Dear readers,
I'm completely new (since last week) and I thought it worked as a kind of forum. So am I wrong about that? I am planning to immigrate to Thailand in early 2023.
I've already read some articles about the cost of living in Thailand, but apparently I can't respond to that (because it's too old). It is not possible to discuss this again.
What struck me most about this discussion was that people would need more money to live in Thailand than what is available in Europe. In Belgium there are people who have to get by with 1200 to 1300 euros in pension and I read here that people in Thailand needed at least 2000 euros. Is this bluff involved or?
Regards,
Ivo
About this blogger
Read the latest articles here
Visa questionJanuary 15 2025Thailand Visa Question No. 005/25: Non-immigrant O visa, one year extension and re-entry
Tax in the NetherlandsJanuary 15 2025Thailand Tax Question: Income Tax in Thailand for Foreigners
HealthJanuary 15 2025Question to family doctor Maarten: Is heart surgery for my Thai wife really responsible?- Visa questionJanuary 15 2025Thailand Visa Question No. 004/25: EVA Air – Release form
Ivo, they say 'consumption according to business' or adjusting the expenditure to the income. If you have to make do with pension and other old-age provisions, you watch the money and you live differently than when you have 10.000 euros net per month.
That is the same in Thailand; you live according to your possibilities. You can rent cheap depending on wishes and region. An expensive cart or motorcycle; adapt your diet to Thailand or thick steaks and expensive wines every day. How much bling bling does your partner want? How expensive is the school / university for the children, although I think education is a main thing that you should not cut back on.
You cannot always control your health insurance because it partly depends on your medical history. Immigration may require you to transfer a certain amount of foreign income to your Thai bank account (see a question yesterday in this blog) but no one asks you to spend it in full.
In short, what you spend is according to your wishes and possibilities and 2.000 euros per month is absolutely not a necessity. But if you want to play the big gentleman, well, that costs money. So draw up your plan, act on it and especially involve the partner in it because he/she has to cooperate.
That is different from person, 1 will be more expensive, the other cheaper. I myself like European standards, then you will be more expensive in Thailand. Can you live like a thai then cheaper again. You will also have to find your way around it and find out about joys and sorrows.
I don't need more than 1000 euros per month and I live very well with that
That is different from person to person.
One will be more expensive, the other cheaper.
If you can live like a thai you don't need that much.
If you want to use Western standards, you will pay more in your own country, 1300 euros is not much. If the currency falls another 20%, things can go fast.
It also depends on where you want to live in Thailand. You quickly pay 600 euros plus for a comparable house with European standards in a tourist area.
But if you live in a cabin on the heath, then that is really cheap.
So an outsider cannot estimate a sensible answer to your question.
But I assume that you have been to Thailand a few times and then you can fill in your own question yourself.
It mostly depends on whether you rent or own your own home. We ourselves live in Chiang Mai, own a car and soon our own home. Then you will easily come out with your mentioned income. However, keep in mind that you must have income of approximately 1800 euros for your visa. Or 800.000 baht on your Thai account.
If you have to rent, you should count on a minimum of 3000 baht for a room. A condo or house is of course more expensive. Also where you want to live. Of course it is more expensive in Puhket or Bangkok than in the countryside. Electric consumption is also very different, with air conditioning or without. Gasoline is cheap. Food, depending. If you only eat local or European food, you often eat out. Or cook yourself. In other words, you can make it as cheap or expensive as you want. Don't forget your health insurance if you want to emigrate completely. Belgian health insurance fund has no treaty with Belgium
Belgian health insurance fund has NO TREATY WITH Belgium?
@Wim,
no dear Wim, the health insurance funds from Belgium have no treaty with Thailand. If you LIVE in Thailand, the health insurance fund will NOT pay for your medical expenses. You are and will remain covered for costs in Belgium, but not as a resident of Thailand. As a 'tourist' things used to be different, but that has changed completely years ago. There are still a few health insurance funds that, as a tourist, reimburse medical expenses incurred, but then you are limited in time of stay. So you do have to prove that you were a 'tourist'.
Dear Ivo, if you plan to emigrate to Thailand in 2023, inform yourself about the cost of your living there, and make your own calculation (budget). Getting into a discussion about whether you need $1300 or $2000 is pointless.
