hi peter i was using a machine in our building for drinking water for convenient. one day i sow technician is fixing it and filters are so dirty and full of the garbage and junk and sludge as much as at least one cm , i asked him why you don, t changing it he respond it is ok do not worry and he didn't . and i realized i am drinking city water going true the filters full of the bacteria . it was a bad experience . i stop using machine and start to buying the water. my suggestion for the people who they don.t want to buy the water is boiling the city water is much safer than getting from unsafe machine . cheers
Hi Peter, I have been following you for the past 3 years, very good and informative content, took you ages to get there, I though you would never make it, but now I'm happy for you that it's all going well. We have many things in common, I am in the same situation as you were before going to Thailand, all I need is to initiate the big jump and as I am cautious as you are I am still working on packing the extra jump chute to not fall into a disaster. This is taking for ever, "belt and suspenders" as we say in french.
@@ThailandBound thanks for reply Peter, I forgot to tell you that I listen to your channel every day while driving my car to work, that keeps my entertained while. stuck in trafic.
I pay 20k PCM for a decent gated 3 bed detached in suburban Bangkok plus around 2-3k Baht for electricity. Three motorbikes cost me less than 300 Baht per month for tax, MOT and insurance. I shop locally at markets and cook at home. You can do it for 50,000 THB per month but the extra 20k would make all the difference and maintain a decent lifestyle. Hence, Peter’s figures are spot on and accurate.
As you said mate the biggest cost can be entertainment. I would suggest having an extra party fund for the first few months to get it out of your system For many you get over the party / girl thing after awhile, for thoes who dont well best have deep pockets. If you meet a nice Thai girlfriend, well your budget going up.. and up. Great vlog , thanks mate!
When my family (wife and then 3 year old) moved here in 2006, we were on a budget of 85K baht per month. But oh how times change. Now the oldest is 2nd year university and the youngest (who wasn't yet born when we arrived) is in year 10 and our budget is 53K baht per month including all school and uni costs & dorm fees. We don't have rental cost as we built our own house and I'll wait in those immigration queues to save a few baht! But I get that your budget is for you and it clearly works for you. Well done and thx for sharing.
In my opinion having a car is an unneeded hassle in Bangkok where the public transport system is that good and taxis are quite cheap(with Bolt), can rent a car for the occasional trip if needed, but if you live outside BKK - whole different story.
I will call this a good and fair assessment of your average cost of living in Thailand. Spot on about how that can spiral out of control if one includes the ladies and all expenses that come with that lifestyle.
Thanks for the video, Peter. Looks like you put a lot of effort into it. Nice shirt for the fashion police and very good lighting. I like that you include text to clarify something said, during the video. So many RUclipsrs put out economical budgets. I think a lot of us are older and appreciate a comfortable budget. Do you think you would get bored if you didn't have the RUclips channel? What kind of things do your friends, out there, do to keep busy, besides bar scene?
Great video Peter 70000 is very reasonable for Bangkok also cooking your own food is better for health that way your not getting loaded up with MSG and sugar with every meal also it gives you another positive hobby,one cost that I’m surprised can be expensive is laundry
There's machines you can use everywhere for 10 or 20 baht if you do it yourself and don't have a machine at home, you just need somewhere to hang it to dry, some places that do it for you are very expensive
70,000 THB is $1963.53 USD. which is reasonable for the life style you're living. I like your candor, it is refreshing. Thank you for the nice video and I subscribed; I was that impressed sir.
70,000 baht a month is a realistic but a basic lifestyle amount. It's about where I sit in terms of spending and keeps me within budget constraints. But it does mean you have to say "no" alot to going out and enjoying the bars, nightlife, avoiding women and not eating at fine restaurants. It's more doable for older expats who have 'been there, done that' and don't have a lot of desire and need to go out much more than maybe once a week. Younger expats will likely struggle on that and be quite miserable.
A reasonable budget for where you live, would suggest to look around for Thai fruit, veg and meat markets. Here in Pattaya there’s a great enormous market called Ratanakorn on Theppesit Road, I go once a week, I find the choice , quality and price much better than any supermarket. I’am sure there’s an equally good market near where you live. It’s only when applying for your first Retirement visa that the cost is high, when you renew the yearly visa, it gets a lot cheaper using an agent!
Good video 😊.. As I have said before , I don’t go out partying much or drink , i eat well , have health cover , I cope quite well so far on 35,000 tb. Horses for courses for sure, we all have our own choices ..
Seems like a very comfortable budget really. I'm down to 20,000 baht per month currently but fine with it as I have no rent or payments except food and electricity. My surplus goes to my hobbies so I'm a happy camper. Thailand Paul.
Really interesting. I like hearing other expats costs of living. I live in bang saray. I live in a 1 bedroom condo with a good view of the nature reserve and ocean that costs me 9000baht. My utilities is between 1000 to 1500 depending. I use my aircon only through the evening. I spend a little more on food than you though. This is because I buy expensive stuff like imported avocados (local are almost always rotten) mixed nuts and frozen berries. I do buy my fruit and veg at the market though which is cheap but I also eat out at an expensive restaurant in bang saray twice a week as it does by far do the best food in town plus I spend 1 night a week in Pattaya although I often eat cheap at terminal 21 and my buddy pats restaurant on 2nd road the end of soi4 which is good value too and my english breakfast the next morning at hideaway. I'd spend 20,000 on food I think although I would include stuff like tooth paste, soap, cleaning stuff etc in that. My aerox costs me about maybe 600baht a month or there abouts on fuel. I ride to Pattaya once a week. Sometimes twice if a buddies invited me up there. But also to nang ram beach 3 or 4 times a week. Insurance, licence 1 off payments be similar to yours and maintenance fortunately haven't needed that as yet. Girls are my biggest expense. I spend 4 nights a month in Pattaya that costs me 4,000 for my hotel. I have 2 short times on the day/night I arrive every week and my evening girl costs me 3000 baht. Yeah she's expensive but Ive been seeing her since my 2 week millionaire days and an incredible shag so I just cop it as my day time STs are alternative girls I know or newbies that range from 1500 to 2000. I also have my favourite gik who stays with me in BS 1 night a week who costs me 3000 LT. So this does add up. I also get a 3 hour happy ending massage when I check out on my stay in Pattaya before I ride home. I don't have health insurance because I have a substantial nest egg. I could easily cover a major health issue at this stage so it's not a problem for me. All in all my monthly expenses is around 90-100k a month. My property in Australia earns me about 110k so I'm well within my budget. Cheers
@@kevinp8108 Compared to Europe. There are people who live single with 2K in Paris, Rome, Madrid..However he has a far better quality of life for the same amount of spending.
