I think it's a fair bet that its 1000 baht a day, excluding rent and bills?wpcoe wrote:B1,000??? Per day, per week, per what? That seems a tad low for a monthly budget.nomad127 wrote:1,000 THB is what I budget for, not including my rent/bills/gas etc. I tend to eat out at least one meal a day and enjoy my snacks too.
(Or, maybe US$1,000 or GBP1,000 or Euro1,000?)
Cost of living in Hua Hin
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Dannie Boy
- Hero
- Posts: 13766
- Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2010 8:12 pm
- Location: Closer to Cha Am than Hua Hin
Re: Cost of living in Hua Hin
Re: Cost of living in Hua Hin
you will have to live a very limited life on 1000b a day.
Re: Cost of living in Hua Hin
If I didn't have a wife and kids and all the expenses that go with them I reckon I could live quite happily on a grand a day.
That said, I don't need a pool villa, Fortuner, 3 games of golf a week, a steak every night, high maintenance girlfriend etc etc ....
Horses for courses
That said, I don't need a pool villa, Fortuner, 3 games of golf a week, a steak every night, high maintenance girlfriend etc etc ....
Horses for courses
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Cost of living in Hua Hin
Well it's OK for you guys with incomes. Us poor old pensioners are not only persecuted by our home countries governments but are now subjected to a shrinking value in our money due to the exchange rate. so that 1000 bht per day will soon be 500 bht a day.
Personally, at this rate if I don't get the loans to me repaid soon it's either back to the jungle or join Sandman
Personally, at this rate if I don't get the loans to me repaid soon it's either back to the jungle or join Sandman
RICHARD OF LOXLEY
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
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margaretcarnes
- Rock Star
- Posts: 4172
- Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:28 am
- Location: The Rhubarb Triangle
Re: Cost of living in Hua Hin
I'd be happy with 1000 bt a day in the UK Richard! Bills excluded. It would be a considerable improvement. But it's a balancing act anywhere now I think. The freeze on UK pension increases for expats is certainly wrong, but I can't see it being sorted at all. On the plus side you save a hell of a lot in heating bills!richard wrote:Well it's OK for you guys with incomes. Us poor old pensioners are not only persecuted by our home countries governments but are now subjected to a shrinking value in our money due to the exchange rate. so that 1000 bht per day will soon be 500 bht a day.
Personally, at this rate if I don't get the loans to me repaid soon it's either back to the jungle or join Sandman
A sprout is for life - not just for Christmas.
Re: Cost of living in Hua Hin
1,000b a day, but I guess I'm not a high roller like you.wilf wrote:you will have to live a very limited life on 1000b a day.
I don't need steak lobster at every meal..local street food and Thai restaurants are fine, I don't need to buy a new outfit everyday..I am a man of simple grooming, I don't need booze and entertainment on a daily basis....I have TrueVision, internet and some beer from Makro, I don't need to spend a lot on petrol and maintenance....I own a motorbike (aka scooter) and I don't need to rent a gf on a nightly basis. Therefore, 1,000b a day is on average good enough when all the other bills have been paid.
Re: Cost of living in Hua Hin
Yea, 1000bt a day would do me nicely!
Re: Cost of living in Hua Hin
I have two daughters 12 and 15. Both at Salesian. We live on around 5,000 baht a week including electric, lunch money, pocket money and petrol plus school fees. I still have a few baht to buy a beer now and then and we eat out maybe once or twice a week.
Of course it can be done. It's all a matter of economics. I must say on a low income of that nature, the drop in the pound is hitting us more than most but we will survive!!
Of course it can be done. It's all a matter of economics. I must say on a low income of that nature, the drop in the pound is hitting us more than most but we will survive!!
Re: Cost of living in Hua Hin
I agree HHTel, when we arrived in Thailand I asked my wife how much she needed each week to run the house. She said 5,000 Baht, at which my daughter baulked and said she could live on 5,000 Baht a month 
.
OK, I normally take 2,000 Baht for myself, and in addition I buy diesel about once a month and I pay for water and electricity. However, as a family of 3 (with 3 close dependents) we survive comfortably on 7,000 Baht a week.
