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We love that Thailand is among the world’s most affordable countries to travel and live in, and it certainly allows us to live comfortably on much less than we did back home. But all things are not cheap in Thailand and many people are lead to believe this (as we once were). Saying so is both inaccurate and deceptive. So here’s a look at Thailand’s more expensive side.
Cheap rent? Yup. Inexpensive food? You got it. Affordable medical care? You betcha. There are tons of budget-friendly aspects about Thailand, which makes it such a popular place to travel to and live in as well as a hot topic for people to write home about.
Although these three key components to basic healthy living can be very affordable in Thailand, there are far more to life’s expenses than where you sleep, what you consume on a daily basis, and how you care for your body. This is what many of Thailand’s visitors who blog or vlog fail to mention and why sharing such an incomplete snapshot of their monthly expenses irks the heck out of us.Â
Time and time again we come across blog posts, videos, or online articles through popular traveling websites where the author talks about living in Thailand for just a few hundred dollars a month. In fact, we recently stumbled across an article like this and it had us shaking our heads. It’s actually what inspired us to write this post.
“My rent is 150 USD per month and I spend 5 USD on food each day. I spend the rest on transportation and treating myself to massages a few times a week. See, I can live in [fill in blank with random Thai city] for 400 USD per month!” End itemized expenditure.
We kid you not.
You don’t say?! You failed to mention your electricity bill. What about laundry, whether you do it at a coined machine or drop it off at the cleaners? Bottled water? Adult beverages and entertainment? That replacement backpack you so desperately need? You’ve also failed to mention the cost of grown-up responsibilities such as visa expenses (the visa itself plus the transportation costs to do a border run), a one month’s security deposit at your new apartment, or the cost of a new bicycle tire or motorbike helmet.
Anyhow, too many people believe that Thailand is dirt cheap across the board when it’s not. We cannot stress enough that things are not cheap in Thailand all the time. Here’s more on we’re talking about:
Electronics
Angela lost her iPhone in Bangkok the first day we moved to Thailand. The story had something to do with a cab driver who couldn’t find our hotel, having to pee like a racehorse, and leaping from the taxi without noticing the soon-to-be orphaned phone in the back seat.
Unfortunately, she went awhile without a replacement. That’s because a quick look at an iPhone 4 back in 2013 was about 500 USD. There was no discounted price for signing up for a new cell phone plan as there is in the US, either! In fact, the other day we were looking at the new Samsung Galaxy 6, and it’s over 700 USD. Wowzers.Â
TVs and computers are just as expensive and don’t even get us started on batteries or memory cards. On a recent equipment overhaul, we realized that extra batteries and memory cards for our new camera cost us nearly twice as much in Thailand as they did back home! And the strangest thing was that some of the items were even stamped “Made in Thailand.”
As far as smaller single-voltage electronics go, we’ve had success finding cheaper versions at the markets or small mom and pop stores. We’ve reluctantly purchased an electric razor at Robinson (a big modern department store) for nearly 1,500 baht (43 USD) because it was the first one we had seen in weeks after our arrival. Months later we found a better, cheaper model at the bottom floor of a Big C for less than 500 baht (14 USD). Even so, we’ve purchased electric razors for less than 20 USD back in the States, so it wasn’t much of a bargain.
Vehicles
Cars are expensive in Thailand and it doesn’t help that all the popular models are imported. The cost of a new basic model Honda Civic is 778,000 baht (24,698 USD) while the median income of a Thai citizen with a bachelor’s degree is 804,950 baht (25,554). Unfortunately, the average yearly Thai salary is 267,750 baht (8,500 USD). It’s easy to see why motorbikes are a popular alternative to cars. It was the case for us!
Even renting a car in Thailand is nearly ten times more expensive than renting a motorbike. On a short-term contract, you can usually get a 125cc bike for 150 to 200 baht per day. A car usually goes for around 1,200 to 1,500 baht per day. That’s a price swing of 5.70 USD to 43 USD!
Furniture
After signing a lease on a partially furnished townhouse, we had assumed that if our rent was a quarter of what we were paying back in the US, surely the furniture would be around that same 25% price point. Wrong.
About a dozen stores later, we just couldn’t swing the money for 21,000 baht (600 USD) couch and the 3,000 baht (86 USD) for each bar stool. That’s more than two month’s rent! So we reluctantly stuck with the sparse Thai-styled furniture that came with the townhouse.
Alcohol
The local beer and liquor are especially cheap and we shamefully admit drinking them on a typical night out. Unfortunately, the few local beer brands (Chang, Singha, and Leo) are generally similar (all light pale lagers) and the local whiskey rum is pretty rough going down. When we want something different, we pay out our noses.
