The REAL Cost of Living in Thailand

This is the REAL cost of living in Thailand. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Samui, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin, or the rural areas. Cost of Living videos are everywhere but this one will break down 3 different budgets for 3 different lifestyles.
If you dream of retiring or living in Thailand, this video will be your guide to cost of living.

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[pjazzz]

Chris nice video again thank you. We owned Condo near Victory Monument. We visit families in Thailand every year.
Our plan is to move to Thailand 4 yrs from now. We both are Thais living here in US for too long. We want to retired is Thailand and we are really envied Expat retired there. Your expense estimate is very realistic. Cost of living here in US is getting out of hand. Your info give us a nice idea for cost of living in Thailand. I appreciate your channel. I am learning a lots from your show even though I am Thai.

[brettgustin]

We are in Thailand now. Having a great time!

[youthoughtitwasbadbefore]

I am returning to Thailand in about 2 months. I am a total cheap charlie. However this time I think I have surpassed even myself. My girlfriend is a chef in a new restaurant in Prajin Buri. We have been given a 2 bedroom house on a rai of land to use for free. I already have a car and a motorbike so transport is just the cost of fuel and maintenance. I don't drink any more and of course I don't use ladies of the night (any more) . What with her salary and profit share I only have to really cover my own personal expenses. The house is so beautiful with established gardens and really peaceful. Man I can't wait to get back.

[TobiasTheTraveler]

Thanks a lot for this breakdown, I have a sense of what my monthly costs will be based on this chart.

[zawlwon]

I agree this is a well made video very accurate..

[brucesnyder]

Retired expat living in Thailand. My O-A visa is 1, 900 baht per year. I do myself, easy. Reentry visa if travel abroad is 1, 000 baht.

[IanKorman]

My wife and I own a studio condo here right on the BTS line about 10-15 minutes from Siam Square which I rent out, at Talat Phlu. It is partly furnished and has a kitchen, washing machine and bed. This past Saturday we had our renter move out. We cleaned it and then rented it out in the afternoon for 7, 200 baht. So, fact that 7-8k baht is doable for a studio. You can find older one bedrooms in this range as well but maybe not all of the amenities like pool, fitness room and parking like my condo has.

[patdwyer]

Chris, you forgot "Bail & Bond" and Lawyer fees!!! (Chris, I love your sense of humour, so I'm giving some love back to you man!)

[danielbowling]

i've seen many of these 'cost of thailand' this was probably the best

[JohnMitch]

Thaifriendly companions for rumpty bumpty sessions around 1500 baht per session, I have 3 or 4 sessions per week so around 27000 baht per month

[MHM-io]

Definitely retiring here! Already have the condo and am here now. Looking forward to this channel for very useful information on the permanent move.

[dreammix]

Hey Chris I want to thank you so much from the bottom of my heart because I've never heard any hard numbers like this on the cost of living in Bangkok. This is excellent information for someone like me who is absolutely dying and chomping at the bit to move to Thailand but I also know that I have to be very methodical about how I do this so I don't screw up. Again thank you for what you do. Much love from Hollywood California

[Brian]

I see this as a well detailed and accurate budget breakdown, based on my 13 years here so far. The original question, however, mentions architects and contractors. It should be noted that foreigners cannot buy or own property here. If you want to build or pay for a free-standing domicile, it will have to be in a Thai person's name. Trust is hard to come by here, and most guys who buy or build a home in a Thai wife's or girlfriend's name find themselves homeless and broke very quickly. Also, for me personally, I prefer to live in upcountry rural Thailand, where the experience is much more genuine, and the budget requirement is less than half of this breakdown. If I want the BKK or Pattaya experience, I can vacation there, and I'm not pooping in my own backyard. If you are here to teach, the salaries are also cut down by half, so it's all relative. There are lovely mid-sized cities, like Phitsanalok, Sukothai, or Nakhon Sawan that are large enough to have good shopping, dining, sightseeing and nightlife opportunities, but a much lower COL.

[LV]

Another GREAT video Chris! Thanks for the info and for taking the time to do this.

[roadwarriorreviews]

Love the new channel and format! Should mention it in the main RW4U channel. This is one of the best cost of living video guides on Thailand. Thanks 🙏

[frankkluz]

WOW - - - As an old (elderly) US expat on his mediocre $1500 SS check - I find it hard to even spend that much when adjusting your numbers for a personalized frugal budget. -- And that's including a quite high dollar health insurance cost ! -- I suspect perhaps $1250 may do a comfortable enough retirement in Chaing Mai most months. --?-- At least for people like myself who have extravagance under control and have some experience with 'discernment' between a want & a need. --?-- THANKS FOR THE LAY OUT. > Makes for personalizing our own very easy !

[geoffwaterman]

The first realistic advice on budget I've seen

[victorthirlwell]

Thank you so much massively appreciated

[borisbosnjak]

This was so helpful Chris! Just found this channel ( coming from Retired ) and it's a gem!

[Ncseventeen]

Thanks for the video. These numbers seem a little high for middle of the road compared to many other the other videos I've seen, but most of them were about Pattaya. I feel like your low end is about right and obviously with the high end, you can go as high as you can imagine. From what I've seen, a typical studio or one bedroom is 17-18K. I am guessing Bangkok is a little higher. The transportation cost is way higher than I'm used to seeing, but again you live in a much larger city. They have trucks that drive around you can jump on the back of for really cheap in Pattaya. If your on one of the lines, it's pretty cheap. The overall consensus from the 15-20 videos I have seen is 2K USD will get you a pretty good standard of living and for 3k or more, you are living like a king. My personal goal is to have 600K in a combo of bonds, dividend etfs, and a few other relatively stable investments before I move there at 50. Not including my 401K and Social Security which won't kick in until later.