.OK, I normally take 2,000 Baht for myself, and in addition I buy diesel about once a month and I pay for water and electricity. However, as a family of 3 (with 3 close dependents) we survive comfortably on 7,000 Baht a week.
Championship Plymouth Argyle 1 - 2 Leeds Utd 
Points 46; Position 23 RELEGATED
Points 46; Position 23 RELEGATED
Re: Cost of living in Hua Hin
My rent is paid for by my company but apart from that I only spend the equivalent of about a 1000bt a day when I'm working here in Luxembourg which is a hell of a lot more expensive than Thailand. As I work six days a week, I don't have time for frivolities like golf.
Re: Cost of living in Hua Hin
After discussing this subject a friend and i decided to see if we could eat for a week and not spend more than $50 (me Canadian, he US) We both only eat twice a day, a late b'fast and dinner. We ate in both night markets and at low cost Thai places. We both failed but by small margins--I spent $C53 and he $US55. We did not feel that we were depriving ourselves and the food was delicious. One of our tastiest meals was a Pad Thai in the night Mkt for 40 baht.
Re: Cost of living in Hua Hin
Dr.M,
How much were the sherbets to wash the food down?
How much were the sherbets to wash the food down?
RICHARD OF LOXLEY
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
It’s none of my business what people say and think of me. I am what I am and do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. It makes life so much easier.
Re: Cost of living in Hua Hin
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/investi ... you-retire
How long will your pension last when you retire?
Published: 10 Mar 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Spectrum
We tend to assume that current realities will remain unchanged, yet the only constant is change. Are you comfortable today with what you have, based on current cost of living, exchange rates, inflation and investments? Will your pension last in retirement?
Experience shows that these factors are highly variable. Have you seriously thought about these realities, or are you hiding your head in the sand?
The recent "Net Worth" column on the state pension overhaul in the UK received a lot of feedback. While many British expats were interested in the impact that these changes may have on them, it also sparked discussion on retirement planning in general. What are the best ways to successfully combine accrued pensions with other savings and investments to create a secure future for you and your family.
There are many differences in opinion about exactly what is required for a pension. Of course, there are a few people who say they will never retire and that they will work until they drop. This could be because they cannot afford to stop working because they have made no provisions. As I have said before, failing to plan is, in reality, planning to fail.
Many expats are rather short-sighted, feeling they can get by on a shoestring budget. I have met some who base their thinking on a retirement living budget of something like 15,000 to 20,000 baht per month.
This may cover the basics of living, food and essentials. However, these individuals do not foresee any future need for medical attention, clothing replacements, travel of any kind, crisis situations and, most important of all, inflation. Once any of these inevitable items or events occurs, the short-sighted are likely to find themselves in some financial difficulty.
At the other end of the scale there are those who sincerely believe they will accumulate sufficient capital to produce enough income to live for the rest of their lives in style and continue to preserve their capital. While this is sometimes possible, in the vast majority of cases the accumulated capital will deplete as time progresses. The cold, hard reality here is inflation. If you assume inflation running at 4% annually, your cost of living will double in 17 years. At 5% inflation, the cost of living doubles in 14 years.
While we try to be practical about the realities here, many foreigners seem to be hiding from reality. If you are living on a shoestring, what about the proof required that you have 800,000 baht in pension income or that amount in a Thai bank to secure a retirement visa? Then there is the question of what currency your income is based in. If you are a pound sterling-based expat, the recent decision by Moody's to cut the UK's AAA credit rating has affected the sterling exchange rate and you will have to re-budget in the near future.
Despite these difficulties there are still many who successfully make a retirement home here in Thailand. Not all of them adjust to the realities, often encountering financial difficulties after a few years. These typically relate to exchange rates, inflation and unforeseen situations that drain resources.
Other expats lead relatively comfortable lives in Thailand. They manage their way through the maze of difficulties and some of the situations that occur because they have greater reserves. However, even these expats feel the pain when encountering certain situations.
