. As someone who has this year sold property in Thailand and made money, I found it the who experience of property in Thailand a hiding to nothing.

I only made money due to the exchange rate.

Renting is much better. Live there for 10 years if you still love it, then maybe buyer later.

Edited July 9, 2017 by autanic

[steven100]

33 minutes ago, sanemax said:

If you are receiving a regular income, some may prefer to pay a percentage of that out in rent money, rather than using a lump sum to purchase a property . That also gives you the freedom to move somewhere else . A monthly choice as to either move somewhere else, or stay where you are

correct ....  whats say one buys a place in a nice area and two weeks later a bunch of techno drug dealers move in next door ...

then your cursing because your stuck with that problem ....

[autanic]

On 15/04/2017 at 8:07 AM, roo860 said:

 

 

Embrace that rugged coastline, no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!

Sent from my SM-G920F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

 

 

Kilts just popped into my head. Sorry !

[autanic]

1 minute ago, steven100 said:

correct ....  whats say one buys a place in a nice area and two weeks later a bunch of techno drug dealers move in next door ...

then your cursing because your stuck with that problem ....

I would just like to add, this can apply to any Country, not just Thailand or Cambodia.

[bkk6060]

I left Cambodia a few days ago.  PP and Sihanoukville.

Sorry, these places are not even close to Thailand.

And if you think you are going to a place like Shville to get a way from Chinese, good luck.

Some guys I talked to before I left described Shville as some quaint little beach village. HAHA what a laugh.

It is a big dirty filthy city and the Chinese have over run the place.  Many many casino's, hotels, restaurants, it seemed more Chinese then Pats.

Also, they are building several new Vegas size hotel/casinos up and down the coast.

The place is much dirtier then Pats. A filthy Shole of a place.  No clean up anywhere.  Beach, streets, disgusting.  Much much worse then Pattaya. Even the beach much worse.

 

Anyone who decides to move from Thailand to these places for a better life, good luck I think they are taking a step way way down.

But hey, it is slightly cheaper so if the low money dudes want to hit this place, good luck.

 

I attached a photo of the wonderful beach entrance to Snooky.  After the sign walk 20 yards and see what you see.

The entire place is a filthy cesspool Pattaya is immaculate compared to it. 

 

 

 

Edited August 8, 2017 by bkk6060

[autanic]

On 08/08/2017 at 0:07 PM, bkk6060 said:

I left Cambodia a few days ago.  PP and Sihanoukville.

Sorry, these places are not even close to Thailand.

And if you think you are going to a place like Shville to get a way from Chinese, good luck.

Some guys I talked to before I left described Shville as some quaint little beach village. HAHA what a laugh.

It is a big dirty filthy city and the Chinese have over run the place.  Many many casino's, hotels, restaurants, it seemed more Chinese then Pats.

Also, they are building several new Vegas size hotel/casinos up and down the coast.

The place is much dirtier then Pats. A filthy Shole of a place.  No clean up anywhere.  Beach, streets, disgusting.  Much much worse then Pattaya. Even the beach much worse.

 

Anyone who decides to move from Thailand to these places for a better life, good luck I think they are taking a step way way down.

But hey, it is slightly cheaper so if the low money dudes want to hit this place, good luck.

 

I attached a photo of the wonderful beach entrance to Snooky.  After the sign walk 20 yards and see what you see.

The entire place is a filthy cesspool Pattaya is immaculate compared to it. 

 

 

 

 

I think you have found a dark cloud and made the most of the rain personally. No ones is saying Cambodia is perfect and if you look from issues, you will find them.  Open your own mind. Thats all.

[autanic]

I love Thailand, I just love Cambodia a little bit more.

[poanoi]

well, i have lived in cambodia almost exactly 3 years now,

and i cant wait to get outa here.

there is no quality at all in this god forsaken shithole,

every second is a drag to get through, anything i want to buy is twice the price than thailand

since i have to import it, and in most cases i cant get what i want at all no matter if i'm willing to pay. a khmer dish got 1 spoon of meat for every bowl of rice, i'm so dizzy from protein starvation i cant walk in a straight line. anchor is indeed a good beer, but given how rotten everything else is, i dont feel like drinking. no gogo, no big c, no quality, no <deleted> nothing

[swissie]

On 27.12.2017 at 1:22 AM, poanoi said:

well, i have lived in cambodia almost exactly 3 years now,

and i cant wait to get outa here.

there is no quality at all in this god forsaken shithole,

every second is a drag to get through, anything i want to buy is twice the price than thailand

since i have to import it, and in most cases i cant get what i want at all no matter if i'm willing to pay. a khmer dish got 1 spoon of meat for every bowl of rice, i'm so dizzy from protein starvation i cant walk in a straight line. anchor is indeed a good beer, but given how rotten everything else is, i dont feel like drinking. no gogo, no big c, no quality, no <deleted> nothing

OP (autanic) moved from Thailand to Cambodia and gave an overall positive report in a follow-up post. Poanoi's report represents an overall negative assessement of Cambodia.
I have read a lot of comments comparing Thailand vs. Cambodia. My conclusion: One is eighter strongly pro Cambodia or strongly con Cambodia. Not much in between.

