Working in Bangkok

Monthly Earnings 127,000 baht

Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?

I do not work for a school but for a company actually. I'm a big fan of this section and I thought I'd contribute too even if not teaching related.

Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?

I save a lot less than what I should. I put away 20k at the beginning of each month and usually save what is left by the end of the month. That is never more than another 10k.

Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?

I pay around 30,000 baht for a one-bedroom condo (55 sq metres) in the city centre.

Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?

Transportation

I use a mix of taxis, motorbike taxis, Uber and BTS, whatever is more convenient at that time. I'd say probably 100 baht per day minimum.

Utility bills

Utility bills was included in the rent but It's about 1,000 to 1,200 baht per month for electricity, 100 baht for water, 800 for internet and 500 baht for Netflix

Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping

This where it hurts I spend around 2,500 baht weekly at the supermarket. I buy a lot of imported food and that costs quite a lot here, much more than back home in Scandinavia. And maybe another 16k in eating out. I like to treat myself on weekends to nice places.

Nightlife and drinking

It really depends, there are weekends where I could stay home and do nothing and weekends where I could spend maybe 10,000 but I'd say around 25k per month

Books, computers

I bought a computer last year so nothing this year and probably 500 baht per month on books. There is no section for this but I'd like to add that I do spend quite a big of money on clothes every month as well as we need to be perfectly dressed where I'm working and it could be sometimes another 10,000 per month. I fly back home twice and it costs me around 60,000 per year. My insurance, visa, work permit and cell phone bills are covered by my employer.

Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?

Pretty good, honestly except for the food and some alchohol it's much cheaper than back home. With the same salary I would never afford the same kind of lifestyle compared to in my country.

Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?

Taxis (even Uber X), Thai food, local restaurants, utilities like water bill.

Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?

That's a tough question to be honest. The lowest amount I have lived on was when I first arrived and that was 50k per month - and I still felt like I was living a very decent lifestyle here in Bangkok. If you want to live in the city center and enjoy life I'd say 45k to 50k at least.

Phil's analysis and comment

Axel is not a teacher but as he said in the survey, he's a big fan of our cost of living section, so we'll allow him to take part even though most teachers will probably not be that interested in what a 'company employee' is earning. 

That said, I've worked with many teachers down the years who have 'lucked out' and used teaching as purely a stepping stone to moving into other kinds of employment. Often a case of right place and right time, if you teach working adult students, you can sometimes make good contacts and hear of the most unlikely job openings. Foreigners welcome! You might be interested in reading this article I wrote a while ago on real-life stories of foreigners who have beat the 'teacher trap'.  

A plea for your kind help.

There never seems to be a shortage of teachers out there who are good enough to take part in our cost of living survey - and that's fantastic! I'm extremely grateful.  Could I also get a few of you to help out with updating our region guides if possible. I would love your feedback if you are teaching outside Bangkok. Here is the list of towns and cities covered in our region guides. Please don't feel that you have to answer every question. If you just want to fill in a couple or three answers then that's an enormous help! Muchas gracias. 

Gustav

23rd August 2016

Working in Samut Prakarn

Monthly Earnings 35,000 baht

Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?

I work at a private university and my salary is 35,000 baht for 15 contact hours per week.

Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?

10,000 baht

Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?

My condo costs 5,000 a month

Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?

Transportation

Fuel for my motorcycle is around a thousand baht a month.

Utility bills

Electricity, water and internet comes out to 1,200 a month

Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping

I mostly eat Thai street food. I guess with a bit of supermarket and convenience store shopping, my total food bill is no more than 7K a month.

Nightlife and drinking

Nothing at all.

Books, computers

Books and other educational things come to about 500 baht a month

Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?

I've got quite a good standard of living. I live sufficiently comfortable without being concerned about living pay check to pay check.

Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?

Taxis and food. Nowhere else can you get a full meal for the cost of what it is here. And taxis, 60 baht for a 5 km trip. What a bargain!

Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?

To survive and live frugally, 20,000 baht a month is enough for a foreigner, but to live comfortably, I would say you need 35,000 baht+

Phil's analysis and comment

I'm not surprised that Gustav spends nada on nightlife. I live in Samut Prakarn too and there isn't an awful lot to do for a foreigner once darkness descends. What is available in terms of 'neon light entertainment' is very much a Thai scene. In fact one thing that constantly leaps out at me from these surveys is that most teachers will maybe go out for a drink once or twice a week and leave it at that - that's if they go out at all.

Bangkok has a reputation as being one of the great nightlife cities of the world (over-rated some would say) but once you settle down to live and work in this city, much of that nightlife is best left to the tourists. 

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Bob

23rd August 2016

Working in Chiang Mai

Monthly Earnings 65,000

Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?

I work at an international school in Chiang Mai and take home a salary of 57K after tax. I can add about 8,000 baht to that by doing privates.

Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?

40,000 baht

Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?

I live in a bog standard studio apartment and pay 3,000 baht per month

Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?

Transportation

I have my own scooter (as most long term expats in Chiang Mai tend to do) and gas costs about a thousand baht a month.

Utility bills

Nothing. Electricity and water comes as part of the 3,000 baht rental fee.

Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping

About 6,000

Nightlife and drinking

Booze and cigarettes I would say another 4,000.

