Every once in a while we’ll have a reader sling a dollar value at us and ask if it’s possible to live on a certain budget in Chiang Mai. “Can I survive on $400 USD per month?” or “Will I be comfortable on $750 per month?” But the most popular is, “Is $500 per month in Chiang Mai good enough?” When we first moved here, we tried living off $500 per person per month but oh-so-quickly realized it wasn’t going to happen. Here are a few good reasons why we don’t recommend anyone trying to do the same!
Living Off $500 Per Month in Chiang Mai Can Be Done…
We get it. Everyone’s lifestyle is different. What is modest to one person may be bare bones to another. Someone’s necessities may be another’s luxuries. And hypothetically speaking, it is possible to live off $500 per month in Chiang Mai if you implement a frugal lifestyle.
Such a tight budget does work for people who:
And let us be the first to say that’s it’s pretty awesome if you can manage the self-discipline and focus to do this.
…But It’s Just Not Doable For Most Future Expats
While it sounds reasonably manageable on paper, it’s hard to carry out this spartan lifestyle. Why? Because you never know what life will throw at you.
Unforeseen and major “one-time” expenses will rear their ugly heads. And they can quickly add up, which will either throw your budget out the window, or worse, put you in a financial predicament where you will be forced to make some extreme sacrifices.
The Sacrifices You’ll Make
On $500 per month in Chiang Mai, most people will be able to afford fairly basic accommodation and utilities, food, clothing and toiletries, and transportation. Just not much else.
To put it into perspective, $500 per month is just over $16 a day. And that has to cover rent, too!
Not Seeing Family Back Home
What would you do if you had friends and family across the globe you would like to see? What if you had a sudden change in plans or obligations to attend to that required you to return to your home country?
Round trip airfare from Thailand to the US has cost us around $1300 per person. Friends of ours have traveled to the UK and back for $1000 per person. And after spending two to three month’s budget on airfare alone, what money will you have left to spend during your actual visit home?
No Emergency Fund
What if you have medical issues, an unexpected hiccup in an employment opportunity, or had troubles with the law abroad? Can you afford to cover these expenses?
What if you lost your phone or laptop charger, had your wallet stolen, or got into a fender bender and had to fix your vehicle? Can you afford these pricey replacements or will you have to settle without them?
In some cases travel and expat insurance will cover certain mishaps. But let’s be honest – chances are that you didn’t invest in insurance because you can’t afford to on such a tight budget.
Refrain from Splurging or Treating Yourself
Everyone overindulges or treats themselves at various levels of frequency and intensity. How about going out for a night of entertainment? Or taking an afternoon to shop for a few pieces of clothing to add to (or replace) your wardrobe?
Oh wait. You’ll have to settle for another evening in front of the TV or cheap cookie-cutter clothing sold at touristy Thai markets.
Forget Indulging in Comfort Food
There will come a point, even for people who love Thai food, where you can’t eat another 30 baht ($1 US) street stall plate of chicken fried rice or red curry stir-fry. Culture shock happens and it’ll hit you like a ton of bricks.
The next thing you know, you’ll be dropping four or five times as much money on an American diner grilled cheese sandwich, or ten times as much money on an Irish pub tender roast with mounds of creamy mashed potatoes and gravy.
And what about adult beverages? Sometimes the local light beer and rough whiskey rum just doesn’t cut it. Two pints of an IPA, two glasses of (good) wine, or two bourbons on the rocks will basically wipe out your daily budget.
There Won’t Be Much Traveling
To have Southeast Asia at your fingertips but unable to explore because of your lack of finances is a sin!
Sure, you might be able to afford an overnight trip to a nearby town. Chiang Mai is near to places like Chiang Rai, Chiang Dao, Payao, and Pai. But you’ll use the cheapest (and by default, least comfortable) form of transportation to get there and back and possibly stay in the dingiest bungalow or guesthouse. Again you’ll have to stick to the least expensive Thai food and there won’t be much left for getting around town and sightseeing.
This Blogger Couple Can’t Live on $500 Per Month (Per Person)
There’s something exhilarating saying, “Yeah, I live off $500 per month in Chiang Mai, Thailand.” What a perfect, clean-cut number. And it grabs people’s attention, too!
