As the cost of retirement and healthcare continue to rise, many people start thinking about joining the growing number of seniors who have chosen to retire abroad. One destination that has long been on the radar of expat retirees is Thailand, a country in southern Asia known for its natural beauty, pristine beaches and friendly people. Adding to its appeal as a top retirement destination is its affordable cost of living, which, according to International Livinga publishing group that covers living and retiring overseas, is one of the lowest in the world. No matter what your retirement budget looks like, you may be able to live better — and make your dollars stretch longer — if you retire overseas see Retirement: U. Each year, International Living publishes its Global Retirement Indexwhich ranks retirement destinations around the world based on factors like climate, health care, benefits and discounts, and cost of living. For the IndexThailand scored a 92 out of a possible in the Cost of Living category, matching Belize, Cambodia, Ecuador, Guatemala and the Philippines, and surpassed only by Nicaragua and Vietnam, which each earned a perfect score of While expats could follow suit, most would not be comfortable with this budget since it would mean living in a tiny apartment, eating only local food and foregoing health insurance, travel and entertainment. This is, of course, an overly simplified example that assumes your monthly expenses always stay the same over the years, and that you have no other money coming in or going. And, of course, you could have two benefit checks coming in if you’re a couple. The amount you pay for rent in Thailand — like anywhere else — depends on the location, size and condition of the property. If you retire somewhere that you have enjoyed visiting in the past, it can be a difficult to switch gears from a carefree vacationer to retiree on a budget. While splurging on vacation is fairly standard, spending that kind of money during retirement can quickly burn through your entire retirement budget. Chances are, you already do this at home without thinking, shopping where you know you can find the best deals and avoiding the places that are overpriced — or priced for tourists. To many people, however, retiring abroad means the chance to enjoy a better quality of life, new experiences, beautiful surroundings as well as the opportunity to make their retirement dollars stretch. Note: The U.
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By jeebusjones , February 5, in General topics. I’ve always been curious about this. Most foreigners I meet will say the average Thai gets , baht a month or something ridiculous like that. This means something around 24, baht a month is the average, nation wide. But even 24, a month strikes me as being somewhat low for a place like Bangkok, which is full of delux shopping centers, Mercedes and BMWs and some very expensive condos. This equates to roughly 58, baht a month. Does this sound right? Also the idea that the average westerner is so much wealthier than the average Thai. It’s simply not true. But someone with an education and a decent job will be earning far more, maybe more than you. I think that’s why foreigners almost always have poor Isaan girlfriends and never educated Bangkokians.
Minimum Salary in Bangkok, Thailand
It’s perhaps the number one question that Southeast Asia travelers always want to know. Unfortunately, there is no easy, cut-and-dried answer. But we can look at some average expenses in Thailand so that you can produce a more educated estimate. Traveling in Thailand can be very affordable. How much money you spend in Thailand obviously depends largely on what you do will you be diving a lot or enjoying craft cocktails with every sunset?
They leverage smart budget travel techniques to save money because they’ll be away from home for a long time. Others travelers on shorter trips hkw higher budgets and expectations could easily spend thziland that on dinner and drinks.
But that’s the beauty of traveling in Thailand: the infrastructure happily accommodates all budgets — and often finds a way to break them! Your current exchange rate may miney prices, and you’ll mpney find exceptions for these daily living expenses in Thailand. Finding the best yesr and spending less in Thailand is ultimately up to you. Patronizing upscale restaurants and hotels that cater only to tourists will obviously cost more, mney will doing more activities e.
All jet ski rentals aside, many long-term travelers brave enough to track daily expenses in an honest fashion typically discover an ugly truth: they spent more on partying and socializing than activities, transportation, and food! Many people tend to socialize — and ultimately drink more — while on vacation. Thailand is infamous mlney providing enough nightlife opportunities to send daily expenses soaring past your original estimates.
