Winston
Working in Nonthaburi
Monthly Earnings 40,000
Q1. How is that income broken down? (full-time salary, private students, on-line teaching, extra work, etc)
40K is my full-time salary only. I don't take on private students or extra work.
Q2. How much money can you save each month?
Around 7,000 baht, sometimes less, sometimes a couple of thousand more.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
My one-bedroom condo costs 10k a month, with electricity and water included.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
1,500 baht
Utility bills
Electricity, water circa 3,000 baht, insurance another 3,000, mobile phone, fibre, monthly subscriptions etc. 1,000 baht.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
10-15,000.
Nightlife and drinking
I don't go to nightclubs or pubs. I only drink at home and this expense comes to around 3,000.
Books, computers
Nothing.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
It's comfortable but I can't really save a lot. The salary is not that great to begin with, and living in Thailand is not as cheap as it was. You need to cook rice and chicken, and stop drinking, buying snacks, or going out if you want to save another 10K. Don't take taxis, don't turn on the air-con, okay, that's another 3-4K saved. But why would you do that? I'd rather go home than live like this, only to save 300-400 USD a month.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
I don't really know. You are not living in Bangkok nor in the peaceful countryside or near a beach. And feeling like "a fly in the milk" lol.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
60K to live a safe, healthy, and comfortable life, and be able to travel locally, while also saving a bit. But not going out drinking.
Phil's analysis and comment
Thank you Winston. I don't think we've heard from a teacher in Nonthaburi for some time but it was quite a popular destination for teachers in the past (and probably still is) because you are very near to Bangkok but don't quite have the temptations that you would have if you were living in the city itself, so your 40K a month probably goes that bit further. I wouldn't argue with your 60K a month for a comfortable lifestyle though - even in Nonthaburi!
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