Cost of Living

A lot has been said about the cost of living in Thailand..

“It’s so cheap, you can live like a King..”.

“It’s not as cheap as everyone says you know..”

“It’s the same price as in the West..”

“Beer is cheaper than water” (Okay, maybe that’s a stretch.)

Who to believe?

Well, the answer is a bit of everyone. It is true that the cost of living in Thailand is less, sometimes a lot less, than our countries in Farangland. It is also true however, that the cost of living is increasing. It all depends on your lifestyle, where you live and how much you drink.

These are genuine monthly budgets, in 2013, of three very different, real expats living in Thailand (names changed for privacy).

John is a single, unqualified ESL teacher at a Thai government school living alone in Bangkok, in Lad Prao on a, quite typical, salary of 30,000 THB.

Apartment: Basic studio room with A/C, fridge, cable TV: 7,000.

Utilities (electricity, water) 900 THB.

MRT (underground train) costs to work: 500 THB.

Gym membership: 1000 THB.

Food (based on eating out 2/3 times a week, eating in often): 8,000 THB.

Remaining budget of just over 12,000 on personal costs.

John says he lives comfortably but has very little room for any saving. He spends what he earns. This is based on 2 big “nights out” a month, eating mostly local Thai food and going to the cinema once a month.

Jessica is a young professional living in central Bangkok with a healthy monthly salary of 150,000 THB. She is single and lives alone.

Apartment: One bedroom, spacious condo in Thong Lor (trendy neighbourhood on Sukhumvit), with a swimming pool, gym and close to the BTS Skytrain: 25,000 THB.

Utilities (electricity, water, WIFI, Satellite TV): 3,500 THB.

Food (eating out most nights, mostly Western food around Sukhumvit): 21,000 THB.

Transport (mostly Taxis and BTS skytrain): 5,000 THB.

Mobile phone contract: 1,000 THB.

Entertainment/shopping: 42,000 THB.

Maid (twice a week): 1,500 THB.

Jessica goes out almost every Friday and Saturday. She eats mainly Western food and socializes around Sukhumvit. She eats out almost every night, never cooking for herself. She has a maid that cleans her apartment twice a week. “I was on the same salary living in central London last year. That got me a small flat, a comfortable life but no scope for personal saving. I now save over 1,000 a month without trying. I never worry about what I’m spending, and go shopping for clothes and other items every weekend and enjoy regular nights out. I see myself here for the foreseeable future”.

Paul is a retired teacher from the UK. He is married to a Thai lady and has one young child. He lives in Sisaket, in Isaan. (North East Thailand).

House (3 bedroom detached, with a small garden): 4,000 THB

Transport (petrol for his car): 2,000 THB.

Food (mainly cooking in, one or two meals out a week): 6,000 THB (weekly shop at Big C under 1,000 THB.)

Satellite TV: 1,500 THB.

Alcohol (not too much entertainment in Sisaket): 5,000 THB.

Other costs (clothes etc): 5,000.

Paul has very little outgoings. He supports his family of 3 by spending little over 20,000 THB a month. His savings and pension easily cover this. He rents his houses as the cost is so low. He visits the local ‘farang’ pub most evenings. The cost of living in Isaan is a lot less than Bangkok or Pattaya. The cost of a large bottle of beer is a maximum of 70 THB. Meals will be 50 THB or less. Paul lives comfortably and can afford a holiday to a beach every month is he wishes.

The cost of living in Thailand varies considerably. A studio apartment in Central Bangkok can be as high as 25,000 THB. The same studio further out in Lad Prao for example, can be as little as 3,000 THB. It all depends on your lifestyle. You can live as extravagantly as you like in Thailand, or live a simple, local style existence. Go shopping at Topman, H & M, Gucci, or buy from a street vendor. The potential for saving on a decent salary can be huge, as huge as the potential for your party lifestyle. As Thais love to say, Lao Dare (up to you!).

Here is an up to date list of basic amenities and their cost in 2013. *

Small bottle of local beer: 7/11: 30 THB. Bar: 60-150 THB.

Large bottle of local beer: 7/11: 44 THB. Bar: 80-200 THB.

Plate of chicken on rice: 30-40 THB.

Bowl of noodles: 30-40 THB.

Loaf of bread: 20-30 THB.

500 ml bottle of Cola: 24 THB.

500 ml bottle of water: 14 THB.

Steak at Sizzler: 250-700 THB.

Big Mac meal: 150 THB.

Pizza Hut (pizza, spaghetti, garlic bread): 500 THB.

T-shirt from market: 100 THB.

T-shirt from Topman: 700 THB.

Pack of 20 cigarettes: 40-70 THB.

*These prices vary from bar to bar, supermarket to supermarket and city to city. Prices in Isaan are considerably lower than in Bangkok, where prices are lower than Phuket. You get the general idea of pricing. Some expats live on 20,000 THB while others cannot survive on under 50,000 THB. Take into consideration your lifestyle (people who don’t drink can survive on a lot less). How much do you want to save? Will you be renting or buying? Can you eat Thai food from the street or will you miss your Western meals too much?

Live like a King, Live like a local. Live like CharlieSheen. It’s up to you.