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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Gazza
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings About 53,000 baht
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
My salary at a Thai school is 38,000 baht a month but I supplement this with on average 15,000 baht a month doing private teaching at a large Thai export company. It's actually the company my Thai girlfriend works for and she got me a foot in the door to do some one-to-one conversation stuff with several of the bosses. Now I do one-day workshops, proofreading, etc. I've become their English go-to guy.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
The answer to that question is not as much as I should but I try to save 100,000 a year to pay for the annual trip back home to see the family.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I live in a one-bedroom apartment in The Victory Monument area of Bangkok and pay 10,000 baht a month. I really should look into buying my own place some day though.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
I'm five minutes walk from the skytrain and my school is five minutes walk from the station at the other end. I take the odd taxi at the weekend but I don't think transportation comes to more than a couple of thousand a month.
Utility bills
About 2-3,000 baht a month. I use the air-conditioning a lot. The water bill is peanuts but I do take showers every day. Honest.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
I tend to alternate between cooking at home and eating out and probably spend about 8,000 baht a month on food. Lunch is provided free at the school where I work. It's not the greatest quality food as you would expect but I actually prefer a light lunch. If I have something too heavy, I tend to suffer from the dreaded post-lunch slump.
Nightlife and drinking
I never go out during the week, but I'll have a night out with the lads on either Friday or Saturday. 4,000 baht a month I would say. I'm not a huge drinker so two or three beers and a meal in a medium-price is a decent night out for me.
Books, computers
I download a couple of new books every month to my kindle and I buy the odd computer game. All this comes to no more than a couple of thousand baht.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Very comfortable indeed. I feel like I want for nothing. OK, I could be saving a bit more I suppose but I'm just not into working all the hours under the sun just to make an extra 10,000 or so.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Most things really. Certainly food (if you know where to shop) and taxi fares. But I do notice the cost of travelling in Thailand has crept up over the several years I've been here. It's probably why I hardly ever leave Bangkok. Funny but I begrudge spending money on trips in Thailand.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
It's a tough question because everyone is different. I've been earning 50K+ for some time now and while I could certainly survive on less, I really wouldn't want to. You get 'used to' a certain lifestyle and no one wants to go backwards.
Phil's analysis and comment
"It's not what you know, it's who you know". It's a saying that's as applicable to Thailand as it is to any country in the world. Gazza's partner has got him involved with her company doing some part-time, freelance work and that extra 15,000 baht a month makes all the difference. If Gazza had even more free time, I bet the company could give him more work than he could handle. But he's a sensible guy for keeping a full-time job at a Thai school and guaranteeing a monthly salary.
Interestingly, my wife works for a very large Japanese multi-national company and they are always looking for someone to help them with conversational English, presentation and e-mail writing skills, etc. - stuff that I could deliver standing on my head.
I even know many of the staff (the Japanese bosses included) from attending company functions and outings to the beach, etc.
But they can't use me!
Simply because many Japanese companies have a very strict rule when it comes to outsourcing work. The contracts cannot be given to family members belonging to a company employee, especially a company employee in a management position.
It's refreshing to see that Gazza doesn't have that problem.
If you would like to submit your own cost of living survey, then please e-mail me your answers.
Derek
Working in Rural Thailand
Monthly Earnings 35,000 baht
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
I have other earnings, but let’s just base things on my monthly salary of 30,510 baht and 4,800 baht per month from a private class (2 hours a week). I’m on a 12-month contract and my salary includes Bupa health insurance and visa / work permit costs.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
I don’t try to save from my regular monthly earnings, but there’s always something left at the end of the month. I just leave it in the bank until it builds up enough to make a major purchase. For example, two months ago I bought a new scooter for 50,000 baht.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I rent a 3-bedroom townhouse which costs 3,500 baht per month. It has air-con in the bedrooms but not downstairs. It was sparsely furnished when I moved in and I’ve added some of my own furniture/appliances to make it more comfortable.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
I run both a car and a scooter, but don’t have to travel far to work. I spend 2,000 baht a month on fuel. My car payments are 7,000 baht a month and factor in another 1,000 baht for insurance.
Utility bills
My electricity bill is between 500 and 1,000 depending on the time of year. Water about 100 baht. Cable TV costs 950 baht per quarter and internet from TOT 599 baht a month. So all in all about 2,000 baht per month.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
I just have coffee/toast for breakfast, a sandwich/7-11 toastie for lunch and dinner at a restaurant. There are no farang restaurants here and I’m not a great fan of fast food so I normally eat Thai food. I spend about 500 baht per week shopping for essentials at Tesco Lotus and about 300 baht per day on snacks, dinner, drinks and cigarettes.
Nightlife and drinking
There’s not much nightlife where I live, I always have a couple of large Leos with dinner, but the cost is included above. When I want nightlife I’ll go for a weekend away which is usually once a month. I don’t mind spending 10k on a nice weekend break.
