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 10th December 2023
฿35 to one US Dollar฿44 to one Pound Sterling
฿38 to one Euro
฿23 to one Australian Dollar
฿0.64 THB to one Philippine Peso
Steven
Working in Satun
Monthly Earnings 46,000 - 56,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
I work at a public school with an English program and get a 36,000 baht salary from that. I also make 10,000-20,000 extra a month from on-line teaching and tutoring neighbours.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
Quite a lot because there's nothing to spend your baht on in a rural town. From my salary I save about 20,000 a month, plus whatever tutoring I do, so I can realistically save up to 40k a month
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I rent a really nice detached house for 4,000 baht a month.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
I have my own motorbike and gas is about 22 baht a litre at the moment, so probably less than 100 baht a month on gas.
Utility bills
I pay about 1200 for utility bills and 650 for internet.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
Food down here is about 40-50 baht a meal and there's no Pizza Hut or McDonalds to fritter away cash on
Nightlife and drinking
Nightlife is cheap too, as it's almost non-existent. A big Leo beer at a restaurant is 70baht.
Books, computers
Virtually nothing.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Very, very comfortable. I've lived here five years now and have a very nice set-up with a piano, oven, TV and Xbox and a fully furnished house. There's very little to do in a small town like this, but I've equipped my house and lead a comfortable busy life, while managing to save a ton.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Food of course and lately, gas. My 40 baht a month water bill always makes me chuckle too.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
I comfortably get by on less than 20,000 baht down here, and if I could just do tutoring in the evenings and quit the day job, that would be doable - and great at the same time.
Phil's analysis and comment
An interesting survey from Steve there and much to comment on.
When you're earning up to 56,000 baht a month in a town where there's nothing to splash your cash on - and spending just 4,000 baht on your accommodation - you're always going to be saving plenty and Steve's figures prove it.
Steve practices what I'm always preaching - make your home environment as nice and comfortable as possible. That way you're not going outside 'looking for things to do' because you can't stand being at home. He's got his piano, his X-box console, etc. Steve enjoys just staying at home. There might be folks who'd say 'well you could sit in the house and play games anywhere in the world. He's not enjoying what Thailand has to offer'. But Steve's probably not interested in strolling around the market or riding bicycles around a public park and chatting to locals. He's been in Satun five years already. Perhaps the novelty of 'being in Thailand' has long worn off? It's all about doing what YOU want to do and how YOU want to live your life.
I get the impression Steve could be surrounded by glitzy shopping malls and all the fast-food joints under the sun, he'd still live the same lifestyle.
What interested me most about this survey was Steve's final comment about possibly giving up the day job and surviving on the income from his on-line tutoring and private students. It begs the question 'how little work is it possible to do and still enjoy life? What's the minimum number of well-paying hours you could teach, earn enough to get by and yet have LOADS of free time to enjoy?
Keep these cost of living surveys coming guys. You're doing a great job! Apart from the jobs page, this is the most popular section of the ajarn website. People love reading this information. Even my brother, who's a bank manager in England, loves reading them!
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.
Munnawar
Working in Surat Thani
Monthly Earnings 33,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
I work at a large government school in Surat Thani and get a salary of 33,000 per month.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
In a town like Surat Thani I can save about 17,000 baht without much effort.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I live in a small town-house and pay 3,000 baht a month. It's got no air conditioning and nothing fancy but it does the job.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
I have a scooter that I top up with petrol once a week. Overall that costs me roughly 300 baht a month
Utility bills
Water and electricity is less than 500 a month combined. My internet is about 500 baht (one of the few things that is actually cheaper back home in the UK).
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
I could get away with spending about 120 baht a day on food but I love to go to the local fruit stall and spend quite a bit, overall i would put my food spending at 180 baht a day
Nightlife and drinking
I am not a drinker or smoker so my nights out are very cheap. If I don't eat I don't spend more than 100 baht on a night out. I'd say 400 baht a month
Books, computers
I tend to borrow books from other foreigners in town in exchange for books of my own, and my gadgets I try to buy from back in the UK whenever I go.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Fantastic quality of life for what I pay, and definitely enough to save for a rainy day.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Food and rent. If you lived a very basic minimalist lifestyle, you could get away with spending barely anything at all.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
To live a bare bones life, I'd say around 11,000 baht.
Phil's analysis and comment
I wouldn't fancy trying to live on 11,000 baht a month - even in the peaceful town of Surat Thani - but if anyone could manage it, it sounds like Munnawar could. He lives a simple life but seems very happy with it at the same time.
I'm always impressed by how cheaply you can run those scooters as well. While there's no way you would ever catch me riding any sort of motorcycle on the streets of Bangkok, I would be very tempted to zip around on a scooter if I lived in a small town with quieter roads. Economical, easy to park, convenient - they make perfect sense.
Dan
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings 68K - 88K baht
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
I work full-time in a government school English program and my salary is 58,000 baht a month. I can earn an extra 10-30K from part-time work.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
Usually between 20,000 and 30,000.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I pay about 10,000 baht a month including bills. It's a 35 sqm studio apartment with a nice view over Sukhumwit Road. The building has a very good swimming pool and also a gym and steam room..
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
150 baht a day (a combination of BTS and motorcycle taxis)
Utility bills
Electricity is 400 baht to 2,000 baht a month depending on the time of year.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
My vegetarian food is usually cheap. 20-100 baht a dish on average but I've noticed that shopping is getting more expensive. I don't budget as much anymore though and I buy what I want in terms of Western brands.
Nightlife and drinking
I don't drink or smoke so nightlife isn't so expensive. Non-alcoholic drinks are the same price but you don't tend to down as many of those on an evening out.
