Doug
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings 54,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
I earn around 54,000 per month. Sometimes more if I have to substitute teach.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
Not much, sinceI have a child on the way. I figure my expenses just about match my income. However, Sometimes I can hide 5,000
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I pay 13,000 per month for a 50 square meter apartment.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
3,000
Utility bills
3,500
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
5,000
Nightlife and drinking
1,500
Books, computers
1,000
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Pretty much equal to what I had in America, just minus the car. Luckily, I don't need one here
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
The public transportation system.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
Probably 50-60,000 baht/month in order to maintain a lifestyle equivalent to "the west." With that said, you can survive with a small level of comfort on 35,000 baht/month.
Phil's analysis and comment
Doug earns a very nice salary - make no mistake. I just feel that he could be saving (or hiding) more than 5,000 baht a month (even with a kiddy on the way) Perhaps he needs to eat more Thai food and take public transport a bit more often. That said, I never begrudge a man sinking his teeth into a hearty rump steak or jumping into an air-conditioned taxi while the Bangkok massive stand sweltering at their bus shelters.
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