Jay
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings 57,000 - 60,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
I work at a private school in Bangkok and earn 51,000 a month from the school before tax. Also around 6,000 a month from extra classes/tutoring. So about 57,000 - 60,000 in total.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
Each month I put at least 15,000 into savings.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
My rent is 12,000 a month for the one-bedroom condo I live in.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
I spend about 4,000 a month on getting to and from work. I take a motorbike taxi to get around most of the time. On weekends, my better half nearly always pays for taxis so I'd say 5,000 tops.
Utility bills
Electricity and water comes to about 1,100 a month. That's with 2 air-con units / cooker / TV / games console
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
I don't really spend too much on food. I get a free lunch at school and normally pick up something easy to eat on the way home, or my other half brings something back from work. I'll do a 'big shop' on a weekend and spend about 1,000 baht on that. We may eat out once or twice a week also but that's about it really. So say around, 6,000 at the most.
Nightlife and drinking
I'm just about to become a father, so my nightlife at the moment is non-existent. Back in the day I raged!! I sometimes have a few beers with the guys once every few weeks and I'm partial to a couple of beers after work if that counts?
Books, computers
I spend a fortune on books about babies at the moment. Or it certainly seems that way!
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Comfy. Not so much hi-so but more so-so. But getting there.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Accommodation. I am actually looking to buy a new place and it keeps crossing my mind that I could never afford a pad like this back in the UK.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
I used to be on 30,000 a month before tax and I lived 'OK' on that. I had an apartment, a half stocked fridge/ice bucket and a social life. But come the end of the month I was skint. I could live on 25,000 at a push I think.
Phil's analysis and comment
Thanks Jay. 60K a month is not bad at all, certainly for a single person or as I guess in your case, someone who lives with another wage earner. But of course, you're about to become a proud father and I bet there's no amount of money you could spend on the new arrival right? Good luck with everything. I wish you well.
A plea for your kind help.
There never seems to be a shortage of teachers out there who are good enough to take part in our cost of living survey - and that's fantastic! I'm extremely grateful. Could I also get a few of you to help out with updating our region guides if possible. I would love your feedback if you are teaching outside Bangkok. Here is the list of towns and cities covered in our region guides. Please don't feel that you have to answer every question. If you just want to fill in a couple or three answers then that's an enormous help! Muchas gracias.
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