Books, computers
I have a laptop and tablet, both bought from accumulated saving from my salary. I visit the UK at least once a year and always bring a stack of books from home.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
My standard of living is much better than it would be if I were living in rented accommodation in the UK. I can do what I want - when I want - and never go without.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Restaurants. I can sit down for my evening meal in a nice restaurant for 170 baht (including two large beers)
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
I would say 15,000 because it doesn’t take much to survive in the provinces. Then again, who wants to just survive? If I didn’t smoke or drink, you could knock 200 baht per day off my average daily spend but that’s not why I came to Thailand. 25k would be very comfortable here and anything above that you could start living like a king. My teaching job is only 15 +2 hours a week so I have plenty of free time, and if there’s something I really want or need, I can always take on extra work. When I go back to
Phil's analysis and comment
You can get some great deals on accommodation out in the sticks. A three-bedroom house for just 3,500 baht a month (and air-con in the upstairs bedrooms as well) Actually that's the same set-up as a house I rented in Bangkok, except that was costing me 8,000 baht a month. I lived in it for five years and never ever got around to putting air-conditioning in the downstairs living room.
When the hot season arrived, I would live in one of the upstairs rooms, where I had my bed and computer. Looking back, I may as well have rented a studio apartment - but having a house with a large front garden was always nice.
Anyway, nice survey that clearly shows you can live well in rural Thailand on 35K a month. Thanks Del.
John
Working in Rural Thailand
Monthly Earnings 30,000 baht
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
30,000 baht a month and the school also pay for the work-permit.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
My pay goes straight into the bank and I draw about 15,000 baht out for the two of us (my wife and myself) - so half is saved.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I live in a very basic house which the school provides. The school also pays for utilities. Wi-fi is free but weak. My wife is in the same position as me – she also gets a house paid for by her school. We also pay 2,000 a month for a “permanent” rented house in another province.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
I travel about 200 kilometres by motorcycle at weekends because my wife is teaching in a different province so it is about 250 baht per week for petrol and road tax. Add 500 per month for the cost and maintenance of the bike, which I have had nearly 5 years.
Utility bills
The school pays for them. The “permanent” rented house that I mentioned earlier costs about 700 baht per month for utilities because we are rarely there.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
We eat at home all the time and I either cook ‘British food’ or we buy food from the local market.
Nightlife and drinking
Usually it is only trekking in the hills or running events, apart from school “parties”. Entry fees and transport may be anything between 1,000 and 5,000 per month - so say 2500 per month average.
Books, computers
I buy a new computer every couple of years so say 500 baht per month.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Very relaxed and comfortable and we can afford anything we want, but we just don’t want much.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
It has to be transport, rent and utilities, but also local fruit and vegetables.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
To survive anywhere outside central Bangkok, 15,000 is plenty for a person who lives like a native but you couldn’t save for retirement on that. We have income from other countries, which gives us security, but we never dip into it. All our international flights are paid for outside Thailand. The big drawback in Thailand is that foreigners can’t buy a house otherwise we would make it our home.
Phil's analysis and comment
I have to confess that I found a number of John's answers confusing and I ended up e-mailing him for clarification.
First, I wanted to know why he needed to rent a house for 2,000 baht a month, when he and his wife both have accommodation paid for by their respective schools. John said the house offered security and he felt less 'tied to the school' and he also needed somewhere for storage.
Secondly, what did he mean by 'his international flights are all paid for'? It certainly didn't sound like John was working at the kind of school that would offer free flights home as part of the benefit package. John replied to say that he always paid for flights out of his savings and not what he earned from the school by way of salary.
As soon as John mentioned that he had income from other countries, I felt the survey became 'less important'. That's not being disrespectful but it does imply that John and his wife may be teaching purely for 'something to do'. They clearly live frugally (and that's the way they like it) and both survive on 15K a month, but whenever a big expense comes up, they can dip into savings and that income from other countries. And we have no idea how much that income is. It could be 200,000 baht a month.
If you would like to submit your own cost of living survey, then please e-mail me your answers.
Honey
Working in Nan Province
Monthly Earnings 30,000 - 40,000 baht
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
My government school salary is 25,000 baht plus I get extra income from private students every weekend.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
I save between 10-15,000 baht a month.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I live in a studio apartment two kilometers from school. It has no TV, no fridge, no heater, no air-con - just a ceiling fan.. I have my own queen-size bed, kitchen, bathroom and dining area. The rent is 1,800 per month. There are some Filipino English teachers who are also living at the same compound.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
Free. My school is very near from my home so sometimes i ride my bicycle, but most of the time I get a lift to school with a fellow teacher.
Utility bills
My water bill costs 50 baht, electricity costs 300-400 baht and wifi is free
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
My breakfast and lunch are free from Monday to Friday so I only have to find evening meals and food at the weekends.
Nightlife and drinking
Nothing really.
