Thailand loses its 'cheap living' reputation
The live in thailand is getting more and more expensive, especially compared to Malaysia and Indonesia. This has made Thailand less attractive, not only for tourists but also for expats and pensioners who want to settle in the Land of Smiles.
The comparison site Numbeo researched the cost of living in 18 most popular destinations in the region, and lists Bangkok as the second most expensive city in the region, only Singapore is even more expensive. But the cost of living is also relatively high in Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai.
The cheapest cities to live in are Petaling Jaya, Malaysia (14th), Surabaya, Indonesia (15th), Cebu, Philippines (16th), Bandung, Indonesia (17th), and Davao, Philippines (18th).
Thailand seems to be losing the battle for expats and pensioners because, in addition to the higher costs, the strict rules for visas and the restrictions on land ownership are negative for the country.
Numbeo compares the cost of living in all regions by looking at the cost of transportation, clothing and footwear, sports and leisure activities, markets, food, utilities, rent and restaurants.
Read more about the research here: thethaiger.com/news/regional/thailand-loses-its-cheap-living-reputation-numbeo
About this blogger
-
Known as Khun Peter (62), lives alternately in Apeldoorn and Pattaya. In a relationship with Kanchana for 14 years. Not yet retired, have my own company, something with insurance. Crazy about animals, especially dogs and music.
Enough hobbies, but unfortunately little time: writing for Thailandblog, fitness, health and nutrition, shooting sports, chatting with friends and some other oddities.
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Let's just say that Thailand is becoming less affordable to live in.
The most expensive is health insurance.
But if you take a substantial deductible and you use the state hospitals instead of the private hospitals, those costs are still manageable.
It is possible that Bangkok, Phuket Chiangmai and some other places are expensive to live in, but if you live outside of that, and don't eat in restaurants every day, life is still affordable.
After all, you normally eat at home in the Netherlands.
I still think it's all okay. If you lead a normal life.
Now take diesel: 26,50 bath/l.
A Thai meal – 60 baht on average.
A hot meal like before (potatoes, vegetables and meat) and prepared yourself: an average of less than 130 baht.
Electricity and water: dirt cheap.
Fruit, soft drinks: dirt cheap.
Only if you are going to drink your beers every day, and certainly in a bar, if you like to get off the ground (for a fee) as we say and have some more expensive hobbies, yes then it could start to disappoint . Moreover, most of them like to stay in the tourist zones – yes, much more expensive than living among the ordinary Thai people.
Fruit dirt cheap? Seen the price of apples? 🙂 And it is not really many times cheaper than the Netherlands.
Sorry Karel You can almost compare apples in Thailand with mangoes in Europe, but if you eat fruit from the region and mainly buy seasonal fruit, then it is really dirt cheap.
Something that is very expensive is Western food, and if you don't always want to eat Thai in your old age, that can make life quite expensive together with a good health insurance.
If you also like to drink a beer now and then, not to mention a good bottle of wine, and if you cannot keep the financial wishes of the Thai family by marriage within limits, then under certain circumstances it can become more expensive than Europe.
If you take this into account everywhere, and moreover are happy in the long run, to live with your Thai wife somewhere on the land, where, outside of contact with your own wife, you often come across completely different interests of the village population, then you may that for some may be a beautiful evening of life.
I personally prefer the 50/50 variant and would like to travel back to Europe for the money I spend on good health insurance in Thailand, among other things.
Fortunately, my Thai wife, who has also learned about the many advantages of Europe, thinks the same here.
Dirt cheap fruit is nonsense. Example is pineapple on the market costs from 20 to 40 baht. Many other fruits in the same price range. For Westerners with 70.000 baht per month it may be cheap, but this is always around the euro per piece of fruit. Well then you are talking about the same price as fruit in the Netherlands. And if you only have 200 baht per day to spend as a Thai and everything goes to food, that's not cheap.
Dear Ger-Korat, I actually thought we were talking here in the first place about the fact that Thailand is becoming much more expensive for expats, pensioners and tourists, and that other countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia are financially much more attractive in comparison. are becoming.
For these groups, apart from other costs, the seasonal fruit is still dirt cheap compared to their home country.
