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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