Cost of Living in Bangkok, Thailand on a Medium Budget -May 1st, 2008
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If you are thinking of moving to Bangkok, it is entirely possible to live to live better than back home – for less. The key is to live like a local, albeit a middle class local.
There is an abundance of cheap apartments available, plus you can always find delicious, filling meals for less than a dollar, and there is no shortage of fun in the Land of Smiles.
I make ends meet by exporting goods from Thailand to the U.S., writing, and from sports and wildlife photography. If you can manage your expenses properly, you can work less and have more fun while still being able to splurge occasionally.
To get an idea of the Thailand’s cost of living, take a glimpse at these figures (in U.S. dollars):
Rent – $200 per month
For only $150, you can easily find a clean and quiet studio apartment. Add another $50 for wireless internet and cable. Granted, for $150-$200 you will not be living amongst tourists (do you really want to?), but if you want to hang out with tourists, you can always jump on the sky train or hop in a taxi and be there in a few minutes.
Most expats either pay thru the nose to live in an expensive area like the lower Sukhumvit area, or live on the outskirts of where foreigners tend to gather. You won’t need to stay in a Khao San Road guest house or in some fleabag motel – your pad will be quite sufficient for a single man.
Food – $200 per month
Delicious and cheap; that’s the best way to describe Thai food. Walk down virtually any major road and you’ll have a wide variety of street vendors, shop houses, and restaurants to choose from. $200 per month allows for a daily allowance that should give you enough to eat a satisfying meal and splurge a little once a week.
Transportation – $120 per month
Getting around in Bangkok is a breeze. Use taxis, motorcycle taxis, the subway, sky train, buses, or take the boats serving as water taxis. If you live near the sky train or subway, you can buy passes that will save you month.
Cellular Phone – $35 per month
The $35 a months is for a cellular phone with additional GPRS service. Thailand has quite a few cellular companies to choose from with a variety of plans so your price per month may vary slightly.
Home Phone – $25 per month
Having a home phone in Bangkok is inexpensive. Your monthly payment may be slightly higher in the more remote areas of the country.
Internet - $25
Get broadband internet service (1.0 Mbps) for only $25. The faster the service, the higher the cost; prices have declined in the past year and are now very reasonable.
Entertainment – $250 a month Divide this $250 among bar hopping, sightseeing,
Laundry - $40 a month
Get your laundry washed, pressed and folded for only $10 a week!
Miscellaneous - $100 a month
TOTAL: 995.00 dollars a month
That’s only 11,940.00 dollars a year!
You should be able to see the phenomenal value. Living well doesn’t need to be expensive and in Thailand, you can still have all of the amenities you’ve got back home – for a lot less.
This is only one example of an expat budget. If you’re bringing in more, you’re golden. The point is, you don’t have to pay exorbitant prices for a decent lifestyle.
Nick Gatsby has lived in Bangkok for nearly a dozen years. He has done everything from teaching English to exporting Thai goods to his current love, photographing and writing about Southeast Asia . He is now married with children (2).
