T.J.
Working in Petchaburi
Monthly Earnings 28,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
I earn a 28K baht salary from a Thai public school in Petchburi
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
About 3,000 baht.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I rent a studio apartment that costs 3,500 a month.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
I bought my own motorbike for 15,000 baht and I spend 100 to 300 baht a month on fuel
Utility bills
I pay 1,000 to 2,000 baht for my electricity, 100 baht for the water and 1,000 for my internet
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
I seldom cook in my room so I buy my food most of the time at the local market. I spend around 2,000 to 4,000 for everything - including drinks
Nightlife and drinking
This is Petchaburi. We don't have nightlife. So that's a big fat zero.
Books, computers
I read free books on my phone and accept used books from colleagues.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
My standard of living is very simple but it's comfortable. I have what I need.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
The real bargain for me is the room rental. I have got everything I need - good water pressure with hot water, free wi-fi, queen-size bed, air-con, TV, refridgerator, and a huge room with a balcony for only 3,500 baht!
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
I could survive well enough here on 20,000 without any difficulty but 30,000 would get you a much nicer lifestyle.
Phil's analysis and comment
I've been through Petchaburi many times on the way to Hua Hin or Cha'am and it always seems like a pleasant, well-kept little town. J.T obviously enjoys life there but on a relatively average teacher's salary (by rural Thailand standards) I just wonder if I was in his position whether I would be able to resist the bright lights of Hua Hin just down the road, where there are so many Western attractions.
2,000 baht a month on food must take some doing J.T. That's not even 70 baht a day. Are those Petchaburi markets really that cheap?
We also have a region guide to Petchaburi in our region guides section. It hasn't been updated for a few years but much of the info should still be applicable.
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