Books, computers

Nothing.

Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?

I don't want for anything.

Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?

Food, accommodation and gas.

Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?

To survive in Chiang Mai, the bare bones would be 3K for a room and another 200 baht a day on food, so you could do it for 10,000 baht a month. Throw in a few beers and the odd oil massage and you're up to about 15K.

Phil's analysis and comment

I shudder at the thought of trying to survive in Chiang Mai on 15,000 baht a month with all those Western temptations but hats off to Bob for stashing away 40,000 baht a month in savings. By my calculations, he's 'surviving' on about 25K a month. Doable I would imagine but I bet there isn't a lot of money going on the likes of treats and travel. 

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If anyone fancies doing a cost of living survey, I've now put the questions on-line to make it easier and quicker for you. Please spare half an hour if you can. 

A number of teachers complete the surveys with just a list of figures. I don't wish to sound ungrateful but that's not really what we're looking for. There needs to be some sort of 'story' behind the figures as it were (it certainly makes the surveys more interesting to read) Many thanks!

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Sammy

21st August 2016

Working in Hat Yai

Monthly Earnings 32,000 baht

Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?

My boyfriend and I both work at a government school and earn the same salary (32K)

Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?

10,000

Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?

We live in a 3-bedroom apartment (2.5 bedrooms would describe it better) and we pay 10,000 baht a month which includes wifi, pool, sauna and laundry facilities.

Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?

Transportation

Scooter rental is 3,000 baht a month with fuel costing roughly 300 baht on top.

Utility bills

Water is cheap - the most we've paid so far is 70 baht and electricity usually comes to 800 / 900 (we hardly ever use the a/c as we're on the corner of the building so there's always a good breeze, however, the fan is on 24/7) We have gym memberships too, costing 1,100 each month

Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping

Food varies - we cook and go out equally as much so I'd say about 7- 8,500 p/m. We've found a place that serves amazing Thai food for under 60 baht per meal so that's the usual spot. My boyfriend eats much more than me though so he probably spends about 11,000 or so p/m

Nightlife and drinking

Hmmm, we've made a few mistakes here and blown over 1,500 baht in a night (umm, each) so we're trying to limit it - but we enjoy the odd Chang with friends so I'd say about 1,000 baht per month.

Books, computers

I still have both from home but the boyfriend is into games so I guess he could easily spend over 2-3000 baht a month on those.

Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?

It's really comfortable for us. We try save as much as possible to travel so sometimes it could be better but for now we're happy and are able to explore and eat well and do 'coupley' things like movies and picnics quite often.

Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?

Definitely the price of water! Thai food, scooter taxis (if you know how not to get ripped off) and market clothes / household items (we got a big fan, iron + ironing board, hangers and plates for 1,100 baht - something unheard of back home.

Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?

I would say no less than 32,000. I think if our accommodation was cheaper then it would be fine but after a while you need your own space, especially if it's a long-term venture. 40,000 baht would be awesome though.

Phil's analysis and comment

I think you're paying the perfect amount for accommodation. 64K a month coming in between you and your partner and just 10,000 of that going on what sounds like a very nice place. Sounds good to me.

I'm sure 64,000 baht a month affords a couple a very nice living in Hat Yai, which although a large city, doesn't have the temptations of Bangkok I'll bet.

Almost 20,000 baht a month on food though. My word, you guys must eat like kings! What are you eating when you're not at the 60 baht-a-meal Thai restaurant?

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John

21st August 2016

Working in Bangkok

Monthly Earnings 105,000 baht

Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?

I work at a private school in Bangkok (with 400 students) My basic salary is 95,000 and I can earn another 10,000 from private students.

Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?

A large portion of my paycheck goes to paying off school loans and credit cards, but I can still save about 30,000 baht per month.

Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?

The school provides free housing for their teachers. My wife, daughter and I live in a four-room town house.

Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?

Transportation

We usually spend 1,000 baht a month on gas for the car, plus maybe around 300 baht for taxis here and there.

Utility bills

Utilities and maintenance are covered by the school.

Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping

We eat out maybe every other night, so plus groceries maybe 3,000 per month

Nightlife and drinking

The nightlife scene doesn't really appeal to me. I'll go out with friends and drop maybe 200 baht a couple of nights a month.

Books, computers

Internet and phone plans come out to around 1,000 per month.

Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?

My family and I live very comfortably. There isn't much that we have to worry about. I sometimes get the itch to move to a "better" school with more prestige and name recognition, but I always come back to the conclusion that I'm very happy where I am.

Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?

It has to be the food. Thai food is amazing, and Bangkok has a wide selection of international cuisine when you want something different.

Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?

I've built up my salary working at the same school for nearly a decade. I've lived on 30,000 per month when I was single and didn't have any problems. I'd say in the 30,000 to 40,000 range is a fine place to start for Bangkok living, if you don't mind staying away from the expensive restaurants and nightlife most of the time.

Phil's analysis and comment

Thank you John. That's a fine package you've got there sir! I can't understand why you would do the private students though when 95K plus free housing and utilities is a great deal already. 

Was there some mistake with the monthly food spend John? 3,000 baht seems awfully low for a family of three unless you've found some ridiculously cheap Thai places. Even then that's only 250 baht a week each. That can't be right? LOL

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