Richard
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings 150,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
After tax? Around 150,000 which really is great for Bangkok, but well down on the comparative scale. I’m the principal of a small but well run international school in Bangkok.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
I try to put at least 50-70,000 away and manage it most of the time
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I have a nice condo in Bangkok and a house in Pattaya which together costs me around 30,000 a month
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
5,000
Utility bills
5,000
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
10-20,000
Nightlife and drinking
20-30,000
Books, computers
Very little
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Comfortable. I’ve been lucky to have spend most of the last decade in Thailand or the Middle East which has meant a nice, comfortable lifestyle; far better than I could afford in the UK although being single with no kids probably helps!
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
The whole lifestyle is a bargain. From Emporium to Tescos or from The Oriental to Nana, everything is fresh, cheap and available. Tailored clothing, live-in maids, affordable cigarettes, I love it all.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
For a farang? At least 20,000 baht
Phil's analysis and comment
Richard has earning and saving potential that 99% of teachers in Thailand can only dream about. Thailand's your oyster on 150,000 baht a month and there should be plenty left over for a rainy day as well. What more can you say?
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