When we first moved, we tried aiming for this budget. That is, $1,000 per month between the two of us.
But we quickly found out that we weren’t happy. And especially the first month or two as we were settling in, we had a few unexpected expenses come up that definitely blew our budget out of the water.
For the record, our absolute cheapest month ever in Thailand was January 2014. At 19,555 baht ($607) for everyday expenses plus 15,000 baht in rent ($466), that equals out to $536.50 per month per person, and it was just too tight.
We realized that going out for a good burger, hanging out with friends over a few drinks, buying a new pair of running shoes or a replacement memory card for our camera made our life more livable. And that’s what life should be about, right? So we tossed that tight budget out the window and settled for something more comfortable.
Shortly after moving to Chiang Mai, we bumped our monthly budget up to $600 per person. Nowadays, it’s worked its way up to $750 per person.
It’s Possible, Just Improbable
Can you live on $500 per month in Chiang Mai? Yes. If you absolutely had to or if you only did it for a few months, you could.
But will you be happy – truly, let’s-not-kid-myself happy if you did this for a long period of time? Ehhhh…probably not. So for people who want to become long-term expats, we wouldn’t recommend living in Chiang Mai on $500 per month and definitely not on anything less than $500.
We’d recommend increasing your monthly budget by another $100 or $200 if you can afford to, just to be more comfortable. Even that little bit goes a surprisingly long way. And make sure to have some savings in the bank, just in case!
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I’m 59 I will approx. 140.000 pounds will that see me through until I’m gone to put it bluntly
Do you think $3,200/month for a family of 5(2 adults, 3 kids under 7) is doable in Chiang Mai?
It all depends on your spending habits, but that sounds like a reasonable figure.
Very good article. Would you mind telling me the price per meal if bought at the market?
Thank you. A prepared meal from a market or one you prepare yourself with ingredients purchased at a local market will cost about 30 to 40 THB ($1 US).
I definitely agree. Chiang Mai is inexpensive, but you have to live a very, very basic life to get down to $500 per month. The apartment we rent is about $150 per month, so that only leaves $350 per month for everything else. That about $11 per day. Three $3 meals and one good coffee and your budget is gone. I would say that $1000 per month, per person as a couple is much more reasonable. My wife and I are not wanting for anything at that budget.
Glad to hear you’re another ‘anti-500 USD/month’ person who doesn’t want to scrape by on the very basics. Not fun in our eyes!
Chris and Angela, We are planning to move sooner than we had originally planned. Three years is still a ways away, but it’s when we both reach 50yrs. Our goal is $2500 per month. Would this be adequate in your eyes. We won’t be working.
Yes, you could be solidly comfortable in a city like Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Udon Thani, Hua Hin, or similar city for 2,500 USD per month. We’d say in the more expensive areas (Phuket, Bangkok and even Pattaya that it might be a bit tight. The cost of living is higher but there are also many expensive Western amenities at your fingertips). You also meet the 65,000 THB per month retirement fund quota, so that qualifies one of you for a retirement visa. Sounds like you two will do just fine :)
Hi Chris and Angela,
We’ve been following your blog and site for months as we prepare to come to Thailand. Thank you for your work and passion to do this; it’s helping to direct our travel and decisions!
We are traveling to Chiang Mai this month and are looking for suggestions for where to stay. We appreciate beautiful spaces, super comfortable beds, friendly staff, and good location. Your input is appreciated!
MaryAnn and Dave
Hi MaryAnn and Dave! We are currently hard at work putting together a comprehensive series of Chiang Mai apartments and condos reviews on our blog (listing all the details such as Wifi speed, location, cost, plus high quality video tours). This will be in the soon-to-launch membership area. Please sign up to be notified when this information goes live.
