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How Much Does It Cost To Live In Thailand

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The cost of living in Thailand depends largely on the area in which you live and the quality of life you expect.

For the sake of this post, I am going to assume you want to live like a well-to-do foreigner rather than an average earning Thai; i.e. with a one or two bedroom place with a kitchen, eating 3 meals a day, and having a couple of nights out a week with friends for drinks and dinner.

Similar to living in any other capital city in the world, central Bangkok is generally the most expensive part of Thailand, excluding of course the tourist hotspots on islands like Phuket, Koh Samui etc. But even living on an island will work out cheaply if you know where to stay and the best value places to eat. And that is the major difference between holidaying and living in Thailand, when you live here you become part of a community, and as such you know the true local economy prices of accommodation, food, travel, goods, etc.

The Cheapest Places To Live In Thailand

In my experience, the cheapest place to live, one with a thriving foreign community and vibrant atmosphere is Chiang Mai. When I lived there I could easily get by on 35,000 Baht per month. Living in Bangkok I need around 50,000 Baht to live comfortably without counting the pennies as I spend.

I lived in Koh Samui for a while, too, and the living expenses there were probably approximately 5,000 Baht a month more than Chiang Mai. Living in the sticks of the North or Northeast of Thailand, perhaps somewhere like Chaing Rai or Udon Thani, can be done on as little as 25,000 Baht, again depending on lifestyle, though. However, when you live up country or on an island, you must factor in the expense of renting a motorbike and the petrol to go with it.

My estimations might seem high or even low, depending on how you shop, how you eat and how socially active you are. For instance, I don’t really eat from street stools much, and therefore I end up spending approximately 400 Baht a day in Tesco buying my food for the day. I don’t drink much, however, neither am I part of the nightlife scene, at least not for more than three times a year when visitors come, so I save heavily on that front.

From what I have seen it is mainly alcohol that drains people’s money here, that and women! My girlfriend works full time, so I am not picking up all her expenses, although in line with the culture, I do pay for eating out and occasional gifts while shopping. Men are expected to pay for women in Thailand, so bear that in mind before rushing into a relationship, as it could tip your budget over into the red.

Summarising The Cost Of Living In Thailand

So, let me summarise my Bangkok living costs in an attempt to help anyone thinking of moving here:

  • Rent (1-bedroom apartment)  (including electric, water and Wi-Fi) – 13,500 Baht
  • Food/essentials shopping  – 17,000 Baht
  • Socialising – coffees/dinners – 6,000 baht
  • Travel – 1,000 Baht
  • Gym – 1,500 Baht
  • Wing Chun Class – 1,500 Baht
  • Mobile Credit – 400 Baht (Blackberry Package)
  • Unforeseen Expenses (Visa run/medicine/electrical accessories) – 3,000 Baht

Total – 43,900 – Baht

Now, if you take a studio room you could halve the rent costs, and if you are happy eating Thai food you could cut the food costs in half. However, if you like the nightlife those savings will be quickly eaten up again.

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    • TheThailandLife says

      Not sure about doing all three at once :) ... but the prices in the article are roughly what everyday items cost. To live here, you can rent a cheap room for 3-5,000 Baht a month depending on the location and your requirements. The big cities are more expensive, of course. If you want to travel there are many hostels with cheap rooms, and internal flights are quite cheap, as are buses and minivans. There is something for all budgets. It really depends what you want to do and how much you want to spend. See this post for working in Thailand: https://www.thethailandlife.com/jobs-thailand-expats
      Reply

  2. Antonio C Martinez says

    When I retire I will be getting 8500 USD a month and I am 100% sure I am going to retire in Thailand. I also have a sizeable savings that will allow me to purchase a very nice condo outright. I have been to Thailand multiple times Bangkok, Pattaya what would be the best place for me to settle. I dont drink but I do enjoy seeing the sights esp remote ones and being near the night life bc its very entertaining. Where should I settle.
    Reply

