Sukhothai/Phichit. 80k-85k [even less] per month - and reasonably [if not more] comfortable - not existing in the expected and proverbial Farang manner/lifestyles and their associated extensions. [why?]
You might be surprised as to how many connected, sophisticated and wise Farang that don't require such false lifestyles.
In fact, there are a few of these types - on this forum - as we speak.
I think the cost of food debate is better suited for a lifestyle one. If you're at 1k per day in food, even in bkk, then you're eating nice stuff. Western all the time, right? Or is it Thai food with 15 little stops to 7/11 throughout the day. That kind of daily grind of money. Lottery tickets. Cigs. Sixer of beer. Candy for the kids. Then another trip. And the again...some people live this lifestyle and think it normal. I've done versions of this. So, in regards to food, how you do food, is where the rubber meets the road.
Will be just the two of us starting in Patters.
Our simplified/guesstimated monthly budget plan starting point will be:
50-70K ... Cost of living in Thailand
25-30K ... Wife
25-30K ... Mine
40-50K ... Save
Won’t be any mortgage/rent/car payment/health insurance expenses in those numbers.
If I get my TEFLer gig back for 2-3 years that will be icing on the cake. Prolly 28-30K.
50k per month average over 15 years in Roiet. All inclusive.
1 vehicle, own home, free health insurance, just the missus and I. She is frugal.
Grow rice, fruit n vegies on farm. Still food cost per month avg 20k.
Don't drink much and grow our own herbs.
Thanks - good input. I opened this thread on the premise of living on THB 450k/annum. In Chiang Mai.
I personally could do it - but, I certainly would not enjoy the lifestyle, standard-of-living it would provide me. Again, it's all a "to each their own" question/thread.
I was/am more interested in how posters actually live in Thailand. How they handle their finances and commitments. I traveled far and wide in Thailand and have seen abject poverty to ridiculous opulence - and every flavor in between.
As far as expats in Thailand. Few, if any, are not here by choice. There are so many "cons", filth, pollution, prejudice, disease, suppression, restrictions, etc. that there must be an adequate supply of "pros", positives to offset the negatives.
Again, it is a "to each their own" scenario. I was/am looking for inputs concerning the why's you/they/he/she stays in Thailand. For the whinging about the bad stuff. Why stay?
For myself, I'm fine here. I have lived in several countries. All have pros, all have cons. Balance and acceptance are the keys. It is what you make of it.
That's it in a nutshell Bowie, It is a "To each his own" and its perfectly fine. For me, I guess its really no different then living in the states. There are affluent areas to severe poverty areas. People live where they can afford and adjust their lives to it. Same here in Thailand. Could I live in CM for 450k a year, sure. Would I want to, no. Just like I wouldn't want to live in East LA. Could I..sure...but....
I always enjoy these threads because it gives a cross section of the expats living here under the assumption that people post reasonably factual information. We all have very different expectations and a lot of that is driven by age, health and hobbies.
I have lived here on a expat package, retirement and marriage. Expat packages are awesome. Great way to be here and learn the lay of the land under a companies umbrella. I think quite a few on TD stayed or returned after working here because they saw opportunities. You can live here comfortably, it all depends on the individual.
That was about my burn rate last year per month. 100K of that was rent/utilities/transportation paid by the company. The rest was out of pocket. BKK isn't cheap but in fairness would anyone expect a metropolitan area to be? Never sure why folks complain that BKK is expensive. It is, just like all other Metro locations. Compare it to SF and its cheap...
Yes, I suppose. But Sydney or SF it is not!
I find Bangkok more expensive overall than Paris,
Food and wine is cheap here, bistro great bargains everywhere, and the place is even more beautiful than before
you can walk and go to park in the city, bike or use those cute little electric scooters etc... it's just more civilized
happy hours in real Irish Pubs costing less than those happy hours scams in those pubs ripoff on Sukhumvit
Hence the move south to Malaysia . . . and then aaaalllll the way south to NZ . . . while still working here six months of the year.
And that is ideal, I find. Divide the time between east and west (as in society)
Yes, expat packages are fantastic and allow you to save enough to be happy with after it's done, provided you invested in real estate in certain countries, mainly immigration countries like NZ, Aus etc... Luckily both my wife and I were on the same wicket, expat packs.
Thailand was just too backward and out of control/arbitrary in many ways, I thought I had an affinity with the place just because I was born in Thailand but reality put paid to that.
A good life in a western country beats it hands-down, I believe
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