Every new arrival wants to know if they can survive or live well in Thailand on X thousand baht a month?
It's a difficult question because each person has different needs. However, the following surveys and figures are from teachers actually working here! How much do they earn and what do they spend their money on?. And after each case study, I've added comments of my own.
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Approximate Thai Baht (฿) conversion rates as of 23rd December 2024
฿34 to one US Dollar฿43 to one Pound Sterling
฿36 to one Euro
฿21 to one Australian Dollar
฿0.59 THB to one Philippine Peso
James
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings 120,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
I work at a tier 2 international school and my salary is 120k after tax and including a housing allowance.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
70,000
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
18k for a large one-bedroom condo near Rama 9 (of which my partner pays 8k)
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
Very little. I walk to work and run a small motorbike that runs on little more than fresh air.
Utility bills
Electricity, water and internet is about 2,000 a month.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
Lunch is free at work so food only really consists of dinner, say 5k a month.
Nightlife and drinking
Nightlife probably accounts for 5-10k a month depending on how thirsty I get.
Books, computers
Very little goes on CPUs and books unless something needs replacing, so say 1k per month
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Comfortable & with enough leftover at the end of the month to save for a half decent retirement. I have no pension or property to otherwise fall back on in the future.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Taxis are incredibly cheap, as is local food and the water bill.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
30k over and above rent. But this can only be temporary unless you don't need to worry about retirement.
Phil's analysis and comment
You realise how cheap taxi fares are here every time you travel abroad. I caught a taxi from Birmingham Airport in England a few weeks ago to travel barely 10 kilometres and the fare cost over 1,500 baht. The same journey in Bangkok wouldn't have been 10% of that.
Nice survey this one. Even though James earns a very good salary from an international school and could live the life of Riley, he's keeping a good eye on the future. And let me tell you James, the older the get, the more important that becomes.
Mark
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings 90,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
I work at an international school and my salary is 90k baht. I don't take any private students because the extra time just isn't worth it for me.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
I save about 50,000 a month, which may sound like a lot but I also have my fiancee's income. She is a Thai doctor and earns a very good salary (far more than I do) so together we put away a nice figure in the bank.
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
We pay 40,000 a month for a condo in Asok.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
I catch a motorbike taxi everywhere, not because I'm cheap but because it gets me everywhere fast, and my condo is right near my work place so I would say 1,500 a month on transport
Utility bills
Bills are quite a lot, mostly because I have subscriptions to a lot of streaming sport services, so I would say about 5,000 a month
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
This is the big one. My fiance loves to fine dine, so sometimes she will spend 3,000 baht just on one meal, but she usually grabs the cheque :) She knows I could eat noodles on the street. So personally I would say 40,000 a month.
Nightlife and drinking
Even thought I'm a locked down man now, I was a massive party guy up until last year, and I still feel the need to let loose at RCA, sometimes I could wax 5,000 a night. But these days I will usually only spend that once a month
Books, computers
I'm an avid reader but not really sure what I spend a month on books.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Awesome. I eat well (too well), I travel 2.5 months out of the year, and my students are a dream to teach, plus I only teach 15 periods a week. Just turned 30 this year and things are really looking up.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Food. Food. Food.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
You could survive on 40,000 but what's the point? For me, I'd need at least 60,000 to make it worthwhile.
Phil's analysis and comment
We've finally unlocked the secret to it all - marry a doctor!
In the survey that Mark did, he said he spent 4,000 baht a month on food, but considering his missis can blow 3k on one meal just didn't stake up. I'm guessing he meant to write 40,000. That's a lot of money on food each month.
DJ
Working in Khorat Province
Monthly Earnings 30,000 baht
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
I earn 30,000 baht per month plus 3,000 baht goes towards my accommodation
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
Since I've quit drinking alcohol, I can save at least 13,000 baht per month
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
My accommodation is 3,000 baht for one room in a two-bedroom house (other teacher pays 3,000 baht too). I have a a typical rural Thai kitchen and bathroom, living room and balcony.
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
2,000 baht per month on bike rental and 1,000 baht on petrol. And around 300 baht per month on train and bus rides to the big city.
Utility bills
Around 300 baht for water and electricity
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
I eat out everyday, breakfast and lunch at school is cheap, and I snack all the time so in the end I spend about 3,500 baht.
Nightlife and drinking
Not much nightlife here in my small town and I quit drinking alcohol about two months ago so now I spend no more than 200 baht on anything resembling nightlife (maybe a movie or 2 at the cinema in the city)
Books, computers
I recently spent 1,500 baht on 5 novels. I spend about 300 baht a month on Thai massages and sometimes a 1000 baht on clothes.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
My standard of living is pretty simple.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Definitely the food. And public transportation.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
Just to survive? 10,000 baht. (no bike, no alcohol - still may be some room to save)
Phil's analysis and comment
DJ also had this to say about his lifestyle
I'm not really fussy with what I spend my money on, my accommodations and food I eat etc. If I want to buy something I can, if it's expensive I save up for it for a month and then buy it. I have medical and accident cover with my agency too. I get to go to places every weekend, either on my bike or by bus. My house is just enough for me, a lot of people couldn't handle living in rural homes like I do. Living in the small towns is quiet and peaceful and food is cheap, I get to save a lot of money and spend it on mini-holidays to the mountains or beaches. Overall I'm content with life as its very easy and stress free here. Far away from any rushed hustle and bustle.
