Purchasing power parity

**Smeg** · 18-04-2006, 12:20 AM

Why is it that some of the more extreme Thaiophiles claim that the UK is expensive?
Is this based only on trips back there funded by a third world salary?

Average salaries in the UK are ten times higher than in Thailand, and yet the average cost of living there, like for like, is about three times higher. Go figure.

Personally, I'd be ashamed to admit that the UK was expensive, as this is effectively like admitting that I was incapable of earning a decent salary there, and instead get by as an alien in Thailand by knowing little more than how to speak English, for which there is a fair demand here, but not back there.

I can live here more cheaply here, salary for salary, only if I live like a Thai, otherwise no. And there is no way I want to live like a Thai for year after year

**Fabian** · 18-04-2006, 12:31 AM

Originally Posted by Smeg

like admitting that you aren't capable of earning a decent sarary there, and instead get by in Thailand by knowing little more than how to speak English, for which there is a fair demand here, but not back there.

Which jobs do you get if you spell salary like taht in your application?

**Smeg** · 18-04-2006, 12:36 AM

Originally Posted by fabian

Which jobs do you get if you spell salary like taht in your application?

Which jobs do you get if you think that latenight forum banter is as serious and precision-requiring as job aps?

anyway, "salary" has more letters than "that", which you managed to get wrong

**Fabian** · 18-04-2006, 12:46 AM

Sure, Smeg, but I already got a well paid job and I am german so I don't need to care about any english spelling.

**dirtydog** · 18-04-2006, 12:59 AM

Smeg you obviously never lived in London, bottle of beer in a club 20 years ago was 2 quid odd, we werent all country bumpkins

**friscofrankie** · 18-04-2006, 01:31 AM

Groceries to eat well, two people for a week: the US: $150, here: 1000 baht ~ ratio 6:1 actually over spend I do...
rent for a similar two room apt: the US (SF) $1000+, here: 4000 baht ~ ratio 10:1
3 bedroom 2 bath rancher the US: 2500+ here: 10,000 baht ~ ratio 10:1
utilites (Gas, Water, phone, cable & internet) the US $700+ here: 1500 baht ~ ratio 20:1 (and I over pay the utils being an apartment dweller, in my 3 bed 2 bath home in BKK it was 500 baht dialup, add in dsl at 800) that would give you a ratio of... 20:1
night out in a fair to middlin' restaurant two people US $50-75 here: 200 - 300 baht ~ ratio 10:1
First run movie in a theater: US $10 - 15 here 50 - 100 baht ~ ratio:7-10:1
sittin in the local pub after work nibblin snacks and quaffing a few ales US $30-50 here 200 - 300 baht ~ ratio 6:1
Body repair to the car US $1000 here 2-4000 baht ~ ratio 10-20:1
one hour taxi ride to the ariport US $100 here 400 ~ baht ratio 10:1
Aircon install US $1000 here 400 baht ~ ratio 100:1
new home purchase US 400,000 here 1.2 million baht ~ ratio 13.3:1

Where the fuck you live? Under a rock? maybe a monastary?

**Fast Eddie** · 18-04-2006, 01:52 AM

I make the same amount of money whether i live in Thailand or the UK. Although i live a very comfortable lifestyle in the UK, it is quite clearly more expensive for me to live in than Thailand. I am not a Thaiophile. I do however intend to return to Thailand to live at the end of this summer, and one of the reasons is that it is apparent to me that my money goes further.

**Blake7** · 18-04-2006, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by Smeg

Why is it that some of the more extreme Thaiophiles claim that the UK is expensive?
Is this based only on trips back there funded by a third world salary?

Average salaries in the UK are ten times higher than in Thailand, and yet the average cost of living there, like for like, is about three times higher. Go figure.

Personally, I'd be ashamed to admit that the UK was expensive, as this is effectively like admitting that I was incapable of earning a decent salary there, and instead get by as an alien in Thailand by knowing little more than how to speak English, for which there is a fair demand here, but not back there.

I can live here more cheaply here, salary for salary, only if I live like a Thai, otherwise no. And there is no way I want to live like a Thai for year after year

Smeg, trust me , the UK is expensive - especially Central London. By the way I make very good money and have a house in both Bourbemouth (your hometown) as well as London - basically even if you make 100K GBP per year in London you are not able to go out every night, eat at restaurants regularly, go on holiday, save money etc.

In Bangkok I spend about 2500 GBP a month - you would have a very miserable existance in London on that sum.

**Blake7** · 18-04-2006, 08:49 AM

I should add I have non-thai wife and two kids - I spend much more than a bachelor would.

**Sir Burr** · 18-04-2006, 09:31 AM

Higher rate of income tax in the UK. House prices are insane, especially in the SE of England. Mortgage repayments can be crippling.
Better off in Thailand.

