Scott
Working in Prakanong / On Nut
Monthly Earnings 170,000 (before tax)
Q1. How is that income broken down? (full-time salary, private students, on-line teaching, extra work, etc)
I earn a salary of 125,000 baht and receive a housing allowance of 45,000. If you deduct tax and housing, I'm left with 104,000.
Q2. How much money can you save each month?
Usually around 65,000 - 70,000 but during April and with the Covid outbreak, I managed to save 88,000.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I live in a fairly large and modern 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom condo with a European-style kitchen in the T77 Community that overlooks the Prakanong Canal. The condo building also has a pool, gym, co-working space and a library. The school housing allowance covers the rent.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
Very little on transport as there is a school bus to work each day. Maybe 500 baht a month on the BTS ride and occasional taxi at the weekend.
Utility bills
2,600 baht a month. 900 for internet, TV and phone. 1,500 for electricity and 200 for water.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
I usually eat at home during the week then eat at restaurants or order a delivery on Saturday and Sunday. Usually it is Western Food but occasionally I will eat Thai food from one of the nearby restaurants.
I buy the week's food from Tesco or Big C which costs around 1,200 baht a week.
If I add it all up, probably 12,000 per month (supermarkets 4,500 and restaurants 7,500)
Nightlife and drinking
I enjoy after-work drinks on a Friday and usually a Saturday on most weekends, but it's very usual for me to drink during the week. I'm a big fan of craft beers and the nicer bars in Bangkok. This component comes to around 10,000 a month.
Books, computers
Very little. I occasionally get books at the Neilson Hays Library or borrow them from work.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
I have an excellent standard of living. I live a great life in Bangkok. I travel during every holiday, eat out often, and have no worries about money.
When you earn the equivalent of a UK teacher's salary, saving money in Bangkok is easy without ever scrimping on anything.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Transportation (taxis, BTS, MRT and domestic flights), utilities (certainly compared to the UK), local Thai food, and drinks in bars outside of Central Bangkok.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
In Bangkok, including rent, I would say 45,000. Surviving and living are two very different things though.
Phil's analysis and comment
Wow! That is a nice housing allowance. Imagine being told to go out there and find something to the value of 45,000 a month? It sounds like you have as well.
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