I heard your interview this morning on a Montreal local radio show…Quite inspiring to hear your story at such a young age..I also don’t believe you can live well on a $500 budget per month..I think $2000 would be more like it..I’m also wondering when are the best months to head over as a first visit..I’m hoping to spend the winter seasons under the sun..Can’t take these Canadian winters anymore..Keep up the great work with useful tips…
How cool is it that you listened to us on the radio :) The weather is the most pleasant (coolest) in December and January and would line up with your desire to get away from Canadian winters. We personally like the rainy season from May through October (for most areas of the country). Less tourists, incredible blue skies, and you can find some dirt cheap hotel deals. Thanks for commenting!
whats the lowest budget for both of you in a week that you spent ?
Both of you : have you try setting a budget for a week of say 1000bht for 2 person for a trial test run ? and see what you can come up with. just on daily expenses for a week. including petrol and food, simple grocery items. excluding shopping for clothes, gifts,electronics.
Haha, yes. We’ll do really well for a week or two and stick to a low budget and then BAM we’ll just drop 3,000+ baht in one day. (Basically, everything we need/want accumulates and we totally blow our budget in just a few hours.
For me and mine, 60K was comfortable and allowed us the freedom to travel the entire region many times over. This was from ’06 to ’12. We scored a great house with a great landlord and that made all the difference in the world. Many of my friends (pro boxers mostly) lived off far, far, far less, but if they’re fighting they always have a meal at the camp to rely on.
We are very lucky with our house and landlord, too. 60k will definitely provide comfort. We’ve been living on that amount recently :)
Had to laugh at the food comment. I have just been through that. I am based in Chiang Mai. After the last month of eating Thai food I had an incredible urge for a burger which is rare for me even in the Western countries. I found a place. As I bit into it the grease run down my chin and it was heaven, a burger never tasted so good.
Haha, heaven indeed! Some times it’s good to have fresh bread, beef, and cheeeeesssseee :)
53 looking at retiring in 2 years with my thai wife (married 5 years). Wondering about jobs. I hear teaching is the only route, but I’m an IT guy and was wondering about teaching IT or working in the IT field. Should have about 2k dollars per month for wife and me she will work and I’ll work PT giving us about 90k baht for the month. Thanks for any reply
Teaching is not the only route but it is by far the most commonly offered to foreigners. Unless you have IT skills that no other Thai has and can apply to a Thai company (which is why English speaking foreigners can teach English in Thailand; they are seen as better qualified at doing so than a native Thai), your best bet is to apply for work online. However, big IT companies may hire a foreigner if the company is catering to foreign clients. Good luck!
Keep in mind that you’re living in a developing, 3rd world country with an infrastructure barely capable of supporting its own citizens, let alone long term visitors/residents seeking western lifestyle at 1/2 the cost. Consider the following: There is little if no recycling in most places. Pickup is largely left up to those earning extra income scavenging for recyclables. That means bottles, plastic containers and lots of other garbage often ends up on side of the road or rotting in a gulch. There are no standards for emissions from cars, scooters or motorcycles. That allows for a lot of old… Read more »
Nemrut is right about those with rose coloured spectacles. The forums are awash with keyboard warriors who only see (or want to see) the better side of Thailand. There are few blogs that paint an even-sided picture. most are riddled with what I have to take as deliberate misinformation. One travel blogger flamed me for suggesting that there were postal problems from abroad during the demonstrations against Yingluck. He even got his followers to join in the fray. He had no answer when I posted him a notice on the UK Royal Mail website detailing the situation at several sorting… Read more »
We are a couple and live comfortably on $750 each per month, excluding medical issues and travel. but our rent is only 7k baht for a reasonably nice 3 bedroom house in the city +4k baht for bills. Hot showers, double AC units, 3 bedrooms. Not Ceasars Palace or anything but not dirty or infested either. We don’t drink and that helps. When we were drinking regularly two years ago our budget was MUCH higher. We could probably do $500 each if we turned off our AC and skipped all western meals (either out or at home) but then whats… Read more »
It’s always good to hear others’ experiences, so a big thanks for sharing yours. Sounds like you are doing quite well :)
Yes it is very hard to live on $500 a month and I don’t live in a tourist area like Chang Mai, Bangkok or the likes. My fiance has lived for a very long time on $400 a month and she has taught me how to get around quite nicely using motorcycle taxi’s mini buses as she calls them, the modified mini trucks. Her efficiency Apartment includes everything and her rent is $75 a month. it’s about 30 miles south of Bangkok in a Muslim area. She eats out most days and I with her. You kind of get use… Read more »
Indeed, if you live a simplified and non-American lifestyle it’s possible. $75 for rent is super cheap! Learning something like utilizing the modified mini trucks is a good tip.