Imported liquor, wine, and beer are actually just as pricey as back home, if not a little more because of import taxes. After awhile, it’s difficult to justify spending 150 baht on a Thai dinner for two and then turn around and drop 900 baht on six weakly poured cocktails. We’d rather just share a bottle set of local Sangsom rum and soda water and mix it ourselves for 200 baht. Or go for a 100 baht (2.85 USD) 630 mL bottle of Leo instead of a 200 baht (5.70 USD) 568 mL pint of Guinness.
Bottled Products
Shampoo, body wash, deodorant, lotion, bug spray, dish soap, bathroom cleaner…keeping yourself and your house clean and smelling good costs just about the same as it did before. Sure, some of the generic or Thai brands are more affordable and there are selections of cheap but low-quality products. But again, it’s not as if a bottle of laundry detergent or face lotion costs 20% of what it did back home.
Western Food
When we first moved to Thailand, we were happy to see that the major cities served familiar Western food. At first we didn’t mind spending 250 baht (7 USD) on a single serve pizza or 150 baht (4.30 USD) on a burger and fries, because for once it was cheaper here in Thailand.
But when we got over the novelty and compared it to the price of Thai food – good Thai food – and realized we were paying five or six times more for a plate of mediocre spaghetti, it made us think twice how much we were spending.
And as far as groceries go, we are thrilled to have several Western grocery stores in Chiang Mai with access to foods like hummus, beef stock, tortillas, and Greek yogurt. However, the price difference in groceries between what we spend at our local market (around 300 baht or 8.60 USD) three times a week and what we spend on our current twice-a-month trip to our favorite international grocery store (4,000 baht or about 115 USD) is quite a bit!
Western Clothing
If you’re big busted or bellied, long-legged, or have larger than average feet, you will pay much more for quality clothing and shoes that fit you. That’s because (at least from our experience) most of the larger sizes are imported brands found at the modern malls. Some of the extra large sizes don’t even exist in Thai clothes!
Shorter slimmer people will have luck finding cheap (yet again, low quality) clothes in Thai markets for 150 to 300 baht, but it get’s old when the hems start unraveling or buttons pop off after a few washes. You get what you pay for, and that’s just the case with good quality Western-sized clothes. So get ready to dish out 1,000+ baht for a new pair of pants, a new dress, or a nice shirt.
Visas
Visa services, applications, and visa maintenance (such as extensions or expenses related to border runs) are all necessary evils and the price of them adds up. In fact, just the other day we applied for extra pages in our passports at the US Consulate and they were a whopping 82 USD per passport. For some stinkin’ paper!
It’s easy to overlook this expenditure because it only rears its ugly head once every few months, or if you’re lucky once a year, but it can’t be ignored as part of your budget.
Things Are Not Cheap in Thailand… At Least, Not Always
We could go on about other things like some traveling expenses, kitchen appliances, or tuition at international schools, but we think you get the point.
On the flip side, not everyone who lives in Thailand has to or wants to live cheaply. There is still a market for people who are willing to pay more, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that all things are not cheap in Thailand.
Realistically, a portion of your monthly expenses will go to expensive items, some of which are either sudden necessities or emergencies. Don’t feed into this “live like a king for $500 per month” hogwash that continues to circulate on the web. If your common sense tells you it sounds too good to live comfortably and happily off a few hundred bucks a month, it probably is.
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Most brands have consistent price range (Zara, Starbucks, McDonald’s, Uniqlo, etc) worldwide. I’ve heard things are definitely cheaper in the states but as a guy who lived in 3 countries, anything imported will be expensive.
Yeah. I live on a fixed income of $3k usd and spend it all every month living in Chiang Mai. Car and 2 scooters are paid for and I stooped buying western alcohol. Granted it is me, my wife, my mother in law, my son and my niece, but we very easily spend $3k a month and my son is not even in school yet and I don’t feel like a king. Comfortable, but no t even a duke.