    • James E says

      If you haven't seen the whole country yet don't drop your cash until you've spent some time elsewhere. Particularly look at Chiang Mai and Hua Hin. Chaing Mai has everything you mention plus the added benefit of a big airport. You wouldn't have to travel back to BKK to fly direct. Hua Hin is slightly more laid back but is convenient to both the southern islands and Bangkok. Also, since you're planning on buying your condo and will have (by Thai standards) an absurdly high income, look into one of the non-standard visas, like the Elite visa or the investor visa, which might make your life a bit easier.
      Reply

  6. David S Pearl says

    I am partially deaf and do not drink so I 100% avoid the nightlife, paying for sex etc etc..On the other hand I see a shrink and have a lot of healthcare costs even in my 50's. I do things that are free or close to free--synagogue, temples, meditation groups, art events or galleries, explore on foot or BTS/boat/walk, photography, meditate, volunteer at cat shelter, read, starbucks--no drink just eat tuna, window shop at malls and bookstores, etc etc free gym/pool where I live; eat at home most of the time
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Bangkok is a great place for free things to do. One of my favourite places is the Arts and Cultural Centre; there's always great exhibitions on there. If you don't drink or do bars/clubs etc, you can live on a fairly low income.
      Reply

  7. Bill says

    My wife is Thai and we recently bought a house in Amnatcharoen so we wouldn't be paying rent. We both eat Thai food and neither of us are big on nightlife. I generally have drinks at her family home. I would have 45,000 baht a month. Could we live comfortably on that?
    Reply

  8. Russell King says

    Hi, and thanks for any help full replies. I only need to rent a studio appartment. Or hostile. I have 600£,s each month to rent a place and eat . Where there is water to swim nearby. And close to a place to get a shoulder massage daily. Where could I start looking on Google. Or are the cheaper places, not on the web . Thanks for your kind help Russell
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi Russell, If you are doing a long-stay visit for a few months or more, is often a good idea to book into a hotel for a week and then look around the local area for apartments. You will certainly find cheaper options once you have your feet on the ground, and many of the apartments/condos are not listed online. You will most likely need to be prepared to pay a deposit, that can be equal to 1 or 2 months rent.
      Reply

  9. Michellene says

    Hi Ken, I am a South African woman who is looking to move to Thailand for a teaching position. I currently teach online. The interviews I have lined up are paying between 30000 - 40000 B. My question is, I want to have my partner come over too, but would I be able to support us until my partner also found work or should we be looking into 2 jobs now already from here in SA? And sorry if this is a frequent question, but how much should you have available +/- to survive the first month before receiving a salary? Thank you.
    Reply

  11. Wilson says

    Hi , I would like to get a job in engineering role in thailand , will it be possible ? As my age is just 26 but i love thailand life and culture and wish to get a job there to settle down . I only have a certificate of engineering in diploma .
    Reply

  12. rick says

    Hi,we are looking to retire in thailand in the next couple of years and would like to buy a condo/house what ever, but the advice seems to be a big no.no resale, poor building practises, only half ownership in some cases.can you get building guarantees. Monthly maintenance costs seem to be quiet high, is renting the way to go.Thanks Rick & Gill
    Reply

    • Ken says

      I’m not sure what TTL will have to say about it but in my opinion there is no reason you should be overly concerned about the prospect buying a condo in Thailand if that’s what you really want to do (you cannot buy a house as a foreigner in Thailand - unless things have changed recently). As long as you do your homework along the way and have a lawyer check everything out before you sign on the dotted line you should be fine. Furthermore, for every person you find that says Thai real estate is a poor or risky investment you can find someone else who thinks it’s a great investment, particularly in Bangkok.I think the main thing you have to ask yourself before you buy however is why you want to buy versus renting in the first place. Here in the States I know people are rather obsessed with the notion of being homeowners and many even think its downright stupid to pay rent when you could “own”. They just feel like they are losers if they don’t own a home. The fact of the matter is though renting is often the best way to go depending on your circumstances. For example many homeowners unexpectedly end up having to relocate within the first 5-years of homeownership and therefore often end up loosing money on the house. Let’s face it, for those first few years, 90% of your mortgage payments are going towards interest alone. So, unless your property goes up in value substantially during this time period you wont have much more in equity than your initial down payment. You probably wont even have enough to make up for what you lost in closing costs. And of course if the bottom should fall out of the market as it did in 2008, just when you need to sell, you are really going to loose your shirt.In any case, I assume that you are looking to buy a place as your primary residence in Thailand and not just as an investment property. And if that’s the case and you are paying cash and plan to live there for a long time I don’t see how you can really go wrong. In fact, it would definitely come out costing you less than rent would in the long run. For example if I have $100,000 in retirement savings and I spend 80,000 for an older condo and $20,000 to remodel it to my liking I will have a very nice place to live for the rest of my life in Thailand. But if I were to pay rent on a place that is equally as nice I would likely run out of money five or ten years before I died and would end up on the street. Of course this is assuming that I would just leave my money sitting in a regular bank account earning a measly half a percent or less. If I were a very savvy investor on the other hand I could put that money to work for me by investing it (in something other rather than a condo), in which case I could potentially make enough money to completely pay my rent through my retirement without every having to even touch the principle.Unfortunately I am not one of those financial wizards however, and since I need to be able to remodel whatever condo I choose to live in I will be buying one myself. If I were you however I would rent for at least the first 3 months and only buy once I was completely settled in and could take my time and get the right place at the right price.
      Reply