Thanks so much for this. May I suggest a follow up: One-time moving and move-in expenses. Such as security deposit, lawyer fees, real estate agent fees, furniture for apt, wardrobe overhaul, etc
Hi Peter thanks for sharing your monthly expenses. Like your style, Save for trips, cook at home with an occasional night out for food and drink. What more could a guy want! Sounds like a great way to live :). Take care rb
@@ThailandBound I meant to ask, do you have any recommendations for visa service companies? I've looked into some, and still working on it. I feel money well spent to not have to deal with the hassle. Thanks again.
I use Farang visa in Pattaya, Lana is the best, I have a video about her service on my channel called something like "How to stay in Thailand long-term"
Very timely. If I move to Jomtien around October as planned. I will not be purchasing a motorbike, and don't have a girlfriend or wife. I anticipate paying $295-$450 f/a 1 BR w/ fitness & pool, 90% of my meals (except breakfast & snacks) in small Thai food courts or the street, $50 USD on utilities, electric & WiFi, $150 on transportation in town or to Pattaya, $100 a month on travel to other cities, and I don't drink. Social life should be about $50 a week. That $950 USD. Maybe Cambodia or Vietnam 3 or 4 X year, depending on how much I like doing that.
@@ferney2936 For food, night life, and night market I can walk. And I'll have a used bicycle. I doubt I'll visit Hua Hin or Bangkok every month once I'm not a vacationer. And $450 would be high f/ rent given what I've seen available
Your living a pretty darn nice retirement on $2000/month. I was surprised you chose Bangkok, since the pollution is so bad. Pattaya has the nice clean air and you had actually said at one point that you were enjoying vacationing in Hua Hin more than Pattaya at this point. I just saw in the last week that 2 vloggers moved to 5000 baht/month ($150) condos at Jomtien Beach in Pattaya.
@@ThailandBound Bangkok is a better choice. Pattaya just too busy, lots of bars and tourists. In Bangkok it’s close to everything and not far from Hua Hin. Have you tried Cha-am? We had a beach house right there, sadly replaced by big hotels. Stay safe.🙏🇨🇦
Hi there , your budget is fine but there is one thing I would add, which is the amortization on your car and scooter. Let us assume you keep them for 11 years, so - the monthly "cost" of having them would be whatever price they cost you, divided by 132.
The video was not about depreciating assets it was about monthly expensive and as my scooter and car are paid for and not on finance I don't really count this as a monthly expense
@@ThailandBound Peter, I fully understand , but as a guy watching your video and wondering how much will it cost me to maintain a lifestyle similar to yours, I realized that it would be more than 2k a month. Like, buying those car and scooter with loans instead of cash, will increase monthly bills. You have a great channel and I enjoy following your stories, it's just the economist in me 😊😊😊
Hi Peter, it’s a good breakdown. Better than what I’ve seen lately. You mentioned that you cook your own food. What do you specifically cook? I’d learn that too. Cooking saves a lot of money
Our son is Networking engineer just graduated from college and his 1st job starting salary is 16,000 Baht a month, his one bedroom appartment 5,000 Baht a month, everage salary in Thailand is 12,000 Baht a month, you are spending 6x of everage Thai, for $2,300 a month I can live comfortably in the U.S.A. , in Thailand you can live on 15,000 Baht a month, my wife, she had salary of 22,000 Baht a month, bought a house for 850,000 Baht (3bed 1baht) 15 years ago, mortgage was 5,500 Baht a month, she owned a car and motorcycle, single mom before she met me, if moving to Thailand, live like a Thai on 15,000 baht !!
You live, or you exist? I suppose if I went to live in a small village just outside of Khon Kean, eat Thai food everyday and lived in a wooden hut with my Thai girlfriend then yes, you could survive on that kind of a budget but your budget doesn't include visas health insurance and emergencies. I think you're giving out the wrong message to people thinking about living here, very few people could enjoy a lifestyle out here on such an extremely low budget.
40000 baht is plenty no car or bike or insurance or trips to pattaya and i eat like a king and stay in a very high end condo.stay clear of 7 elevens and malls only buy fruit and veg from the market and baht bus instead of grab taxi and get 2 massages a week good life
As I said several times in the upload the monthly budget is what I spend through my choices it wasn't recommended for anybody else the video was just to let people know what I spend and the standard of life I have
Very interesting. Likewise I spend about 70k baht /month at home in my paradise in kibbutz in Israel (= 7k shekels). I have no mortgage or rent, and live a modest lifestyle. I already told you that your channel is inspirational. So at some future date I'll follow "best ptactices" and present my monthly costs on my RUclips blog. Thanks Peter..
Hi Peter handsome man when I retire from my job I think I'm going to move out to Thailand but not for awhile with the beautiful ladies out there it would be hard for me thanks for sharing this video with everyone have a great day today and night I can't wait until the live stream and members stream on Saturday great fun
Thats spot on ,you can live in thailand any way you want ,cheap , middle ground which i think peter has done ,or high flyer ,ive done all the above and think peter has best balance ,i also have lived in Aus before on same budget which was about $750 Aus per week .So its about same for me if i live in Aus or thailand,but illd choose thailand any day and if i have to i can live on a low budget if i have to ,were in the west you cant do that with rents so high .
Acclimatising sure takes time , as you say I not have air con in day much at all now if I’m inside. At night only for a few hours , I’m on floor 15, a gentle breeze sometimes is welcome ..
Thank you Peter. Duly "liked". Always good to know what others are doing in Thailand when it comes to expenses. I second using markets to buy certain food items. There is a very good small one at Makkasan SRT Station. Large (I mean large not the "large" ones in the supermarkets) are 55 to 60 Baht for 10. You would easily spend 80-120 Baht for the smaller ones in a supermarket. Fruit and vegetables are much more ecomomical too.