The question is how much income you can bring into Thailand (budget). Then what you have lost in costs. Because: do you have your own house in Thailand, or do you have to rent? Can you be insured for health costs from Belgium, do you do that in Thailand or do you take the risk of remaining uninsured? Are you going to do your shopping at TescoLotus and at the local market, or do you want to go to TopsMarket? Are you going to drive a pickup, or will you do it with a scooter? Are you planning to live in Bangkok or in Isaan? Is a fan enough or do you hang air conditioners on the walls? And there are still many questions to answer. For example: do you have savings, are you alone or with 2 people, is there one income or several? I don't think so, otherwise your question wouldn't be necessary.
At the moment you get more than ThB 1300 for € 45000. An average Thai family manages with ThB 20000, and is fine by Thai standards. My husband and I have more than enough at ThB 40000. But we don't need Thai health insurance, we own our own house, and with the money we have left over we can even occasionally go away for a weekend, for example to Seoul or Tokyo. (not now because of Corona). We pay for the holidays to the Netherlands separately.
There you have it. It all depends on your own (financial) possibilities and wishes, but that is also the case in Belgium or the Netherlands. Don't worry, use your money wisely, and make sure you meet the conditions of Immigration with which you apply for your annual residence extension.
But to your question you can get by with €1300 in Thailand, the answer is resounding: Yes!
Dear Ivo,
As already mentioned by many ... the cost of living depends on how you live in terms of living costs, food and clothing, home, car, region, etc. You should also always take into account the exchange rate difference Bath / euro (that can make a lot of difference with large currencies changes such as the past 2 years e.g.) …
you also need for your “extension of stay – visa” a monthly income of 65000 baht (or 40000 baht if married to thai) , or a fixed amount of 800000 baht in a thai account (or 400000 baht if married) …
if you can't do this, forget about emigration (unless you work in thailand.)
with full emigration you also have to take out health insurance, which is a minimum annual cost of 1500 euros depending on insurance/medical condition. (and some even much more)..
but if you live “normally”, thailand is still cheaper than belgium … to give you an example … e.g. i go monthly to makro to buy food/drinks …in belgium i pay 350 euros and for buying in thailand i pay the same me 200 euros…
can you live like a thai then you eat a street food meal Isaan for 1 to 2 euros ... vegetables / meat on the market is certainly not expensive ..
I can only advise you, live for 3 months at your preferred destination .. keep track of everything you spend .. then decide whether you can / want to emigrate ... this way you avoid surprises or disillusions in the future ... good luck!
look, I have no costs in Belgium.
My wife and I work in the same company ( got married in 2002 ).
Been to Thailand about 10 times
We have some savings and my wife has 4 rai of land in Thailand, which we do not want to spend to live on.
Savings must be more than enough to guarantee a house, car and visa.
We want to cook our food ourselves, which is also a hobby and activity.
But do you want to buy all this in tesco or makro or such an opportunity.
Then I wonder…..life can not take into account all of the above, can it not be that expensive after all. (only health insurance, where I also hear very different amounts)
In Thailand you pay “almost” no tax on property.
gasoline, electricity, water are cheaper …… no heating costs (although air conditioning)
municipal tax , provincial tax , federal personal income tax , tax on household waste ... too crazy to mention.
For a spacious lifestyle in Belgium with 2 cars, we do not spend more than 1500 to 1800 euros per month incl restaurant etc (FOR 2 PEOPLE !!!)
Then I do not understand some articles that I have read here ( date 2017 )
Ivo
it's true first try a month or 3 to 6 at 1 or 2 locations
My wife has a house in the province annex company. together we have a condo in Jomtien.
Rent comparable in uttaradit a 4000 to 6000 bath per month without electricity and water
Rent studio or apartment in Jomtien – Pattaya from small studio 9000 to 2 room apartment 14.000 bath without electricity and water.
Pay no rent or 14.000 service costs per year for apartment.
When I'm in Uttaradit, me and my wife get by on 750 euros. We drive truck car and motorcycle van.
an average of 125 km per week.
When we are in Jomtien it is a 1250 per moon.
Almost always eat at home.
Groceries 1 time per week tesco Lotus a 2000 bath for 3 persons
The rest market a 2000 bath in the month
Electra a 1200 bath in Uttaradit and a 1800 bath in Jomtien.