**The Ghost Of The Moog** · 18-04-2006, 09:31 AM

Blake 7's Christmas Turkey must have cost a bob or two.

(I can't believe i'm still going on about our family Christmas!)

**stroller** · 18-04-2006, 09:50 AM

But he saved the expense of Scampy-drinks.

**The Ghost Of The Moog** · 18-04-2006, 09:56 AM

Christmas is for the kids (and the very very old), not fully grown-adults.

Oh I wish it could be Christmas every day......

**barbaro** · 18-04-2006, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by Smeg

Why is it that some of the more extreme Thaiophiles claim that the UK is expensive?
Is this based only on trips back there funded by a third world salary?

Average salaries in the UK are ten times higher than in Thailand, and yet the average cost of living there, like for like, is about three times higher. Go figure.

It can be difficult to do cost comparisons, but it is done. There are formulas and statistical ways to do it. You need to post some of these, if you're going to take this thread anywhere.

Personally, I'd be ashamed to admit that the UK was expensive, as this is effectively like admitting that I was incapable of earning a decent salary there....

Although fixed expenses, taxes, user fees, and basic cost of living can make it difficult to save and invest - I do agree - there are a lot of people that are not very employable in their home-countries that are in LOS.

I can live here more cheaply here, salary for salary, only if I live like a Thai, otherwise no. And there is no way I want to live like a Thai for year after year

Your statement is too general. You need to be more specific.

**DrAndy** · 18-04-2006, 10:07 AM

agreed Milkman' it is useless just making general statements when all the factors are not taken into account

for me, I earn the same wherever I am, tax free. So obviously Thailand is cheaper.

In London, if I was a normal worker, I would have to pay many large bills and expenses. Tax, NHI, mortgage etc etc all of which make it very difficult for most people to actually save anything. My daughter, for instance, has a mortgage of GB200K which swallows up her and her husbands salaries.

In Thailand, as far as I can see, most expats eat out a lot, go to bars a lot and have extra cash available. Rent is cheap, little or no tax, but medical bills need paying.

so the equations need more information

**Lily** · 18-04-2006, 10:15 AM

The house that I live in is owned by an ex-colleague of mine and his mortage is 8300 baht a month.

It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

What would a house like that cost in the UK?

I know anywhere in Australia, even in remote places, you would be paying much more than that.

In Sydney, you would be paying thousands of dollars a month.

**benbaaa** · 18-04-2006, 10:19 AM

You're talking out of your arse, as usual, Smeg.

Here's a survey from 2005 of 144 major cities. They are ranked from most expensive to least expensive. London is number 3. Bangkok is 125.

2005 Rank & City
1 Tokyo, Japan 2 Osaka, Japan3 London, United Kingdom 4 Moscow, Russia 5 Seoul, South Korea 6 Geneva, Switzerland 7 Zurich, Switzerland 8 Copenhagen, Denmark 9 Hong Kong, Hong Kong 10 Oslo, Norway 11 Milan, Italy 12 Paris, France 13 New York City, United States 13 Dublin, Ireland 15 St. Petersburg, Russia 16 Vienna, Austria 17 Rome, Italy 18 Stockholm, Sweden 19 Beijing, China 20 Sydney, Australia 20 Helsinki, Finland 22 Douala, Cameroon 22 Istanbul, Turkey 24 Amsterdam, Netherlands 24 Budapest, Hungary 26 Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire 27 Warsaw, Poland 28 Prague, Czech Republic 29 Taipei, Taiwan 30 Shanghai, China 31 Bratislava, Slovak Republic 32 Düsseldorf, Germany 33 Luxembourg, Luxembourg 34 Singapore, Singapore 34 Frankfurt, Germany 36 Dakar, Senegal 37 Munich, Germany 38 Berlin, Germany 39 Tel Aviv, Israel 40 Glasgow, United Kingdom 41 Athens, Greece 41 Brussels, Belgium 43 Barcelona, Spain 44 Los Angeles, United States 45 White Plains, United States 46 Madrid, Spain 47 Birmingham, United Kingdom 48 Zagreb, Croatia 49 Hamburg, Germany 50 Hanoi, Vietnam 50 San Francisco, United States 52 Chicago, United States 52 Beirut, Lebanon 54 Riga, Latvia 54 Kiev, Ukraine 56 Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam 57 Miami, United States 58 Algiers, Algeria 59 Casablanca, Morocco 60 Tallin, Estonia 61 Lyon, France 61 Honolulu, United States 63 Shenzhen, China 64 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 65 Guangzhou, China 66 Lisbon, Portugal 67 Amman, Jordan 68 Melbourne, Australia 69 Auckland, New Zealand 70 Houston, United States 71 Jakarta, Indonesia 72 Kuwait City, Kuwait 73 Dubai, United Arab Emirates 74 San Juan, Puerto Rico 75 Almaty, Kazakhstan 76 Wellington, New Zealand 76 Ljubljana, Slovenia 78 Washington, D.C., United States 79 Boston, United States 80 Morristown, United States 81 Sofia, Bulgaria 82 Toronto, Canada 83 Atlanta, United States 84 Brisbane, Australia 85 Leipzig, Germany 86 Manama, Bahrain 87 Vancouver, Canada 88 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 89 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 89 Adelaide, Australia 91 Vilnius, Lithuania 91 Accra, Ghana 93 Perth, Australia 94 Denver, United States 95 Mexico City, Mexico 96 Lagos, Nigeria 97 Cairo, Egypt 98 Calgary, Canada 99 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 100 Limassol, Cyprus 101 Detroit, United States 102 St. Louis, United States 103 Seattle, United States 103 Bucharest, Romania 105 Kingston, Jamaica 105 Mumbai, India 107 Montreal, Canada 108 Guatemala City, Guatemala 109 Cleveland, United States 110 New Delhi, India 111 Pittsburgh, United States 112 Portland (Ore.), United States 113 Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei 114 Panama City, Panama 115 Monterrey, Mexico 116 Johannesburg, South Africa 117 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 118 Lima, Peru 119 Nairobi, Kenya 119 Winston-Salem, United States 119 São Paulo, Brazil 122 Ottawa, Canada 123 Lusaka, Zambia 124 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 125 Bangkok, Thailand 126 Tunis, Tunisia 127 Dacca (Dhaka), Bangladesh 128 Santiago, Chile 129 Tehran, Iran 130 Blantyre, Malawi 131 Tianjin, China 132 Colombo, Sri Lanka 133 Bogotá, Colombia 134 Harare, Zimbabwe 135 San José, Costa Rica 136 Karachi, Pakistan 137 Quito, Ecuador 138 Chennai (Madras), India 138 Caracas, Venezuela 140 Montevideo, Uruguay 141 Bangalore, India 142 Buenos Aires, Argentina 143 Manila, Philippines 144 Asunción, Paraguay