Yes, this is exactly what happens in Thailand. As a Thai living in Canada, I found many items in Canada are a lot cheaper than in Thailand even if they are imported as well. I totally agree with you that Thailand is not that cheap. Well, not only expats and tourists are told that things are cheap but also many Thais have the perception that things are cheaper in their country without considering all of those that you mentioned. It’s not just whether you can choose to live a western or luxurious lifestyle but sometimes you need good things for… Read more »
I make ground pork Hamburgers, I buy the buns at MAKRO and you have to cook the meat well done but the meat is more juicy and actually better than beef. Beef in Thailand is pretty bad even if it comes from Australia because Australian beef is tough most of it is grass fed and it doesn’t compare to the tender beef from California. What else is there to a hamburger you could put on cheese and mayo catchup mustard relish grilled onions or raw onions tomato and lettuce! If you want to go nuts make your own homemade chili… Read more »
One thing people have to remember is you are living in their country! Thailand is part of Asia. If you want a western lifestyle, stay in the west. I have met, and about to marry/live with, a Thai lady. I love the Thai life and food (as long as it’s not too spicy, lol). I’m willing to give up “the Australian way of life”, and try to fit in the best I can without reverting back to western ways too much, especially food. If you really want some things, be prepared to pay. Although I still want my vegemite, lol,… Read more »
I can spend much more but with 120,000 baht/month my an my wife can live very confortable as with $10,000 in London.
You also forgot to mention if you lived the same lifestyle as a middle class westerner driving an average car, staying in average accomodation instead of the 4500 baht a month flea pit you stayed in and if you bought food and western commodities at Villa Supermarket comparable to back home and you cooked your sirloin steak yourself. It’s more expensive here in the middle of Bangkok, not to mention more polluted and dangerous.
Right on, Anon.
I’ve being living in north Thailand for a year and have built a mansion with pool sunken bar three car garage five bedroom five bathrooms two lounges two kitchens all air cond and fully furnished out for under nz$200,000 my power bill is about nz$180 a month my food bill living like king is about quarter the price of New Zealand (but no dairy or beef) but lots of chicken,prawns and pork and salads and exotic fruits and vegetables I got rid of the phone use cheap wifi for contacts and tv and music I live about a hour from… Read more »
I agree with your comments and maybe 20 years ago it was possible to live like a king on small money but those days are long day, this is the downside to tourism. But i live here cheaper than i could in the UK and i get this glorious weather and relaxed lifestyle so i am more than happy with everything in Thailand.
We definitely agree with you about the more relaxed lifestyle and warmer weather. Thanks for commenting :)
my husband and I want to visit Thailand for a month but not in a party place we will be retired and love to explore, walk and immerse ourselves in local culture have you any suggestions?
Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai. Have a great trip!
Almost everything that is not local is more expensive – sometimes *alot* more expensive – in Thailand. Try buying a coffee grinder, an air purifier, any household appliance, decent shoes, a car, you name it – brands that are affordable in the US are horrendously overpriced here, often double or triple. I’d say non street food restaurant prices in central Bangkok are on a par with most western cities, wine is about double, high quality coffee is insanely expensive – about $40 per 500g at Ceresia, a tin of Lavazza is $20 compared to $5 in Italy – cheese is… Read more »
Thanks for commenting. You’re right – Thailand is not as cheap as everyone thinks unless you sacrifice quality and comforts of low prices. However, there’s a big price difference in the cost of living (housing, utilities, transportation, and local cuisine), which makes up a good chunk of expenses. That’s why it can be so affordable to live here… if you don’t go splurging on Western items :)
I’m wondering why the beer in store cost so much, chang/singha 0.3l (40bth) that is 1€ for a bottle. In Finland we have crazy tax on alcohol and bottle of beer costs 0.90€, from that tax is 60-80% I saw budwiser sold in 7/11 for 45baht. So are they just greedy or some beercartel happening. What is happening in Thai stores?? Bottle of Bud can’t cost same as Chang. Can’t even buy cheese here, crappy piece of Edam cost 10€ and all the meat seems rotten at BigC, they don’t seem to understand use of fridge. I have actually lost… Read more »
Some people can’t see spending more than €500 a month here while other can’t imagine spending less than €2000. It really depends on your lifestyle and what comforts and amenities you can live without. We are comfortable around $2000 per month. This is a never-ending topic of conversation. :) To each their own! Thanks for sharing your experience.
good start but most imports;when available are more expensive. If you want cheap. Buy Thai and will not last long. Cars, MIT are not same as made in UK, Aussy, USA. and the same price. Qualtiy is getting better; to compete but a long way to go. Service, support in English far better than 10 yrs ago. But still marketing needs help.
Anything imports with out the huge import taxes are getting far better.
Your favorite cars, boats etc are stilll not going to happen.
This post is great! I live in Thailand and I try to explain this stuff to people all the time. I say somethings are expensive, but if you plan on trying to live a Western lifestyle it can be just as expensive as doing so at home!
Thanks for commenting :) Yes, it can be quiet expensive if you want all of your Western comforts! We’re glad we’re not the only ones who recognize this…
live western style means what ? give or take. Boating, motorcyle (real ones) are out, fishing is out. sailing is out. bar hopping is in . street food can save you lots Asia Travel to any country is cheaper. cost of any goods keeps going up for lesser qualtiy.
