Cost of Thai Retirement Visa, Cost of Living in Thailand

Thailand - Cost of living

The cost of living in Thailand will vary according to where you live. The following prices are in Thai Baht and reflect the cost of living in Bangkok. I live ouside of Chiang Mai. Prices are a lot less than in Bangkok. If you live in a smaller town in Thailand you will find that the cost of living will be greatly reduced.

Renting an apartment in Thailand

Apartment rental in Thailand will cost you between 3,000 - 10,000 per month. The lower end would be a single apartment room with air-con and fridge. More expensive rents may include two room apartments and a shared swimming pool. Cheaper apartments are available but you may find that the quality is not good. If you are in Thailand to teach, I would not recommend staying in a very low-end apartment. You will need a place where you can relax at the end of a hard days work.

Cost of Utilities in Thailand

Appx. 1,000 per month for electricity and water, although this can vary greatly depending on how much you use air-con. If you do decide to use air-con often you can expect to pay about 3,000 Baht a month.

Phone calls

Within Bangkok they are very cheap, Apr. 5 baht per call from an apartment block. However surcharges on overseas calls from apartments can be very high - anything up to 150 baht per minute. Discount calling cards are available for international calls. If you are planning to make a lot of international calls within Thailand I would recommend buying these.

Postage

Stamps to Europe are around 16 baht per letter. Within Thailand post is very cheap - Appx. 3 baht. A one page fax to the U. K. is around 40 baht but you may face a surcharge from places offering this service.

Food

Most apartments in Thailand do not have cooking facilities, although many do have a restaurant attached or are surrounded by numerous food stalls and restaurants. The following prices are a guide only and prices can vary greatly depending on the environment you are eating in.

Food stalls: A meal such as rice with spicy chicken or pork should cost between 20 and 40 baht per portion. Fried rice dishes are approximately the same price as are noodle dishes. Food from foodstalls are on the whole tasty and safe, although it can get repetitive if you are not too adventurous. Better to eat with a friend and order more dishes for variety. There has been a lot of discussion about hygiene when buying from these places. I have never had a problem when eating from these places but you can't be too careful. Always try to eat at places that already have a lot of customers.

Apartment restaurants These tend to be slightly more expensive but they will deliver to your room. Standard rice dishes usually range from 35 - 60 baht per portion. The range of dishes offered is usually quite varied although obviously this varies from place to place. In addition, food from a food stall is often tastier than the fare offered in these places.

Restaurants......... Bangkok has a huge variety of restaurants ranging from those that are relatively cheap up to those that are expensive even by American standards. However, on the whole, in central Bangkok you can expect to pay between 60 and 100 baht per portion in a relatively nice restaurant. Frequently a huge range of dishes are on offer ranging from meat and seafood options, to those for vegetarians. When eating in a Thai restaurant people rarely just order one dish for themselves, instead ordering several to share between friends - an average bill for four (without drinks) would be between 300 and 500 baht.

European food If you have a craving for European food there are numerous options and all the fast food outlets are represented . Appx. prices are 50 baht for a Big Mac., 250 for a large Pizza Hut. American, European or 'English' restaurants tend to be more expensive than their Thai counterparts with prices around 180 - 200 baht for fish and chips, or bangers and mash style meals.

Drinks: Soft Drinks From 10 / 15 baht for a can, up to 50 baht a glass or more in an expensive bar or restaurant.

Beer Ranges from 35 to 65 baht for a large bottle in supermarkets (depending on brand). Food stalls will often offer beer with a small mark up. In a restaurant or bar expect to pay from 85-130 for a large bottle and in more up-market places anything from 120 baht for a small bottle of beer upwards.

Spirits Local whisky sells for around 60-80 baht for a small bottle in shops and in a standard bar or restaurant it will be around 120 - 140 per bottle. Overseas brands are much more expensive, ranging from 550 baht for a big bottle upwards. Most Thai bars and restaurants do not have a wide range of spirits - where they do, expect to pay around 100 baht for a glass. Wine Is generally quite expensive 350 baht and up and is not usually available in restaurants other than those which are up-market. restaurant prices for wine reflect this. However, you can sometimes take your own with you, if you pay a corkage fee. A shot of local moonshine called Lao Khaw is 20 baht, shot of Thai whiskey is 20 baht.

Transportation within Bangkok:

Buses These are very cheap, without air-con 3.5 baht anywhere in the city, with air-con prices range from 6-16 baht depending on distance. Smaller 'micro-buses' charge a flat fare of 20 baht. Taxis Flag fall is 35 baht and then 2 baht every 250 metres or so.