For a Thai pensioner with 6 to 700 Baht p / m and a little help from his children, or a minimum day laborer from the Isaan, Thailand had been an almost unaffordable country for years before this last message.
Pineapple at AH: €1.79, so about double that. And pineapple is still reasonably cheap in the Netherlands because it is easy to transport.
https://www.ah.nl/producten/aardappel-groente-fruit/fruit/ananas-mango-kiwi/ananas
buy melon or pineapple!
The prices in the countryside are still not too bad for a Thai way of life.
But don't eat Western food every day and skip beer and wine, otherwise your money will soon run out.
The biggest problem is currently the strong baht or weak euro.
life has become a lot more expensive, not only because of the weakness of the euro, but also because of the huge price increases. Last year I paid 50 baht for a meal at a mobile “restaurant” and in January this was 80 baht. A price increase of 60(!) percent. There are many more things that are incredibly increased. No, Thailand is no longer cheap and the so-called friendliness is not what it used to be.
What do you think of the Netherlands:(2019) No Indexation
WELL:
Increase of the low VAT rate Eg hairdresser, bicycle repairman. SMEs, etc.
Increase in healthcare rate and first contribution,
Energy increase, electricity, water and gas
Increase rent in the Netherlands,
City tax, parking and parking fines!
Hoogheemraadschap, water board tax
In the case of an owner-occupied home: rental value fixed based on appraised values, therefore higher!
Ownership tax: car, even if you don't drive a meter!
We can't make it more fun for you in the Netherlands
The AOW has been increased considerably as of 1.1.19.
My health insurance in Thailand too.
Yes, AOW 34 euros more per month…, pension 11 euros less. Only the cost of living has gone up by about 55 euros per month, plus the increases that are still coming this year.
I think the Netherlands is nice enough otherwise, if you consider what you get in return for that money.
Here in Trat I always have to wait for water to come out of the tap at all, it is undrinkable, the electricity goes out 3-4 times a week, so no air conditioning or fan, ditto with the internet. In addition, the trucks vomit pure poison and the youth prefers to drive around without an exhaust. And so I can go on and on.
Of course the Netherlands is more expensive. But certainly NOT if you look at it from a price/quality point of view!
In 2014 you got 45 Baht for a €, now only 35. So yes, it has all become quite expensive.
A few years earlier even 52
for you, not for me. I work here as an expat for 12 years and get paid in Bahts. About 2% pay increase every year. Has nothing to do with the Euro.
Why is it always referred to the Euro and compared to the costs in the Netherlands while the research took place in the region. Reading is apparently very difficult at times
Indeed, everything has become more expensive here in recent years and now especially since the low exchange rate of the baht
In the Netherlands, if I go to AH, I am much cheaper
In 2008 it was still 53 baht.
Yes and in 1997 and earlier it was 27 baht (converted from the guilder to the Euro). So now it's been 20 years of celebration for me thanks to the better exchange rate ranging from 34 to 53 baht in the past 20 years.
As Ruud says, it does indeed depend on how you live. We ourselves have expat insurance, so that is all still affordable. I think, if you have your own home, you can easily get by with your pension, which I doubt in Belgium. And in Europe you don't eat out every day and the basic needs are really not too bad.
By the way, in Europe everything is also getting more expensive.
In the Netherlands and Belgium, people aged 65 or 67 have cheap or free public transport and if you are short of money, you can request a supplement via healthcare or rent allowance. At the Mac you even get cheap coffee or tea and the health insurance is a lot cheaper than outside Europe, especially for people over 70.
Well, shortly after reading the above, I read elsewhere that Thailand is number 3 on the list of the most affordable places for the retiree, preceded by Cambodia at number one, and Vietnam at number two. See https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1083914-thailand-is-still-among-the-most-affordable-destinations-for-expat-retirees/
The blame lies with the depreciation of the euro and therefore a stronger bath. Today, the highest was 34.93 at Bank of Ayudhya and the lowest was 3.66684 at Kasikorn Bank. The European bank continues to be tampered with.
As already mentioned, the costs in a state hospital are not too bad. Many doctors there also work for private hospitals.
The Inquisitor says: 60 Baht for a Thai meal does this include a hospital visit?