Books, computers
My school provides me everything that i need including laptop, books, projector and ipad. I do my research & download reading materials online.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Since the cost of living here is cheap, i am content to live in this part of the country. I am lucky that I get a comfortable room, i can buy everything i need, the supermarket is reachable by motorcycle or you could just hire a sungtaew and pay 20-30 baht,
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Food, accommodation and transportation.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
Well, it depends on the place that you are in. Bangkok is way too expensive. if you are a homebuddy like me & you live in a place where everything seems free and affordable, you could live like a king if you have 20k THB but if you are an outgoing, sociable, bar hopper and have a family to support, you could survive if you have 30k-40K THB.
Phil's analysis and comment
Nan Province is about as 'out in the sticks' as it gets so I'm not surprised that someone can survive on 30-40K - especially when your needs are few. The school also sounds like a very decent school to work for.
I suppose we all have our own definitions of the word 'comfortable'. Honey seems happy enough but living in a studio apartment with no air-con and no fridge certainly wouldn't be for me. I have lived like that in the past but as you get older you crave a few more 'creature comforts' I think.
Daniel
Working in Surin Province
Monthly Earnings 37,000 baht
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
The contract with my school should be for 39000, but the school uses an agency. It was initially an 'internship' and the company gave me a package worth 21,000 a month, but as a returner that is now 33000. I have recently picked up a tutoring gig for two hours on a Sunday worth 1,100 so full potential earnings can be 37,000 a month.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
I saved very little each month for the time I was earning 21,000. Now I am earning more, I have been looking to save at least 10,000 a month, as I found myself living comfortably enough on the previous wage. The only thing I am saving for is a holiday at the end of each semester.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
My rent is 4,000 a month for a spacious room in a ground floor apartment block. I have a nice porch, where I do my own cooking, as well as courtyard area and a large pond. Other teachers from my school also live here, so I'm surrounded by friends, and my landlord treats us to a bottle of whiskey every now and again.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
My agency provided us with bicycles to use, and as I only live a 10-15 walk away from school, the bicycle is more than enough. I have toyed with the idea of renting a motorcycle like a few of my friends, however I now have a girlfriend who drives, so I tend to get her to take me to any places (in the city) I may need to visit on a weekend. Typically, I spend nothing on transport.
Utility bills
During my first 6 months, the agency would pay up to 1,500 in utilities for us, of which I never used more than 1,000 of. This was during the rainy season, so obviously it was a lot hotter. I have barely used my air-con since starting the second semester, and my power was only 200 baht last month, with 200 for water also.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
I pay 40 baht for a filling Thai meal twice a day. The school provides a free lunch but I will skip it if it doesn’t look appetizing and buy a meal at a restaurant. As I work out a lot, I felt like I wasn't quite getting the necessary nutrition so I recently invested in an electric wok. The price of chicken breast out here is ridiculously low, so I make large batches of food that last for a few days. I definitely spend south of 2,000 baht a month on food.
Nightlife and drinking
I spent a fair amount on entertainment in my first six months, however I've recently gotten into a relationship with a Thai girl who speaks perfect English thanks to four years at UCLA. She has no interest in drinking or clubbing and as I spend my weekends with her, I don’t go out either. I see this as a great benefit for my health and my bank balance. We might sometimes go out for a pizza but generally I spend less than 500 baht a month on 'nightlife and drinking'.
Books, computers
I know I should read more, but I don't make the time or have the interest at this point in time. I often download movies or shows for free, and then find myself not watching them. My laptop is four years old and works perfectly. I lost an iPhone in Koh Samui, but it was old and I bought a cheap smartphone for just 2,600 baht. I’m not a materialistic guy.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
I live comfortably. It's a small friendly city, where I can do what I want for very reasonable prices in relation to my salary
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Paying £90 for rent including utilities is pretty much a bargain, and my cost of living is much less than 15,000. The whole thing is a bargain for me.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
Well I lived happily enough on 12,000 baht a month, excluding rent/utilities. I can only speak for the Isaan area, which is typically cheaper than your popular tourist destinations, but my 32,250 is more than enough for here. I feel I could live frugally enough anywhere that I moved to, and get by just fine.
Phil's analysis and comment
I think some folks will read this survey and say that Daniel is clearly 'going without' in some areas. But he seems happy enough and he sounds like someone who has been brought up to appreciate the money he has and to be careful with it at the same time. Frugal would be the word to use.
It's been a while since I've read a cost of living survey from someone who's managed to keep their overheads quite this low. 4,000 on rent. Virtually nothing on utilities. Nothing on transportation. And what! - only 2,000 baht a month on food? That's less than 100 baht a day.
Seriously, Daniel sounds like he could live on about 6,000 baht a month.
He chooses rent and utilities as the top 'bargain' in Thailand. I'm going to go off on a little tangent if I may. A few evenings ago - with nothing better to do - I had a look at how much rented accommodation in the UK costs these days. I was flabbergasted. How do people afford it?
Small studio flats, in frankly miserable and run-down areas of Birmingham (my home city) were renting for 600-700 pounds a month excluding bills.
Showing 5 Cost of Living surveys out of 444 total
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