The most common of these are exchange rates, geographical investment areas and asset classes. Are you aware that in 1995-96 the average rate for the British pound was 39 baht? Many are unaware of this and have based budgets on recent highs in 2004-05 of 75 baht to the pound _ a 92% difference. Similarly, dollar-baht rates have varied between 25 and 42, a 68% variance. So, for those expats expressing their concern at the ever increasing value of the Thai Baht, is it really just a return to normal after a very wide variance?
Expats often misunderstand currency variations and how they are potentially affected as individuals. I recently heard about some expats who have taken flight to the Australian dollar because it is so strong. Back in 2001, one Australian dollar was worth 48 US cents. Today it's worth US$1.04. That's a massive difference of 108%. But just because the Australian dollar is very strong does not mean it will continue that way. Similarly, just because the baht is so strong against both the pound and the dollar, does not mean it will continue the same way. Whoever would have predicted these differences?
The only constant is change.
If we look at geographical investment areas, there are similar anomalies as exchange rates. Who would ever have believed that the Thai stock exchange would have had such a bull run as it has over the past two years? The Indonesian and Philippine bourses have had similarly strong performances. These phenomena were unexpected. If you look at advice from the most respected investment authorities, such capital gains were never predicted.
The only constant is change.
Few people predicted the recent recession and market crashes of 2008-09, which left the world facing many difficulties, which still largely exist today. One of these aspects is low inflation. Looking back to inflation statistics 30 years ago, there was a completely different situation. With high inflation there is very often good stock market growth. In 2009 markets unexpectedly surged for the last three quarters of the year, making up much ground from the sharp declines in 2008. This was quite unexpected.
The only constant is change.
The fact is that we all become short-sighted in these types of matters. We all look in the rearview mirror when we are trying to drive forward. Many of the movements in asset class values, currencies, markets, commodities and a whole host of other factors, create movement which the majority did not foresee.
The only constant is change.
So are you one of the expats who feel it could and maybe should have been different for you? Were you invested in the western stock markets in 2009? Did you convert all your dollars and pounds to Thai baht in 2004 or 2005? Did you invest in the Thailand, Philippine and Indonesian stock markets in 2011 and 2012? Knowing what to do is certainly a very tricky business.
Balance is the major key to most wealth management solutions and based on balance you can make conservative projections about your own personal wealth and how long it will last.
How long will your pension last when you retire?
Published: 10 Mar 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Spectrum
We tend to assume that current realities will remain unchanged, yet the only constant is change. Are you comfortable today with what you have, based on current cost of living, exchange rates, inflation and investments? Will your pension last in retirement?
Experience shows that these factors are highly variable. Have you seriously thought about these realities, or are you hiding your head in the sand?
The recent "Net Worth" column on the state pension overhaul in the UK received a lot of feedback. While many British expats were interested in the impact that these changes may have on them, it also sparked discussion on retirement planning in general. What are the best ways to successfully combine accrued pensions with other savings and investments to create a secure future for you and your family.
There are many differences in opinion about exactly what is required for a pension. Of course, there are a few people who say they will never retire and that they will work until they drop. This could be because they cannot afford to stop working because they have made no provisions. As I have said before, failing to plan is, in reality, planning to fail.
Many expats are rather short-sighted, feeling they can get by on a shoestring budget. I have met some who base their thinking on a retirement living budget of something like 15,000 to 20,000 baht per month.
This may cover the basics of living, food and essentials. However, these individuals do not foresee any future need for medical attention, clothing replacements, travel of any kind, crisis situations and, most important of all, inflation. Once any of these inevitable items or events occurs, the short-sighted are likely to find themselves in some financial difficulty.
At the other end of the scale there are those who sincerely believe they will accumulate sufficient capital to produce enough income to live for the rest of their lives in style and continue to preserve their capital. While this is sometimes possible, in the vast majority of cases the accumulated capital will deplete as time progresses. The cold, hard reality here is inflation. If you assume inflation running at 4% annually, your cost of living will double in 17 years. At 5% inflation, the cost of living doubles in 14 years.