My wife paid for my lunch, a large portion of chewing pad or chewing tired or pad thai in our village 40 THB, this is also the price for a large noodle soup. And that for almost 4 years, as long as I live here (in the north east vsn the Isaan). A whole chicken cooked on charcoal costs between 100 and 140 THB. And the cleanliness of the stalls are sufficient to make the exclusive hospital visit "Jochen".
hello, i live in sung noen,
I don't drink, don't smoke, eat healthy Thai food every day at the market, with fried egg for 35 bath,
small snitch at school square 5 bath, auto insurance all rikws 8850 bath, diesel now 25,40,
now get 100% state pension, in other surrounding countries we are being cut.
w3at is expensive
What's expensive? Your health insurance, it's expensive.
Safe, normal food for a westerner: priceless.
Healthy Thai food from the market ; an illusion. Full of pesticides and preservatives.
Pork and chicken meat: worst factory farming imaginable.
In Pattaya you can eat a full European meal with drinks included for the equivalent of 5 euros. Go eat a full meal with drinks included, (may even be water.) on the coast in Belgium, where I still live, (Blankenberge.) You will have to do the bill at least times 5.!! [email protected]
Well, it's no different in Portugal than in Pattaya, you know. And there the European meal does meet the safety and quality standards set in the EU.
I also live in Blankenberge when I'm not in Thailand.
A super take-away meal at the best beenhouser caterer in the Langestraat Costs me 10 euros with 200 grams of meat, 5 types of vegetables and baked potatoes.
Thailand is not that cheap anymore. Certainly not if you eat Burgundian food.
If, of course, you eat a pathai with a glass of water in a healthy way, don't mind me, but I'm not following you!
Michel.
Often many prices unchanged take baht taxi still 10 baht massage unchanged
My experience, but because the exchange rate is unstable you pay more.
That makes sense it said keep it up don't linger adjust your behavior from anything less
Henrica
The Thais themselves say that many things have become more expensive in Thailand.
For pensioners there are 2 factors that influence disposable income, such as the possible discount on pensions and the still declining value of the Euro. If there is a hard Brexit, the Euro may fall in value by 7 to 10% against the currency in Asia. Unfortunately, it is no different.
Hard Brexit is probably already factored into the price. Markets are always ahead of that.
Just back from phuket
They call it the st tropez of thailand
In any case, everything is ridiculously expensive
Due to the weak euro
Life in Thailand is more expensive I think so.
Especially as a tourist beer 70 bath large chang more than 120 bath
Food is also becoming a bit more expensive and the super markets can also do something about it
Phone calls to the Netherlands are almost 1 euro per minute
Perhaps overnight stays per month, but per day it becomes more expensive every year and d3 quality does not improve
Transport You will only need a taxi in Phuket, you can eat four or five times for a short ride
The food in Nai nai road is cheaper than the chairs on the beach
It will be cheap in Isaan, but not many people come there
And the word No Have is used more and more
I think Thailand is a great country but it is getting more expensive and the quality is not getting any better
A pity
Aad
Aad, nowadays you can call the Netherlands via an app, for example via Line. Free, of course the costs of the internet subscription, good connection and also with image. Taxis (tuk-tuk) on Phuket have been an attack on your wallet for years and yes, because of the excise duties, beer and wine in the supermarket are considerably more expensive than in the Netherlands, but the price of 70 or 80 Baht for a bottle of beer in a normal bar (no go-go bar), on the beach or in a restaurant is about € 2 to 2,20 and that is cheaper than in the vast majority of catering establishments in the Netherlands. The price of a hotel room in Thailand is also significantly cheaper than in the Netherlands, where you can easily spend at least 100 euros per night for a simple room. In short, because you now get less baht for your euro and Thailand is of course also subject to inflation, a number of things have become more expensive, especially for tourists, but prices in the Netherlands have also risen, if only due to the increase in the VAT rate from 1 to 6% and the sharply increased costs of gas and electricity.
nice beer, Aad, but I paid 70 to 80 baht for a large bottle in Bangkok last month. Yes, it was not in a bar for farang, but just with the locals. It depends what you want of course
Big Chang at the food court 55 Baht.
In my restaurant Hua Yai: Chang leak 45 baht, Chang Yai (large) 60 baht
The Friday afternoon parties from 16.00 p.m. Haring 100 baht.
Wednesday stew offers from 95 baht.