So I am staying in rayong at the moment,my wife has a restaurant down here,she took me to makro the whole sale people ,just like we have in the uk,I recently used her members card to buy some fresh salmon and some cold meats,I think I spent 350 baht,it is so much cheaper then your normal supermarket,and I think she said chicken breast was 64 baht a kg,I hope this helps,
My UK friends live on state pension, 10K pounds per year . Peter's budget is actually 24K per annum plus he counts on savings, so - it is not for everybody. Also - you must consider one time expenses , like flight tickets and the Cost for buying those car and scooter.
Sunset Sunrise: My budget is not £24,000 a year and I do not dip into or rely on savings…Your comments are in fact correct. Also, the car and the scooter are not monthly expenses as they have been paid for with money, I came out here with. The video was based on my monthly spend and on how I choose to live nothing more or less than that. What I have stated in the video is personal choice and as I also stated, you can lower that budget or hire it depending on your financial situation .
@@dovoso5685 10K pounds per year, is the pension really that low in the U.K., is that a average pension? Is there a private company pension besides? The minimum state pension you can get in Norway is 22,122 Euros (even those who have been sitting on their ass all their lives get it) The average state pension in Norway is around 26,000 Euros, + the one you have privately during your working life. (when I write privately, I mean the one you get through, for example, the company you have worked for) So in Norway you have to add up the State and Private pension.
Buying the water is preferable . Can’t count on the water machines having their filters renewed on a timely basis . What incentive would their be for them to replace ?
Incentive is they will get more Baht coins and make a profit, otherwise they let them break down. I have found a few machines I rely on and trust. I have a water tester as well. I drink a lot of water (6 litres a day) so economical sense for me to pay just one Baht per 1.5 Litres, instead of 13-14 Baht each.
please don't take this the wrong way peter but thats very expensive for a simple life style not going out much, i won't have anything like that amount when i retire there in a couple of years i'l have to go somewhere a lot cheaper and i'm not cooking for myself anymore i have to do that now. good truthfull vid though mate.
Well as I said in the upload that's the choices I've made to live by the budgets I've chosen others will have different opinions as yourself so no problem but I'll stick to my guns cheers
Thailand is not cheap anymore. 70,000 Baht is not unusual for lower end spenders, like pensioner retirees. Sure you can move to a village or cheaper city, where costs can reduce even more. And you also need additional money to cover emergencies.
As regards food shopping, Tops is a little more expensive than Big C, but in their larger stores, such as the one in Westgate Central mall there's an excellent selection including the healthiest multigrain breads, and great meat and fish counters. Just their wines could be improved- no port, madeira or muscatel, but perhaps I'm showing my own preferences. I tend to spend near a thousand once a week for sandwich material for fillers if I need an extra snack. If someone is moving here to work, they may find free food in the workplace is one of their benefits, though of course the quality varies greatly from one workplace to another, and if you've retained a European/ North American appetite, you may find some local portions a little small- this of course is less of a problem in Pattaya or BKK where they establishments are mostly set up with serving foreigners in mind.
I dont live in Thailand but on a recent trip I got very bad food poisoning and had to go to the hospital. It was private as I couldnt wait. The Nurse met the Taxi with wheel chair . I got a bed strait away and my own Nurse. I spent 6 hours there. For all meds , blood tests and sodium chloride drip it cost me 7800 baht and thats just 6 hours.
Thank you for your information well done hopeing to retire in 6years time to Thailand should have 20million baht and pension hope that will be enough to live on from Scott new Zealand
Hi Peter, I have heard all the horror stories about traffic and bad driving over there. My questions are A) Are you an experienced bike driver? B) Is driving in BKK like London - hectic but slow or is it hectic and fast?
Hi, Thailand Bound..., Excellent video, and very informative and "Thank you" for sharing the video... Wish the numbers were in American money, too... Once again, excellent video... "Semper Fi" Mike in Montana P.S.: After watching your excellent video..., I decided to "Subscribe" to your excellent channel... :)
Another great video Mr. Peter, you have really been putting out alot of videos 🫡well done. Now that you have a car how does it work if you wanted to drive to Vietnam, Cambodia etc. Do they let you drive over the border?
We live on the Thai side of the Cambodian border, we cross alot in our car but only into the next province, you can get permits to travel further but we couldn't find anywhere that would insure us with Thai plates so we leave our car at the border if going further and rent another one
How does one research how much a prescription drug costs? is that something we can do from overseas online? or you have to goto the pharmacy with your prescription to have them tell you?
Spent all of April in Pattaya. Kept track of money spent. B50,000. Majority of food eaten at Tops Food Hall Central. Hotel was Hi Five P1,000 a night with pool. Cheaper accom could save money if had too. Very few beers at bars and no ladies. Few beers in room. Much like Peter, been there done that. I do crypto airdrop hunting on my laptop. It's basically software testing for applications on blockchain and you get paid to do it. Easier to spend less if you have something to do besides drinking, etc. Intending 3-6 month trips in future.
Re watching this one Peter. Although I dont live in Thailand I have a reasonable idea of living costs . I have watched quite a few living expenses videos from other tuber,s and It amazes me how cheap some people think they can live , well its not actually its surviving isnt it. I dont go to Thailand to survive . Thanks for what I think is a realistic monthly expenditure. In my case Im sure I would blow another 50-60,000 per month on top of that for food and social experiments..What I think people forget too is living there is not the same as when your in holiday mode. I have no Budget when Im there for a month on Holiday so I wojld find it hard to adjust for a while if I did
Good video. I retired here 9 years ago. I don't chase the ladies because I am 71. I do however make it to pattaya every 2-3 months enjoy the beach and the beer bars. I live in Chiang Mai and total per month is about 35k baht. No complaints. Everyones lifestyle will be different. Cheers.
@@r.peterlucarelli1605 Hi to Mom, hahhhaha. Congrats on that. A monk in Thailand lived 118 years recently. There is a Wat in Phuket dedicated to him. Luang Phor Sufa is the name, or something like that. Thanks, Thailand Paul
I'm sure the last time I paid road for my Kawasaki D-TRACKER 250 was just over 100 baht a year & your saying its 400 baht for the standard honda, but you're paying 1000 baht a year as its a bigger engine, are you sure?
