Every new arrival wants to know if they can survive or live well in Thailand on X thousand baht a month?
It's a difficult question because each person has different needs. However, the following surveys and figures are from teachers actually working here! How much do they earn and what do they spend their money on?. And after each case study, I've added comments of my own.
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Approximate Thai Baht (฿) conversion rates as of 27th July 2024
฿36 to one US Dollar฿47 to one Pound Sterling
฿39 to one Euro
฿24 to one Australian Dollar
฿0.62 THB to one Philippine Peso
Tim
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings 67,000
Q1. How is that income broken down? (full-time salary, private students, on-line teaching, extra work, etc)
50,000 from a full-time job at a private school and 17,000 from private gigs (approx 500 baht per hour)
Q2. How much money can you save each month?
I can save approximately 37,000 baht each month. Once the cost of trips home and 3/4 trips throughout the country are taken into account, it amounts to approx 25,000 per month.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I pay 9,000 baht for a studio apartment which has fantastic facilities right on the MRT line. I can find the living space cramped at times but I prefer to spend my free time around the facilities on offer (gym, pool, study areas, lounge etc)
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
Approx 2,000 a month including monthly MRT commutes to work and various buses on the weekends and minivan trips
Utility bills
Utility bills are really low - approx 90 baht for water and 800 baht for electric for the month. I will forego the air-con during the day but cannot sleep without it on during the night
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
I have just started cooking at home so I am hoping this expense drops. However, I spend approx 13-15k on food a month. I generally eat out but have no real craving for Western food (the odd time a craving for a beefburger arises but that is about it)
Nightlife and drinking
Almost nothing. If I go out drinking it would be for a beer or two and no more. I would say I go out drinking maybe once a month and it amounts to maybe 250 baht a month
Books, computers
None
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Comfortable without being excellent. Even if I was earning a gigantic salary, I would live the same way each month anyway. The only difference would be in the frequency of trips home or the type of places I can stay when I do splash out on holidays
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Taxis are the ones I see most frequently mentioned here and I would have to say that I would agree. I also think that accommodation is a real bargain here, despite living in a "box" that same "box" would cost 40K baht upwards at a minimum where I am from
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
50K to survive and 80K to be comfortable (both after tax)
Phil's analysis and comment
Thank you Tim. So when the figures are totted up, you manage to live in Bangkok on just over 40K a month while still managing to save 25K, which is decent. As you say it's a lifestyle that's 'comfortable without being excellent'. I think 40K is definitely at the very bottom end now for Bangkok.
Eva
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings 33,000
Q1. How is that income broken down? (full-time salary, private students, on-line teaching, extra work, etc)
33K is my full-time salary at a language school located in central Bangkok.
Q2. How much money can you save each month?
14,000
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I spend 5,000 per month on a newly-built condo, with a swimming pool, the usual fitness facilities but most importantly I share the cost with my significant other. Total cost is 10,000 baht per month.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
I go the the language school three times a week, but at inconvenient times such as weekends or late in the afternoon. I’m a slicker for managing my money so I spend exactly 450 baht a week or 1,800 baht a month on this. The other 3 days a week, I’m teaching online using my own computer.
Utility bills
About 800-1,000 baht a month, which includes air-con every night. Water is about 100 baht a month.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
90% of the time it’s street food, which I take back to my apartment. This comes to about 200-250 baht per day. Supermarket shopping I budget and spend about 1,000 baht a month for.
Nightlife and drinking
None.
Books, computers
I have an English TV subscription that sets me back about 500 baht per month. Books are free online if you know where to look.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
I'm a Brit living on a pittance, being paid illegally, having to scrape by each month just to have a savings pot that is slowly being wiped out by inflation.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
If I had a better salary, many things are bargains here. I can buy a bottle of coke for around 15 baht, which is about 40p, or fresh food from the market for about 50-70 baht.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
At least 50,000 with the potential to earn more.