      • TheThailandLife says

        Valid points Ken. I always say that if you find an area you really want to live in and see yourself there for the rest of your life then why not. It is a secure place to live, not an investment. One thing I'd add is that you can buy a house. Foreigners can't buy houses in the usual way, but there are developments owned by businesses whereby foreigners can buy a house within the development. The new Palm Gate in Hua Hin is an example of that: https://www.facebook.com/Palm-Gate-Hua-Hin-1021412004647837/ (mention TheThailandLife.com for a discount :).
        Reply

        • Ken says

          Yeah, I actually heard something about this type of property a while back but I’m still not completely sure how it all works. I’m going to assume however that you do not own the plot of land that the house sits on, and for myself and most other Americans, owning the land is kind of the whole point of home ownership. And lets face it, if you do not own the land then what you basically have is a large detached condo with a private yard (garden). I understand that things are different in the UK but here in the States people can’t even really comprehend the concept of buying a house and not also owning the land it sits on. You might as well try to explain the concept of a sandwich with no bread to them. It’s not really a sandwich without the bread, now is it? And to us a “house” is something the comes with the land its built on and anything else is a basically big condo.Anyway, it would be great if I could buy a vacant lot in Thailand in my own name (or an older existing house that I could then tear down) to build a house of my own design on. Somehow though I don’t think the laws are going to change to allow this to happen by the time I retire.
          Reply

    • Tide Swell says

      Don't buy - rent. Be prepared to lose only what you can live with losing. You need to walk away from Thailand with your heads held high, able re-start your lives all over again in Farangland (or wherever) - IF life goes all pear-shaped in Thailand. And remember that life can very easily go pear-shaped there.
      Reply

    • George T says

      My wife and I started out with Flip Key rentals (entire House) at 30-60 days. Gives you a good feel for the area you're living in without any real attachment. Plus you're able to look around for that better deal if one should pop up.
      Reply

  13. Joe Johnson says

    What is the best way to stay long term in Thailand with the least amount of hasle. I know applying for citizenship requires learning the language fluently and a lot of time. Correct me if I'm wrong but most just renew visas every year.
    Reply

  14. Joe Johnson says

    My social security will be about $1600 with about $320000 in pretax savings. I also have a free and clear home in the states I could rent for another $600 net, but not sure I'd want to be renting while living out of country. The home is worth another 125K in after tax cash if I sold instead. The question; is this enough to live decently in some place like Chiang Mai. I'm 60 and my wife 50. I should say my wife is from Thailand but she is from an area in the Northeast, near Nakon Phanom, where I wouldn't want to live.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      I'd say yes, it is. Not a life of luxury but certainly enough to live. It depends on what type of lifestyle you are seeking: what type of diet you have, if you like to drink alcohol regularly, if you want to live centrally or don't mind living a little out of town, whether or not you want to drive (buy a car, pay for gas). Let's say you rented a house for around 13-15k a month, you'd have around 1,000 Baht a day to spend for two people, which isn't a lot, but doable if you enjoy the free things in life like walks and sight seeing over eating out and drinking a lot. You have your savings to invest and to dip into for essential travel and expenses; which is a plus. One thing that could eat into that budget, however; is health insurance, and life insurance, if you need it.
      Reply