Wow what a great post. Thank you
I thought I had read all blogs about Thailand. This one is great. I have been in and out of Bangkok for 10 years almost monthly. First I would never consider going to the Dr. in California. I only go to Dr’s in Bangkok and Bangkok Hospital. Most of them have practiced in the USA but hate the insurance system. I am now moving to Thailand permanently and still work so the airport is important to me. My wife is Filipino so she uses the market for veggies and other items which are very inexpensive, However we still use western… Read more »
Sounds like you and your wife are a lot like us as far as lifestyle – taking advantage of the affordable markets and local restaurants but enjoying Western malls and AC from time to time, too. With our blog we aim to show people that it’s possible to live on below average budget as compared to the USA and still be very comfortable. No need to pinch pennies! (and sometimes it’s unrealistic, as what we address in this particular post).
It’s great to know that after living in eight different countries you like Thailand the best :)
Its fun to create your version of thai meals at home and the cooking course you attended might help you.
American , western standards have taking the world into conveniences and modernity. who doesnt like a nice piece of steak or glass of good wine if they can afford be it on daily or occasionally. Heck, plenty of nice reasonable Thai food why bother to eat western. To live western isnt cheap in anywhere in the world. Live like a local and cost will be lower. array of delicious thai food and markets to explore and thats the fun part about it. Thats usually a challenge for most expats and long term tourist. in develop western countries things and rent… Read more »
Adjusting to a Thai lifestyle can be difficult as well as adjusting your palette to Thai cuisine. But if you successfully do this, it makes it a lot easier to live frugally in Thailand :)
Yes, I think you went straight to the point. Living as a Thai could allow you to live with a very little amount of money ( even less than 400$ a month, rent included). I personally think that the perfect way to live in this country, save some money, interact with locals and their habits, ergo getting to know the culture is to try to live as thais live as much as possible and maybe “treat” yourself with a pizza or a burger once in a while. Only one thing I disagree with this article: Alcohol here is not cheap… Read more »
A sure way to live on less is to befriend Thais. They show you all the short cuts and deals and how to be comfortable shopping, eating, and living in “Thai” rather than Western way. We agree about the Thai alcohol to Thai cost of living comparison ratio – it’s outrageous! Thanks for commenting!
In places like Thailand, it’s incredibly cheap to live the locals, but incredibly expensive to live like Westerners. Import tax is part of the problem (primarily with respect to alcohol and cars), but not the only problem. it’s fairly common for Thai importers to come to a ‘special arrangement’ with Thai custom officers to avoid paying any import duties. Typically the importers would falsify the manifest as non-luxury product or understate its actual value by a factor of 100x, and the ‘incentivized’ Thai Custom officials would look the other way. The real problem is that these importers make sure they… Read more »
We recently learned about the Alibaba site and have put it to good use. Yeah, those import taxes hurt a lot and that’s an incentive for us to slowly transition to Thai products to save money. Thanks for sharing!
That’s awesome. Thank you
You’re welcome!
Really helpful post – you never hear about this angle. Drinks are super cheap in Thailand, assuming you’re flexible. Importing costs a premium.
On the other end of the spectrum, I was surprised how cheap a few things were. I think the Red Bull was cheaper than sodas if I remember correctly
The original creator of Red Bull is Thai but the drink has a different label here. There are some other really interesting energy drinks here – too sweet for our tastes!
Great article! I appreciate your perspective it’s much more realistic.
We are happy to be of service and provide this point of view. Refreshing, isn’t it? :)
Hi Angela and Chris I was back packing on my own around Cambodia and Thailand. I’m 47 years young and I fell in love with the culture and people. While I was in Thailand I even had the privalage to stay at a Buddhist university! What an experience that was. I have more friends in Thailand now than Australia. I work in aged care and now im studying a TEFL course to move and teach in Thailand.
It’s awesome you found your calling. We wish you all the best after you’ve settled down in Thailand.
how is it going Melinda? I’m 50 and young and active and I love Thailand! 2 years now, whats your experience?
Hey Angela and Chris, If people tell you that living in Thailand is so cheap, then as an alternative, they should come to sunny South Africa. I know that since coming to Thailand almost 10 years ago, prices have gone through the roof, compounded with the fact that the South African currency has taken a major tumble against the dollar and Baht. Anyway, I thought I’d tell you how cheap it is to live in the best part of Cape Town, South Africa. Yes! I know you’ve probably heard about the high crime rate here, but it’s nothing more than… Read more »
not to get too off-topic grahame, “the best part of Cape Town” – would love to know which suburb (went to school in saffie, have not been back in 20 years and thinking of a three month sortie early 2016) thanks
I totally agree with you, my aunt told me that thailand is less expensive when it comes to transportation, food and accomodation.After reading this,i really want to go to thailand right now, .I wish oneday i could go with my family or even friends.