While we try to be practical about the realities here, many foreigners seem to be hiding from reality. If you are living on a shoestring, what about the proof required that you have 800,000 baht in pension income or that amount in a Thai bank to secure a retirement visa? Then there is the question of what currency your income is based in. If you are a pound sterling-based expat, the recent decision by Moody's to cut the UK's AAA credit rating has affected the sterling exchange rate and you will have to re-budget in the near future.
Despite these difficulties there are still many who successfully make a retirement home here in Thailand. Not all of them adjust to the realities, often encountering financial difficulties after a few years. These typically relate to exchange rates, inflation and unforeseen situations that drain resources.
Other expats lead relatively comfortable lives in Thailand. They manage their way through the maze of difficulties and some of the situations that occur because they have greater reserves. However, even these expats feel the pain when encountering certain situations.
The most common of these are exchange rates, geographical investment areas and asset classes. Are you aware that in 1995-96 the average rate for the British pound was 39 baht? Many are unaware of this and have based budgets on recent highs in 2004-05 of 75 baht to the pound _ a 92% difference. Similarly, dollar-baht rates have varied between 25 and 42, a 68% variance. So, for those expats expressing their concern at the ever increasing value of the Thai Baht, is it really just a return to normal after a very wide variance?
Expats often misunderstand currency variations and how they are potentially affected as individuals. I recently heard about some expats who have taken flight to the Australian dollar because it is so strong. Back in 2001, one Australian dollar was worth 48 US cents. Today it's worth US$1.04. That's a massive difference of 108%. But just because the Australian dollar is very strong does not mean it will continue that way. Similarly, just because the baht is so strong against both the pound and the dollar, does not mean it will continue the same way. Whoever would have predicted these differences?
The only constant is change.
If we look at geographical investment areas, there are similar anomalies as exchange rates. Who would ever have believed that the Thai stock exchange would have had such a bull run as it has over the past two years? The Indonesian and Philippine bourses have had similarly strong performances. These phenomena were unexpected. If you look at advice from the most respected investment authorities, such capital gains were never predicted.
The only constant is change.
Few people predicted the recent recession and market crashes of 2008-09, which left the world facing many difficulties, which still largely exist today. One of these aspects is low inflation. Looking back to inflation statistics 30 years ago, there was a completely different situation. With high inflation there is very often good stock market growth. In 2009 markets unexpectedly surged for the last three quarters of the year, making up much ground from the sharp declines in 2008. This was quite unexpected.
The only constant is change.
The fact is that we all become short-sighted in these types of matters. We all look in the rearview mirror when we are trying to drive forward. Many of the movements in asset class values, currencies, markets, commodities and a whole host of other factors, create movement which the majority did not foresee.
The only constant is change.
So are you one of the expats who feel it could and maybe should have been different for you? Were you invested in the western stock markets in 2009? Did you convert all your dollars and pounds to Thai baht in 2004 or 2005? Did you invest in the Thailand, Philippine and Indonesian stock markets in 2011 and 2012? Knowing what to do is certainly a very tricky business.
Balance is the major key to most wealth management solutions and based on balance you can make conservative projections about your own personal wealth and how long it will last.
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Re: Cost of living in Hua Hin
I remember those days but fuel was 7 baht a litre, 18 baht would buy you a pack of cigarettes and a beer in Phatpong was 30 baht. 30 baht for a haircut. You could eat for 15 - 20 baht. 500 baht would get you a decent hotel and you could buy a villa for a fraction of what it costs today.Are you aware that in 1995-96 the average rate for the British pound was 39 baht?
When comparing historical exchange rates you have to factor in the cost of living then!
Re: Cost of living in Hua Hin
Yes indeed, I agree. The key point of the article above to me was..."If you assume inflation running at 4% annually, your cost of living will double in 17 years. At 5% inflation, the cost of living doubles in 14 years....."HHTel wrote:......When comparing historical exchange rates you have to factor in the cost of living then!
This is a mathematical equation many seem not to get right, and it's extremely important to do so to determine what you'll need, and when. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source