Cost of living in Bangkok increased significantly
Bangkok ranks 90th out of the hundred most expensive cities expats in Asia, according to research by ECA International, a company that provides information on the placement of international workers. They measure the cost of living in global cities twice a year.
Bangkok is getting more and more expensive for expats. The cost of living in the capital has risen sharply in recent years. Last year, Bangkok rose 32 places in the ECA International ranking. The Thai capital has moved up no less than 80 places in the past five years. The high cost of living is mainly attributed to the strong baht, economic growth and more stability.
The research looks at the prices of consumer products and services purchased by expats in 450 locations around the world. A number of expenses are not included, such as rent, utility expenses and school fees.
Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo and Busan are the five most expensive cities in Asia for expats.
Source: Bangkok Post
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message from another forum regarding this information
“”Simply presented because a little expat also receives a THB salary (must even have a work permit as a condition) and the 'strong or weak baht' does not have that much effect.
In addition, you can see on this link; https://tradingeconomics.com/thailand/c ... -index-cpi
That the CPI has not really increased enormously… so IF what is reported happened, it is due to other cities becoming cheaper due to the influence of the stronger thb, not because 'Bangkok' has become more expensive””
Can I imagine something..
Not only in Bangkok, but throughout Thailand costs are increasing enormously. Dutch friends always think I am exaggerating when I say that living in Thailand, especially as a family with school-going children, is not much cheaper than living in the Netherlands, assuming the same lifestyle and health care security - not to mention pension accrual.
They still have that back-pack adventure in mind from 20 years ago, when they enjoyed their bamboo hut on a tropical beach with a sign saying som tam…
.
Name what has become more expensive by name. I myself only know products in stores that receive a baht or so price increase a few times a year, the same happens in the Netherlands that some euro cents are added to the price. The price inflation is comparable to that in the Netherlands, around 1%. And the baht rate has been around 37 for a Euro in recent years, so there are no explainable price differences there either. At most, alcohol may have become a bit more expensive due to tax increases, but for Thais that is usually not a necessity of life and for many expats in Thailand it is, as I often see.
I think the biggest differences are not in the costs but on the other side, the revenue side. It makes quite a difference whether you work on a local Thai contract with Thai employment conditions or work here on the basis of Dutch salaries and employment conditions (or are a digital nomad), or work for a large company that, in addition to a fixed (for Thailand, relatively high salary) also pays for your house, staff, car and school for the children. Not counting your partner's income.
Exactly Chris
The piece is about working expats, a little expat has a good basic salary in THB so does not notice the exchange rate fluctuations and the CPI graphic shows that there has also been no increase beyond the acceptable 3%
A local contract with Thai conditions has no consequences for this either
But as an expat with a Dutch benefit and pension, a price increase does have an effect because your disposable income will be lower
The piece is reasoned from an income with a foreign currency and the strong thb then affects your disposable income
I don't know if Jacob and Chris understood the article but it is by no means about income in any currency or disposable income. Let me reiterate the essence of the article:
“The cost of living in the capital has increased significantly in recent years.”
and also quote: “The survey looks at the prices of consumer products and services purchased by expats”.
Dear Ger,
This survey is published annually and the respondents are EXCLUSIVELY expats who are posted or seconded for an international company. I generally don't feel sorry for them because they usually receive their salary in foreign currency in addition to the exorbitant fringe benefits. And yes, you do indeed have to pay for the steaks and the other Westres eproducts in the supermarket of Siam Paragon. These expats rarely eat som tam, let alone at a mobile stall on the street.