Books, computers
Books I buy second hand at Dasa Bookstore on Sukhumwit Road. Computers last for years. My internet at home is around 600 baht per month.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Simple but very convenient. I love my studio apartment with access to a great big swimming pool. It's perfect for a single guy with no kids.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
I would say taxi fares, certain foods, massages and also clothes can be reasonable.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
To survive, I would think about 15,000 per month but for a decent standard of living in Bangkok, you would need to be earning 40,000 up.
Phil's analysis and comment
Another teacher who says that you need to earn in excess of 40,000 baht a month in Bangkok - and I totally agree with him. The 30,000 baht salary just doesn't cut it anymore if you want to live somewhere decent and stash some money away for those unexpected bills, weekends away, etc.
Dan doesn't need to worry though. Even the low-end 68K is very decent money for a single guy living in a Sukhumwit bachelor pad.
Dan mentions that he buys second-hand books from Dasa Bookstore on Sukhumwit. In case you haven't been, it's near BTS Prompong, and well worth a visit. Check out their website.
John
Working in Hat Yai
Monthly Earnings 32,000 baht
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
My full-time salary from a government school is 32,000 baht
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
About 20,000. Sometimes even a bit more.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I rent a two-bedroom townhouse for 3,500 baht a month.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
I have my own scooter so depending how many miles I do, my gas costs are between 200 baht and a thousand.
Utility bills
Usually less than 400 baht a month - even when I turn the air-conditioning on.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
I mostly eat out but as I am in a small non-touristic area, I would put my daily food expenses (including supermarket shopping) at a "high" 150 baht a day so 3,000 - 4,500 for the month.
Nightlife and drinking
Nightlife is cheap in these parts and a beer only costs 50-100 baht, so about 2,000 for the month
Books, computers
I don't buy books and haven't bought a computer in a few years.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
I live in a small town but I go to the city on weekends to see friends and hang out. Due to the nature of my living environment, I live a simple and relaxing life with the ability to go "wandering" into nature with my motorbike. I manage to save about 60% of my salary without even trying or missing out on much. The money I save I spend on going long weekends whenever there is a school holiday.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Obviously food is the biggest bargain followed by clothing. I smoke only one pack a week or so but I would also add cigarettes into the "bargain" category - especially if you are a heavy smoker.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
To survive? About 50 baht a day.
Phil's analysis and comment
Saving 20,000 baht from a 32,000 baht salary is impressive to say the least. So that means John manages to rent a house, run a motorcycle, feed and clothe himself and enjoy a beer or two - all on 400 baht a day. The man's a walking miracle!
And well done John for giving a shout out to the smokers!
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 so you've got no excuses. Come on! What are you waiting for?
Mick
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings 30,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
My agency pays me 30,000 baht a month less a few hundred for tax.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
Hahahahaha. That's a good one.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I live in a 5,000 baht a month studio in the posher part of Klong Toey. It's basically a concrete block with rooms fashioned into it. There are no facilities of note. I would just be happy if the lift worked more often. I'm surrounded by Thais sharing three and four to a room. Hardly any of them seem to work. They sit in the corridors and stare at me with blank expressions as I make my way to work each morning. I know not what they want only I probably can't give it to them.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
Just a return fare on the BTS every day so probably about 2,000 baht a month. Once I get to the other end, I can walk to school from there. Well actually it's more of a shuffle than a walk.
Utility bills
I try to avoid using the air-conditioning if I can. It's an old machine and makes strange noises and I'm sure it uses up twice as much leccy as a modern unit. Unfortunately I live on the second floor, so I don't have the benefit of a breeze coming in from the balcony, Just a strange smell from the outside drains if it's a particularly hot day. My water, electricity and phone bill rarely cost more than a thousand.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
I try to budget for about 100 baht a day on food so I survive on a diet of street food and ham sandwiches from 7-11. I get a subsidized lunch at school, which is edible if you keep your eyes closed and your expectations low. So I guess 3,000 baht a month on food. I eat quite a lot of fruit from a nearby fresh market as well.
Nightlife and drinking
I go out once a week on a Saturday. A small group of us hit the local happy hours and finish off with beers at an open-air Thai restaurant. I avoid the touristy areas because you can just hemorrhage cash if you're not careful. I spend about 4,000 baht a month on going out and drinking, which I don't think is excessive.
Books, computers
Nothing. I use the internet at school and I download free books off the net.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
It's definitely just survival. I've told my agency that either they offer me 40K when the next school year starts or I'm walking. I don't think 40K jobs in Bangkok are hard to find but time will tell.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Food and transportation.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
I hate the word 'survive'. Honestly, who comes here to just 'survive'? You are not asking to live in the lap of luxury but you should be able to treat yourself now again. On 30K a month, you can't even do that. Once my accommodation, utiliity bills, transportation, entertainment and food are factored in, I'm left with about 500 baht a day.
Phil's analysis and comment
30,000 baht a month in Bangkok? Forget it. Don't even go there if you have a choice. Even five years ago a 30K salary wasn't enough and I'm surprised each and every day at how much certain essentials have gone up in price.
As Mick rightly points out, he's left with 500 baht a day - and it's not as if he even spends a great deal on accommodation etc. That 500 baht a day has to cover laundry, dry-cleaning, toiletries, cleaning stuff, possibly health insurance, dentistry, clothing, weekends away (surely an unobtainable luxury) etc, etc etc.
I regularly chat to a bunch of Thai guys at my gym and the conversation often turns to money. When I ask them if 30,000 baht a month is enough for a single guy living in Bangkok, not one of them will answer without carefully choosing their words. That tells you everything. Even a Thai has to think twice about the prospects of surviving on that sort of dough in Bangers.
Showing 5 Cost of Living surveys out of 419 total
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