How much would it cost to live in Thailand (HH) for one year

[Francois]

6 months ago, it was 200 THB from Soi Moobaan Bofai (Soi 6) to downtown.

How many km is that and is that a Taxi or Tuk Tuk?

I haven't been in a Tuk Tuk in HH for a few years as they overcharge and I can just call my Taxi.

That's around 6 km. I paid the same either for a cab or for a tuk tuk.

[Johan]

They overcharge me everytime, anyway, this problem is solved, i'm going to buy a car very soon.

[mabubba]

Yes, there is not a whole lot of point in discussing an upper limit of how much you can spend as surely the OP is on at least some sort of budget to actually ask the question.
I don't suppose people like Bill Gates put a great deal of thought into such matters as utility bills and the cost of food!

I definitely am on a budget, can't imagine living like Bill Gates

Another one of my motivations was to compare the cost of living in the UK to HH. I wanted to see if living in Thailand would be substantially cheaper than living here. From the responses I am not so sure it is. I have been trying to live more modestly for the past couple of years to see how much of my lifestyle related to my happiness. My expenses have been around £20k/year. That includes renting a room, going out 1-2 times weekly for dinner or drinks with friends, and a fairly thirsty car. At current exchange rates, that equates to 1 million Baht. From the responses, I think the spread in estimates can be attributed to two areas; one is the amount of socializing and the other is how many western amenities you use.

[migrant]

one is the amount of socializing and the other is how many western amenities you use.

I think this is one of the keys.

For Mrs M, and me it's also working into the budget trips back to the states to see my kids.

Plus even though my wife is Thai, she hasn't lived in Thailand for 14-16 years so once she, and I, are there full time, I want a "safety net" if we want to come back.

If you are going for 1 year only, and are young enough to go back home, get a job, etc, then there is less planning involved in my opinion.

[STEVE G]

In my experience, the biggest saving to be made in living in a country like Thailand is that, ownership issues aside, it's still possible to buy property with savings and then not have a huge mortgage to pay for many years.
Where I work here in Luxembourg, the price of property is astronomical and completely out of reach for a normal person.
If you have your own modest property in Thailand, the basic cost of living is pretty low and there is little in the way of property taxes which can also be a large burden in the West.

[migrant]

and there is little in the way of property taxes which can also be a large burden in the West.

[Korkenzieher]

Agree with all that. I find most things pretty much on a par with the UK or Germany (as long as we are not talking Central London). My main saving is the cost of accommodation. What you save on other items like food, you spend on the motorcycle, say. Public transport in Germany when I am working costs me €51 for the month; in HH the motorbike is (at 4k) pretty much double - and thats even before adding fuel and possible repairs, tea-money fines etc. Fifty Euro may not sound (or be) a lot, but it is the sort of amount that just balances up the cost of living savings ledger. Given that I own outright in the UK in East Yorkshire, then the cost of living in Thailand and the cost of being in the UK is, at current exchange rates, pretty close to equal.

[STEVE G]

Yes, public transport in Europe can be an absolute bargain; here you can get unlimited access for the whole country for 45 Euro a month, which works out at about 60 bt a day and makes tuk-tuks seem ridiculously over-priced.

[Francois]

Yes, public transport in Europe can be an absolute bargain; here you can get unlimited access for the whole country for 45 Euro a month, which works out at about 60 bt a day and makes tuk-tuks seem ridiculously over-priced.

Right. But do not forget that transport in Europe are mostly subsidized.

[PeteC]

Yes, public transport in Europe can be an absolute bargain; here you can get unlimited access for the whole country for 45 Euro a month, which works out at about 60 bt a day and makes tuk-tuks seem ridiculously over-priced.

As Francois says, it's mostly subsidized. Why do they do that?
1) Encourage people to travel and thus spend money shopping throughout the Union?
2) Do that many commute to work far away?
3) Simply to be nice and make people happy?

I think I'd rather take a tax cut and endure the more expensive transport costs when I needed to travel. If we go back into the 'green' debate, better for the environment also if fewer traveled. Pete

Edit: I forgot 4) Encourage the movement of illegal immigrants?

[STEVE G]

As Francois says, it's mostly subsidized. Why do they do that?

I believe that the main reason is to try and remove congestion from the roads and to reduce pollution.
You have to remember that old historic cities like Luxembourg aren't really suited to having a lot of traffic clogging the narrow streets and parking is limited as well.
Some companies here will actually pay you a small bonus to use public transport to commute and leave your car at home.
I don't bother having a car here as the public transport is so efficient that I don't really need one, (and I can then have a drink as well!)

[Korkenzieher]

Same in Hannover. Try parking a car in the centre of town and your daily rate is going to be close to your monthly public transport ticket.

As for number 4, as far as I can tell, public transport hasn't been a significant boost in getting immigrants from their country to any preferred destination. Unless you know of a public subsidised route from Pakistan to England, for example, then it sounds like an axe is being ground somewhat unnecessarily.

[mabubba]

I wanted to give an update on my holiday expenses in HH. Sorry for the delay. I have been freezing my keister off here in the 'Big Freeze':)

I spent a grand total of 35 days on holiday. Three days in Bangers (a day on arrival, a day trip, and one on departure), and 32 lovely days in HH.

I spent approximately 47 thousand baht on my trip. This didn't include the flight and some other miscellaneous items. I did have my wallet stolen though, and the 47k includes the money I lost (~2k).

I think if I extrapolated this into a year of living I could save money in a few places. But as is, that's around 550-600K for a year. I can break down the expenses if anyone is interested.

Overall, I think I can live comfortably in Thailand for half of what I am spending in the UK per year. I wouldn't have a car in Thailand though, but I think I could manage with a cheap motorbike and public transportation.

[fach3003]

Hi All
well we have been here for 8 weeks now and loving it
once you stop living a holiday...which takes a while
it becomes cheaper....

In the uk we only went out a couple times a week
and do the same here i not going to start going out
and eating and drinking here everynight as i didnt do it at home

overall Food is cheap..we shop at tescos!
and use the markets fruit and veg....cheese is expensive mind!
Diesel for the pick up is under 30B per litre fair bit less than the uk
our electric bill is 25% of the uk bill
Water is 25% of the my last uk bill too
No Council tax!
Havent bought a gas bottle for the kitchen yet but the wife
recons it cheap....
my wireless connection (bit slow mind) is 50% less than home
theres alot of plus points so far....
you miss your family and friends....
but not the snow there having....
even winters hot here!!!

Mind you could spend a fortune here....
i have before
But married off with child now
she only gives me 100B a day hahahaha joking!

I recon 500K-550K a year is the minimum
( including a decent rented place and buying a scooter)

costing us 35K a month at present....
mind we were spending over double this at first !!!
and im sure some months when we having trips away
it will get a bit spicy again but you cant just sit in
the house all day!!!

Like i say you could spend alot over here

Just my pennys worth of though....

Regards to all !!!

[jimmy40]

I reckon the cost of living here could be cheap, but as mentioned above the drinks really add up. I have a maid, a pool cleaner, a garden man 2 times a month.I own my home, and have 2 motor bikes and a bmw, and it costs me about 1 million a year.But i go out almost every night, drink party and basicly make a total idiot about myself for that 1 million, you could do it on half that if you toned it down a bit. But 400k? I dont think you want to live that if you come here.By the way i have been here for 8 months full time now