Chuck
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings 92,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
My salary after tax is 92,000 from my English program school in Bangkok. During term, I can make another 4k-8k, after tax, with after-school classes
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
Realistically, I could save 55k if I were quite careful. I actually save 35k - 45k.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
14k all-in for a 45m condo in the heart of Bangkok. It's an old building but convenient for everything.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
Gas for my scooter runs 200 baht per month. I rarely use public transport or taxis but let’s say 200 baht per month for those.
Utility bills
Zero, as it's included in rent.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
Too much. I love Thai food. I also love Western food. I’d say maybe 16,000. I rarely cook. I take home food from the street, supermarkets and have food delivered. I also eat out somewhat regularly. Sunday roasts and buffets. Nice restaurant meals with friends and the occasional date. However, if I have to pay for everything on a first date, there ain’t no second date!
Nightlife and drinking
I spend extravagantly. I’m a happy hour fiend that knows no boundaries. Hotels, British and Irish pubs, sports bars and venues mother need not know about. However, my chief expense is in clubs, where prices are higher and ‘products’ more diverse. I hasten to add that I don’t ‘take-away’ from the risqué venues. I’ve nothing against it, but I don’t do it. I love craft beer too. All in all, around 20k some months. Other months under 10k. It’s ridiculous at times, but there’s never a dull moment.
Books, computers
Chuck did not answer this question.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
My standard of living is quite good. My day-to-day life is a better experience than living back home.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
There are several bargains here. Most forms of manual labour, taxis, cell phone subscriptions, street food, raw chicken and pork, bottled water, cigarettes (I don’t smoke), utilities, cinema tickets, inter-city bus and rail services and probably a ton of stuff I have forgotten because I take them for granted. I would not add gym membership. They aren’t pricey, but gyms are packed – it can be frustrating at times.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
‘Survive’ is a loose term. If you mean what’s the minimum hand-to-mouth, pay check to pay check existence, I’d say 15,000 baht.
Phil's analysis and comment
An interesting survey there from Chuck. After reading so many surveys where teachers no longer spend money on nightlife (if indeed they ever did) along comes Chuck. He's a night owl and proud of it! LOL
Chuck also had the following to say on his standard of living;
I'd hesitate to say that my standard of living is higher, because I have no retirement fund from work. The long-term future causes me some anxiety. However, I'd never have this much fun back home, except when I went on holiday to Thailand or elsewhere! It used to annoy me to read ajarn.com ‘guides' and people describe their lives as comfortable earning 40k, rarely going out and saving next to nothing. That's not comfortable. That's a ticket to skid-row. Also, earning 40k and saving 25k is not a lifestyle I enjoy imagining.
And on the topic of how much does a teacher need to earn to survive, Chuck added;
I know one person who had monthly expenses run 15,000 baht. He earned much higher but was paying off debt. As soon as the debt cleared, his expenses rocketed, as did his happiness. Unless I were under 25 years old, I wouldn't want to live on less than 50,000 baht. In fact, if I had to live on less than 70k, I'd go back home and enjoy a better lifestyle than that while also saving money and having a retirement fund. I know I don't sound friendly when I say these things, but if this is a guide, let me say that there is no such thing as a friendly warning. 30k shouldn't be your salary - it should be your savings per month. Have health insurance. Enjoy your life as you want to enjoy it. If you can't do these things, change. If you're young, enjoy it while you can.
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