How can assessements differ so much. (Like 2 people reporting from 2 different planets).

I can only guess: It may be a matter of geography (where to live in Cambo), or it boils down to "expectations".
Expectations: Finding a place that resembles Thailand 25 years ago, and enjoying it as such, (the pro-camp) or expecting Cambodia to be like Thailand some 25 years ago, but with all the amenities and advanced infrastructure that Thailand has to offer. Not surprising, them ending up in the "con"-camp, I could imagine and I coulden't blame them.
So far, the only 2 things I can isolate as "fact" are: Cambodia Visa-Regulations are more "relaxed" than in Thailand.
The general cost of living is lower in Cambodia, only to be nullified by higher rental costs for accommodation.
I am afraid, travelling in Cambodia as a tourist for a couple of weeks will not enlighten me much.
Cheers.      

[poanoi]

1 hour ago, swissie said:

OP (autanic) moved from Thailand to Cambodia and gave an overall positive report in a follow-up post. Poanoi's report represents an overall negative assessement of Cambodia.
I have read a lot of comments comparing Thailand vs. Cambodia. My conclusion: One is eighter strongly pro Cambodia or strongly con Cambodia. Not much in between.

How can assessements differ so much. (Like 2 people reporting from 2 different planets).

I can only guess: It may be a matter of geography (where to live in Cambo), or it boils down to "expectations".
Expectations: Finding a place that resembles Thailand 25 years ago, and enjoying it as such, (the pro-camp) or expecting Cambodia to be like Thailand some 25 years ago, but with all the amenities and advanced infrastructure that Thailand has to offer. Not surprising, them ending up in the "con"-camp, I could imagine and I coulden't blame them.
So far, the only 2 things I can isolate as "fact" are: Cambodia Visa-Regulations are more "relaxed" than in Thailand.
The general cost of living is lower in Cambodia, only to be nullified by higher rental costs for accommodation.
I am afraid, travelling in Cambodia as a tourist for a couple of weeks will not enlighten me much.
Cheers.      

i have been to pnom phen, sihanookville, and koh kong.

i left thailand cause i got too much pain to visa run or go school,

but the god forsaken shithole i ended up in in sihanookville turned out to have a worn out foam mattress, i was almost paralyzed in pain when i woke up after first night.

i tried to get around finding some descent room somewhere, but alas,  its just shithole after shithole after shithole, and acceptable food with sufficient meat started from 8 dollar.

 

eventually someone heeded my call for rescue and got me to koh kong,

but whoe and behold same worthless BS mattresses, i went ahead and bought the most expensive mattress i could find, i was promised it was imported from thailand,

but it was shit, i have had unbearable pain every second for the past 3 years.

 

everything here just reeks of non existent quality, there just is none,

electric out almost every day, my teeth started to fall apart since i got no water in morning & evening so i cant brush my teeth, i would kill myself if not for the risk i mite end up as a ghost wandering about the god forsaken sois of cambodia sleeping on foam mattresses for eternal hell

[GinBoy2]

Aside from all the craziness hat goes along with Thailand, is thats it's not really very cheap anymore.

For a bunch of reasons I decided I wanted to go home, so me and Mrs G moved back to the US.
Now depends where you go, but honestly if you live the farang lifestyle in Thailand, which we did, there's not much difference is cost overall. More expensive, yes, but not by much. Now I'm not talking moving to Manhattan or San Francisco, but given the really dramatic increase in cost in Thailand over the last 10 years that I was there, added to the increasingly bizarre nature, the attraction of the country as a retirement destination have diminished greatly.

I know there are those zealots who defend the place regardless of the craziness, and cost. I still love Thailand, but it's not a place to live out the rest of my life as a full time home

[swissie]

But still, as far as I can see, "autanic" has left Thailand sometime in March. Doing fine in Cambodia. Him leaving Thailand "financially intact". A man with a plan, backed-up with financial means.
Quite opposite to Farangs/Barangs heading for Cambodia with no plan and no money.
 It is of importance if one can leave Thailand "financially intact" or not.
Cheers.   

 

[taiwanatoa]

To be " surprised literally how much easier " as opposed to what, "surprised figuratively " ?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

[Ulysses G.]

21 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

Now depends where you go, but honestly if you live the farang lifestyle in Thailand, which we did, there's not much difference is cost overall. More expensive, yes, but not by much.
 

 

Rents are something like 10 times the cost in Thailand and restaurants in the USA are more expensive too. If you cook at home in America, you can save money for Western food, but not eating out. Transportation is much more expensive unless you own a car. It depends on how you live, but I could live in Thailand for a fraction of what I spend in USA and have a better lifestyle too. I live the "farang lifestyle" in Thailand, but don't always buy imports and Western food. I try to adapt to where I live.

Edited December 31, 2017 by Ulysses G.

[simoh1490]

I don't understand how people can claim that Thailand is expensive and how or what they are comparing against. I've been here for 16 years full time, own my own home and truck and have no debts, my wife and I manage to live a very comfortable lifestyle on about 45k a month - we both eat very well, I eat western food 75% of the time and we eat out often and have a variety of means of entertainment. We don't do the bar scene and holidays are on top of monthly living expenses, if people think 45k a month all in is expensive, I'll be very surprised.