Yeah, there are super affordable options with public transportation, food, and accommodations. If you plan it right, you and your friends could have a pretty inexpensive trip. Do it!
For all us large farang out there both male and females, there are several shops that cater for us with the sale of overruns that would have gone to the USA. You will find them at several petrol Stations (PTT) and in Robinsons. I have forgot the name of one of them , but the other isExport 21. You will find some cheap good quality name brands, but some items may have different college names on them. Still pay 150 bht for an XXL (UK would be XXXXL) baseball shirt, or summer shirt you gotta love it!
Export 21 is a good option and has changing rooms, too. (It’s the little things in life…) We’ve noticed the clothing stores at the gas station but also can’t remember the name, but they had some decent stuff. Definitely well worth a look.
I really love your blog! My fiance and I are planning our move to Thailand at the moment, and all your posts have been VERY helpful!
Glad to help!
Interesting. As they say YMMV. As mentioned in other comments I too have a Thai partner so it helps keep costs down for certain items (MBK, clothes, market shopping…etc). She gets the clothes for cheap and she strengthens/alters them with her awesome sewing skills. Rent is cheap (9,000 baht) and the place I am at is nice (washing machine in the unit, pool & gym). I don’t need a lot of Western food (9 years away from the USA will do that to ya) with the exception of an occasional craving and my partner is a great cook so no… Read more »
JLR – Great story! Thanks for painting a realistic picture of living in Thailand, adopting the Thai way of life, and staying away from (expensive) Western habits. Sharing your experience really puts it into perspective on how to live more affordably in Thailand. And its sounds like you have a lovely lady, too! We’re glad to hear life is good o thin this side of the world.
Chris and Angela, Thank you for another great post! I’ve been following your blog for some time. Your writing is entertaining and very good reading. I really appreciate your honesty and having numbers to illustrate. The claims to “live like a king for $500 a month” really is misleading. Keep up the good work and hope you continue to enjoy life in paradise.
Thank you kindly :) You’ve put smiles on our faces!
Thailand is cheap and it isn’t cheap if that makes sense. Western food certainly falls in the latter. Steaks can be very expensive. I’d rather buy some half decent Thai meat and give it a good beating with a heavy pestle. Living on $500 a month (16,500 THB) isn’t on if you can spell McDonald’s backwards and can’t walk 200 yards without waving down a tuk tuk. Living like the locals is the only way to survive on that level of money.
Agreed. Living like a Thai person will keep your costs down, but it’s difficult for the majority of Westerners to pick up that lifestyle and give up all of their comforts and conveniences from back home. That’s what get’s ya! We also stay away from McDonald’s here and don’t use tuk-tuks!
If you are going to work at a government school for one year, and will continue to stay in Thailand longer. Make sure the school joins you to the Social security scheme. You pay about 700baht a month and the school adds to it, after 6 months you will be entitled to full medical at the government hospital, unemployment benefit and other costs too ( if the school doesn’t want to pay you for the term break you can get unemployment benefit). When you leave the school you will get about 6 months free cover, or you can pay yourself… Read more »
Last year I spent three months living in Pattaya, Thailand. .. sort of a test run towards eventual retirement there…and I can confirm that I found most of the same things you did. I was even somewhat better prepared as I have been a frequent visitor to Thailand for nearly 20 years…but my desire for good cheese, coffee, and western breakfasts detonated my budget after a couple of weeks. Additionally, I didn’t want to rent a motorcycle, so I had to be relatively close to the baht bus routes which in Pattaya means near the tourist area, so more expensive… Read more »
Good cheese, coffee, and Western breakfast will break the bank every time! You’re smart to have done a test run – it really puts it into perspective what sacrifices you are willing to make! At least you know sooner rather than later that good food = happiness and (we’re assuming) staying away from a motorbike is the safer route. Do what makes you happy because it’s your life.
One reason thing are so expensive are the duty fees. Check this site out for some examples:
http://www.customs.go.th/
That is outrageous!
