Stephen
Working in Phuket
Monthly Earnings 60,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
60,000 after tax – I teach IGCSE maths at an international school in Phuket. Could do more but too lazy. Value my free time too much.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
25,000 to 30,000 (I am single)
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
5,000 (incl bills). Apartment complex with hot shower, fan, TV, balcony (nice view), swimming pool and fridge in Phuket Town.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
1,500 baht petrol for my chopper (paid for).
Utility bills
Steve did not say but probably about 1,000 baht I guess
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
Never cook at home. About 5,000
Nightlife and drinking
Too much. Around 15,000 - 20,000.
Books, computers
600 internet as above.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Excellent. I earn the same as I did as an IT engineer in Northern England in 2005. Compounding this is the lower living costs of Thailand! The Quality of Life is superb here. However, I have just spent £2900 (about 140,000) on a PGCE course at Nottingham University - that should pay for itself in less than a year.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Food. Motorbike insurance and tax. Accommodation.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
I earned less than 30,000 teaching in the sticks (2 years ago) and was able to live well. I reckon one could live well in the sticks for 30,000 (40.000 for Phuket). Add 10K to those figures and I'd imogen you could live like a premier league footballer - perhaps someone like Ryan Giggs.
Phil's analysis and comment
Steve first posted in the ajarn cost of living section back in 2009, when he worked in Trang and was earning 29,000 baht a month. Now he teaches maths in an international school in Phuket and has nigh on doubled his salary since then. Well done sir! But 20,000 baht a month on entertainment? Take more care of that liver Steve!
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