Hi Chris and Angela, I have just stumbled across your blog and what a good read it is. I am also confident that you now have an avid follower as I am myself a 53 year old in the initial stages of planning a lifestyle and location change. I would like to move to Chiang Mai next year and enter the world of English teaching. I intend to enrol on a TEFL course and hopefully obtain a Non Immigrant visa to teach but if not I intend to try part time whilst I complete a degree within the next three… Read more »
Glad you enjoy our blog! £50000 is a nice chunk of change to come over on, particularly since you won’t be dipping into as much once you begin teaching. £750 per month for two people is a bit tight in our eyes. You can definitely survive on it, especially if you are a frugal person, but we believe that most people won’t be truly comfortable on that amount. Just be careful about the degree – it’s a requirement to have a college degree (diploma in hand) to start work and hold a business visa/work permit in Thailand and not just… Read more »
Chris, Angela,
Many thanks for your response and I take your comments on board. I will most certainly take advantage of your coaching sessions a little later in the year if I may. In the meantime I will continue to follow these pages. many thanks again.
John
It’s really nice to see such transparency about costs in travel writing ! I realize that many times, people are not comfy sharing this info but sharing it really helps others see what it possible ( and comfortable ! ).
We’re glad you liked this post and found it helpful. Putting a dollar amount into perspective, in this case that infamous $500 per month, will hopefully help redirect a few souls who thought they could live it large on such a tiny amount. Thanks for commenting!
That’s right Tony. An ordinary police officer would earn 8000 baht per month (though of course there are “perks”). A university graduate in government would earn about 25000, in a bank up to 35000, a teacher maybe up to 30000, Salaries can depend on who you know of course but the minimum wage (which many actually don’t get particularly if non-Thai) is 300 baht a day. So 40000 baht should be enough even allowing for prices for farangs being higher.
We can second the 300 baht per day minimum wage – that’s less than 10,000 baht a month!
300 baht per DAY
Oops! Yes, per DAY. We knew that ;) Fixed it!
Hey guys! I love this post. Too often people scrimp by when travelling and when living somewhere…and while on one hand, I see the desire to stay on the road for as long as possible (and therefore stretching every dollar), I also think that people can, and do, miss out on a lot by not upping the budget. We are around $1,500 Canadian total when living in Mexico and Guatemala – but we drink a lot of wine, we travel around, we eat lots of western (and local) food and we are comfortable. I think $1,500 is reasonable for sure.… Read more »
It’s sounds awesome that you, too, are living it up for $1,500. That’s our kind of number! Glad to know you can do that in Mexico and Guatemala (we’ve actually watched your video on your house in Guatemala, and it’s really nice.) While we understand the draw to stretch a dollar and see as much as possible, but we just happen to lean towards spending money on our creature comforts (and yes, wine and Western food). Have a great one!
Maybe you should reflect the costs in Thai Baht (it is Thailand after all) , most Thai families live off 10,000 to 20,000 baht per month. As a foreigner if you double that 40,000 baht should be more than enough. I guess this is around $1200USD
The current exchange rate is 32.9 THB per 1 USD; $500 is 16,450 baht. Yes, many Thai families live on the equivalent of $500 USD per month or less, but the average Thai family also doesn’t have (many) Western comforts and amenities, which are what quickly drive the price up. $1200 USD will be generally comfortable for many Westerners who don’t overindulge.
HAHA, I was so very confused for quite a long while there, with even a few WT# thoughts as I had to go back and reread the whole article a few times, as you had in just one fowl swoop, shattered all of my dreams in my little glass box with a very big and obnoxious hammer. Then I realised you’re talking about $500 per MONTH, not $500 per WEEK. My dreams of living like a king in Thailand for $500PW were shattered for just a brief moment (TRY LIKE 20 MINUTES OF PAIN) – HAHAHA So it’s safe to… Read more »
On $2000 per month, you’ll do great! That amount of money opens up a lot of doors and you’ll certainly be able to live a Western lifestyle like back home. It still amazes us just how an extra $500 or $1000 per month can change your quality of life in Thailand!