Motor bike taxis these abound and are usually the same price as taxis or cheaper depending on your bargaining skills. However, they are very dangerous and not recommended.

River bus Convenient if you live near a route and very cheap (around 5 - 20 baht depending on distance). However, they do stop running relatively early.

Transport further afield:

Travel to get away for the weekend or holidays is relatively cheap.

Some sample fares. Plane - return to Phuket (South) or Chiang Mai (North) is around 3,000 baht Flying to Koh Samui is around 2,500+ one way.

Bus - All very cheap, even for air-con. e.g. Ban Phe (port for Koh Samet, a popular island for weekend breaks) around 90 baht. Kanchanaburi - under 100 baht. Chiang Mai - under 500 baht for VIP bus! Train - slightly more expensive than the bus but you do have the option of a bunk bed for long overnight trips either North to Chiang Mai or South to Surat Thani and beyond.

Clothing

Again, a wide range of makes, both local, imported and pirated are available with prices often relative to quality and/or brand name. As in Europe prices vary widely with where you buy!

Local goods: Work shirt - 150-200 baht.

Work trousers - 200+ baht.

Skirts - 150+baht.

T-shirts - range from 70 baht upwards.

Underwear - Men's around 75+ baht. Women's - from 150+ baht.

Jeans - an average pair from a shop would start at around 600 baht. However, can be found cheaper in markets and street stalls.

Shirts - 150+

Shoes - from 300 baht for cheap imitation trainers to around 1000+ for more formal leather(ish) shoes.

Beach wear - very cheap if you stay away from brand names.

Suits - can be made to reasonable standard cheaply, from around 3000 baht depending on material.

Imported clothing: Can appear very expensive when compared with local goods. e.g. Levis (not fake) from 1800 baht up. However, many imported clothes are probably less than in the U. S.

Toiletries & Pharmaceutical products

A wide range of local and imported brands available. (all prices Appx.) Soap - 25 baht for pack of 6. Shampoo - 20 baht regular bottle (local), 60+ (imported) Toothpaste - around 40 baht (regular Colgate) Toothbrushes - around 50 baht. Toilet paper - 20 baht up for six rolls. Deodorant - 150 baht (imported) Shaving foam - 150 baht (imported)

Cosmetics - local brands are cheap (e.g. lipstick around 150-200 baht, imported brands can be very expensive)

Medicine. Almost all supplies you will ever need are locally available from chemists at much cheaper prices than in the U.S. Not all familiar brand names are available but you can easily find similar products. For those with asthma, inhalers are around 200 baht each and easily available. Boots now have several branches which stock a wide range of familiar products. Real Viagra is 100 baht at my doctor !

Electrical goods in Thailand

TV (12 or 14 inch) - from 3,000 - 6,000 (often available for rent from apartment blocks at 500 baht per month)

Video players - around 1,200 CD players

Fan - from around 500 baht.

Videotape rentals are very cheap - 30 baht a night for new releases. CD's are around 400 baht, cassettes 100 baht from Tower Records.

Cable TV is around 1000 baht a month for the full package, with channels such as HBO, Cinemax, BBC World, Discovery and several sports channels with a large amount of English football.

Miscellaneous

Bed linen - can be expensive, up to 1000+ for sheets. However, market areas do sell sheets at much cheaper prices or you can buy material and have some made at a very reasonable cost.

Cinema between 90 and 100 baht.

Cigarettes Local brands around 30 baht, imported (e.g. Marlboro 45-60 baht)

Haircut Average around 100 baht but can be much cheaper (barbers) or up to the 500 baht mark for a relatively smart salon. Most barbers/salons do both men and women's hair. As usual women's hair is more expensive than men's.

Books Relatively expensive, from around 400 - 500 baht for new books.

Newspapers- 20 baht for The Nation and the Bangkok Post

Laundry varies but a rough guide would be around 500 baht per month for a laundry service. Ask a Thai friend to help you find someone who can come to your apartment and wash your clothes for you. In general, most people manage to live comfortably even on a relatively low salary.

Initial expenses may be high as one finds out where cheaper goods are to be found and sets up an apartment, but as you get to know the city obviously you can find places and goods to suit your income.

The cost of living in Thailand is low if you stay away from the tourist traps

Good News.......I buy Viagra for 100 baht.........($10.00)