Most of the money goes into unknown and gasoline
Dear Friend; if you have € 1340 net per month, no problem here and check with the Thai Embassy
Dear reader
To see good livelihood comparison look at http://www.numbeo.com cost-of-living
Enter a city 1 in the Netherlands or Belgium and 1 in Thailand or another country in Asia.
Have fun with this site.
Happy day Peter Yai
I think you are talking about two different things: what one needs for living is one thing, but to get a long-term visa you must be able to prove that you have at least Baht 1 per month. And let that be just about Euro 65,000.
That is not necessary if you can put 800.000 baht (now about 23.000 Euro) on an account!!
We live in Thailand for a few months a year and spend 13.000 Bht on a nice apartment with a beautiful swimming pool, we also spend about 1500 bht per day (2 people). We eat alternately Thai and European twice a week, eat out twice a day, gasoline for the motorcycle included. We rent a motorcycle for 2 bht per month. And we have decided to spend alternately 2 months a year in Thailand and Belgium, so you stay in order with your health insurance. Total budget is therefore about 3000 bht per month, but it can also be less, of course
You can discuss the cost of living for a long time, but Thailand has become considerably more expensive for us farangs in recent years.
If you want to live there as I am used to, I think Thailand is just as expensive as NL.
Add to that the requirements of the immigration service, the expensive health insurance, etc.
There are discussions on this subject on various forums and many are now living off their retirement elsewhere (Vietnam, Philippines, Spain)
In 1980 I was on holiday in Thailand for the first time and everything cost next to nothing, but those times are really over.
For the last 18 years I have been going to “my” island Koh Jum in SW Thailand for 2 months in the winter.
I have seen it develop from a poor fishing island with a handful of small-scale resorts into a holiday island with luxury resorts of 100-150 Euro/day and luxury bungalows that are sold for 500.000+ Euro.
Local entrepreneurs have also raised or even doubled prices in recent years.
I just can't afford that anymore, because it has become too expensive for me.
I took a look at the debits from my credit card and guess what: I spent almost twice as much on the same things this year (domestic flight, bugalow rental, scooter, wine, coffee, beer, restaurants, etc.) like in 2!!
I really like SE Asia, but Thailand has become too expensive for me.
I think it's a bit exaggerated, I can save, rent a living space, have a scooter and a new pickup. Can get by well and have an income of around € 1450 from my pension. So don't think it's too expensive. And exchanging money when the Bath is high also helps. I live with my Thai girlfriend by the way… With lots of fun.
When asked whether living in Thailand is more expensive than in Belgium, many will immediately answer NO, although this is of course not applicable to everyone.
People who can live like a Thai, and I personally would certainly not want to and would not be able to do that in the long run, because I, like many others, imagine something different from my evening of life, might be able to live more advantageously.
Inexpensive often means the partial or complete banning of western foods, such as a glass of wine and a nice piece of cheese, because these and many other things are often 30 to 40% more expensive than in Europe.
Also a private health insurance, which is already mandatory, is many times more expensive than the usually well-known social insurances that people know from the home country.
Moreover, the question also arises, whether one is going to live alone or with a partner, who, apart from providing you with free accommodation, can also live with her family, love, and your beautiful blue eyes.
In short, you live in a country where, in addition to your own necessities of life, you have to deal with people who are always less fortunate financially, who have little or no social provision, and still quietly count on your help from time to time.
All things that you should count in addition to your personal life needs and duties in the final calculation, whether you can really live so much more cheaply in Thailand.
I wish you luck, and would like to read an honest report from you in a few years, whether it really is that much cheaper than in Belgium.
Yes it is noticeably cheaper. Gasoline ….car insurance and tax…..no property tax….you travel mostly by scooter….no parking meters…..you hardly need clothes….maintenance car scooter dirt cheap…..internet much cheaper…..medication cheaper …..house rent much cheaper….water and electricity much cheaper….handyman much cheaper….gardener much cheaper…..cleaning woman much cheaper…..travel to neighboring countries much cheaper just like the overnight stays…..For 20 euros p/ d you sleep in a decent hotel. Buses and taxis are much cheaper.
Let yourself be pampered with a nice massage ... dirt cheap. Not making an appointment anywhere and being served the same everywhere is another luxury that has become a thing of the past in the West.
If you get a fine (very rare) even for excessive speed you get off with 10 euros.
