This week a statement about the costs of living for Western expats and the conclusion that Thailand is still a cheap country to live in. We substantiate this with the facts below.
The cost of living in Thailand varies significantly depending on lifestyle and location. A review of recent data shows that for a family of four, the estimated monthly cost is about 107.923 baht (or about €2.823), while the cost for a single person is about 59.960 baht (or about €1.568), excluding rent. . This shows that Thailand is cheaper than 62% of countries in Asia.
The economic outlook for Thailand in 2023 suggests an improvement in the cost of living. The current crisis is driven by inflation and higher production costs. Inflation, which peaked at 2022% in August 7,9, eased to 2022% in November 5,6 and is expected to return to the 3% target by the end of the year.
General living costs can range from approximately $500 to $2.000 per month, depending on budget and lifestyle. Some people can live comfortably for less than $1.000 a month, indicating that Thailand can be an affordable option for those on a modest budget.
As for housing, a single flat in Bangkok can range from 8.000 to 25.000 baht per month. Eating in Thailand is often cheap, with street food being a popular and affordable choice, with prices ranging from 30 baht (about €0,78) to 80-90 baht (about €2,35). Meals in restaurants can range from 50 to 500 baht depending on the cuisine and establishment.
This information provides an idea of the current cost of living in Thailand, which depends on personal preferences and lifestyle, but is generally affordable compared to many other countries.
Here is a current overview of the cost of living in Thailand, expressed in euros:
| Item | Costs (€) |
|---|---|
| Rent (1 bedroom) in city center | 250,00 |
| Rent (1 bedroom) outside the center | 150,00 |
| Rent (3 bedrooms) in city center | 500,00 |
| Rent (3 bedrooms) outside the center | 300,00 |
| Meal, cheap restaurant | 1,50 |
| Meal for 2 people, mid-range restaurant, three courses | 20,00 |
| Cappuccino | 1,80 |
| Water (0,33 liter bottle) | 0,40 |
| Milk (1 liter) | 1,30 |
| Bread (500g) | 1,20 |
| Rice (1kg) | 1,00 |
| Eggs (12) | 1,40 |
| Local cheese (1kg) | 15,00 |
| Chicken fillet (1kg) | 6,00 |
| Apples (1kg) | 2,50 |
| Banana (1kg) | 1,00 |
| Oranges (1kg) | 2,00 |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | 1,20 |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 1,00 |
| Onion (1kg) | 0,80 |
| Transport (monthly subscription) | 30,00 |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 0,90 |
| Basic (electricity, heating, cooling, water, garbage) for 85 m² apartment | 50,00 |
| 1 minute prepaid mobile tariff | 0,03 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or more, unlimited data, cable/ADSL) | 20,00 |
This table gives a clear picture of the various costs one can expect when living or staying in Thailand.
If you agree or disagree with the statement, please respond!
The sources for the information about the cost of living in Thailand are as follows:
- Expatistan – Lists the estimated monthly costs for a family of four and a single person in Thailand, noting that Thailand is cheaper than 62% of countries in Asia.
- Numbeo – Provides estimated monthly costs for a family of four and a single person in Thailand, excluding rent.
- Deloitte US – Discusses the economic outlook for Thailand in 2023, with a focus on the cost of living crisis and inflation rates.
- One Life Passport – Provides an estimate of the general cost of living in Thailand, ranging from $590 to $2500 per month, and provides examples of how some people can live comfortably for less than $1000 per month.
- Identity Digital (Remote Tribe Life) – Provides information about the costs of housing and food in Thailand, including prices for apartments, street food and restaurant meals.
These resources provide a detailed overview of the cost of living in Thailand, including housing, food and other expenses.
About this blogger
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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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We are 2 people. Both expats. Have your own house in the north and free car. Have solar panels. Have avg. Need 40000 baht per month. Incl. Petrol. Then 50.000 baht health insurance, 8000 car insurance. TV subscription and house insurance Per year. Live predominantly European
Here also with the two of us, myself and my Thai wife.
Have our own house, a car and do not want for anything. Eating out on average twice a week. We do our shopping in Tops and Makro. Every month we have more than enough with 2THB. My wife manages the finances and does an excellent job.
Is Thailand a cheap country to live? A resounding YES!
PS: Apart from the occasional bottle of wine, we don't spend money on alcohol. This is sometimes different for many expats...
There seems to be something wrong with the calculations: 107.923 baht (what do you mean 'approximately'?) is more than 2800 euros instead of 1896 euros. And 59.960 baht is almost 1600 euros, instead of 532 euros. A very strange conversion factor has also been used in the costs mentioned below.
Apart from that conversion, an amount of more than 100.000 baht for four people, excluding housing costs, seems to me to be grossly exaggerated and unrealistic.
There were indeed errors in it. Amended. The monthly costs probably also include health insurance.