Yes I'm sure, unless I'm being ripped off by a main Honda dealership for a few hundred Baht which is very unlikely it's 400 Baht tax a year for a 125 and 1,000 bart a year for a 160cc. If you don't believe me call up Honda and find out for yourself
Pete, are you signed up on Thai visa forum (Asian Now) If you look on the forum about motorcycle tax yourl see for a Kawasaki versy 650 its 100baht, sometimes they include the compulsory government insurance, but 400 baht wouldn't cover the insurance & 1000 baht you would be paying way over the top.......
How much is parking for the scooter at a mall like Terminal 21 or MBK? Surely not a lot but just asking. Wonder if they charge you more than local Thais for scooter parking.
70k baht is very much for thailand, you can live with that money here in Israel where salary is 7-8 times more than in Thailand, for example I pay 2200 shekels(20.000 baht) for a 4 room apartment here....
Thanks for the comprehensive breakdown. So zero lady entertainment at all? Do you have a live-in lady mate? How do you live without female company? True discipline.....Salute!
@robertriebel8064 - that's overkill if you mean $5K USD! That amount in Thailand is almost equivalent to spending $10K per month in the US. Remember, Thailand is about 45% cheaper in the Cost of Living compared to Thailand.
What was Hua hin like recently? I decided not to go because from Pattaya the ferries have stopped and I felt it would be quiet (although bolt economy was only 2500b). Was it busy?
To live full time in Thailand, you need at least $3K per month & only going out with a regular Thai lady for 3x a week without any barfines & lady drinks. Eating only Thai foods at the market with no farang foods.
I didn’t mention a service charge because there isn’t one the block where I live does not have any charges at all other than water which I told viewers about in the video.
As I said in the video, you can't compare Bangkok to other towns and Villages as you're not comparing light for like obviously Bangkok is the capital and much more expensive
Have you ever seen the inside of a filter system here in Bangkok full of sludge Grease they never change the filters you would vomit if you see inside of one of those machines which I have
Nope, I won't do any of that! Born and raised in Thailand. Good job in usa. I will be living like a king there! I can speak the language and can eat local food...big plus for me😋
A very good mature budget Peter. Holiday budgets are one thing and living budgets are another. I lived in Far North Queensland for 10 years, no way can a local afford a holiday budget with trips to the reef etc everyday.
hi peter i was using a machine in our building for drinking water for convenient. one day i sow technician is fixing it and filters are so dirty and full of the garbage and junk and sludge as much as at least one cm , i asked him why you don, t changing it he respond it is ok do not worry and he didn't . and i realized i am drinking city water going true the filters full of the bacteria . it was a bad experience . i stop using machine and start to buying the water. my suggestion for the people who they don.t want to buy the water is boiling the city water is much safer than getting from unsafe machine . cheers
Absolutely disgusting
Hi Peter, I have been following you for the past 3 years, very good and informative content, took you ages to get there, I though you would never make it, but now I'm happy for you that it's all going well. We have many things in common, I am in the same situation as you were before going to Thailand, all I need is to initiate the big jump and as I am cautious as you are I am still working on packing the extra jump chute to not fall into a disaster. This is taking for ever, "belt and suspenders" as we say in french.
Yep, I totally get it but believe, me once you’ve made that big step you won’t regret it and you’ll wish you had done it 10 years sooner, like I do.
@@ThailandBound thanks for reply Peter, I forgot to tell you that I listen to your channel every day while driving my car to work, that keeps my entertained while. stuck in trafic.
Very good video. Realistic numbers, this helps us that don’t have a realistic perception. Thanks
I pay 20k PCM for a decent gated 3 bed detached in suburban Bangkok plus around 2-3k Baht for electricity. Three motorbikes cost me less than 300 Baht per month for tax, MOT and insurance. I shop locally at markets and cook at home. You can do it for 50,000 THB per month but the extra 20k would make all the difference and maintain a decent lifestyle. Hence, Peter’s figures are spot on and accurate.
On the other point is many people don't want to live out in Suburbia they prefer to live in the Heart of the City where everything is happening
Why do you need 3 motorbikes Lord DJ?
@@user-pf5xq3lq8i 3 birds!
As you said mate the biggest cost can be entertainment.
I would suggest having an extra party fund for the first few months to get it out of your system
For many you get over the party / girl thing after awhile, for thoes who dont well best have deep pockets.
If you meet a nice Thai girlfriend, well your budget going up.. and up.
Great vlog , thanks mate!
When my family (wife and then 3 year old) moved here in 2006, we were on a budget of 85K baht per month.
But oh how times change. Now the oldest is 2nd year university and the youngest (who wasn't yet born when we arrived) is in year 10 and our budget is 53K baht per month including all school and uni costs & dorm fees.
We don't have rental cost as we built our own house and I'll wait in those immigration queues to save a few baht!
But I get that your budget is for you and it clearly works for you. Well done and thx for sharing.
Great breakdown, Peter. And yes, most people who make these videos skip over the health insurance, visa situation, etc. So this was really welcome.
In my opinion having a car is an unneeded hassle in Bangkok where the public transport system is that good and taxis are quite cheap(with Bolt), can rent a car for the occasional trip if needed, but if you live outside BKK - whole different story.
You hit the nail on the head when you said Bangkok yes agree but I do trips out of Bangkok so a car is essential for me
Handsome Man is up before noon posting videos. 🥳🥳🥳
I will call this a good and fair assessment of your average cost of living in Thailand. Spot on about how that can spiral out of control if one includes the ladies and all expenses that come with that lifestyle.
13:20 There's a reason that the minimum income to get a retirement visa is 65,000THB a month and you nicely explain why.
Thanks for the video, Peter. Looks like you put a lot of effort into it. Nice shirt for the fashion police and very good lighting. I like that you include text to clarify something said, during the video. So many RUclipsrs put out economical budgets. I think a lot of us are older and appreciate a comfortable budget. Do you think you would get bored if you didn't have the RUclips channel? What kind of things do your friends, out there, do to keep busy, besides bar scene?
Hi Anton, yes you must having something to keep you busy out here or you will climb the walls.
Great video Peter 70000 is very reasonable for Bangkok also cooking your own food is better for health that way your not getting loaded up with MSG and sugar with every meal also it gives you another positive hobby,one cost that I’m surprised can be expensive is laundry
That's one of the positive points of my apartment I have a washing machine and a balcony to hang my clothes
There's machines you can use everywhere for 10 or 20 baht if you do it yourself and don't have a machine at home, you just need somewhere to hang it to dry, some places that do it for you are very expensive
70,000 THB is $1963.53 USD. which is reasonable for the life style you're living. I like your candor, it is refreshing. Thank you for the nice video and I subscribed; I was that impressed sir.