Of course you have to integrate a bit…..but why move to Thailand now if you don't want to or can't adapt a little bit? Why is it necessary to have French cheeses or special high-quality wines every day? I would say opt for France or Italy. In this tropical country, a Chang beer tastes much better than a glass of red wine at dusk.
Thai food is very tasty…..and bread is a bit more expensive than with us…but in the afternoon a toast is enough in this hot country, isn't it? The more obese you are the more you will toil and sweat.
And yes, it is sometimes assumed that you help someone out of need…..but how far you want or can go depends only on yourself.
I've been living in Thailand for 10 years now and actually live a greasy lazy life that would cost me 10 times as much if I wanted the same in Marbella. Everything depends on what your expectations are and your preferences. Personally, I think that in Thailand you have 5 X more value for the same money as in the Low Countries. And all in all the weather…..the streetscape….the geniality…the relaxed….the service friendliness and safety (less and less with us) you get for free.
But yes, it is something that is disappointing everywhere… I think paradise only exists in religious scriptures.
Dear Ivo,
I have nothing to add to what the readers have written above. They word it well. However, I would like to point out that the amount Walter mentions about health insurance is surprisingly low. I had to take out health insurance here and pay 2.832 euros or 104.950 Baht this year. And I'm fine, that is, I have no particular risks.
Be mindful of such amounts.
Or Walter has to give you a good tip, especially for Belgians…
The EXTRA costs for air travel and visa and insurance alone make it much more expensive!
Jozef, once you live here you don't have to make air travel anymore and your (visa) extension costs 1900 baht, so about 60 euros per year.
Dear Jos, many of us have family in the home country that you want to visit regularly. Not everyone can shut themselves off from this. So it is a point to consider that should definitely be made. Visa fees are more than you are specifying now. You forget that a letter of support about your income also has to be paid at the respective embassies and also costs around 1500 baht on average. Demonstrating the income only through a Thai bank is less in costs. In addition, you will have to replace your passport a year earlier due to the annual extension that is dependent on the issue duration. The costs of a passport issued by the embassy in Thailand are also considerably higher than in the country of origin. For those who do not have an embassy next door, travel and possibly accommodation costs will be involved. In short, the necessary amount must be added to that 1900 baht.
I think that you have got a good picture from previous messages of what awaits you in the future when emigrating to Thailand. Thailand's visa and year extensions are subject to significant requirements and require special attention. As a single person, the amount of 65.000 baht per month is demonstrably important or 800.000 baht in a Thai bank account. A full explanation of this can be read in detail in the file documents. This has become a tormentor for a lot of people and a necessity for leaving Thailand. All the more so because this amount is not adjusted by the Thai authority despite the sharp exchange rate fluctuations. A pension is fairly constant for most of us, but because of the exchange rate in Thailand, it is sometimes 30% less in value. Keep this in mind. The authorities at various immigration police offices also handle the paperwork required to obtain and maintain legal residence differently. There are those who require a form drawn up by an embassy of your country or that of another EU country, such as the Austrian/German consul in Pattaya. Nowadays, the form of the pension fund that indicates how much pension is departing must also be submitted. There are offices that also require you to submit a Thai bank book or a printout from that bank in which you demonstrate that a minimum of 65.000 baht per month is actually deposited. With an exchange rate of 33 this was almost 2000 euros net per month and now with the exchange rate of 37 you are at 1752 euros net. Much will therefore depend on the course in 2023 and what you can bring yourself. So time will tell and nothing is certain in life.
Excellent
If you live normally, 1000 euros is enough If you like to go out now and then, it is 2000 euros
You don't need that car Go live somewhere in a city or seaside resort
Do you want to be a tourist every day 3000 euros
Above all, have fun !!!
TV car kitchen tools the same as in Belgium
Gasoline 95 – .80 cents
Rental prices 3 times as cheap
Food if you eat Thai 1 max 2 euros
Euro food 5 max 7 euros
Steak fact 10 max 15 euros
Coffee in coffee shop 1.25 euros
Water per month 1.25 euros
electricity per month 25 euros
Internet 20 euros
I hope this is of some use to you
Dear Ivo,
First rent accommodation in Thailand for at least 3 months or longer.
This way you get an impression of the livelihood.
Immigration sets a requirement of 65.000 baht per month demonstrable as income for someone who wants to live in Thailand. (or 800.000 baht on a savings account)
Health insurance in Thailand is more expensive than the home country!