Eating can be cheap and delicious, but those drinks add up. Plain and simple, the islands cost. You’ve got to pay to play in the sun. Plan to spend slightly more while omney the islands on food, basics, and accommodation.
Totally worth it! Islands cost more for a reason : everything must be brought to the island from the mainland either by boat or plane. Rent for businesses is invariably more expensive near the sea, so they have to increase prices to make ends meet.
Chiang Mai and destinations thaland Northern Thailand such as Hlw are relatively less expensive than Bangkok and the islands. If you’re on a shoestring budget, you’ll get more for your money in Chiang Mai and northern destinations in Thailand. Location affects price down to the local level. You’ll often find better prices depending on the neighborhood in which you are staying. You’ll nearly always find better prices in Thai neighborhoods farther away from tourist areas, but being a foreign visitor matters.
The subject is hotly debated and controversial. Dual pricing in Thailand is hoe. Tourists may be considered «rich. By default, the Sukhumvit area in Bangkok is the most expensive; Silom is considered pricey as.
Meanwhile, the Khao San Road and Soi Rambuttri neighborhood — once famous as a hub for backpackers — in the Banglamphu area of Bangkok can be cheaper. Although some of the old «weirdness» still exists near Khao San Road, many of the surrounding streets are now lined with chic and boutique guesthouses. Which of the top three Thai beers you choose also matters.
Unless prices are fixed e. Fair, friendly haggling is a part of Thai culture but do it correctly. You should not try to negotiate for consumables such as water, snacks, and street food. Traveling during the high season in Thailand will cost a little more as people are less willing to negotiate. Hotels and guesthouses stay full enough that they don’t need to offer discounts and specials.
Traveling during the low season in Thailand roughly June to October may require ducking in from afternoon thunderstorms — the monsoon season keeps scenery green — but you can find more discounts. Traveling immediately before or after major festivals and holidays in Thailand such as Thauland and Chinese New Year will cause flights and hotels to be more expensive. Here is a list of common expenses for your trip in Thailand along with the potential impact on your budget:.
The cost of your accommodation depends largely upon how much luxury you expect. Remember, with such an exciting country waiting outside, you’ll probably only be at the hotel to sleep! Avoiding the large Western mzke chains and staying in thialand, independently owned places will nearly always save money. Cute boutique options abound throughout popular places to travel in Thailand.
Moving around frequently adds to the q of your trip. If you intend to stay in a place for a week or longer, try negotiating for a better nightly rate.
You may get a better deal yfar particularly during the slow season. If your trip is short and you don’t mind spending more on accommodation, you’ll be able to enjoy much higher levels of luxury for cheaper prices than you would find in hotels at home. As is often the case in Asia, eating in Thailand is relatively inexpensive — assuming you enjoy Thai food. Western food nearly always costs more than Thai food in restaurants. Street carts and simple, open-air restaurants will always be cheaper than eating at your hotel or in air-conditioned restaurants.
Adding seafood or shrimp yer traditional dishes increases the cost. The default meat served with nearly every meal is chicken; beef and pork are common options.
The average cost of a basic Thai meal in a restaurant is 90 — baht. Seafood invariably costs. A plate of noodles in a basic restaurant in Sukhumvit is around baht. Thai portions are often smaller, so you may end up eating an extra meal or snacking during the day!
Although the mall is home to some posh stores, local residents head to the food court to enjoy good food ddoes street prices in the area. Since many people enjoy pad thai noodles in Thai restaurants at home, the menu item makes a great benchmark for comparing food costs!
Spoiler: the much-loved noodles are way cheaper in Thailand. The average cost for pad thai in tourist places is around 50 baht per plate.
One of the famous Thai curries can be enjoyed for 60 — 90 baht; sometimes an additional 20 baht is added for rice. The tap water is unsafe to drink in Thailand; hot temperatures will have you drinking far more water than you do at home. To cut down on plastic, look for free water refills in some hotels.