    • Ken says

      Joe - Actually if you get even 1% interest on your savings a year that will up your $1600 a month income to about $1900, or about 68,500 baht. That is actually more than I was getting a month when my girlfriend and I were living in Phuket, and we never seemed to be short on funds, nor did we feel we had to do with out anything we wanted. And we lived in a large and very modern two-bedroom house with a private swimming pool. This means that if I were you I would probably still have most of that $320,000 left in the bank on the day I died. And of course you also have a house you can sell or continue to rent out for extra income. In other words, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. In fact, I wish I could have even half of what you do when I retire in a few years.
      Reply

      • Ken says

        I should probably mention that we ate Thai food almost exclusively and since my girlfriend was such an amazing cook she prepared most of our meals. Sometimes we would also go out for Thai food of course since it’s so cheap. About the only American food we ever ate was KFC because this was her favorite American fast food. We also had a motorcycle rather than a car, although some retirees might find this too dangerous a form of transportation in Thailand – and it kind of is.
        Reply

  15. John Macnichol. says

    My girlfriend wants me to live with her in Bangkok. I am 63yrs old i have 600,000baht, i can live rent free, what are my chances of a comfortable life?? My girlfriend works full time earning 3000baht a week.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      You mean you have 600,000 Baht savings, and that's it, or a yearly/monthly income of this amount? Also, do you mean your GF earns 30,000 a week/month, or really 3,000 a week? If that's all the savings you have, and she is only earning 3k a week, I think you'll find yourself eating into those savings pretty quickly, despite living rent free.
      Reply

        • Ken says

          You do realize of course that the term “living comfortably” is fairly subjective. Some people would need $5000 a month or more to live what they consider to be a “comfortable” life in Thailand while others would consider $1000 a month to be more than adequate.And of course, how long your money lasts depends on what age you retire at. If you retire at 65 and live to the average age of 85 then that would give you about $1250 a month. If you retire at 55 however you would only have $833 a month. These numbers of course are not taking the interest on your savings into account and depending on your interest rate you could be earning several thousand dollar a year in interest at first. Also, if you are American, you should be getting at least $700 a month in social security and probably a lot more than that.Back to living comfortably though, I would say that anyone who thinks that a $30,000 dollar condo is comfortable living would be perfectly happy living on $1000 a month or less. After all there are no condos for $30,000 in any places that I would personally want to live in Thailand that I would consider to be even remotely livable for me. I’m expecting to have to pay twice that amount even for a condo that I will have to completely gut and remodel. Although once I do own a condo I will be able to get by perfectly fine on $1000 a month (assuming I don’t get married and start a family that is).
          Reply

          • TheThailandLife says

            Oh, my bad. I thought he was implying that he had already bought a condo for that price. That would be a pretty small studio condo at that price and certainly not centrally located to a town, but then not impossible to achieve if you were in a rural part of Thailand. I've seen lower grade studio condos in BKK for 1.5m Baht, but that is still over your budget.
            Reply

            • Ken says

              Actually, I don’t think you got it wrong at all. It sounds to me like Emmet has indeed already purchased a condo for about 1.1 million baht. And I assume the $300,000 is what he has leftover after the purchase.In any case, in my last comment I was just trying to tell him that its kind of hard for us to know what he would personally consider living “comfortably” - and people seem to always be asking you that question.However, I do think that the type of home that someone finds to be an acceptable place to live is also a fairly good indicator of what he would find to be a comfortable lifestyle. And based on that I would think that he would be perfectly happy and comfortable living on 35,000 baht a month. That is assuming he does not have a penchant for bar girls.
              Reply

  16. fareeda banu says

    I got a teaching job in Bangkok. My salary is 40k per month. Is it possible to save more than 25k per month on this salary? Actually am from india, financial problem so only sought a job abroad to recover my family problems. Thank you!
    Reply

  17. Alyssa Blocker says

    Hello, I am interviewing for a job in Thailand. If I get it, they will pay for airfare, visa, and apartment. They said the apartment was in the middle of Bangkok. The pay is $20 HR. What is that in Baht, and is that enough to live off on.
    Reply