$500 per month for only one person is not much. In my case, for example, I think that I need to pay more than $1,000/family to live there because besides me and my husband, we have two small children of 6 and 9, so the expenses can skyrocket.
The place looks interesting, but I think you can live there only if you have a pretty big income every month. For me is not the case.
It’s good you realize that Chiang Mai maybe not the place for you and you family before making the big decision to move here. Glad we could help put it into perspective.
We had hopes of spending $1,000 a month for the two of us, but we find ourselves in the $1100-1200 range without ever saying NO to ourselves. We eat & cook western foods, love our new modern condo with washer in Nimman area, go to Camp or other cafe’s daily, and of course a few beers during the week. I would never suggest someone aiming for $500 as a single person, agree with you 100% but being a couple it would be easier but again not ideal. Great summary! Still can’t believe we haven’t bumped into you yet!
Haha, $1000 seems to be the golden number for couples. We’ve creeped up to $1400 to $1500 a month but like you said, its without saying no (at least, not too much) and living quite comfortably. Hey, an extra $400-$500 does the body good! Welcome back to Chiang Mai!
Your article is a breath of fresh air in its honest exposé of what life can really be like for expats. I hope it gets a wide audience to counter the doom mongering that one sees on sites such as Thaivisa and New Mandala.
Those sites can have good information, but you have to struggle through all the fact-less opinions and bad comments! We hope this post puts living on a low income into better perspective for those who are planning to live in Chiang Mai, and yes, hopefully many people stumble across it on their quest for information about living in Thailand.
I agree there are some good posters out there. I had some excellent advice on a holiday in Singapore from a guy on Teakdoor but, as you say, look at the majority of posts. New Mandala’s owners sabotaged a well-written article by one of their own university colleagues. Whether you agree or not there is no need for flaming and certainly not to an academic colleague. It doesn’t happen on my site or yours.
How about $3000 a month for a couple. I like to spend $500~600 for a rent, newly built town-house. Rest is for utility, food, and entertainments. I don’t mind spending a lot more once in a while, if it makes me happy. How are old folks there? Retirees in Chiang Mai appear to be happy to you in general? Thanks in advance for your answer.
$3000 for a couple sounds very comfortable! You will certainly be able to live a very Western lifestyle with amenities and entertainment (nothing outrageous) but it’ll make you happy. We think there are varying levels of happiness among retirees, which of course depends on income, health, and family life, but we known several retired couples who are very happy living here.
Hi I am thinking of coming to attempt to live in Thailand this year, it will be me a female and my little dog. I am a therapist ie massage, injuries which I have lectured in. I have been to Thailand once and fell in love with it. I will prob need to work just part time. Any help and advice is most appreciated. I understand the visa situation and prob look at living in Chang Mai due to there being an ex pat community. Thanks
Thailand’s laws regarding foreigners working here are quite strict and jobs are limited (teaching English is by far the most available option). Even if it’s just part time, please be careful (and don’t get frustrated with the lack of opportunity) with finding a job in your area of expertise. Of course we highly recommend working online if possible. Chiang Mai is an excellent start-up city and will be welcoming to you and your pet dog :)
I recently found your site and have lost countless hours here. Thanks for that! We’re imminently retiring early and going travelling with our kids for the first few (I hope several) years. I’ve put Chiang Mai on my short list for Thailand because of you guys (no pressure, honest). Our plan/desire is to travel slowly through a bucket list of places that have increased exponentially from the input of the kids. There is no time limit for this but I am conscious that my kids may not want to hang out with me forever. Though I’m still committed to doing… Read more »
It’s nice to hear that you got lost on our site. No harm in that! Slow travel is awesome. On $56,000 a year for a family of five, that’s about $930 per person per month. You’ll be living quite comfortably in Chiang Mai for sure. And as a family, you’d be sharing a house, vehicle, and those mundane but necessary expenses (cleaning supplies, utilities, etc), so you can stretch you dollars farther. Keep in mind that vehicles are fairly expensive over here (about the same price as America/Canada) and that if you choose to enroll your children in international school,… Read more »
