Paddy
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings 35,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
I work at a Bangkok high school and my salary is 35,000 baht including a 2,000 baht travel allowance.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
Just about nothing. I'm down to the last 1,000 baht by pay day.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I have a 1-bedroom apartment in a Thai area but close to a BTS station, 32sqm. 10,000 baht a month plus water and electricity
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
I rent a motorbike for 4,000 baht a month plus I use public transport depending on where I need to go. Petrol costs around 120 baht/week, again depending on how much I use the bike. My school is 5km away. There is no BTS out there and the bus takes over an hour on a good day. The journey by bike takes 12 minutes.
Utility bills
Average around 1,200 baht a month on electricity and water.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
I eat lunch at school every day for 25 baht. I shop at my local market and street vendors for most meals and I cook at home a lot to save money.
Nightlife and drinking
We go out to the local bar and drink the draft Thai beer every fortnight and split the bill. We also go to a movie once a month.
Books, computers
I buy books from a second hand shop (90-200 baht per book) and then return the books to get some of the costs back.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Not really living extravagantly or living the high life. It's comfortable, I get out a lot to see the sights, free if I can
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
I guess the variety of food is a bargain. Street food is pretty good, just have to be wary of some products.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
Depending on how you want to live? I would think most companies need to increase their salary. I'd say 42,000 to 55,000, is not asking too much.
Phil's analysis and comment
Paddy doesn't supply any actual figures for the food and going out categories so it's pure guesswork. That said, being down to your last 1,000 baht every month probably tells you everything you need to know. That 35,000 baht a month in Bangkok just isn't enough?
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