30,000 baht enough?

[Damarios]

I looked around on the internet and by the looks it looks like the average salary for English teachers are about 30 000 baht a month. Is that enough to live on for two people for the time being untill a second income is coming? And what oppertunities are there for a man of 53 work wise in Thailand except for teaching?

[majid]

Not in Bkk it isnt.

[robuzo]

Originally Posted by majid

Not in Bkk it isnt.

2nd that.

[dirtydog]

Think you will find that the 30k baht stated is for when you are working, a lot of schools do not pay you during holidays, nearly 3 months holidays per year brings you down to an average of around 22k baht per month

[majid]

Take a job in the hinterlands that provides housing and paid time off. Often schools will sugar the deal as many teachers wont stick with a rural setting. Your post lacks any mention of credentials. They help in getting decent work.

[Marmite the Dog]

A Thai Uni will usually pay about 27k plus around 8k for housing.

Out in the sticks, that's plenty, but not in Bangkok unless you're a hermit.

[Smeg]

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

A Thai Uni will usually pay about 27k plus around 8k for housing.

Out in the sticks, that's plenty, but not in Bangkok unless you're a hermit.

Most Thais in Bangkok live on less than that, so if you can live like a local, its no problem. Personally I'd want 100k to live anywhere in Thailand. Any less than that would require living like a local and only buying local stuff which can't be exported and sold for much more.

I don't see why Bangkok is much more expensive than up country. Lots more to spend on, sure, but it isn't compulsory.

[Damarios]

Well I will do a TEFL course before coming over and will be living in Koh Samui untill we are more settled and sure where to go from there, we got SA friends over there.

[Marmite the Dog]

Originally Posted by Smeg

Most Thais in Bangkok live on less than that, so if you can live like a local, its no problem. Personally I'd want 100k to live anywhere in Thailand. Any less than that would require living like a local and only buying local stuff which can't be exported and sold for much more.

I don't see why Bangkok is much more expensive than up country. Lots more to spend on, sure, but it isn't compulsory.

I didn't think there was much in it until I moved upcountry. Can manage on as low as 15k a month if necessary, but I wouldn't want to.

[wefearourdespot]

Originally Posted by Smeg

Personally I'd want 100k to live anywhere in Thailand. Any less than that would require living like a local

Actually locals are accustomed to way less...average salary is 8,000 baht. With 99,000 you can still be quite "international".

[thaidiscovery]

I know people who live in Bangkok on less then that. But they don't go out and stay at home most of the time.
You can survive on that, but I would not recommend it.

[majid]

A degree is needed to work in a uni. Nondegree stuff is available with kids and language mills but you will earn your 30K.

[somtamslap]

I've known folk who could save 25-27k on a 35k salary, but they was Africans innit and they don't come here for fun..
It's all about what sort of a lifestyle you want to live. Beer eats up a salary in a big way, never under estimate the amount of currency your handing over to the barman or shopkeeper.
Samui is very dear, probably even more so than Bangkok, get out in the sticks and get your hands dirty, never know, you might like it.

[majid]

Agreed ^

[Damarios]

I do not mind hard work, at the moment I work in a 5 star hotel as Ass. Exec. Housekeeper. Now I have heard hotel work is difficult to get into there unless you are a chef, and that management positions in hotels they rather give to the local people?

[DrAndy]

Originally Posted by Damarios

I do not mind hard work, at the moment I work in a 5 star hotel as Ass. Exec. Housekeeper. Now I have heard hotel work is difficult to get into there unless you are a chef, and that management positions in hotels they rather give to the local people?

Maybe your hotel, or another of the same ilk, would be happy to send you to their overseas hotel to work

You would then be in a good situation

[Fabian]

There are a few foreigners in managment positions in hotels all over Thailand.

[blackgang]

30K sounds like plenty to me as teaching does not pay much and is not much work, shit you do fine on that unless you are a drunk and a whoremonger and eat Thai food.
I do not spend much more than that, most months less and I eat a lot of imported meat and fish and other farang food.
I live in a nice 3 Bedroom 2 bath house in a nice Moo Ban and close in as anyone that has visited me can verify. And here I pay 4K, In Chiang Mai for the same class house in a nice quiet Moo Ban I paid 6K furnished.
and living in town you do not need to cook as eating Thai from a vendor will run between 20 and 40 baht per meal.

[detroitdave]

Originally Posted by blackgang

I live in a nice 3 Bedroom 2 bath house in a nice Moo Ban and close in as anyone that has visited me can verify. And here I pay 4K, In Chiang Mai

I just booked my ticket to Thailand and am looking for a place in Chiang Mai for 4-5 months December-April, possibly longer. Any recommendations/tips/sites to check out? I'm a writer, just need a simple one bedroom with internet access

I realize this is my first post - I just found this forum, easy on the newbie, ok?

[DrAndy]

Originally Posted by detroitdave

I just booked my ticket to Thailand and am looking for a place in Chiang Mai for 4-5 months December-April, possibly longer. Any recommendations/tips/sites to check out? I'm a writer, just need a simple one bedroom with internet access

I realize this is my first post - I just found this forum, easy on the newbie, ok?

I know of a nice wooden house in the country 15km north of CM!

simple and modern, about 5K a month

interent access is from Mae Rim repeater station and is OK

need a motorbike