Thread: Cost of living per Month

^Ichiban on Sridonchai Road is probably the best and reasonable.

I like Zen at Airport Plaza, too.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Originally Posted by Yasojack

6,000 baht

That amount monthly wouldn't even cover my electric and water bill.

Thought the PI was inexpensive?

2010 Hi month 105,701
Lo month 48,179
Average 61,830

2011 Hi month 120,566
Lo month 46,861
Average 72,948

2012 Jan 63,821
Feb 69, 406
Mar 1-17 58,707

These are very accurate numbers---I track all expenes on an XL spreadsheet, because I'm quite interested in knowing my actual cost of living instead of what I might imagine it to be.


Two people living in detached modern home.
Almost new Toyota 4x4 auto 3.0L Pickup
2 Motorbikes
1 Cat..(with discriminating tastes)

I do try tolive reasonably well in Thailand. I'm not on a self imposed survival course.
I know people who spend much more than I do....and many who spend a lot less.
We all seem happy enough in our respective ways....so as in all things....each to his/her own.

Originally Posted by ENT

Living in Chiangmai, reasonably cheap rate/person.

Rent ......= Bt 4,500/mth ( long term rate, incl. water, electricity).
Food ......= Bt 4,500/mth (Bt 150/day (eat out, Thai food, plus 1 Farang home cooked meal /day).
Transport = Bt 1,500/mth average.
Cigars......= Bt 750/mth ( Bt 25/day @ 5xBt5 Burmese black).
Clothes ...= Bt 250/mth average.
Toiletries..= Bt 100/mth average.
Alcohol.... = Bt 3,000/mth average.( Not every day)
Other.......= Bt 1,000/mth
________________
Total.......= Bt 15,600/mth average.

Entertainment, extra.

& would not cover my beer bill for the month

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

Originally Posted by Yasojack

6,000 baht

That amount monthly wouldn't even cover my electric and water bill.

Thought the PI was inexpensive?

I have a really big house, with a lot of people using electricity. Electricity is very expensive in the PI. My monthly bill is usually around $200. I live in the province; if I was in Manila, it would be three times that - easily. My monthly water bill is around $50, but a lot of that is from watering the crops. The PI is just like Thailand - costs depend very much on where, and how, you live - but it is in no way cheap, unless you go native, live in a hut, tap into someone else's electricity, drink polluted water, etc.

kids schooling and family health package eats up 30k a month

^

I didn't think about auto and health insurance- that's probably another 6K combined per month.

Plus the stuff that just comes up - like I just got whacked for $2000 for braces for the kids.

Originally Posted by FailSafe

^

I didn't think about auto and health insurance- that's probably another 6K combined per month.

6k a month? Wow, that seems high. I have 1st class auto insurance and it is 14000 baht a year. My health insurance is about 20,000 baht a year for both of us. That is about 2800 baht a month.

^ maybe he has kids
and HP

Originally Posted by chitown

Originally Posted by FailSafe

^

I didn't think about auto and health insurance- that's probably another 6K combined per month.

6k a month? Wow, that seems high. I have 1st class auto insurance and it is 14000 baht a year. My health insurance is about 20,000 baht a year for both of us. That is about 2800 baht a month.

Don't know how old you are Chi but 20K a year for two people is very low for health insurance. Mine is 56K and the wife's is 21K You must both be a 25 year old olympic athletes or something....

My auto insurance is 18K a year ....obviously it depends on the kind of vehicle...
My insurance costs will be well over 100k this year for health, auto, house and the Mickey Mouse motobike accident cover, which is necessary because my medical insuracne will not cover for injuries involving motorbikes (most don't).....

** If you insure a house; check your next renewal carefully, because the insurance companies in Thailand have gutted their policies after last years floods. Flood and EQ cover has been withdrawn in many cases and in others, the sub limits and deductibles have been changed to the point where the policy is virtually useless.
Premiums have gone up about 10% on average....so with that and the decreased or restricted coverages, it 's not quite the deal it was a year ago..
Insurance of all kinds in really crap in Thailand.......inflexible, restrictive and really quite expensive considering the low limits involved.

Originally Posted by misskit

^Ichiban on Sridonchai Road is probably the best and reasonable.