Love this! Agreed. So many people are terribly disappointed with the disparity between what they read online and then how their lifestyle ends up in BKK or worse the islands. I lived in Bangkok for 2 years, with an average monthly expenditure of about $1500 living in a really nice modern condo in Silom (plus extra for traveling on holidays and weekend trips) and managed to save a lot of money. I will say though, that I had friends who were teachers who lived in studio-style apartments a fair distance from the metro, and they did live a lot cheaper… Read more »
Thanks for sharing your numbers… and making it a point to distinguish between actual expenses and those you spend on your mini weekend trip away. If your friends worked as hard as Angela did teaching, it’s easy not to spend money except for going out to eat and drink because they have no energy for anything else! We’ve definitely seen the second hand electronics shops set up around, particularly in the mall. We’re a bit hesitant about the quality and reliability, especially if we were to have a problem and then there be a language barrier. But it’s worth asking… Read more »
Well I am old US Army. We were taught if you fail to plan……You plan to fail. $500 a month was correct in the 80’s and 90’s but not now. I have lived in Chiang Mai 2 years now. I love it. I use Amazon and a PMB remailing service, for things I cannot get here (clothes, cookware, etc.) I live a very comfortable life here with no regrets. Anybody who comes to Thailand without medical insurance is a fool in my book. I have watched some very good friends go down with broken hips, arms and legs, thinking the… Read more »
Mark,
I am a newbie to PMB remailing service. Can you provide who you are using for this service?
US Global Mail out of Houston
That’s a good motto for life. Similar to another we’ve learned: “Proper preparation prevents poor performance.”
I can relate to every single thing on this list. When I moved to Jakarta last year I knew it wasn’t the most dirt cheap city in Southeast Asia, but I really did assume certain things would be far cheaper than in the states. But I quickly learned that when it comes to certain things, that is most definitely not the case. Furniture, electronics and kitchenware are insanely expensive here. I’ve had to deal with a busted cell phone and a flickering TV for about five months because I can’t afford to buy these things here. Alcohol is crazily expensive… Read more »
Yeah, it’s not that living affordably can’t be done, but it’s an unwelcomed surprise when you find out something you like to use or do is disproportionally expensive. We feel your pain about the wine…. While we can find bottles cheaper than $35 here in Thailand (a drinkable one goes for no less than $20-25), it’s something we’ve had to pull back on the reigns big time. We agree with what you said – living abroad is just full of surprises!
There are some fairly decent wines in a local vinery in Lamphun. But you won’t find them in CM shops that obviously cater for tourists and expats.
We’ve purchased bottles of wine from a vendor at the Saturday night walking street. It’s produced at one of the universities. Not bad for 150 baht (180 baht maybe?) but it didn’t quite hit the spot. We’d be willing to give it another go though… sure beats buying 700+ baht bottles from the store!
Thanks for those information. My advice to get many products at the best price is to use the Thai internet site Lazada. You can compare with the price of the market or shopping center. You can pay at delivery. Delivery is free and quick.You can easily benefit of vouchers (+/-10%). NB: international site can even be cheaper but then take into account some delays , delivery cost and you have to enter your credit card nr. BE CAREFUL IN THAILAND , A SELLER EVEN SHOPPING MARKET CAN PUT A HUGE PRICE , SCRAPPED IT, WRITE “PROMOTION” AND PUT A VERY… Read more »
Good post which makes some sense. I guess a lot depends on where you live in Thailand and what your lifestyle requirements are. I know that Thailand is way cheaper on most things than my home country of Australia. With regards to electronics, big ticket items we would buy in Oz which may be a little cheaper than Thailand. Small ticket electronic items, we would normally buy via eBay via China anyway, and nothing has changed there. A lot also depends on your change of income status on the move overseas. For example in Oz we lived a comfortable life… Read more »
Thanks, Jim. We, too, live a much more minimalist lifestyle than we used to. By no means is it “Thai style,” but it’s certainly far from our American lifestyle with two cars, a dog with expensive needs, lots of fancy kitchenware, sports equipment, toys, a big TV and sound system, not to mention all the shopping we did to regularly refresh our wardrobes and decorate our apartment, plus eating and drinking out at expensive restaurants. We say spend $1K on your home here if it makes you happy! We love our current house and it is worth every one of… Read more »
Really enjoyed this post. I’ve travelled Thailand for many years and have been living in Chiang Mai now for 2 months. Things like electronics and cell phones are certainly more expensive than back in North America. Western brand products are a premium. My monthly electrical is what really caught my eye. My first bill worked out to about two thirds of my rent. Luckily for me I don’t drink and I enjoy Thai food, especially street food. But compared to Vancouver, Canada where I’m from and where EVERYTHING is expensive, Thailand is a dream!
You know it. Those imported brands you find back in Canada are all expensive here. Haha, you are not the first person to say their electric bill is 2/3 of rent since apartments can be so cheap! Who knew you’d ever say something as crazy as that?!?! Cheers to Thailand and that not everything is expensive like in Canada and the US!