Yes! Thank you!
70,000 baht a month is a realistic but a basic lifestyle amount. It's about where I sit in terms of spending and keeps me within budget constraints. But it does mean you have to say "no" alot to going out and enjoying the bars, nightlife, avoiding women and not eating at fine restaurants. It's more doable for older expats who have 'been there, done that' and don't have a lot of desire and need to go out much more than maybe once a week. Younger expats will likely struggle on that and be quite miserable.
A reasonable budget for where you live, would suggest to look around for Thai fruit, veg and meat markets. Here in Pattaya there’s a great enormous market called Ratanakorn on Theppesit Road, I go once a week, I find the choice , quality and price much better than any supermarket. I’am sure there’s an equally good market near where you live. It’s only when applying for your first Retirement visa that the cost is high, when you renew the yearly visa, it gets a lot cheaper using an agent!
Thanks for the tips!
Great info and I can't wait to move out there next year. Btw, love your accent. I could listen to you talk for hours. Makes my heart melt!
Never been to Hua Hin yet, but looking at the beaches there it's very appealing.
Good video 😊.. As I have said before , I don’t go out partying much or drink , i eat well , have health cover , I cope quite well so far on 35,000 tb. Horses for courses for sure, we all have our own choices ..
How much is your rent? Do you live in Bangkok?
Great cost analysis 👍 giving us a better understanding of how to do it
Glad it was helpful!
Seems like a very comfortable budget really. I'm down to 20,000 baht per month currently but fine with it as I have no rent or payments except food and electricity. My surplus goes to my hobbies so I'm a happy camper. Thailand Paul.
@@UHATE4WHAT judging from his name I'd say Caesarillion Aurelius lives on a different planet!
Good honest and accurate review.thank you
Really interesting. I like hearing other expats costs of living.
I live in bang saray. I live in a 1 bedroom condo with a good view of the nature reserve and ocean that costs me 9000baht.
My utilities is between 1000 to 1500 depending. I use my aircon only through the evening.
I spend a little more on food than you though. This is because I buy expensive stuff like imported avocados (local are almost always rotten) mixed nuts and frozen berries. I do buy my fruit and veg at the market though which is cheap but I also eat out at an expensive restaurant in bang saray twice a week as it does by far do the best food in town plus I spend 1 night a week in Pattaya although I often eat cheap at terminal 21 and my buddy pats restaurant on 2nd road the end of soi4 which is good value too and my english breakfast the next morning at hideaway. I'd spend 20,000 on food I think although I would include stuff like tooth paste, soap, cleaning stuff etc in that.
My aerox costs me about maybe 600baht a month or there abouts on fuel. I ride to Pattaya once a week. Sometimes twice if a buddies invited me up there. But also to nang ram beach 3 or 4 times a week. Insurance, licence 1 off payments be similar to yours and maintenance fortunately haven't needed that as yet.
Girls are my biggest expense. I spend 4 nights a month in Pattaya that costs me 4,000 for my hotel. I have 2 short times on the day/night I arrive every week and my evening girl costs me 3000 baht. Yeah she's expensive but Ive been seeing her since my 2 week millionaire days and an incredible shag so I just cop it as my day time STs are alternative girls I know or newbies that range from 1500 to 2000. I also have my favourite gik who stays with me in BS 1 night a week who costs me 3000 LT. So this does add up.
I also get a 3 hour happy ending massage when I check out on my stay in Pattaya before I ride home.
I don't have health insurance because I have a substantial nest egg. I could easily cover a major health issue at this stage so it's not a problem for me.
All in all my monthly expenses is around 90-100k a month. My property in Australia earns me about 110k so I'm well within my budget.
Cheers
That’s about the same as I intend to budget my retirement in patts…. And more or less the same ladies and food wise as you just described 👍
@@londonkev25 I realised after 9 months of living in Pattaya a girl a day sometimes 2 was simply too much physically too handle
70k is expensive and frankly you are living modestly.
70k is expensive 🤣🤣🤣
@titi7776 - Compared to where? Peter lives in Bangkok, not in the rural parts of Thailand. 70K baht or $2K USD is about right!
@@kevinp8108 Compared to Europe. There are people who live single with 2K in Paris, Rome, Madrid..However he has a far better quality of life for the same amount of spending.
Thanks so much for this. May I suggest a follow up: One-time moving and move-in expenses. Such as security deposit, lawyer fees, real estate agent fees, furniture for apt, wardrobe overhaul, etc
Thanks Peter, great info for those of us headed your way in the next year.
Glad to help
Hi Peter thanks for sharing your monthly expenses. Like your style, Save for trips, cook at home with an occasional night out for food and drink. What more could a guy want! Sounds like a great way to live :). Take care rb
Thanks Peter for that very informative and useful video. Great job is always enjoy Thailand
Glad you enjoyed it
Good info Peter. Thanks!
Thanks, appreciate your boots on the ground pragmatic info. Take care my friend.
Thanks, you too!
@@ThailandBound I meant to ask, do you have any recommendations for visa service companies? I've looked into some, and still working on it. I feel money well spent to not have to deal with the hassle. Thanks again.
I use Farang visa in Pattaya, Lana is the best, I have a video about her service on my channel called something like "How to stay in Thailand long-term"
Very timely. If I move to Jomtien around October as planned. I will not be purchasing a motorbike, and don't have a girlfriend or wife. I anticipate paying $295-$450 f/a 1 BR w/ fitness & pool, 90% of my meals (except breakfast & snacks) in small Thai food courts or the street, $50 USD on utilities, electric & WiFi, $150 on transportation in town or to Pattaya, $100 a month on travel to other cities, and I don't drink. Social life should be about $50 a week. That $950 USD. Maybe Cambodia or Vietnam 3 or 4 X year, depending on how much I like doing that.
On that budget become a Buddhist monk
I live in Jomtien currently & your budget looks okay to me except for your travel budget which looks light
@@jduncan48 lol 🤣
@@ferney2936 For food, night life, and night market I can walk. And I'll have a used bicycle. I doubt I'll visit Hua Hin or Bangkok every month once I'm not a vacationer. And $450 would be high f/ rent given what I've seen available
Good information Peter thanks
No worries
Your living a pretty darn nice retirement on $2000/month. I was surprised you chose Bangkok, since the pollution is so bad. Pattaya has the nice clean air and you had actually said at one point that you were enjoying vacationing in Hua Hin more than Pattaya at this point. I just saw in the last week that 2 vloggers moved to 5000 baht/month ($150) condos at Jomtien Beach in Pattaya.