  18. Lauren says

    Hello! I have a job offer on Koh Samui for 35000 baht per month. I am going to try and talk them up to 40000, but if I can't do you think this is enough to live comfortably in the Bophut area? Your insight is greatly appreciated!
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hey Lauren, I used to live there! I had a big 1-bed apartment, with kitchen, for 9k a month. You can get nice studios for less. So yes, you can live there for 35k a month, if it's just you. 40k would be more of a sweetner though.
      Reply

      • Lauren says

        Thanks for the response. My boyfriend will be moving with me, but will be trying to find a job once we are there. We've saved up a decent amount to help us out while he looks. What is the job market like there? He will be looking at hotels and restaurants since he has experience as a chef, waiter, salesman, and customer service rep.
        Reply

  19. Ken says

    I assume that the 17,000 you spend on groceries every month is for two people, because that is actually about twice what I currently spend on food here in California every month for myself. And in Thailand I usually get by on maybe 8000 a month if living alone. Here I do all my own cooking of course but in Thailand I always eat out because it’s just as cheap as cooking it myself - although when my girlfriend lived with me she cooked all our meals.Speaking of cooking I have a question for you. Why is it that every condo I have ever looked at to rent or buy in Thailand has an electric stove? Are you not allowed to have gas stoves in high rise buildings or something? I know that Thais prefer gas just like I do so what’s the deal? When I was renting a house in Phuket we had a gas stove with the tank under the sink and we just had to get it refilled every month or so. So what is the deal with condos? I HATE electric cook tops.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      That's for 3 of us: 2 adults plus the little one. All condos have the electric stoves, or nothing at all. Mine has a fitted kitchen but no cooker, so I bought 2 ceramic cooker hobs and a standalone grill, and a microwave.It's a safety issue I assume. People just couldn't be trusted not to leave the gas on!As you say, most Thai homes still use gas cookers.
      Reply

      • Ken says

        Yeah, that’s what I was thinking too with the gas. After all, if you blow up your house its only your problem, but if you blow up your condo its everybody’s problem. Still I have always wondered why they don’t just have underground gas lines going to all the buildings in Thailand like they do here. Perhaps because in the tropics, where they don’t need gas for heating, they just can’t see running all those miles of underground gas line simply so that people in condos can cook on a gas stove - although this is precisely what they did in Japan. Despite how cold it gets in Japan they don’t use gas furnaces there either and only use gas for cooking and hot water. Yet every house and apartment in Tokyo has natural gas piped in. And it’s probably the same in the rest of the country. Of course the Japanese, in addition to loving to cook over a flame, also have a long history of loving very hot baths, whereas the Thais have never cared much for hot water.Actually, now that I think about it, with all the shoddy workmanship I have observed from Thai construction workers over the years (including electrical and plumbing) its probably for they best that there are no gas lines in Thailand. Don’t get me wrong, I love Thailand and Thai people but lets face it, Thai workers simply don’t take any pride in their work whatsoever and they don’t care if the job gets done right or not. So personally I would not trust them at all to safely install gas lines under the city and throughout buildings. In fact, to all of you out there who currently live in Thai houses or condos I would strongly advise against looking behind the walls or ceilings, because you might be frightened by what you see. And if you are an American electrician you will probably have a heart attack.By the way, congratulation on the little one! I’m curious: was he/she born in England or in Thailand? I think if I ever have a child with a Thai woman I would take her back to the USA just long enough to have the baby so that it would automatically be a US citizen should he/she want to live there in the future.
        Reply

        • TheThailandLife says

          Hey Ken, agreed on the shoddy workmanship. I'm a bit of a health and safety nut, so God knows why I'm living here!My daughter was born here but automatically qualifies for UK citizenship. She has a Thai passport and a UK passport.
          Reply

          • Ken says

            That’s great that she automatically qualifies for citizenship. And actually, now that I think about it, I think it’s the same deal over here. I really don’t know what the heck I was thinking before. Only a foreigner would have to have their child born here to gain citizenship. US immigration laws have gotten so tough in the past few decades though that it would definitely be a nightmare trying to bring a Thai wife here (should I ever be in that situation). In fact, I think it’s easier and faster to get a fiance visa than to get someone into the country who you are already married to in another country. But even fiance visa applications are supposedly backed up one to two years or more. And I read recently that working visa applications for Filipinas trying to come over here and work to alleviate our nursing shortage are backed up more than 7 years. Can you imagine waiting 7 years for a work visa?
            Reply