Because the municipality was going to renovate the street from the beginning of January, no compensation for loss of customers
or other compensation, therefore stopped in time.
As a tourist I have been visiting Thailand once or twice a year for a long period of time. I hardly notice anything about the groceries, although I do very little, also the price of the motorbike rental, the bath bus, the hotel and even at the various entertainment venues have remained almost the same for almost ten years, these are rising as standard in the Netherlands annual. The only thing I notice a small price increase is the price on the clothing markets. Apart from that, we as tourists are only much more expensive at the exchange rate of the Baht / Euro and that is of course considerable.
I highly doubt the claim that Thailand appears to be losing the battle for expats and retirees due to strict visa rules and land ownership restrictions. Expats are sent out by their employer and can of course settle permanently in due course because they have become attached to the country and/or have met a local beauty. The same will apply to most retirees, follow their heart and choose to live with their Thai loved one or to leave for Thailand after a working life in Belgium or the Netherlands. The (im)possibility to take out health insurance for a reasonable amount is more likely to throw a spanner in the works. Of course it is currently the case that the exchange rate of the Baht makes it more difficult to meet the income requirement, but for a visa, based on being married, an income of 1000 euros per month is still sufficient. In my opinion, the rules on land ownership for foreigners have actually prevented the price of living from skyrocketing. Without those rules, a lot of building land would probably have ended up in the hands of foreign investors, driving up prices and causing other things to rise in price as well. Half of Jomtien might have fallen into Russian hands. That holidaymakers are broadening their horizons and Thailand is getting competition from Vietnam, Cambodia, China, etc., is a natural trend among travelers who want to broaden their horizons. It will also have something to do with the costs, but there are several things that are important.
The Thai also engage in land speculation.
But outside Bangkok, the land is often cheap, because Thailand is much less populated than the Netherlands.
So there are far fewer people fighting for a few square meters of land to live in.
That keeps prices low.
I am happy with this development.
It means that normal wages can be paid.
The time of exploitation may be over and that has consequences for those who have no money for it. That's the hard life.
Normal wages are not being paid at all, on the contrary: the population is impoverishing, relatively speaking, the middle class is not getting bigger, but the rich are getting richer.
Many do not even earn the minimum wage, which in itself is too little to live normally. It really doesn't get any better in the medium term.
I'm curious why that couldn't improve in the medium term (that's 10 years). Certainly not with negativity.
That's not negativity, that's reality. In the Netherlands, wages have hardly risen in terms of purchasing power over the past 40 years. Reason: globalization and increased competition. There is always an eastern blocker, avrikaan who can and wants to do it much cheaper, legally or illegally.
That is 10 times stronger here in Thailand, and on top of that the stranglehold of the 10% extremely rich here who are in control.
If Christiaan is right then we are around 32 baht for 1 euro and that is 22 baht less compared to 2002 when the euro came into effect. Then the exchange rate was 54 baht for 1 euro.
In 1978 I went to Thailand for the first time and then the value of the baht was about 1,5 Bf.
If you compare the prices they used then with now, we are about back to “finished”.
Still the most fun country in Southeast Asia and I keep going even though I am now 70 years old.
I love Thailand
Yes yes that bath.but I don't want to think about sitting on a chair
25 cm high along the road to eat my main meal. I see this all the time
Meer.have already seen that a farang received alms there.
Let's be honest who thinks it's getting too much stay away from there.
In the last 2 years we lost all friends, so we're back
At the beginning.she. Are now in Cambodia and Vietnam. I keep coming here
Until a certain point. I don't like elections and results
I'm overjoyed not to have any real estate here.
Have a nice holiday in this beautiful country where the beacons will NOT
be resisted.
Regards Theo.
First dive in 2019
Lung Laddie first arrived in Thung Wua Laen, Chumphon in 2009. Lived there for many years.
The past year has been lived in the Netherlands again, but is back, on vacation, to avoid the winter.
Yesterday was Lung Laddie's first Scuba Dive for at least 18 months.
He was invited by members of their diving club to dive on the Armonia Village boat.
A chance to dive with old friends was too good to miss.
At 8:00 we arrived at the jetty in the bay of Sapli. There was the old fishing boat, converted for diving.
There would be two snorkelers and six divers. A total of ten, including the Thai captain and deck hand.