I wouldn't like to live in Pattaya it's just down to personal choice
@@ThailandBound Bangkok is a better choice. Pattaya just too busy, lots of bars and tourists. In Bangkok it’s close to everything and not far from Hua Hin. Have you tried Cha-am? We had a beach house right there, sadly replaced by big hotels. Stay safe.🙏🇨🇦
Hi there , your budget is fine but there is one thing I would add, which is the amortization on your car and scooter. Let us assume you keep them for 11 years, so - the monthly "cost" of having them would be whatever price they cost you, divided by 132.
The video was not about depreciating assets it was about monthly expensive and as my scooter and car are paid for and not on finance I don't really count this as a monthly expense
@@ThailandBound Peter, I fully understand , but as a guy watching your video and wondering how much will it cost me to maintain a lifestyle similar to yours, I realized that it would be more than 2k a month. Like, buying those car and scooter with loans instead of cash, will increase monthly bills. You have a great channel and I enjoy following your stories, it's just the economist in me 😊😊😊
He said he uses the car twice a month and gives an annual service. It will last 22+ years.
Very informative and useful points
Glad it was helpful!
Pretty focused budget ,discipline is the key here..
Hi Peter, it’s a good breakdown. Better than what I’ve seen lately. You mentioned that you cook your own food. What do you specifically cook? I’d learn that too. Cooking saves a lot of money
Hi Brandon, mainly Western food like I eat back home but I try a little of everything.
Useful to hear this! Thanks Peter.
Glad it was helpful!
Very useful information. thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Our son is Networking engineer just graduated from college and his 1st job starting salary is 16,000 Baht a month, his one bedroom appartment 5,000 Baht a month, everage salary in Thailand is 12,000 Baht a month, you are spending 6x of everage Thai, for $2,300 a month I can live comfortably in the U.S.A. , in Thailand you can live on 15,000 Baht a month, my wife, she had salary of 22,000 Baht a month, bought a house for 850,000 Baht (3bed 1baht) 15 years ago, mortgage was 5,500 Baht a month, she owned a car and motorcycle, single mom before she met me, if moving to Thailand, live like a Thai on 15,000 baht !!
You live, or you exist? I suppose if I went to live in a small village just outside of Khon Kean, eat Thai food everyday and lived in a wooden hut with my Thai girlfriend then yes, you could survive on that kind of a budget but your budget doesn't include visas health insurance and emergencies. I think you're giving out the wrong message to people thinking about living here, very few people could enjoy a lifestyle out here on such an extremely low budget.
@@ThailandBoundgreat answer
The guy must be thai 😂😂
40000 baht is plenty no car or bike or insurance or trips to pattaya and i eat like a king and stay in a very high end condo.stay clear of 7 elevens and malls only buy fruit and veg from the market and baht bus instead of grab taxi and get 2 massages a week good life
As I said several times in the upload the monthly budget is what I spend through my choices it wasn't recommended for anybody else the video was just to let people know what I spend and the standard of life I have
Very interesting. Likewise I spend about 70k baht /month at home in my paradise in kibbutz in Israel (= 7k shekels). I have no mortgage or rent, and live a modest lifestyle.
I already told you that your channel is inspirational. So at some future date I'll follow "best ptactices" and present my monthly costs on my RUclips blog. Thanks Peter..
Hi , 7K ILS with a free Kibbutz house sounds nice. Are you a member there ? Which Kibbutz is it ?
Hi Peter handsome man when I retire from my job I think I'm going to move out to Thailand but not for awhile with the beautiful ladies out there it would be hard for me thanks for sharing this video with everyone have a great day today and night I can't wait until the live stream and members stream on Saturday great fun
Thanks for sharing, good for you,
Peter
Thank you to
Thats spot on ,you can live in thailand any way you want ,cheap , middle ground which i think peter has done ,or high flyer ,ive done all the above and think peter has best balance ,i also have lived in Aus before on same budget which was about $750 Aus per week .So its about same for me if i live in Aus or thailand,but illd choose thailand any day and if i have to i can live on a low budget if i have to ,were in the west you cant do that with rents so high .
£20000 for a year and £20000 more for connect 4
Lol. True that
Great video today Peter 👏
Thanks 👍
Acclimatising sure takes time , as you say I not have air con in day much at all now if I’m inside. At night only for a few hours , I’m on floor 15, a gentle breeze sometimes is welcome ..
Thank you Peter. Duly "liked". Always good to know what others are doing in Thailand when it comes to expenses. I second using markets to buy certain food items. There is a very good small one at Makkasan SRT Station. Large (I mean large not the "large" ones in the supermarkets) are 55 to 60 Baht for 10. You would easily spend 80-120 Baht for the smaller ones in a supermarket. Fruit and vegetables are much more ecomomical too.
Cool, thanks
So I am staying in rayong at the moment,my wife has a restaurant down here,she took me to makro the whole sale people ,just like we have in the uk,I recently used her members card to buy some fresh salmon and some cold meats,I think I spent 350 baht,it is so much cheaper then your normal supermarket,and I think she said chicken breast was 64 baht a kg,I hope this helps,
I don't really buy in bulk and I buy from regular supermarkets like Lotus and big sea so I have to pay what the Thais pay for food
So about £20,000 a year, that's excellent. You couldn't have that lifestyle for that amount as a single person in the UK.
My UK friends live on state pension, 10K pounds per year . Peter's budget is actually 24K per annum plus he counts on savings, so - it is not for everybody. Also - you must consider one time expenses , like flight tickets and the Cost for buying those car and scooter.
@@dovoso5685 I did my calculation based on uk wage after tax
Sunset Sunrise: My budget is not £24,000 a year and I do not dip into or rely on savings…Your comments are in fact correct. Also, the car and the scooter are not monthly expenses as they have been paid for with money, I came out here with. The video was based on my monthly spend and on how I choose to live nothing more or less than that. What I have stated in the video is personal choice and as I also stated, you can lower that budget or hire it depending on your financial situation .