  20. Ronald says

    Hi Sir, I got a job offered. 40,000 Thai Baht per month in Bangkok. Based on your experience, do you think that figure is enough/sufficient? Can i get a safe studio at 5,000 Thai Baht per month? I don't really spend much on shopping. Thank you
    Reply

        • Ken says

          That’s great! Not only will you have enough to live like a King in Thailand but you will also have enough leftover every month to loan me large sums of money when I cant pay my bills there due to the fact that my retirement checks will be so pathetically puny. :) In fact, if I had your kind of income or retirement bucks I would probably never even consider retiring outside of California. I would just stay right here where I am on the beautiful California coast, although I would probably still spend all my winters in Thailand and Indonesia.Still, to each his own, and if you think you want to live year round in Thailand when you clearly have enough money to live just about anywhere in the world, then more power to you.
          Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      What city will this be? If it is in rural Thailand it would probably be enough, but in a big city things will be tight once rent, food, travel and socialising is covered. You can live on that, but not with many luxuries.
      Reply

        • Ken says

          Well, TTL may disagree with me on this but personally 25,000 would be more than enough money for me to live on in most parts of Thailand, even in Bangkok. That is assuming the housing is provided for, as you said. In fact, if you budget very carefully that might still even leave you enough money leftover for traveling around Asia during your school breaks, or for other hobbies you might have. And you should certainly be able to afford to have a normal social life. Of course I’m very good at making and sticking to a budget and not everyone is. And if you are one of those people who can never seem to live within their means then you can get into trouble no matter how big your salary is.You have to remember however that you would basically be making 3 or 4 times more than the average department store girl or office worker makes. And they have to pay their own rent if they are not living with their parents. In fact, the only way that would not be enough money in my opinion is if you are a guy and you get caught up in the bar girl scene. Buying all those drinks every night and occasionally taking these women home with you can really add up to a lot of money, fast. If you are a women however, or a man who is not tempted by these kinds of things, then you should be fine. This is assuming of course that you like good cheap Thai food and are not just eating Pizza Hut, KFC, and Burger King for breakfast, lunch, and dinner everyday.As for accepting jobs from outside of the country I personally never do this myself because I want to choose my own housing as well as the city I will be living and working in. I also want to meet with my prospective employers before accepting a job.But then again, there is definitely something to be said for having the security that comes with having a job and housing lined up before you even enter the country. And I’ll admit it can be pretty darn scary to move to a foreign country with no job or housing lined up, especially if you don’t have much money to begin with. In fact, the first time I moved to Japan in the 80’s I only had $400 in my pocket and I came very close to ending up homeless before everything finally fell into place for me. And the second time I did it I only had about $1000, but this time I knew the ropes so things went much smoother.Anyway, although you might get stuck living in a place you don’t really like, at least you will have some security. And if you don’t like your job or housing situation you can always look for something else once your contract is up.
          Reply

  22. John Dias says

    Hi broI am a boy, planning to visit Bangkok for a pleasure trip and shopping for 3-4 days. Will live in a decent hotel and would love to have authentic Thai dishes. Will 50,000 baht be sufficient for me out there. Wud buy Clothes, shoes and electronics. *Heard a lot about sextourism.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi John, 50,000 spending money should be enough; though it depends what kind of clothes and electronics you buy. Designer clothes are expensive in Thailand, and depending on what electronics, they can be too, or at least not that much cheaper than what you could buy back home. Food is cheap though at standard Thai restaurants.
      Reply

      • John Dias says

        I am not into d designer stuff coz m a travel freak n a writer who has to make up stories for my website. Electronic items like ps2,3 discs, USB devices, decent camera. Dats it.Send me d details of some hotels coz have to make arrangement for my crew. ;)BTW cheers for ur help mate......
        Reply