After all supplies and equipment were on board, we were one diver short.
A phone call to him revealed that he was still in bed and would not come.
We should leave without a Dive Master. No one was worried as all five club members were experienced divers.
The other diver had her own diving equipment (experienced).
Lung Laddie is an Advanced Open Water diver but did not own a BCD (Buoyancy Control Device) or Octopus.
There are two main islands at Thung Wua Laen Baech.
Ko Ngam Yai, a large island with bamboo woods growing from the stretch face.
Ko Ngam Noi, the smaller island, is home to several nudibranch species.
North of Ko Ngam Yai is a small dive site, Hin Pae.
At the southern tip of Ko Ngam Yai are two small dive sites, Pagoda Point and Pagoda Point West.
South of Ngam Noi is the WW2 Boat Wreck Prab.
Further south is another small dive site, Hin Lak Ngam, with many coral species and anemones.
Pinicles
An hour later we arrived for the first dive in a whale rock, northeast tip of Ko Ngam Noi.
The water was a bit murky in places, about two to five meters visibility
The sun was shining and there was no wind. A good day for a swim.
Five divers left the boat, later to split into two groups. Two women paired up and the three men paired up.
We let the two snorkelers splash on the surface.
A school of beautiful fish in beautiful colors greeted us as soon as we descended.
More and more fish of different shapes and sizes passed by as we swam over and around the rocks of the island.
Lung Laddie's first dive into the sea was like landing on another planet.
Sitting on the seabed watching the various fish that come to see the new visitors.
After half an hour we encountered a Titan Trigger fish. The Titan Trigger fish has a reputation as a dangerous fish when it comes to protecting the female.
A reputation well deserved. Lung Laddie has been attached on five separate occasions. The first time the Titan Trigger fish hits one of my fins.
Another attack with such force Lung Laddie turned to see what had caused it. Face to face with a Titan Trigger fish is a strange experience.
It has a round head made for coral beating. The fish has beautiful colors and looks like a good candidate for the barbecue.
Lung Laddie's buddy has arrived to warn him to leave, post-post. No argument. On other occasions, the Dive Master comes to the rescue. In a sitting position with its fins between the fish and itself. When the Titan Trigger fish gets its fins, it uses its metal probe to hit the fish's nose or mouth.
No fights today. We gave the Trigger fish a wide berth. We saw the Trigger fish on the way back … from a distance!
Lung Laddie and buddy were back on the boat. Removing our BCD's in the water for the captain to scoop into the boat, in the case of Lung Laddie, weight belt first. Modern BCDs have weights integrated into them, such as in pockets.
Climbing the ladder in full gear isn't easy for a man on the wrong side of 75.
A few years ago, after a dive, Lung Laddie was told to remove his BCD in the water.
The “Dive Master” forgot to say that the belt must be taken off first. Try to get the leash off before you drown, something that is quickly learned.
When the rest of the divers were back on board, it was time for lunch. Boiled rice and a dish of a third chicken, a third carrot and a third chilly bell pepper. Spicy. Plenty of bottled water. There was also pineapple and melon. After an hour it was time for the second dive.
For the second dive we moved the boat to the other side of Ko Ngam Noi.
The sea water was clear under the boat but closer to the island less clear.
We left as one group again. My buddy took pictures of interesting fish.
A pufferfish, butterflyfish, angelfish and the turtle.
He later said the photos were of average quality because of the murky water.
Suddenly the lead diver pointed out a turtle under a rock overhang.
It was a large specimen, which, when he saw us, did not wait for a photo session.
We passed schools of Barracuda and large silver fish, the name Lung Laddie don't know as they are not dangerous.
In diving, we are the guests of the fish. Good guests show respect to their hosts, especially when a host is a potential killer.
After about an hour we got back to the boat. On board we discussed the dive and what fish we had seen.
We also discussed and resolved a number of major political crises around the world.
On the way back to Sapli we drank water and ate some of the fruit left over from lunch.
The sun was still shining with a gentle sea breeze. So ended a super day for snorkelers and divers.