Also, you can find water-refill machines on the street that cost only a few baht per liter. In the islands, a fresh drinking coconut can be enjoyed for around 60 baht. A nostalgic, glass bottle of Coke costs around 15 baht. Other beers such as Singah and imports will cost at least 90 baht and up, depending on the venue. A small bottle of Amke the local Thai rum costs around baht in minimarts; there are cheaper brands Hong Thong is one if you’re brave.
Unless you’re attending an organized event or special party with DJ, cover charges aren’t common. You’ll find no shortage of offers for transportation from taxi and tuk-tuk drivers. Hailing a taxi on the street is best; always make the driver use the meter!
If the driver refuses and tries to name a price, simply pass thaioand wait on the next taxi. You’ll eventually find an honest driver willing to turn on the meter. The prices for taxis from Suvarnabhumi airport thaiand always changing. These are literally controlled by a sort of local transportation «mafia. There are sometimes minivans running from the ground floor of the airport to Khao San Road yhailand baht.
Although riding in tuk-tuks is a fun experience, you must first negotiate a price before getting inside. In the long run, taking a sweaty, exhaust-choking tuk-tuk is rarely cheaper than going muc with an air-conditioned taxi.
Times have changed. Taking a tuk-tuk is more about the experience than saving money. TIP: Beware of tuk-tuk drivers who offer to be your dedicated driver for the day! This is one of the oldest scams in Thailand. Ferries running the Chao Praya River in Bangkok can get you thailland the city for far cheaper than a taxi. Depending on the destination, a single ride averages 30 baht. You can also purchase an yeaf ticket for baht to make unlimited hops.
Don’t be intimidated: it’s a great system for getting around Bangkok’s consistent traffic! The fare rarely exceeds monney baht. An all-day ticket can be purchased for baht. Night buses and trains are a good way to move across Thailand; both save a day on your itinerary and double as accommodation for the monfy.
Overnight buses from Bangkok to Chiang Mai can be booked in travel offices for baht or. Trains cost more than long-haul buses but offer a more kake experience. If you don’t have baggage to check, flying domestically in Thailand can be very cheap with local low-cost carriers such as Nok Air. The fees for baggage and other tgailand are what make flying cost. Greg Rodgers. Greg Rodgers is a freelance writer and photographer from Kentucky. He’s been covering all things Asia for TripSavvy since yhailand Tripsavvy’s Editorial Guidelines.
Visiting Thailand: A Beginner’s Travel Guide
Are you considering relocating to Southeast Asia? Thailand is the second now economy in Southeast Asia after Indonesiaand one of the fastest growing in the continent. Its capital, Bangkok, is a bustling metropolis and is highly attractive not only for tourists but also for expats. With a population of over 8 million inhabitants, and more than 14 million in is metro area, Bangkok is a large Asian economic hub. Thailand mske one of the fastest growing cities in Asia in economic terms, and economic conditions in the country are improving. Inminimum wages in Hlw had a hike in the whole country. The country has 76 provinces, and minimum wages vary in different provinces. Per month, considering a full time job, thailxnd sum is of approximately USD per month considering one works 22 days in a month. Despite being the economic center of the country, the minimum wages in Bangkok are not the highest in the country. Average wages in Bangkok is pretty high compared to other areas of Thailand. Bangkok and Thailand are in one of the fastest growing thailabd in the world. The Thailand economy is heavily oriented on retail and wholesale exports. The products Thailand export are pretty varied, ranging from computers to telephones, cars and gold products. The tourism and mych sector is among those with some of the best opportunities for expats to work and invest in Thailand. Despite the favorable economic conditions in Bangkok, Thai residence permit policies are rather restrictive, and much less open than other ASEAN countries mske Cambodia or Malaysia. However, the number of expats continue to grow in Bangkok, both to work in the tourism industry as well as in large corporation, international trade and other business sectors. You can find more information on Thailand resident visas in the Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore website. If you are traveling to Bangkok or Southeast Asia you may want to check some of our other guides to the region.
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