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  1. #51
    Thailand Expat Storekeeper's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by aging one View Post
    Just got back from a weekend on Pratamnak, man on man has it been built up. Unrecognizable over just say 6 years ago. Still nice but glad we were in the Royal Cliff where there is open land.

    As for the Doberman, if you get a house okay, but don't keep that big dog that needs to exercise and run in a condo SK.
    Think we'll be settling on a date to fly within the next 5-7 days. It's time to pull the trigger. Really no reason to put it off beyond 01 October. Everything should be done by then that needs to be done. Will probably call out sick 2-3 days every week in the month of September. Use that time to do things like get the international drivers license and get our immunization shot records updated.

  2. #52
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    This site may be of interest to you Storekeeper. It has some good information on costs of retirement and comparing costs with other places in Asia and Oceania.

    It could be a good resource for you ! Good luck!
    How Much Does It Cost to Retire in Thailand? A Complete Guide

  3. #53
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    ^I shudder at these "how much does it cost to live in xxxxxx" articles because they're all fucking useless. It's completely impossible to come up with a number that covers the lifestyle anyone will live in Thailand, or anywhere else in the world for that matter. The only way to do it with any degree of accuracy is to go live somewhere yourself for 6 to 12 months and see what it costs to live the lifestyle that suits you.

  4. #54
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    ^ agreed

  5. #55
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    Quote Originally Posted by Headworx View Post
    ^I shudder at these "how much does it cost to live in xxxxxx" articles because they're all fucking useless. It's completely impossible to come up with a number that covers the lifestyle anyone will live in Thailand, or anywhere else in the world for that matter. The only way to do it with any degree of accuracy is to go live somewhere yourself for 6 to 12 months and see what it costs to live the lifestyle that suits you.
    Thankfully I have living there from 2007-2010 under my belt so have kinda/sorta of an idea. Yes, no doubt things are more expensive now. For my desired standard of living I’m going back into it with the thought I’m not going to worry about it unless the baht drops to 25 to the dollar or less.

  6. #56
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Much like the lists of the 10 best places to live...

  7. #57
    Thailand Expat Storekeeper's Avatar
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    Thinking we'll be inbound on 5 October. Working 30 September so need to make sure my car gets transferred at DMV. So need a week day for that so get it done 3 October.


    Got a couple pair of slippers/flip flops/zories or whatever you prefer to call them on order:

    Authentic Fashion, Resort, Beach Hawaiian Slipper not Flip Flop | Made in USA | Island Slipper

    The only brand I've worn for 30+ years now ... Island Pro.

    Stocked up on a couple pair of white Nike Air Monarch that I can get for $49.99 on base at the Navy Exchange. Normally I get black ones.

    Gonna go ahead and submit an application for the O tourist visa here in a couple days vice just hitting the deck with the visa exempt status.

    Couple more steps forward ...

  8. #58
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    MarilynMonroe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Headworx View Post
    I shudder at these "how much does it cost to live in xxxxxx" articles because they're all fucking useless.
    Really? Any up to date article that gives an idea about how much things cost, a breakdown of apt. costs, and all the other great information this website provides is definitely not useless.

    Thanks for the green, SK and good to hear you have made some progress.

  9. #59
    Thailand Expat DrWilly's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MarilynMonroe View Post
    Really? Any up to date article that gives an idea about how much things cost, a breakdown of apt. costs, and all the other great information this website provides is definitely not useless.
    .
    Absolutely, you've found a real treasure trove.

  10. #60
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    Quote Originally Posted by MarilynMonroe View Post
    Really? Any up to date article that gives an idea about how much things cost, a breakdown of apt. costs, and all the other great information this website provides is definitely not useless.
    I reiterate, totally fucking useless. As just one basic example they put apartment costs and bills at 15k, that's way more than what some people I know pay yet it wouldn't even cover the monthly electricity bill of others I know. You simply cannot just say 15k is the number, somewhere between 5k and 150k is though, probably. Same goes for how much food will cost per month, and transport, and entertainment, and everything else there is in life because we don't all fit in the same pigeon-hole as the click-baiting hacks who write these articles.

    I stand by my comment that the only real way to know what it's going to cost to live somewhere is to spend 6 to 12 months in that location after which time they'll know if it's outside of their means to live the lifestyle they hoped for, or maybe they can live a far better lifestyle than they'd first anticipated, or perhaps they simply don't like the joint no matter what it costs so they need to look elsewhere anyway! Anyone who reads one of these *how much does it cost to live* articles then packs a bag heading for that location thinking they know the real cost of living numbers would need to be totally insane, gullible, or both.

  11. #61
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    ^I do understand what you are saying, but in that link I shared, he also specifically talks about Living Cost Variables in that there are different standards of living and that you can live dirt cheap or super expensive in Thailand. He goes into that in detail actually. SK or whoever else can take what they may find valuable about the information and chuck the rest. The whole website has some interesting articles that has even led me to learn some Thai in a short amount of time.

  12. #62
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    As has been mentioned, we all have different needs, but what do you reckon would provide a comfortable standard of life for a single person in Bangkok? 70k a month?

    I'm thinking of a flat up at On Nut/Phra Khanong or beyond (15-20k?) with access to the Skytrain and one or two nights out a week (eating mainly local food along with the odd western meal).

    That would do it, wouldn't it?

  13. #63
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by hallelujah View Post
    That would do it, wouldn't it?
    ...suicide would be cheaper...

  14. #64
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    There's this vlogger in Bkk (Live Love Thailand - he's German, I think) who says that if you live simply (like the description of hallelujah), the COL would be 1,500 to 2k usd. His condo flat (that time) was ~400 usd/ month. I've also seen a vid of his wherein the condo was ~350 usd/ month. It was either a 1-room flat or studio type. His flat was near a skytrain station.