Amen. I haven’t really had the need to buy some of the things you’ve talked about, but I do think that Thailand can actually be pretty expensive. At least the options of cheap food and rent help with the more expensive costs. For me, it was grocery shopping. I went one time and quickly realized it just made more sense to go out to eat for every meal.
“Can we get an aaaayymen?” hahaha If you’ve managed to avoid those expenses (furniture, cars, Western food and clothing), good for you. Sometimes they are hard to avoid. You are stronger willed than us about the Western grocery stores. We just can’t resist going in there for some re-fried beans and peanut butter…
We don’t have a car or scooter so we use songtheaws, our feet and tuk tuk’s if we really need to go door to door! While that saves us money, it comes out of our pocket in the many other ways you mentioned! We are in Hua Hin now and have to make the trip to Bangkok for our letter of income from the embassy so that trip is not easy or cheap. Your post is excellent information for anyone moving here. There are many little things you just don’t think about not to mention the unexpected things that come… Read more »
We love the Google image translation and totally agree they need to get on it for Thai. Lord knows we would have used it a thousand times over by now. Of course you’d rather not have to deal with going to the US Embassy in Bangkok or hunting for a more expensive bottle of shampoo sans SLS, but that’s life and those expenses are unavoidable. Well, unless you just want to switch to a tourist visa with lots of border runs and have itchy scalp syndrome, but we all know that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea. You and… Read more »
A good article, just a couple of comments. You live in Chiang Mai, the second city in Thailand therefore a tourist trap & you pay tourist/farang prices. I’ve lived in in Chiang Rai for 5 years with my Thai partner with her daughter & parents in their home, the weekly expenses which include gas, water, electric, drinking water, her & daughters life insurance, daughters transport & food for school, 3 mobile phones costs, 3BB broadband is 1500 baht [£30] on top of that I pay for food, booze cigarettes etc. Don’t buy western cloths because everybody thinks they are snide… Read more »
Living like a Thai, especially with the support and guidance of your entire Thai family, really makes transiting into a cheaper, less Western, lifestyle much more doable. And living outside of touristy areas is helpful for two reasons: the cost of housing is even less and there are fewer Western stores and shopping centers to tempt you into spending money. Unfortunately, getting a Thai partner isn’t really an option for us :/ but we suppose it is for many other people!
Good post from Clive, particularly ” If the Thai’s see a farang they will rip you off [ all westerners are rich] so get a Thai partner & send her/he in first to get a price, they will save you a fortune. Don’t try & live a western lifestyle in Thailand it’s very expensive & the Thai’s resent it, don’t live in a big city or a tourist area, when in Thailand live like a Thai.” I also make a point of getting involved in the community, particularly with my pooyaibaan. Thais see you in a different light then. They’ll… Read more »
Showing initiative to adopt culture or methodology will certainly blur the line between foreigner and native, and joining a community is a great way to be associated beyond “the foreigner (with money.)” If we feel like we are being ripped off (rarely) we say “No thanks” and walk away. Life seems to be really different if you live in a non-touristy area and there’s more pressure to fit in.
Dear Chris & Angela. A good article, thank you. However, being retired and living here in Chiang Mai for the past 20 years there are quite a few inaccuracies in your post (in regards to vehicles for example). I think a little deeper research is necessary. You are correct in saying that all the little extras especially when it comes to visas (check out the cost for a retirement visa for example) add up. If you come to live in Thailand do you really want to eat western food all the time when the local fare is so reasonable and… Read more »
Knowing where to look for great deals on food and lodging makes a big difference. There are affordable things out there for sure, but it’s much harder without a close Thai friend (something we didn’t have when we first moved here) or a Thai significant other (because, er, we have each other) to show you the ropes. Often the most affordable options are dealt with or advertised in Thai and not English, which is intimidating; on the flip side, homes for rent, stores, and restaurants that advertise in English attract English speaking foreigners. It’s less stressful but they can be… Read more »
Great post! I would also add that while many handicrafts and handmade items or services are surprisingly cheap, that doesn’t mean foreigners should try to bargain down to the last penny. I don’t think people really take into consideration how long it actually takes to make something and what the skill is worth. I’ve seen people try to bargain clothing and crafts down to nothing and even try to get tattoos for $30…everyone here still needs to make a living and it’s very hard to get ahead or save anything when prices are so low!
Playful bartering is good, and even encouraged, but you’re right – it’s almost insulting to try to bargain down to a rock bottom price when these people have worked hard to make their crafts. And $30 for a tattoo?! All we can say, you get what you pay for and it might not be pretty!