Thailand, especially Bangkok's cost of living, has gone up tremendously over the last few years. Sure, I might be saving some cash but in the grand scheme of things it’s a small amount of money. In the future, another 5-10 years from now, your standard 33-35k job isn’t going to be enough to live on and I pity anyone who wants to do it.
You really need to have a long term plan for Thailand and especially have a back up plan. Forget TEFL. Long term that’s going to the pan. Wages are stagnant and like I said, in another 5-10 years people will still be fighting over 33-35k jobs.
Once you have to return to reality, you’ll wish you'd planned ahead and took the time to properly acquire the right qualifications needed if you want to teach long term, otherwise you’ll be left with no real skills and back stacking selves.
My circumstances are different but I have stuck around for three years doing an education degree, but ultimately I’ll be back in the UK soon acquiring these qualifications as I’m still in my twenties and don’t want to end up with a decade of tefl experience and still scraping the bottom of the barrel with these low paid TEFL jobs.
Phil's analysis and comment
You certainly got it all off your chest in that last few paragraphs, Eva and I wouldn't disagree with a word of what you said. Those of us in Bangkok are all noticing how the cost of living has crept up and up. You say those 35K jobs won't cut it in five years time but I'm not sure they even do now. Your '50K with the potential to earn more' is far nearer the mark for Bangkok. It's becoming one expensive city, especially if you have Western tastes.
Scott
Working in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Monthly Earnings 91,500 baht equivalent
Q1. How is that income broken down? (full-time salary, private students, on-line teaching, extra work, etc)
Full-time salary (after tax) from a large private school, including housing allowance.
Q2. How much money can you save each month?
Most months I save about 30,000 baht. This is split evenly between cash savings and investing in an index fund. I try to save a bit of extra cash for travelling during the summer break.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I live in a serviced apartment which costs about 13,500 baht a month. This includes twice weekly cleaning and internet.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
I have my own bike so it costs me very little to get back and forth to work. Grab bikes are really cheap when going on a night out.
Utility bills
Electricity and water costs about 1,500 - 2,000 baht a month.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
This is probably my biggest expense. There is so much good food in HCMC. I eat out several times a week so this is usually about 15K a month.
Nightlife and drinking
HCMC is a really social city, there is always something going on. This is one of my biggest expenses although I am trying to be more strict with myself in this area. I usually spend about 15K a month.
Books, computers
I have a work laptop so I don't spend anything on computers. I have an audible account so usually access books in this way.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
I feel that my salary gives me a decent enough living standard currently and I am able to save a decent amount each month without sacrificing my living standards. I really appreciate living in a city where rent is affordable enough to not have to rely on a partner or roommates.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Eating out here is really reasonable, especially if you are eating at local restaurants.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
You could live on about 40,000 baht a month here but you need to be earning more if you want to save anything and afford to travel.
Phil's analysis and comment
Interestingly we put up a great escape survey just yesterday from a teacher who taught in Thailand for four years but moved to work in Vietnam in 2019. He sounded like he was really enjoying life there and felt Vietnam had many advantages over Thailand. Scott's cost of living survey also paints quite a glowing picture.
Anne
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings 35,000
Q1. How is that income broken down? (full-time salary, private students, on-line teaching, extra work, etc)
35,000 baht is my full-time salary.
Q2. How much money can you save each month?
Approximately 9,000 baht.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
My one-bedroom condo is 10,000 baht a month and the building has a swimming pool and gym. My condo itself has a washing machine out on a decent size balcony, a king-size bed and all the basics such as microwave, fridge, table and chairs, couch, vanity, an air conditioner (which I dont use) and a large closet.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
I walk to many places and take the BTS or MRT just about everywhere else with an occasional cab home. I budget about 300 per month on transportation.
Utility bills
Phone costs 310 baht per month. I use my unlimited data as a hotspot for online Zoom teaching for my government school and watching Youtube videos etc. Water is about 300 baht and electricity last month was about 480 baht.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
I budget 11,500 baht a month. I dine out about three times per week and enjoy very simple home cooking which consists of stir-fries, salads, soups stews, sandwiches...and too many homemade desserts.