    For the PH, if you live in a smaller city I think 1k to 1.5k usd is doable (for a foreigner). If in Manila, the COL will be higher. Studio flats (in a condo building), around 24 sqm, cost ~400 to 500 usd - the last time I watched or read about those things. It might cost more now due to inflation. I've noticed 10 to 30% increase in prices of groceries simce December of last year.

    As others have said, it all depends on one's lifestyle - whether eating out vs. cooking at home, smoking/ drinking/ mongering, travel, transport costs, etc.

    I think those lists (given out by websites or YouTubers) serve a certain purpose. One can also compare COL using the McDonald's or Big Mac price index.

    • Big Mac index 2022 | Statista

  15. #65
    Making people dance. :-)
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    Quote Originally Posted by katie23 View Post
    24 sqm
    Around the same as TC's closet or one of Dill's t-shirts.

  16. #66
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    ^probably so. That 24 sqm (4*6 m) condo flat (studio type) is fairly standard here in PH. That's based on what I've seen on vids (COL vids & home remodeling) plus my own experience of Airbnb rentals.

    For sure, it's a lot smaller than SLandreth's hotel rooms. I think his bathrooms are already 24 sqm.

    Edit:
    Here's a tour of some condo flats for rent in Metro Manila. The vlogger (Australian) said that the condos remind him of Stalinist Russia. I agree. I watched the vid again & he showed his studio flat, 24 sqm at the 13 minute mark.

    Last edited by katie23; 16-08-2022 at 03:51 PM.

  17. #67
    Making people dance. :-)
    Edmond's Avatar
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    Can also get into condo flipping if you get bored. Should be quite a few desperate sellers at the moment. A Thai I know got one at half the normal price around a year ago.

  18. #68
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    ^what's the usual size (in sqm) of studio and 1BR condo flats in TH? I think the ones showed by the BKK vlogger were bigger than 24 sqm.

    As for condo flipping, I don't like condos since you don't own the land/ space it sits on. I live in a semi-urban area, no condos here. I also prefer to buy land and build apartments later (similar to the ones built by the wife of nampriktoot). I'm a local (in PH) so I can buy land. Cheers.

    Edit: sorry for straying from the topic, which is Storekeeper's retirement & transfer to TH.

    @SK - all the best to you! Btw, I agree w/ AO that one shouldn't get a big dog if one lives in a condo. Maybe a small dog like a Jack Russell Terrier or shih tzu would be ok, but one would still have to take it for regular walks.
    Last edited by katie23; 16-08-2022 at 04:21 PM.

  19. #69
    Thailand Expat Storekeeper's Avatar
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    Went ahead and jumped through the hoops to try to get the O tourist visa from the Thai Consulate in LA. A bit cumbersome. Seems kinda sorta like an antiquated system. And yes I feel very fortunate to have been lucky enough to be able to wait out all the COVID restrictions and associated hoops to jump through.

    Couple of gripes:

    1. They ask for copies of all passport pages for international travel in last 12 months. They got the first two blank pages of my brand new passport.
    2. Sent them my pay slip for current job vice my retired Navy pay slip. Was afraid they'd think i was applying for the OA visa.

    Booked the flights with EVA ... $1004.00 each. Choice of airline is based on desired arrival time. Only EVA from Seattle get you in there at mid day. All others are at oh dark thirty. Fu$% that noise.

  20. #70
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Edmond View Post
    Around the same as one of TC's closets
    ...ftfy...

  21. #71
    Making people dance. :-)
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    Good man, congrats.


    Quote Originally Posted by Storekeeper View Post
    EVA from Seattle
    Crash over in fellow ex-overseas military man Snub's million dollar pad and enjoy a few IPAs on the decking overlooking Lake Microgoogle.


    Once here, remember to get the yellow house book (Tabien Bahn) as soon as you can, as you will never need a Certificate of Residence from immigration again.

  22. #72
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    Booked the Flipper Lodge for the first 13 nights. Chose the option for a room with sea view. Hope it really has one … Ha ha ha ha! 40 bucks a night. Will then be headed to the wife’s village for 7 nights. Not too keen on that but not much choice. Following that will be spend 7 nights at a place called Jomtien Beach Penthouses. 43 bucks a night for that. Not planning to make decisions on where to go next after that until the end of October. Suspect we’ll head to Hua Hin for 7-10 days.

  23. #73
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    I was lucky. Invited for a holiday and decided to relocate. Having a mate with local knowledge helped with bank accounts, driving licenses, immigration etc.
    He was happy to use his pick up and ferry me around, plus he had local knowledge of the letting market, local shops and restaurants.
    The other bonus was having a group of ex service mates who got together once a month for a meal and a few beers.
    I believe there is an RBL branch in Pattaya, so a US vets group will also be on the cards.

    Good luck with it. Hope you do stuff without hurrying and have a great time.

  24. #74
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    ^^ We stayed there 25+ years ago.

    We did indeed have a sea view. As I recall it was about 800 baht a night.

    It was clean and functional, though with quite a lot of street noise as there are bars in the soi.

    13 nights is rather a long time in that part of town.
    'That's the nature of progress, isn' t it. It always goes on longer than it's needed'. - JCC

  25. #75
    Thailand Expat Storekeeper's Avatar
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    ^ ... Thanks Switch. There's definitely veteran's group in Patters. Last time I lived there I rarely mingled with them. My loss I think.
    ^^ ... Watched a couple recently posted videos of soi 7 & 8. Looked to me like over half of each soi was now dark. If we end up finding it
    to be a poor fit we'll just move. I needed something to upload for the O visa application so pulled the trigger.

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