Gary
Working in Udon Thani
Monthly Earnings 42,000
Q1. How old are you?
46.
Q2. How is that income broken down? (full-time salary, private students, on-line teaching, extra work, etc)
I make 42,000 baht a month, with 38,000 of that coming from my full-time job at a bilingual school in Udon Thani. Standard hours and occasional English camps. I pick up an extra 4,000 baht for being the school's “English Coordinator,” which mostly means printing stuff and making sure no one gives the kids the wrong test.
I don't do private students - I tried it once and never again. And online teaching certainly isn't my thing either.
Q3. How much money can you save each month?
On a good month I might save 5,000 baht. But most months? It’s closer to zero. Udon’s cheap for sure, but between rent, food, beers with the lads, and the occasional impulse Lazada purchase (I now own a folding chair I’ve never used), the money doesn’t exactly pile up.
Q4. How much do you pay for your accommodation (including utility bills) and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I pay 5,500 baht a month for a one-bedroom apartment in a block that fair to say has seen better days. It’s basic but clean, with a decent ceiling fan, a bed that doesn’t squeak too much, and a balcony just big enough to hang laundry. Electric and water bills add another 1,000–1,200 baht a month, depending on how often I blast the air-con. So all in, I’m paying about 6,500 to 6,700 baht a month to keep a roof over my head.
Q5. What are your food costs each month (eating out, supermarket shopping, market purchases, etc)?
Food’s where I probably spend the most, but also where I get the most joy. I’d say I spend around 8,000 to 9,000 baht a month on food. Most of my meals come from local street stalls or basic Thai eateries - 40 baht here, 50 baht there. Som tam, grilled chicken, khao man gai… Udon’s got it all if you’re not that fussy. I hit the supermarket maybe once a week for essentials. I don’t really cook much beyond frying an egg or boiling noodles. If I’m honest, my fridge is mostly beer and leftover sticky rice.
I eat out every day, and it’s cheap and cheerful. The only time I splash out is if someone visits from Bangkok and insists on going somewhere with menus in English and napkins that aren’t toilet paper.
Q6. How much do you spend on going out (nightlife, drinking, socializing, etc)?
I’d say I spend around 3,000 to 4,000 baht a month on nights out. That covers a fair few Leo beers (35 baht a bottle if you know where to look), the odd Singha when I’m feeling fancy, and the occasional whiskey with the lads. I’m not exactly painting the town red every weekend, but a few drinks here and there keep the social life ticking.
Q7. How much do you spend per month on transportation (car, motorcycle, public transport, etc)?
Transportation’s pretty cheap for me since I ride a battered old motorbike that’s seen better days - kind of like me, really. I spend about 800 to 1,000 baht a month on fuel, maybe a bit extra now and then for random repairs when the thing starts making noises. No car, no taxi fares - just me, the bike, and whatever the streets of Udon decide to throw at me.
Public transport? Nope, too slow and awkward when you’ve got a motorbike that gets you anywhere in under ten minutes. Plus, walking’s only for the desperate or the healthy, and I’m neither.
Q8. Give us a good tip for saving money
If you want to save a baht or two in Thailand, here’s the golden rule: ditch the fancy western stuff and live like a local, especially when it comes to food and transport. Stop hunting for overpriced “expat-friendly” supermarkets with imported cheese that costs more than your rent, and embrace the street stalls that serve up a killer pad thai for 40 baht. Same goes for your wheels - buy a used motorbike and learn a bit of basic maintenance.
Q9. If you needed to cut costs and bring down your monthly spend, how would you go about it?
First thing I'd do is curb the beer runs. I mean, cutting back on Leo is basically a personal tragedy, but it’s also where a surprising chunk of my cash disappears.
Next, I’d ditch the air-con during the “hotter than hell’s armpit” months and rely on fans and a cold shower instead. Sure, it’s a sweaty misery, but my electric bill would thank me. I’d also start cooking more at home - or at least learning how to boil something that isn’t instant noodles. Street food is cheap, but even cheaper if you make it yourself.
Q10. What do you feel is a rip off or simply too expensive here compared to back home?
Top of my list would be imported booze. If you’re craving a decent Scotch or craft beer from back home, be prepared to pay through the nose. Secondly, branded gyms. Back home, you pay a solid monthly fee and get everything. Here? They nickel and dime you with extra fees for towels and even using the pool. And finally, international schools- especially for those expats who bring the whole family. The fees make my blood pressure spike just thinking about it. They’re ridiculously expensive, and the perks don’t always justify the cost, unless you’re in one of Bangkok’s top-tier schools.
Q11. Alternatively, what do you feel is a bargain here compared to back home?
Street food for sure. A bowl of boat noodles or a plate of sticky rice with grilled pork costs less than a pint of beer back home - and tastes way better. Second, massage. Seriously, a full hour of foot or Thai massage for under 300 baht? Then there’s transport. I know I’m biased with my motorbike, but even buses and songthaews here cost next to nothing.
Q12. How much do you spend per month on travel (in Thailand and going abroad or returning home for a family visit)?
I do like the occasional escape from Udon’s eternal humidity. Within Thailand, I usually spend around 1,500 to 2,000 baht a month on short trips - weekend jaunts to Nong Khai or Khon Kaen, mostly on my motorbike or a cheap bus. Nothing fancy, just enough to break the monotony.
As for trips abroad or going home, well, that’s a different story. Flights back to Scotland cost me roughly 35,000 baht round-trip if I book well in advance. I try to make that count - usually a visit every two years or so. It’s the one thing I budget for carefully and dread at the same time.
Q13. How would you summarize your standard of living?
I’m not exactly living the dream, but I’m not starving in a gutter either. I’ve carved out a modest, no-frills existence in Udon Thani where the rent’s cheap, the food’s great, and the beer flows. It’s comfortable enough to keep me sane, but not so cushy that I forget what hard work looks like.
Q14. What's the minimum salary you would personally be prepared to work for here?
I’d say the absolute bare bones I’d accept is around 35,000 baht a month. Below that, and you’re scraping the barrel. Rent, food, and transport will eat you alive, and you’ll be living on instant noodles and regret. At 35K, you can get a decent little apartment, eat well enough without starving, and still have a couple of hundred baht left over for a beer or two. It’s tight, but doable if you’re disciplined and don’t have expensive tastes.
Q15. Finally, do you worry about the future? Is your current lifestyle sustainable?
The future nags at me now and then. Living on 42,000 baht a month in Udon Thani isn’t exactly the foundation for early retirement or any kind of financial fireworks. I’m fine for now - rent’s cheap, the food’s cheap, and I’m not drowning in debt - but if something unexpected happens, it could all spiral pretty fast.
I’m not exactly building a nest egg here. Saving is more of a fantasy than a plan, and retirement? Well, that’s something I hope to think about once I figure out how to survive this year. So yeah, there’s a bit of worry in the back of my mind.
Phil's analysis and comment
Thanks Gary for being the first to try out our new cost of living format.
Gary’s 35,000 baht minimum is enough for a no-frills, honest living in a second-tier city like Udon Thani. I’ve heard of plenty of teachers scraping by on less, but at the cost of some serious sacrifices like dodgy housing, eating far too many instant noodles, and a social life that’s pretty much non-existent. The big take-away here is that 35K doesn’t get you anywhere near the comfort or savings most expats dream of. It’s just enough to keep the lights on and the stomach full I suppose. However, when all is said and done, Gary seems to be doing OK in Udon Thani on what he earns. There are always those on-line students if he needs more?
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