Success!
Last year I once asked a middle-class Thai how much she thinks she needs for a good life in Bangkok (higher rent, car, eating out). She mentioned an amount of 100.000 baht/month. So about eur 2500 per month. Always cheaper than in the Netherlands.
I think this is the amount you need to live a European life in Thailand.
Don't forget that if you ask the same question in the Netherlands, you will get completely different answers.
I agree with the amount you specify here. My wife and I have over 130.000 baht a month to spend and then it's possible to have the bungalow you've been looking for, with housekeepers, a nice truck and some motorcycles, five dogs and trips around the country every month . Good health insurance also costs a lot. Above all, the choice for us was to get off better if we had stayed in the Netherlands. Sitting behind the geraniums is also not recommended in Thailand. You get used to a lot in Thailand but not the worries you have in your old age if it doesn't become affordable. Stress then bubbles up and works the same everywhere. It is important that the questioner knows how he works when it comes down to it. If you are satisfied with less, these kinds of issues are less important, but I think that there are quite a few foreigners in Thailand who are scratching their heads twice because of the unforeseen that has become reality. The sun shines behind the horizon.
You don't need more money at all as long as you eat what is customary in Thailand and then you can eat European food now and then.
The biggest cost would rather be to look for a good insurance if you are ill or have to undergo an operation and even then you will only be insured until you are 70 years old. so think carefully.
SUCCESS!
Lionel.
overview,
RENT depending on location :
room 2500-5000
normal house 8000-15000
luxury home 25000- xxxx
TO EAT :
thai : 5000
western sometimes : 9000- xxx depending on your need restaurant drinking habit
ELECTRICITY : 800-2500 (no air conditioning - lots of air conditioning)
WATER INTERNET: 1000
VISA and related 600-1000
MOBILITY : 3500 – 15000 (?) moterbike – car
for the rest you calculate your expenditure for clothing hospital travel entertainment very different from person to person. (this price is close to euro expenditure)
Have a look at this site:
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Thailand
You can live in Thailand on 15.000 Baht if you do it like the Thai; simple room, simple food and limited entertainment. That is of course significantly less than in Europe, but you also have significantly less. What I find expensive in Thailand : Cars, good food from the supermarket, toiletries, alcohol and good clothes.
Cheap : Petrol/Diesel, eating out as long as you eat Thai, Pickup Trucks, motorcycles, road tax and taxes in general. Clothes and food from markets but the quality is less there. Furthermore, some electronic items are somewhat cheaper than in Europe.
You can make living as expensive as you want, rent from 3000 for a room without air conditioning, to well over 100.000 for a large villa with all the trimmings.
I myself find middle class life here cheaper than in the Netherlands, but more expensive than in Germany, apart from visiting a restaurant which is much less expensive here than in Europe of course. What I also regret is that you have to pay everything in cash here as a foreigner, leasing a car is impossible and a loan for a house is unfortunately the same.
There is a simple answer:
if life here Thailand were so much more expensive, as some claim, well then you would find few farangs here. How many do you think have a net pension of 2000EU/m? The majority will have less.
Everything just depends on the lifestyle you want to live. Putting amounts on it is not easy, after all it is different for everyone.
I know one thing: I live in a good house that I rent, have my own car, a heavy motorcycle and a scooter. Cook European food yourself almost every day. Every Sunday, go for a beer with friends and then often followed by a visit to a restaurant….. so live as a retired Belgian NORMALLY at the same standard as I would live in Belgium. With health insurance included, my 'civil servants' pension' means more than enough. I'm not in the bars every day.......
I see it every time: living like a Thai. As if every Thai comes out with 9000 Baht per month. You should actually write: living like a POOR Thai….. When you see the cars driving around here, there are also plenty of Thai people who have a bigger budget than many foreigners who live here.
But, with 1300 Euro you could also end up in Thailand. Only as many rightly write, you must be able to insure yourself and that price depends on your age. And then you don't exactly live like a poor Thai. You can normally live with that.
I have been living like God in chiang mai for years. Really never spent more than 40.000 bath. Usually 25/30 and then you have a more than fine food. Only local food, from the market, etc. Much better than restaurants in Thailand anyway.
1000 euros per month is more than enough in chiang mai or krabi. Bangkok is another story.