I like Zen at Airport Plaza, too.

yes, tried both those and both nice

there is a goody on Huay Kaew road, past KSK and opposite the Shell garage

the fish is good quality, although cut a bit thick

Own the house, cars, and bicycles. But even on 50% scholarships my kids schooling, insurance costs on all family members and monthly bills need a minimum of 120,000 per month.

Originally Posted by good2bhappy

and HP

Sauce?

Included everything we own home,car etc.

Will not be doing it again though.gave me a insight of how a low end thai family lives.

Originally Posted by socal

Originally Posted by Yasojack

How much is your cost of living per month?

I did a little experiment a couple of months ago, and went native, ate 95% of thai food,(not Isaan) did away with all luxuries never used the car,only motorbike, its was hard it lasted a month and wanted to see, how much i could exist on.

total cost with electric and gas, And i also smoked Thai tobacco roll ups, but had to buy rizla rolling papers.

6,000 baht

this amount did not include the babies stuff, that she needs.

how much could you live on per month.?

Congrats on the low number.

That cant include rent though...can it ?

Originally Posted by SEA Traveler

Typical ave month in Rayong Prov for Mr. & Mrs Sea Traveler.

House, car and motorcycle paid for.



Massage 4000


Golf 4000

Other Hobbies 1000
Gifts 2000
Home Improvement 4000
Other Entertainment 4000
Misc 5000



Total 53,600 call it 60K baht and we live simply....

all that aint what some would call living simply..

Originally Posted by socal

Originally Posted by SEA Traveler

Typical ave month in Rayong Prov for Mr. & Mrs Sea Traveler.

House, car and motorcycle paid for.



Massage 4000


Golf 4000

Other Hobbies 1000
Gifts 2000
Home Improvement 4000
Other Entertainment 4000
Misc 5000



Total 53,600 call it 60K baht and we live simply....

all that aint what some would call living simply..

Living beyond their means.....unnecessarily.
Mindless consumption.

socal: "it is what is is" socal and is scaled back considerably to the former life style that I had when younger and working. Now it is only the, what I would call, "necessities" with no extravagance or excessive living practices.

you take things as you want. it was not massage = 4000. It was massage and medical. there is a distinct difference. At 60 years old, we have medical needs that the young buck like yourself don't necessarily need to be concerned with.

Yes, I live simply. I worked for it during my employed years and saved and made some reasonable investments that are now allowing me to live within my means and with out being a burden on my children or on society. I pay my own way and without regret. There is no extravagance in my monthly budget. And to live with less could be done but why? Simple is good.

Originally Posted by Rural Surin

Originally Posted by socal

Originally Posted by SEA Traveler

Typical ave month in Rayong Prov for Mr. & Mrs Sea Traveler.

House, car and motorcycle paid for.



Massage 4000


Golf 4000

Other Hobbies 1000
Gifts 2000
Home Improvement 4000
Other Entertainment 4000
Misc 5000



Total 53,600 call it 60K baht and we live simply....

all that aint what some would call living simply..

Living beyond their means.....unnecessarily.
Mindless consumption.

RS: Are you suggesting that my budget is living beyond my means unnecessarily? or did I misunderstand your response to socal.

Yes, I live simply

I live on about 15-20% of what you live on and I wouldn't say that I live simply, though from where you stand, it might look that way.

Originally Posted by SEA Traveler

socal: "it is what is is" socal and is scaled back considerably to the former life style that I had when younger and working. Now it is only the, what I would call, "necessities" with no extravagance or excessive living practices.

you take things as you want. it was not massage = 4000. It was massage and medical. there is a distinct difference. At 60 years old, we have medical needs that the young buck like yourself don't necessarily need to be concerned with.

Yes, I live simply. I worked for it during my employed years and saved and made some reasonable investments that are now allowing me to live within my means and with out being a burden on my children or on society. I pay my own way and without regret. There is no extravagance in my monthly budget. And to live with less could be done but why? Simple is good.

I spend way more than you do monthly. Nothing extravagant, just wife, kids, houses, cars, etc, etc. I have an excellent pension, I work, and my wife works. We have plenty of $$ to support the way we choose to live. Money is already put away for the twins' college. No reason to live on the bones of your ass if you don't need to; and no reason to justify your lifestyle to anyone.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

and no reason to justify your lifestyle to anyone.

exactly.