A whole day of entertainment for € 2500,-
Last sentence, A whole day of entertainment for THB2500,- instead of A whole day of entertainment for €2500,-
Lung addie would like to point out to readers that this long description, which has little to do with the subject of the title, is NOT from 'Lung addie' but from 'Lung LADDY'. Since Lung Addie happens to live in this region and has written articles about it before, Lung Addie wants to avoid any misunderstandings.
As The Inquisitor says, it's not too bad if you lead a normal life. So just cook at home and if you can tolerate Thai food, also buy Thai food somewhere > is just very cheap.
And occasionally, let's say once a week, eating out is also doable.
The car costs in Thailand, compared to Europe, are dirt cheap. This applies to the fuel, but also to maintenance. Electricity and water are also very cheap.
Well, hanging out in a bar every day and regularly enjoying female beauty, of course, is going to be quite expensive, but you don't do that in Europe anyway.
What matters is health insurance. If you don't take it, you run a considerable risk if something serious suddenly happens. Of course you can avoid the very expensive hospitals such as Bangkok Hospital, but without insurance it can still be an expensive joke.
I don't think it's superfluous to set aside an amount every month for this.
The weak euro is, of course, a disaster in the long run. Thanks to the Italians, Brexit and the ECB's mess. I think that if the Italian government is called to order by their own people and a reasonable Brexit deal is still conjured up, the euro will quickly appreciate again. But maybe I say that as an expression of my wishful thinking.
In connection with the Euro, you are completely wrong.
The euro is not weak at all. It's just the Baht that has kept increasing in value. The Baht has therefore risen the most of all Asian currencies against all other world currencies (about 4%)
All other currencies have also fallen sharply against the Baht, ranging from the US Dollar to the Aus Dollar, the Danish Norwegian and Swedish Krona, the Yen and even the very strong Swiss Franc have fallen significantly against the Baht.
I want to emigrate to Thailand because I'm fed up with Belgium and Europe!
Better than staying in this stupid expensive Belgium where you only pay blue!
With your pension you are better off in Thailand than here where there is nothing left at the end of the month!
Dear Jim,
I wouldn't speak too degenerately about Belgium. If you want to live in Thailand in the same way as in Belgium and you only have one 'pension' then you will not have much left at the end of the month. But is that really the point of life in retirement? Still have a lot of money left after first having to take 3 steps back? I do have a different view on that, and certainly for the time that a person has left after retirement.
Furthermore, you also have to take into account that when immigrating to Thailand, very unpleasant costs can fall on your head ... you will get seriously ill here and need expensive treatment (which I wouldn't wish on anyone). You will possibly be very happy that you can go back to that 'stupid, expensive Belgium'. Furthermore, it is thanks to your life in Belgium that you can now come to Thailand and possibly immigrate.
I think Thailand has become quite expensive for a tourist
Hotels per night certainly maybe not for a whole month
Food yes rice and water is cheap
But a beer just to forget a bottle of wine
Transport in the tourist places such as the islands of phuket is too expensive for us, the local pay much less
The supermarkets are also quite pricey
I think Thailand is a beautiful country and is still not expensive, but it is getting more expensive every year
And the smile begins to disappear
The phone of no have is starting to come more and more
Again Thailand is beautiful but small annoyances are starting to come
Aad
Thailand is becoming more expensive every year hotels restaurants going out a bit more and changing your money is getting worse and worse, but not from euro dollar or pound keep going
Maybe it's a good idea that when you get less and less for your euro in Thailand to pay a visit to the philippines.
The standard of living for daily costs (rent, electricity, water, internet, } are the same as in Thailand or even lower.
For 1 EUR you currently get 59 PESO, in April of 2018 even 65,5 baht, which is about to double
compared to the 35,5 Baht in Thailand.
In addition , staying with VISA is very easy .
3 months free and then extension possible.
Above all, an important aspect is that everyone speaks English and that foods are indicated in English.
You should learn how to calculate currency properly.
1 euro is about 59 pesos
59 pesos is about 35 Thai Baht
So for 1 Euro you get about 35 TH Baht in the Philippines. You should explain to us how you got that 65 Baht.
Dear Fred,
What Pete meant to say is that for 1 Euro in April 2018 you got about 65 Pesos, not Baht.
That this is going / went towards double (in Peso) compared to the number of Baht, 65 resp. 35, is correct as such but of course says nothing at all.