Or in the U.S.
@@dovoso5685 10K pounds per year, is the pension really that low in the U.K., is that a average pension?
Is there a private company pension besides?
The minimum state pension you can get in Norway is 22,122 Euros (even those who have been sitting on their ass all their lives get it)
The average state pension in Norway is around 26,000 Euros, + the one you have privately during your working life. (when I write privately, I mean the one you get through, for example, the company you have worked for)
So in Norway you have to add up the State and Private pension.
In mackro I am not buying in balk,just like I would in a supermarket,have a look in your nearest mackro,it’s a day out
Buying the water is preferable . Can’t count on the water machines having their filters renewed on a timely basis . What incentive would their be for them to replace ?
Incentive is they will get more Baht coins and make a profit, otherwise they let them break down. I have found a few machines I rely on and trust. I have a water tester as well. I drink a lot of water (6 litres a day) so economical sense for me to pay just one Baht per 1.5 Litres, instead of 13-14 Baht each.
Thanks Peter, great info....
Very welcome
Bangkok Pat published a video on this topic today too! Then he took it down! !!
I wonder why
@@ThailandBound He probably didn’t want to offend you. It was a satirical cost of living short. You probably saw it.
please don't take this the wrong way peter but thats very expensive for a simple life style not going out much, i won't have anything like that amount when i retire there in a couple of years i'l have to go somewhere a lot cheaper and i'm not cooking for myself anymore i have to do that now. good truthfull vid though mate.
Well as I said in the upload that's the choices I've made to live by the budgets I've chosen others will have different opinions as yourself so no problem but I'll stick to my guns cheers
@Alex Arthur well i'l be coming on my budget it'l go a lot further than here in the UK and it'l be warmer
Thailand is not cheap anymore. 70,000 Baht is not unusual for lower end spenders, like pensioner retirees. Sure you can move to a village or cheaper city, where costs can reduce even more. And you also need additional money to cover emergencies.
Im planning on moving there on around £2000-£2500 per month. 🤞
Love your videos man! I stayed near Nana last month, would have been good to say hello!
Best of luck!
As regards food shopping, Tops is a little more expensive than Big C, but in their larger stores, such as the one in Westgate Central mall there's an excellent selection including the healthiest multigrain breads, and great meat and fish counters. Just their wines could be improved- no port, madeira or muscatel, but perhaps I'm showing my own preferences. I tend to spend near a thousand once a week for sandwich material for fillers if I need an extra snack.
If someone is moving here to work, they may find free food in the workplace is one of their benefits, though of course the quality varies greatly from one workplace to another, and if you've retained a European/ North American appetite, you may find some local portions a little small- this of course is less of a problem in Pattaya or BKK where they establishments are mostly set up with serving foreigners in mind.
I dont live in Thailand but on a recent trip I got very bad food poisoning and had to go to the hospital. It was private as I couldnt wait. The Nurse met the Taxi with wheel chair . I got a bed strait away and my own Nurse. I spent 6 hours there. For all meds , blood tests and sodium chloride drip it cost me 7800 baht and thats just 6 hours.
You got off cheap compared to what you would have paid in the US!
@@kevinp8108 Yes . Private care in Australia is the same .
Right now open heart surgery in Thailand costs $13,000.
Great job Peter
Great video peter
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you for your information well done hopeing to retire in 6years time to Thailand should have 20million baht and pension hope that will be enough to live on from Scott new Zealand
Thanks Peter, very informative. What about internet or is that covered in entertainment?
Covered.
Nice to hear doable for me.!!😊
Hi Peter, I have heard all the horror stories about traffic and bad driving over there. My questions are A) Are you an experienced bike driver? B) Is driving in BKK like London - hectic but slow or is it hectic and fast?
Yes and hectic and slow
Car drivers are far more aware of motorcycles in Thailand due to lots of them weaving around and filtering through traffic
Hi, Thailand Bound..., Excellent video, and very informative and "Thank you" for sharing the video... Wish the numbers were in American money, too... Once again, excellent video... "Semper Fi" Mike in Montana P.S.: After watching your excellent video..., I decided to "Subscribe" to your excellent channel... :)
Many thanks
best to have the costs expressed in Thai baht as the exchange rate is always changing.
Nice guidelines. 👍
Thanks,very informative
So nice of you
Can we have a graphic with the numbers ?
And a 4D pie chart
I don't think that's really necessary
No
Great video. Do you have any recommendations for an immigration agency?
Farang Visa, Pattaya
Another great video Mr. Peter, you have really been putting out alot of videos 🫡well done. Now that you have a car how does it work if you wanted to drive to Vietnam, Cambodia etc. Do they let you drive over the border?
I haven't tried that yet that would be interesting to find out
@@ThailandBound yea most definitely would be good to know...
We live on the Thai side of the Cambodian border, we cross alot in our car but only into the next province, you can get permits to travel further but we couldn't find anywhere that would insure us with Thai plates so we leave our car at the border if going further and rent another one
@glensawyer8098 thanks for the info, much appreciated 😀
How does one research how much a prescription drug costs? is that something we can do from overseas online? or you have to goto the pharmacy with your prescription to have them tell you?
You can buy most medicines over the counter in Thailand you don't need a prescription
Spent all of April in Pattaya. Kept track of money spent. B50,000. Majority of food eaten at Tops Food Hall Central. Hotel was Hi Five P1,000 a night with pool. Cheaper accom could save money if had too. Very few beers at bars and no ladies. Few beers in room. Much like Peter, been there done that. I do crypto airdrop hunting on my laptop. It's basically software testing for applications on blockchain and you get paid to do it. Easier to spend less if you have something to do besides drinking, etc. Intending 3-6 month trips in future.
Thank you Peter I always enjoy your contacts very informative and I trust your words
So nice of you
Re watching this one Peter. Although I dont live in Thailand I have a reasonable idea of living costs . I have watched quite a few living expenses videos from other tuber,s and It amazes me how cheap some people think they can live , well its not actually its surviving isnt it. I dont go to Thailand to survive . Thanks for what I think is a realistic monthly expenditure. In my case Im sure I would blow another 50-60,000 per month on top of that for food and social experiments..What I think people forget too is living there is not the same as when your in holiday mode. I have no Budget when Im there for a month on Holiday so I wojld find it hard to adjust for a while if I did
Good video. I retired here 9 years ago. I don't chase the ladies because I am 71. I do however make it to pattaya every 2-3 months enjoy the beach and the beer bars. I live in Chiang Mai and total per month is about 35k baht. No complaints. Everyones lifestyle will be different. Cheers.