[GinBoy2]

So to put this in perspective:

My PEA monthly bill was ฿5000 ~ $152
My Montana/Dakota Gas + Black Hills Utility bill is $64+$111
Gas costs $2.04/gal, thats what I paid this morning, which is roughly the same, or a little cheaper than Thailand
Internet, TOT Fiber 200M ฿1200 ~$36
Midco 1Gig, $63
I own my house, so thats a sunk cost, I pay $2400 annual property tax
BUPA Thailand I paid ฿65000 ~$2000
Obamacare I have a zero monthly premium after tax credit with $35 doctor office co-pays
Car insurance, ฿17000 for a Ford Ranger, ~$515
Car insurance $630 for a Ford Escape

Restaurants, well thats pretty subjective. If we're talking Thai street food, well nothing comes close to that. Mall Food, or Bangkok restaurants, thats pretty close.
I used to shop almost exclusively at Tops, and if I compare that to shopping at Safeway for similar products, pretty damm similar.

On housing, I sold one of my condo's in Noble Remix for ฿6.5M which I was renting out for ฿32000/month. I turned around and bought a condo here for $105K which I rent out for $890/month. You do the math

Edited December 31, 2017 by GinBoy2

[JimmyJ]

On 12/26/2017 at 4:22 PM, poanoi said:

well, i have lived in cambodia almost exactly 3 years now,

and i cant wait to get outa here.

there is no quality at all in this god forsaken shithole,

every second is a drag to get through, anything i want to buy is twice the price than thailand

since i have to import it, and in most cases i cant get what i want at all no matter if i'm willing to pay. a khmer dish got 1 spoon of meat for every bowl of rice, i'm so dizzy from protein starvation i cant walk in a straight line. anchor is indeed a good beer, but given how rotten everything else is, i dont feel like drinking. no gogo, no big c, no quality, no <deleted> nothing

Living in what city?

[The manic]

On 29/03/2017 at 3:07 PM, iancnx said:

I have been here for nearly 11 years, and I am off soon to relocate back to UK.  I echo the OP's post.  My main reason for leaving is my 4yo son's education, about to start Primary School.  I have been far more focussed on the negatives here the last couple of years and how they might impact on him in time, such as the drug dealer next door who has been banged up twice in four years, and his motley crew..... and I live out in the sticks.

 

It is certainly not the Thailand of 11 years ago I am sad to say.

 

OP ATB

You will find drugs very common in the UK but regarding Cambodia it reminded me more of Bangladesh than 'Thailand years ago.'

[poanoi]

7 hours ago, JimmyJ said:

Living in what city?

i have stayed in sihanookville & koh kong, i know i would like phnom pen even less

[1BADDAT]

On 12/30/2017 at 7:18 PM, Ulysses G. said:

 

Rents are something like 10 times the cost in Thailand and restaurants in the USA are more expensive too. If you cook at home in America, you can save money for Western food, but not eating out. Transportation is much more expensive unless you own a car. It depends on how you live, but I could live in Thailand for a fraction of what I spend in USA and have a better lifestyle too. I live the "farang lifestyle" in Thailand, but don't always buy imports and Western food. I try to adapt to where I live.

I am struggling to see how rent could be 10 times more expensive.  My GF used to live in a 5k baht ($150) a month apartment that was one room and a tiny bathroom with no air con and no kitchen.  I can not think of one place in USA that would be the same conditions and cost 50k Baht a month ($1,500).  My condo I rented was 50k baht ($1500) a month for a 1200 sq ft 2 bedroom luxury condo on the beach.  There is no way that this condo would cost 500,000 THB ($15,000) a month, even in Hawaii.

[aircooledflat4]

On 31/12/2017 at 10:37 AM, simoh1490 said:

if people think 45k a month all in is expensive, I'll be very surprised.

I think that’s expensive. I live comfortably in OZ on 27k a month. Major city, excellent infrastructure etc. That includes two cars and travel to Thailand 3 times a year, staying a month at a time.

 

Admittedly your 45k is for two people, but your holidays are on top of that? Yeah expensive I reckon.

[mstevens]

10 minutes ago, aircooledflat4 said:

I think that’s expensive. I live comfortably in OZ on 27k a month. Major city, excellent infrastructure etc. That includes two cars and travel to Thailand 3 times a year, staying a month at a time.

 

Admittedly your 45k is for two people, but your holidays are on top of that? Yeah expensive I reckon.

Are you serious?  I hate to dispute something someone says, but you can live on less than $AUD1,100 per month while running a household (that I presume you own) and all that entails, running two cars AND travel to Thailand 3 times per year?!  Amazing.  I moved from Australia to New Zealand to save money and I still spend around $AUD3,000 per month if you factor in what I spend on travel....and I don't do much and many would say I don't have a much of a life!

[aircooledflat4]

^ yes I’m serious. $1064.62 AUD per month to be exact. Yes own my own home.

[Ulysses G.]

deleted

Edited January 3, 2018 by Ulysses G.