Nightlife and drinking
I do not drink and usually just have a Coke with others who are having beer or cocktails. For me, it's the company and not the drink that matters.
I go to the gym, markets, museums, exhibits and walking tours, most of which are free or low cost. I also do yoga in the park and take walks along the river at night. I budget around 1,600 for entertainment.
Books, computers
I have Kindle free from my daughter's Amazon account and brought two laptops with me so no additional expense there so far.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
I could spend much more than I do but I choose to live well within my means and I am very content.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Rent! Back home I rent my condo out for $1500 US and here only pay $300 US per month.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
As a single person, I would say about 35,000 baht. Savings are important to survival.
Phil's analysis and comment
Thank you Anne. If anyone asks me, I always tell them that living in Bangkok on 35,000 baht a month is nigh on impossible but Anne is certainly doing her best here to prove me wrong. She leaves in decent accommodation, eats well, enjoys what the city has to offer...and still manages to save 9,000 baht a month. I'm sure there is some pretty tight budgeting going on but well done.
Tyler
Working in Phuket
Monthly Earnings 36,000
Q1. How is that income broken down? (full-time salary, private students, on-line teaching, extra work, etc)
I work in a Thai private school in Phuket and I am a full-time employee. My salary is 36,000 baht a month.
Q2. How much money can you save each month?
If I am lucky I can save 2,000 - 3,000 baht.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
Condo rent is 6,000 baht. Keep in mind that I rented this condo before the Phuket Sandbox began (My same condo is around 8,000 baht now). It is very small, around 28 sq metres, The amenities are nice, it has a swimming pool and a gym. I use the gym at my condo so I do not have to pay an extra 1,000 baht for a gym membership.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
I own a scooter and I pay 2,000 baht a month for it. I rented it from a friend of a friend. If you just go to any rental shop you will be charged a premium 3,000 - 3,500 baht a month for a basic scooter. DO NOT TAKE A GRAB! it costs 100 baht to go 1 km down the street (not joking).
Utility bills
Electric I pay 1,500 but that is with me having the AC on all night. My water bill is usually around 300 baht, and I pay 600 baht for home wifi and unlimited data for my phone.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
This is where you will spend all of your money. If you live in Phuket town or anywhere where it has less tourists Thai food will be around 50 to 100 baht. Western food will be 200 to 300 baht a meal.
If you live by the beach expect to be paying 120 - 200 baht for Thai food. If you want to eat Western food you will spend 300 to 400 baht a meal.
Supermarket shopping isn't too expensive. You can get chicken breasts for about 40 baht a kilogram in Makro. Fruit and vegetables are more expensive in Phuket than other provinces.
Nightlife and drinking
I cant afford to drink at all. One beer near a touristy area will set you back 150 to 200 baht. Expect cocktails to be around 200 to 300 baht at happy hour.
Books, computers
I brought my own computer and my school provides me with books so I spend no money there at all.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Would never want to live like this again. It's a never ending struggle at the end of every month.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
The beaches are free. There is beautiful nature all around with a very peaceful vibe.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
To survive and not have to transfer money from your savings, probably 45,000. To live comfortably you need around 60,000.
I really do not suggest to work in Phuket for a salary less than 45,000. Yes you get the beaches but the way you have to live and the constant struggle for money is not a good way to live. I will be leaving Phuket once my contract is up. I cannot live like this.
Phil's analysis and comment
I'm always curious about the lives of teachers who work in towns or cities that are predominantly tourist areas like Pattaya, Hua Hin or Phuket. There must surely be a great temptation to 'do as the tourists do' and go to their restaurants and bars, etc. It must be hard seeing tourists enjoying themselves and feeling almost like you've not been invited to the party. However, I'm sure there are many teachers who manage to block out all that noise if only for financial reasons. I get the impression from Tyler's survey that he wants to live a part-time tourist lifestyle while being a 36,000 baht a month teacher at the same time...and that must be tough.
Showing 5 Cost of Living surveys out of 430 total
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