Steve
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings 140,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
I work as a director at an international school and my salary is 140,000 after tax.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
Realistically, I could save 100,000 baht a month, but I save around 80,000. About half of that goes to retirement and the other half goes to savings, from which some will be taken for vacations. If I wanted to live more frugally I certainly could, but I am trying to strike a balance.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I live in a two-bedroom apartment, and pay 20,000 a month, which also covers utilities (power, water, internet).
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
I take the taxi to work, and that runs about 1,000 per month. There's the occasional BTS ride. Call it 2,000 all in.
Utility bills
My utilities are about 5,000 a month, as I like to keep my apartment cool (I also think that my rate is too high, but I am moving soon).
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
Food is easy. I give myself 500 baht a day to spend on food and other items. Anything that I don't spend gets rolled over, and often at the end of the week I can treat myself to a meal at the French restaurant down the street and still be within this range
Nightlife and drinking
I go downtown about once a month, so that's another 2,000 for a fun night out. Counting this, and after I have paid student loans and funded my accounts, generally I am left with 10,000 or so extra, some of which I spend at Foodland and some of which goes to the occasional weekend getaway. Either that or it gets rolled over into the next month.
Books, computers
As far as books and computers I own a Kindle and a laptop, so that works for entertainment. I'll be buying a new computer soon, so video games will be coming back into my life...
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
I live comfortably. I could live extravagantly, but got used to simpler things when I was in the Peace Corps. I have enough to eat, enough to do, and am able to save a lot. Things are good here.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
The street food. There are days when I spend less than 200 baht, all in, and do just fine. Taxi rides are also inexpensive. I also get a massage every week. An hour for 300 baht (including tip) is an incredible bargain.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
Honestly, if you want to enjoy Bangkok, 50,000-60,000 is a minimum.
Phil's analysis and comment
Even though Steve earns a great salary, he's clearly very sensible with his money. He's looking after his future and making hay while the sun shines. A very commendable set of figures there!
If anyone fancies doing a cost of living survey, I've now put the questions on-line to make it easier and quicker for you. Please spare half an hour if you can.
A number of teachers complete the surveys with just a list of figures. I don't wish to sound ungrateful but that's not really what we're looking for. There needs to be some sort of 'story' behind the figures as it were (it certainly makes the surveys more interesting to read) Many thanks!
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