James
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings 75,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
I work at an international school in Bangkok and my full-time salary is 75K
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
20,000. I could save more but I enjoy my lifestyle.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
The rent on my condo is 9,000 baht a month and I get this as an allowance from the school on top of my salary.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
I live only a two-minute walk from school so no costs here. However i would estimate my trips into the centre of Bangkok would be around 500 per month.
Utility bills
Electricity no more than 1,000 baht (I use the air-conditioning all the time whilst I am in my room). Water is 70 baht per month. Internet/phone/TV 800 per month.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
Food is probably my biggest spend which can range anything from 4,000 - 14,000 depending if I eat local or sample some of the many exotic hotels here. Supermarket shopping I rarely do as I eat out or eat street food. I just visit the 7/11 or Tops for convenience items so I would guess around 2,000 per month on that as well.
Nightlife and drinking
I do enjoy the weekends whether it be at a sky bar or some other bars in the Sukhumvit area. I would guess around 8-12,000 here - just a young teacher living the dream!.
Books, computers
I had to purchase a new laptop recently due to mine breaking down so that was around 8,000. The school has a comprehensive library so I do not need to buy books.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Comfortable. I live in Bangkok so things are generally more expensive here but I still have enough money left over at the end of the month to save or keep for emergency costs. I can see myself staying here for quite some time.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Everything such as housing / food can be found significantly cheaper here than in the UK.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
I guess if I adjusted my lifestyle I could generally live off around 35-40,000 in Bangkok.
Phil's analysis and comment
I think you've got the numbers right James for a young man who still enjoys the lure of those Sukhumwit neon lights. Saving 20,000 out of a 75,000 salary is not bad going and there's always the opportunity to save more with a few lufestyle adjustm,ents here and there.
The school paying for a 9,000 baht apartment is obviously a huge bonus as well. And just a two-minute walk to work. I bet that's nice.
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