  24. ryan says

    hey, nice read,me and my other half, are planning on goingaround towards the end of the year, we wanna train in muay thai and travel around and sight see for a while then stay and train muay thai, what kind of expenses can we expect?for accom we would be sharing a double room somewhere, the accom seems to be something that westerners get ripped off with, as they get charged more from what ive gathered from other travellers,as for food, we would probably eat not that much, fresh fruit, and really basic meals and maybe drinking one day per week.my budget is completely unknown right now, ive got a reasonable time to save up so id like to know what kind of finances id need, thankyou for any help
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi Ryan,When you are travelling around you should be able to get a double room for around 500-600 Baht a night, that's 10-12 quid. But don't expect breakfast for that. That price will usually be an apartment type building or guest house, not a proper hotel. i wouldn't say travellers get ripped off for accommodation. The type of accommodation travellers usually choose is low budget anyway, so the margins aren't really there to rip people off. In some places you'll find accommodation for as low as 300 Baht a night, but bear in mind that you'll want a clean room and I assume air con and not just a fan.If you settle in the same area for longer than a month, some places will let you can do a deal on a month's rent, although this might require a deposit. in that case you can get a double room for under 200 quid for the month.Your budget really depends on where you travel to and how much you do in terms of excursions. If you eat Thai food it's always pretty cheap at the right places. The islands tend to be more expensive for food, but accommodation tends to be cheaper than Bangkok.It really is up to the type of lifestyle you want to lead, but you can get by reasonably on 20 quid a day each. When you're just chilling you'll spend less than that, I'm sure.
      Reply

  25. Hisham says

    Dear Sir,I am planing a vacation to bangkok and phuket on the 1st of August 2015 and ill be staying for 7 days. I just want to ask you if 50000 baht enough for siteseeing and partying and eating in restaurants?Thank you,
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi Hisham, yes, I think this should certainly be enough. Getting around by taxi and the metro is very cheap, as is food and drink. You will spend more in Phuket as the pricing tends to be higher on the tourist islands, but you should still come home with some change :)
      Reply

  27. J.Alleyne says

    Thank you very much.I forgot to mention I was planning to backpack & stay in cheaper accommodation to hopefully get a better and more down to earth experience. Is this something you would recommend & how much would this impact my outgoings?The main purpose for the trip is a bit of 'soul searching' - In your opinion what would be your recommendation on how I construct my trip?Many thanks in advance.J
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi. I am not sure that you can rent on a contract in Backpacker accommodation. Hostels start at as little as 200 Baht a night, but I have no experience of good and bad. If you want backpacker accommodation in Bangkok look into Kao San road. My advice would be to save that little bit extra for your trip and have a decent, clean room to sleep in. Last thing you want is to get ill.
      Reply

  28. J.Alleyne says

    Hi,Great website & really useful information. I am planning to go travelling in Thailand in September for 3 months. Isit possible for me to rent an apartment for that amount of time, and if so how would i go about it?Also, would £3000 be enough money to cover me travelling ALONE in bangkok?Many thanks in advance.Regards,J
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      You can rent an apartment for that length of time, but you will need to shop around because most require 6 months minimum contract and a month's deposit. I'd say 1000 quid per month is enough, but always have a back up fund just in case. Make sure you get medical insurance too. If you rent a studio for around 7k (150 quid) a month you will have enough budget to do and see everything in BKK. Minvans/coaches/trains to other parts of the country are cheap from here too. All the best!
      Reply

  29. Tim says

    Any information on paying income tax if you are collecting on a pension. I will still have to pay a percentage from my originating country, and wonder what I will have to pay to the Thai government. In addition I will have to research how best to have my biweekly payments transferred to a bank in Thailand. Met my Thai girlfriend in my home country, and although she is a citizen here, we will marry soon and eventually live back in Thailand.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi Tim, I am no expert on this but I am quite sure you won't have to pay the Thai government anything in the way of tax on a pension. The UK gov will pay state pension cheques to a foreign bank account, but not sure how it works with private pensions and I can't speak for other countries. I do know that to get a retirement visa you must have 800,000 Thai Baht in a bank account, and this amount must be present each year on renewal; not sure if this has to be in a Thai bank account or not. Good luck with your move to Thailand.
      Reply

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