Source: http://www.finfacts.com/costofliving.htm

The reason some people say the UK is expensive is because it is.

**The Ghost Of The Moog** · 18-04-2006, 10:31 AM

"My daughter, for instance, has a mortgage of GB200K which swallows up her and her husbands salaries. "

Thats a bit of a millstone. That kind of leverage is high risk in a benign inflationary environment.

**aging one** · 18-04-2006, 10:35 AM

Remember its all about playing the devils advocate if you are a troll.

**Marmite the Dog** · 18-04-2006, 10:38 AM

I see Smeg has ran out of new material, so he's dusted the cobwebs of this old chestnut even though it's a simple fact that the UK is one of the most expensive countries in the world and Thailand isn't.

**benbaaa** · 18-04-2006, 10:41 AM

^^ I know, I know, I know.

I just can't help it sometimes.

**colourful-era** · 18-04-2006, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by Smeg

Average salaries in the UK are ten times higher than in Thailand, and yet the average cost of living there, like for like, is about three times higher. Go figure.

I think this is the point a lot of you miss.

It's ok if you're on an expat salary here but if you are Thai then you are seriously poor in comparison.

Take a Mcdonalds worker here - 25B per hour.

Mcdonalds worker back home - 5GBP per hour (min. wage).

So here a Thai in that situation would have to work for 2 hours for a decent meal wheras his counterpart in the west would only need to work for say 20 minutes.

Thus the Thai is 6 times poorer.

**benbaaa** · 18-04-2006, 10:56 AM

Looking at GNP per capita, the Uk's rank in 2004 was 10th worldwide (US$33,940) and Thailand was ranked 78th (US$2,540).

**The Ghost Of The Moog** · 18-04-2006, 10:58 AM

A Macdonalds meal costs about GBP 3.50 in Uk, and about GBP 1.50 in Bangkok.

You have to factor that back in.

**DrAndy** · 18-04-2006, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by colourful-era

Originally Posted by Smeg

Average salaries in the UK are ten times higher than in Thailand, and yet the average cost of living there, like for like, is about three times higher. Go figure.

I think this is the point a lot of you miss.

It's ok if you're on an expat salary here but if you are Thai then you are seriously poor in comparison.

Take a Mcdonalds worker here - 25B per hour.

Mcdonalds worker back home - 5GBP per hour (min. wage).

So here a Thai in that situation would have to work for 2 hours for a decent meal wheras his counterpart in the west would only need to work for say 20 minutes.

Thus the Thai is 6 times poorer.

maybe true, but there are many other factors to be taken into account

I thought we were talking about expats in Thailand, not local workers

even TEFLers get more than 25B/hr, I think

Thread: Purchasing power parity

Thread Tools

Display

Purchasing power parity

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Posting Permissions