For the most part I agree with you. I could quite easily live in Chiang Mai on $500 a month. However, please note that I said “easily”, not comfortably. At least not to my standards of comfort. But, the individual who has funds over and above the $500 level, and CHOOSES to live within those constraints can easily do so. The mistake would be for the person who comes to Chiang Mai with $500 monthly being his/her only funds available. For most of the first year I lived in Thailand I was teaching English in Phitsanulok. While there I lived… Read more »
In a sleepy Thai town, $500 is definitely doable. There isn’t much temptation due to the lack of Western brands, imported foods, or entertainment if everyone closes up shop when the sun goes down. But Chiang Mai is a different beast… there are so many things to do and restaurants and businesses catered to Westerners that your budget could go right out the window if you don’t exercise proper restraint. However, there are plenty opportunities in Chiang Mai to live inexpensively if you choose wisely, and yes, it can be easily done if you choose to. But we agree that… Read more »
It all comes down to setting expectations. Moving to a developing 3rd world country requires an adjustment to lifestyle and foregoing conveniences taken for granted in wealthier, developed countries.
Seasoned travelers will have no problems making this adjustment while those stepping out of their comfort zone for the first time will need to set a realistic budget to accommodate western standards of living.
Many Thais do just fine with $500 month, so if one is inclined to lower their expectations and live like the locals, the expat experience can be richer and more authentic.
It all comes down to comfort levels. To each his/her own. We’ve attempted both $500 and $750 per month each, and opting to increase our budget by a few hundred USD really allowed us to enjoy our lives here without sacrificing our comfort, safety, or emergency/periodic travel requirements. One thing Thais don’t typically require is expensive plane tickets to their another country or staying current with the associated costs and requirements of maintaining a visa. We aren’t saying it isn’t possible to live on $500 per month, but we couldn’t do it longterm. Thanks for commenting, Nemrut, and have a… Read more »
Your post is spot on! There is a youtuber who lives in Chiang Mai who espouses retirees move to Thailand and live on $500 per month comfortably. It is completely unconscionable how he can sleep at night. My comfort zone would be around $2000 per month plus substantial savings and medical insurance.
Thanks, Robert! What’s comfortable in Western standards is not the same as Thai standards, and that’s an important distinction to make. Neither our grandparents nor our parents could retire here on $500 per month per person – they’d be “roughing” it way more than they’d like. $2000 per month sounds quite comfortable!
It’s much easier for couples or those with roommates to live on less since they share a certain amount of bills, but you’re right. If you can’t treat yourself or travel from time to time, you’ll end up bitter with your choice to live in Thailand. With so much to see and do, it’s just not worth it to stay home all the time sweating the day because you have no A/C. My wife and I aren’t kidding ourselves that beyond rent and utilities, we will have some widely varying expenses from month-to-month depending on what we have on our… Read more »
We definitely agree that couples or roommates have it easier – you can share transportation, all those silly household things like kitchenware and cleaning supplies, and get a better place to live simply by combining funds and doubling what you spend on rent. We agree that preparing and planning (a little longer if necessary) in order to have adequate funds to have if it means that retirement is more enjoyable :) A big YES to enjoying life!
Excellent article and we’ll done for making things clear. Too many people can’t see past the dreams and forget reality (and it’s unpredictability) . And as you said what’s the point of leaving your old life behind only to settle in a rough new one. And remember that at least back home you have all your family and friends to cheer you up when you need it. Long term expat life is great and indeed a viable choice of life but life is still life… no matter the country you live in.
We’ve seen some bad examples people trying to live off $500 per month. For instance, it’s hard to put a price on a properly sealed bathroom with a nice Western toilet, hot water shower, and a shower curtain when you are standing over a squat toilet, having to set your toilet paper on a high shelf so it doesn’t get sprayed from the showerhead, while watching mosquitoes fly in and out of your all-purpose floor drain! You just won’t have the same comforts at home, and you have to ask yourself, is this really worth it? We hope that this… Read more »