I hope I make it to 71
@@ThailandBound No problem, you will. My mom will be 102 in August. I have to pace myself!
@@r.peterlucarelli1605 Hi to Mom, hahhhaha. Congrats on that. A monk in Thailand lived 118 years recently. There is a Wat in Phuket dedicated to him. Luang Phor Sufa is the name, or something like that. Thanks, Thailand Paul
@@caesarillion Thank you.
If you want cheaper vegies can i suggest that you go to the Asok market (behind Pala). Meat, veggiesand eggs are all fresh and cheaper than Tops.
I buy my veg at Big C I find the local producers very good
@@ThailandBound - Asok Market is half the price and ARE from local suppliers.
How much is your internet and phone bill
1200
I'm sure the last time I paid road for my Kawasaki D-TRACKER 250 was just over 100 baht a year & your saying its 400 baht for the standard honda, but you're paying 1000 baht a year as its a bigger engine, are you sure?
Yes I'm sure, unless I'm being ripped off by a main Honda dealership for a few hundred Baht which is very unlikely it's 400 Baht tax a year for a 125 and 1,000 bart a year for a 160cc. If you don't believe me call up Honda and find out for yourself
@Thailand Bound.... Wow maybe prices have gone up, you sure you didn't use an agent as they will surely rip you off......
@Thailand Bound Just spoke to my girlfriend & she pays 100Baht for her Honda Scoopi elaganza, Its 108.2 cc....
Pete, are you signed up on Thai visa forum (Asian Now) If you look on the forum about motorcycle tax yourl see for a Kawasaki versy 650 its 100baht, sometimes they include the compulsory government insurance, but 400 baht wouldn't cover the insurance & 1000 baht you would be paying way over the top.......
How much is parking for the scooter at a mall like Terminal 21 or MBK? Surely not a lot but just asking. Wonder if they charge you more than local Thais for scooter parking.
20 baht 4 hour
Does your flat come fully furnished?
Yes
Ok I understand 😊❤️🙏 thanks brother
No problem 👍
Peter, your apartment looks quite spacious for a 1 bed. Any idea what how many sq. metres ?
45 sm
70k baht is very much for thailand, you can live with that money here in Israel where salary is 7-8 times more than in Thailand, for example I pay 2200 shekels(20.000 baht) for a 4 room apartment here....
As I say repeatedly in this upload you could cut corners and get this bill done by at least 20,000 Baht I was telling viewers what I spend by choice
@@ThailandBound yes I understand, and it is BKK, I am sure in the province, smaller city is much less, rent , food and all that 😊
100% right, I only live in BKK because of my RUclips channel, much cheaper living outside of the capital.
You can live very well with 2000 US$ in MANY countries not just Thailand or Israel 😅
LOL, 2200 shekels for 4 bedrooms apt ? Where do you live ? In a tent in the desert ?
That sounds expensive I would need something 1/2 or less
It may be expensive for you but not for me... different courses for different horses as they say.
Do you know what 10mg Lipitor/Atorvastatin costs there?
I don't sorry but you could find out from any pharmacy
@@ThailandBound That is a little difficult if I am not there. Hence the question.
Thanks for the comprehensive breakdown. So zero lady entertainment at all? Do you have a live-in lady mate? How do you live without female company? True discipline.....Salute!
He's lying about lady front , he just telling us what he wants us to know.
I have got an entertainment budget within the total budget you'll have to work that one out for yourself 😂
@@ThailandBound ☺
Ian Greaves: Rubbish! You don't know what you are talking about!
Another great video lots of useful information
Glad it was helpful!
5k a month is a solid budget to have good accommodations, travel, food etc
USD?
@robertriebel8064 - that's overkill if you mean $5K USD! That amount in Thailand is almost equivalent to spending $10K per month in the US. Remember, Thailand is about 45% cheaper in the Cost of Living compared to Thailand.
What was Hua hin like recently? I decided not to go because from Pattaya the ferries have stopped and I felt it would be quiet (although bolt economy was only 2500b). Was it busy?
Same, same but different as the Thais say 😍
@@ThailandBound haha so quiet then. Maybe this Christmas will be better
I went to hua hin a few days ago night life wise it was dead so I came back to pattaya alot better
To live full time in Thailand, you need at least $3K per month & only going out with a regular Thai lady for 3x a week without any barfines & lady drinks. Eating only Thai foods at the market with no farang foods.
3K seems a lot of money I know guys there who live on half of that
Please be very careful on your bike😊
Peter, you didn'nt mention the service charge on the apartment, is it included in the rent?
I didn’t mention a service charge because there isn’t one the block where I live does not have any charges at all other than water which I told viewers about in the video.
Apartment owner pays any service charges usually
Thanks Peter
I am retired in Chieng Mai. I have an apartment for rent only $100./ Month.
As I said in the video, you can't compare Bangkok to other towns and Villages as you're not comparing light for like obviously Bangkok is the capital and much more expensive
Id be interested to know what your appartment is like. Im thinking of Chaing Mai. Where did you find the appartment.
Just buy a filter system! And take it with you when you leave
Have you ever seen the inside of a filter system here in Bangkok full of sludge Grease they never change the filters you would vomit if you see inside of one of those machines which I have
Thanks for ur video. I plan to have 150k per month at least so I should be good. I only plan to be there 3-4 months max out of a year.
Yes that's a great budget you should have a nice life here but be careful of the entertainment and the ladies that will suck your budget away
Nope, I won't do any of that! Born and raised in Thailand. Good job in usa. I will be living like a king there! I can speak the language and can eat local food...big plus for me😋
What is the rate you pay fir electricity
4.8 baht a unit
@@ThailandBound I wonder how much a unit is? In Cambodia we pay $.25/kwh. In the U.S.A. they only pay $.12/kwh
I'm 73 and use medical stuff a lot.
How much is a "Barr"?
It is a Baht not a Barr
A very good mature budget Peter. Holiday budgets are one thing and living budgets are another. I lived in Far North Queensland for 10 years, no way can a local afford a holiday budget with trips to the reef etc everyday.