Very nice post! I am also not a believer of the live in Thailand on $500 a month articles. I have been to Thailand many times and yes the rent and good thai food are very inexpensive but electronics, vehicles,and alcohol are more expensive than here in the U.S. I won’t buy clothes anymore in Thailand either. I can’t count the number of times I have put clothes in the washer and dryer only to have them shrink down to a child’s size. I have also bought a bottle of wine in Thailand for $20 that I could have bought… Read more »
Chris can’t find clothes at all at Thai markets, but I have mixed luck – sometimes they hold up and other times they fall apart or change shape after washing. It’s sometimes just easier to schedule buying new clothes around trips back to you home country. As far as the $82 for the passport pages, that’s the going price at any US Consulate or Embassy (not just Thailand). It’s just irritating it’s so dang expensive for some pieces of paper, “official” or not! #ExpatProblems.
$500 is tough unless you live exactly like a Thai person, and in Bangkok, it’s almost impossible. I’ve lived for $700-800 per month in Chiang Mai though, and lived in comfort (example: rent was $190/month, electricity, water and high speed internet included) on that amount. Still, buying western groceries can be a shocking experience in some cases (especially for cheese and real butter)
Doable living Thai style? Absolutely. We wholeheartedly agree. But it means accepting living arrangements like cooking outside, having a sink, toilet and shower stall all with in the vicinity of each other in a wet bathroom, no AC, open-aired house that lets critters in, no comfort foods (cheese! butter!). Haha, don’t get us started on Western groceries. We held off for as long as we could when we first moved here and then practically fell over when we saw the bill on our first shopping spree! But boy, did that steak seared in butta’ taste like heaven!
Great article! However,I was one of the people who wrote that you can live cheaply in Thailand. And, I believe you can- there are things you mention in your blog that I don’t do. For example, I don’t consume alcoholic beverages, I don’t have a motor bike, nor do I purchase electronics. And as far as Western food,I rarely eat it- there are occasions when I get a craving for some fries , cheese and potatoes, but very rare. As far as furniture, I usually choose apartments that have furniture included in the rent. While it may not be furniture… Read more »
You are strong willed! We’ve tried to eat Thai food every day and cut out alcohol, but then we get cravings for eggs and bacon or a good burger with some beer and it costs so much more! Lifestyle plays a huge part of how you spend your money. If your are frugal by nature and don’t need much to make you happy (and in this case, live by Thai standards and not American standards), you can definitely live cheaply in Thailand. Too bad it requires some major lifestyle adjustments and many of us expats find it extremely challenging. It’s… Read more »
To be honest, something I’d like to add to your list:
When I came to Bangkok, I was kinda surprised that accommodation wasn’t cheaper. Looking for cheap places, I still ended up paying $20 per night through AirBnB. Was I perhaps taking the wrong route and should’ve rented monthly instead?
Absolutely look for weekly or monthly rentals. This goes for anyone who wants to stay in the same Thai town for longer than a few days. Hotels and guesthouses may not explicitly advertise it, but often times they have weekly or monthly rates in which you save a ton in the long run. Definitely look into it for your next trip.
After traveling to Thailand many times to many different cities, it is expensive, but I am a tourist now, but in a few years I’d like to retire there, but the 2,100 min, monthly U.S and the 29,000 U.S to put in a bank wich I’m told I can’t use if so I must put back within 90 days it’s beyond my reach for now I might have to stay here for awhile longer.
Yeah, you are not the first to get hung up on those monetary requirements. 90 days to “ripen”… yeesh. Hang on, you’ll be here before you know it!
Being a little older than you two, I am looking to obtain health insurance. We pay $3500/yr being employed. After we retire, then same insurance cost $20k if we live in the US. The exact same insurance costs $4k/yr and we can live in 123 countries including Thailand and visit the US. I think that if you include health insurance costs, Thailand, and a lot of other countries start to look much more affordable.
Hi Keith, my husband and I are permanent travellers, we’ve used HCCMIS for med insurance. Wondering who you’ve used? cheers, Danila
Danila,
I haven’t purchased the insurance yet but am looking at Cigna Intl.
Based on your numbers, Thailand does sound like a great option! Health insurance (and the quality healthcare that goes along with it) plays a big roll in many peoples’ lives, and that’s one thing that this country definitely offers. We plan to look into it more since it’s such a hot topic.
Great read! We’re currently researching a trip to Thailand and absolutely agree about the abundance of ‘living off $(ridiculous amount) a month in Thailand” blog posts. It’s so nice to read a realistic experience and be able to plan the right way. Thanks :)
Thanks! We figured writing this gives a different but much needed perspective to travelers planning their monthly budgets. We know we’d be really upset if we came here and tried living off $(ridiculous amount) a month, cuz it wouldn’t happen. Glad you see eye to eye!