Just a quick word about salaries. I see a lot of jobs advertised as let's say 40,000 baht a month. Then when you delve into details, the salary is 35,000 baht and there might be an accommodation allowance of 5,000 baht. That to me is NOT a 40,000 baht salary. It might be a 40,000 baht package but to quote it as a 40K salary is misleading. A salary is all about how much folding you're holding at the end of the month.
If anyone fancies doing a cost of living survey, I've now put the questions on-line to make it easier and quicker for you. Please spare half an hour if you can.
A number of teachers complete the surveys with just a list of figures. I don't wish to sound ungrateful but that's not really what we're looking for. There needs to be some sort of 'story' behind the figures as it were (it certainly makes the surveys more interesting to read) Many thanks!
Brian
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings 65,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
I earn 65,000 baht after tax at an "international school" in Bangkok
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
23,000
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I pay 18,000 baht for rent, utilities and internet for an apartment on Sukhumvit
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
I'll typically spend 2,200 on taxis, uber and BTS
Utility bills
It's included in my rent
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
I like good food, so I'll spend around 15,000 a month on food, coffee and vitamins
Nightlife and drinking
Not much here anymore. Only when company comes to town or a meeting with old chaps. Probably an average of 3,000 baht a month
Books, computers
1,000 baht a month on books. Roughly 500 a month to replace/repair electronics.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
It's a careful existence, yet comfortable enough.
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Massage (legitimate), dentists, medical care, Uber taxis, tropical fruit, haircuts, cheap clothes, phone plans, internet. Basically, everything except imported goods and Western marketed services and products.
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
In Bangkok, you wouldn't want anything less than 40,000 in my opinion
Phil's analysis and comment
Brian also had the following to add to the final question.
I personally wouldn't consider living here if I couldn't make less than 60,000 a month. It's not just about survival here; it's the future too. By working in Thailand, you are not paying into Western pensions and by being out of your country, you have to forgo even your basic state pension. Many teachers don't think about this. This is a major mistake.
I've known a few ESL teachers that have worked here for many years before finally going home with nothing: no marketable skills, savings, connections, or contributions to their state pension. As cheap as it is in Thailand, it costs a lot to live here in the long run. If you are not smart and somewhat careful, you could be screwing up your whole life by staying here.
Wise words from Brian methinks.
I've just come back from a trip to England and found myself several times getting into conversations about pensions. My uncle in his sixties has just one year left at work until he retires with a nice big fat pension that will look after him for the rest of his life. My brother is in a similar situation, albeit with 15 years still to do. And that got me thinking about long term English teachers in Thailand. Brian is absolutely right. You could find yourself going home with nothing if you're of a certain age and don't plan for the future. It must become a scary thought for many.
Bill
Working in Bangkok
Monthly Earnings 60,000
Q1. How much do you earn from teaching per month?
I'm a director of studies at a language school and my salary is 60,000 baht a month.
Q2. How much of that can you realistically save per month?
Zero
Q3. How much do you pay for your accommodation and what do you live in exactly (house, apartment, condo)?
I pay 14,000 baht a month for a 3- bedroom townhouse in Bang Na
Q4. What do you spend a month on the following things?
Transportation
15,000 baht a month on car loan repayments, 6,000 baht a month for the diesel to take my daughter to school and go to and from work
Utility bills
Utility bills are usually around 3,500 baht / month for electricity and around 300 for water.
Food - both restaurants and supermarket shopping
Around 10,000 baht for regularly eating American fast food and restaurants in shopping malls.
Nightlife and drinking
Around 6,000 baht a month on a weekly trip to Sukhumvit.
Books, computers
I don't spend anything on books and computers.
Q5. How would you summarize your standard of living in one sentence?
Unless you are a bachelor living in a shoe-box style room it isn't as good as my home country (the UK). Trying to live a Western lifestyle (houses, cars, food) means I would probably be better off elsewhere, but as my wife and child are from here, I'm not sure how to get out!
Q6. What do you consider to be a real 'bargain' here?
Water bills
Q7. In your opinion, how much money does anyone need to earn here in order to survive?
To have a family (including school fees and everything) I'd say at least 80,000 to survive. More if you want to save anything!
Phil's analysis and comment
I think Bill is the first director of studies that we've had fill in one of our cost of living surveys. He's the man who controls the teachers and probably looks after a lot more besides. You have my sympathy Bill. I had a director of studies job once upon a time and held the position for six months before resigning. I hated every minute of it! I couldn't wait to go back to being a plain old teacher again. The teachers earned more money than I did and they had far more freedom to come and go when they pleased. 'Director of Studies' might look good on your business card but as my wise old dad used to say - "titles on business cards don't pay bills"
Another thing my wise old dad used to say - and I remember his words when I finally passed my driving test - "a car will keep you poor". And he was right. I think in your case Bill, it's the car and the family combined. It sounds like you need to find a way to reach that magical 80,000 baht figure but it can be difficult when you have a full-time management position that takes up all your time and energy. Good luck to you though.
Showing 5 Cost of Living surveys out of 437 total
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