For 1 Euro you also have roughly 10.000 Laotian Kip or 16.000 Indonesian Rupiah, just to name a few. So what…?!
Dear Gerard and Fred, you can downplay something, but you have to read the piece carefully and not just shout something if you don't understand it.
I have written that if you live in the philippines, you have the same or lower fixed costs compared to Thailand.
Including here from house 2 bedroom living room.kitchen garden eg
just outside Cebu converted to baht 4000_6000
Electricity incl aircon tv washing machine pc baht 1000_2000
Fast internet converted peso to 1500 baht
Water baht 700_ 1500
Totals baht 7200- 11000
With an income of 1000 eur = 35600 baht
With an income of 1000 eur = 58000 pesos
Difference 22400 baht what you keep in your wallet.
Due to the fact that the cost of living described above is equal to or lower than in Thailand, which includes the conversion
From pesos to baht.
In addition, the peso will weaken and will probably rise again against the euro.
and the euro will be worth less compared to the baht with Brexit in sight and 1000 BILLION debt with Italy
Who above all wants to introduce a basic income of EUR 780
And wants to lower the retirement age to 58 years
Roughly speaking, the euro pays for it.
You can MAKE food just as door or cheaply
If you even want.
Very many healthy fish available everywhere and clear clean sea
Population speaks English
Visa easy to obtain.
1st 3 month and free extension afterwards or
Retirement Visas
E visas
Married visas etc etc .
Thus, it is up to you to MAKE the decision
Saying that if you have too little income in Thailand and might get a problem with your visa.
Is there probably the release of the Philippines where you can still look around from 500 EURO per month.
I note that the “outcome” as published is NOT from a study and certainly not an independent study. The “result” comes from numbeo.com, the world's largest database of user-contributed data on cities and countries around the world. Numbeo says it provides up-to-date information on living conditions around the world, including cost of living, housing indicators, healthcare, traffic, crime and pollution. The data was collected by 419.049 individuals in 8.829 cities. That amounts to an average of 47 people per city. Apart from the fact that an average of 47 people per city cannot be called representative, the data is about much more than the cost of living. So what are they talking about???
If we look at Thailand as a country, the “outcome” appears to be based on 1055 persons who together filled in 9201 data in the last 18 months.
When I read that in Thailand the purchase costs for an apartment outside a city center average THB 58.521,49 per m2, then for 10 m2 (the size of not even a bedroom) that is THB 585.214,90. Many on this blog can confirm that for that amount (outside the big cities) you can have a complete house with 2 or 3 bedrooms built.
It is therefore not an (independent) study, but based on personal opinions, just like the personal opinions on the article given on this blog. The explanation given in the article on the cited database is mainly hot air and not based on a representative and sound research.
Expats and retirees, who choose to live in Thailand, not only look at the cost of living (food and drink, utilities and going out: the definition of this study) but also at the cost of living, the weather, the atmosphere, their lover(s) and then determine - all things considered - whether they are happier in Thailand or the homeland.
I live here on the farmland and can still easily live on 500 euros a month, drink a beer (or 2/3) and we also drive a car.
I do not have housing costs and I do not have health insurance.
Go to a restaurant about 2 or 3 times a month and my wife cooks perfectly.
With all due respect, readers are talking about living in Thailand or the exchange rate. Surely there is no Thai that has anything to do with an exchange rate? He only looks at what he can buy for his bath, right?
Example:
Ahold has supermarkets in the US and does good business there, but due to the exchange rate, Ahold's balance sheet shows that sales in the US are making a loss. Then that loss has nothing to do with the good turnover in the US, but only with the exchange rate?
Dear readers, stop comparing the livelihood in Thailand with the currency conversion of your income from the Netherlands or Belgium. Then it turns out that your disposable income is falling due to the exchange rate and not the cost of living in Thailand is rising. Obviously based on the prices of local goods and services. If you want to live like a Westerner, go West.
Dear Mr van Beveren, that you can make life cheap is a known fact. But life will look different for you, with an acute medical procedure that will cost 30.000 euros or more, without comprehensive insurance. Or you must have something under the mattress. You talk about your wife, who cooks perfectly, let her also cook carefree in the future and take out medical insurance.
It is incomprehensible that 7 fellow readers therefore rate your article with a plus, but each to his own.