Could I Retire in Thailand with 45,000 baht/month?

[Bamboo Grove]

Thanks Johnnywastaken. I have been to Vietnam 7 times and 6 of them has included Saigon. I like the country but I still have 14 years before I can retire so no immediate plans of moving anywhere.

I had a good friend from my Bangkok years who lived in Saigon from around 2000 till last year, when he sadly passed away and I used to go out with him, whenever I was in Saigon. All the other things seemed reasonably priced except the accommodation. Of course in Hue, Hoi An etc everything is still cheaper than in Saigon.

[hhfarang]

A retirement visa requires a garantee of 65k per month income (from outside Thailand), unless you have 800,000 to leave in a Thai bank.

[Jose]

wow lots of different opinions here.

If you dont play golf and avoid buying bottles of wine then everything else is very cheap including girls.

I have lived in Hua Hin and BKK and the costs are very similar, with the cost of beer being maybe 20-30 baht cheaper in HH.
The cost of girls a lot cheaper in HH, once they know you are potential repeat client.

Hua Hin is tricky for good value long term places,
You can get a guesthouse room on soi 80 for under 9000, this means you dont need transport,
or get a nice townhouse 1-2km out of town for 8-12k, if you like more space+garden.
Budget 10'000 for total rent+bills minimum.

This leaves you 35k = 8.75k per week.

if you drink 5 night out of 7 and have 7 beers per night at 80Baht each = 2800 baht on beer.
3 thai meals per week at 100Baht each and 4 farang meals at 400baht each = 1900 baht on evening meals
Lunchtime meals or snacks = 7x150 baht = 1050 baht on lunches.

Total cost per week on food and beer = 5750 baht.

Leaving 3k spare per week for other things, you could have a university gik if your not too old.

[Tommy farang]

To live comfortably and have enough for a couple of overseas trips every year I would advise a couple plan on a budget of USD10 k per month. I see so many people living here on measly budgets and they look miserable as sin. And a comprehensive medical plan.

[Dannie Boy]

$120,000 a year - you must be having a laugh, as almost nobody has access to that sort of income.

[richard]

$120,000 a year - you must be having a laugh, as almost nobody has access to that sort of income.

There are a good few who live/visit here on excess of that figure. How about the 500US$/day oil boys here in HH for starters?

[Korkenzieher]

Quite a few people have that - for vacation and R&R spending. But the OP's comment was about retirement. Oil boys may make enough now, but what will they retire on? I think Dannie Boy's argument is basically that you will need savings, on top of retirement income, as few retirees get that kind of level of pension.

[dtaai-maai]

To live comfortably and have enough for a couple of overseas trips every year I would advise a couple plan on a budget of USD10 k per month. I see so many people living here on measly budgets and they look miserable as sin.

Bit of a sweeping judgment call there.
I'm sure there are people with that kind of money who are miserable as sin.
You can only plan on a budget like that if you have it in the first place, and if I did, I don't think I'd choose Thailand to retire to.

I'd love to know your definition of 'comfortably'.

[dozer]

If we are talking about a farang couple, then I do not think you need $10000 a month per couple to retire here, $5000/$6000 is probably enough.
I would say though with investments and pension, retired business owner(s) or professional couples, can easily have a combined monthly income of $10000
As for the “$500 per day oil boys”, I think you will find that the figure is closer to $1000 per day

[Jose]

I too would like to see the breakdown on how you would need 10'000$ per month,

even if I was spending like a tourist, I would struggle to spend more 2500baht per day

[void]

If you dont play golf and avoid buying bottles of wine then everything else is very cheap including girls.

I liked your cost assessment.

Some things you did not mention - which were major expenses for me:

• out of country visits - such as Visa Runs, and/or visiting relatives
• Toys - I confess I like to buy a new computer now and then, and buy a new camera, new smartphone, etc ... these are major expenses that can completely blow away a couple month's budget (or more) in a single purchase. Does one plan to never purchase a new toy ? Ultimately, it was the cost of new toys that drove me back from semi-retirement in 1997-99 to go back to work. I wanted my expensive toys
• vehicle costs - a motorbike can be relatively cheap but if one wants the security of metal around one, then one needs to own a car. Car purchase price, gasoline, maintenance, can gradually add up. How many years does one plan to go without a new car ?

If one walks everywhere, and very rarely goes out of country, and has no toys, then those major expenses can be eliminated, but I confess that would be difficult for me.

[Dannie Boy]

$120,000 a year - you must be having a laugh, as almost nobody has access to that sort of income.

There are a good few who live/visit here on excess of that figure. How about the 500US$/day oil boys here in HH for starters?

My response was related to people living here full time, i.e. retired, and whilst there will be a few fortunate enough to have that level of pension income, I suggest they will be very much in the minority - I wish I were one of them though.

[hhfarang]

Can you survive here on 45k per year? Yes. But would it be living? I doubt it.

[Korkenzieher]

A year? Hmm. Ambitious!

[Jose]

If you dont play golf and avoid buying bottles of wine then everything else is very cheap including girls.

I liked your cost assessment.

Some things you did not mention - which were major expenses for me:

• out of country visits - such as Visa Runs, and/or visiting relatives
• Toys - I confess I like to buy a new computer now and then, and buy a new camera, new smartphone, etc ... these are major expenses that can completely blow away a couple month's budget (or more) in a single purchase. Does one plan to never purchase a new toy ? Ultimately, it was the cost of new toys that drove me back from semi-retirement in 1997-99 to go back to work. I wanted my expensive toys
• vehicle costs - a motorbike can be relatively cheap but if one wants the security of metal around one, then one needs to own a car. Car purchase price, gasoline, maintenance, can gradually add up. How many years does one plan to go without a new car ?

If one walks everywhere, and very rarely goes out of country, and has no toys, then those major expenses can be eliminated, but I confess that would be difficult for me.

good points, does anyone really need a car if they live in town.

most of my toys come out of my Uk bank account, so maybe you have a strong point.

I would add that you would want savings account that can act a buffer when you overspend here.