That's right, yes. Thailand is a cheap country where life is good.
What is expensive is European health insurance, especially as you get older. With a medical history you can forget about it. You will not be accepted or will be subject to sky-high premiums and exclusions.
I would walk around street food. Very unhygienic. The previous government wanted to change the law on this, but it didn't happen. I still don't see any permanent water connections for washing dishes.
Nursing homes and retirement homes are in abundance. Expensive, watch out.
If you are going to live here, that is OK, but without a financial buffer of a few million Baht you will certainly get into trouble if you need medical help and cannot manage on your own.
Living with a Thai woman is OK, but you often get family members who see you as benefactors.
My son says half of Thais are blacklisted because they can't meet their debts. Very high drug use and gambling debts!
Look before you leap!
The health insurance is not too bad, I have the WRLife of 24000 Baht per year as an inpatient, if something is wrong I always go to the Hua Hin government hospital where I receive good care for 400 Baht, operations and other expensive procedures as an outpatient are not included, but are not too bad, we always need a buffer and it can never hurt, but certainly not millions, if you have something very serious like cancer, you can still get care in Belgium, we always remain entitled to health insurance in Belgium.
We also buy street food and I rarely or never get sick from it. Furthermore, Hua Hin is very safe with almost no drug use, highly recommended for expats, and with many restaurants and shopping malls.
A lot of platitudes about the Thais and Thailand.
Not every expat is here every day of the year, married to a drug or alcohol addicted Thai woman with a needy or greedy family, with large debts who buys unhygienic street food every day.
Oh well, then we should all dump our Thai wife, after all these years of being happily together.
I eat some street food every week, with virtually no problems. If you buy at busy places you are usually safe.
And the fact that many Thais cannot meet their payment obligations has nothing to do with the statement of this topic. And neither do drug use and gambling debts.
Maybe a tip: You usually have yourself to thank for the fact that it is pleasant to stay here. Having a positive outlook on life can help with this. If you always look at everything through black glasses, you will not be happy in your own country. And how a Thai behaves has nothing to do with my sense of happiness.
I would say enjoy the sun!
Street food very unhygienic? Seems very exaggerated to me, eating Thai street food for 30 years, never been sick, comrade ordered a hamburger in an expensive hotel, was on potty for 5 days.
You definitely need a financial buffer.
The Thai woman's family can see you as a benefactor, but it also depends on your wife's ability to withstand asking for or borrowing money, and also on yourself.
I would like to add something to the cost of living: three years ago I started having dizziness and had already been out of it twice, the second time in an International Private Hospital (stupid coincidence). After examination by a cardiologist who had been called in at all costs, I ended up in the ICU, heart monitoring. That's where the alarm bells started ringing. Diagnosis: the heart works too fast, causing the brain to get too little oxygen. More examinations with a cardio surgeon. Advice: implant a device. Contact Cigna insurance. Costs 2 million three hundred thousand Baht all inclusive. After some tug-of-war from Matthieu of AA Hua Hin, the Guarantee of Payment arrived. Operation went well, recovery was good.
AA and Matthieu: TOPPY.
My wife could not be insured there on the same terms, due to a medical history. (Stroke) Has the 30Bht card, but yes….
This gives us the buffer, because you can suddenly face sky-high costs in Thailand.
I push this under the noses of many acquaintances in the Netherlands who are considering emigration to Thailand.
And say: “Look before you begin”
I agree with the statement. I don't need that much myself and my budget is even well below that of expats. Anyway, I don't work as a luxury horse for an embassy or tech company. Suppose if I am going to play the 'digital nomad' in Bangkok, I will choose a furnished apartment/condo as a basis. This is possible for around €200 p/m outside the center and still close to a metro/BTS station. I mainly eat/drink outside for an average of €10 per day. Then I am at €500 p/m and then there are some additional items such as utilities and transport. In short, I would have to do something really crazy to get to €1568 (even without rent!) as stated in the article. Regarding the statement, I can only speak about Bangkok. As an expat, I would always choose Bangkok in terms of price/quality compared to other metropolises in Southeast Asia. The whole picture of Bangkok appeals to me more than KL, Singapore, Jakarta, PP, HCMC, you name it. Yes I know, there are cheaper places outside Bangkok.
There is only one sentence true to the statement and that is the first of the second paragraph: “The cost of living in Thailand varies significantly depending on lifestyle and location.” There are people on Thailandblog who mention the fact that they can get by on an AOW pension and a small pension. In possession of a “marriage visa” and because the exchange rate is a bit high, 40K ThB monthly in the account.
Is it cheap for them? I don't know, they have to report it themselves, but things won't be easy with the woman and her children. Because make no mistake: most of them are uninsured. Wife and children via the 30baht scheme.
1- As far as I can estimate and based on what is often reported on Thailand blog, you do need that 40K ThB monthly to pay the normal recurring costs: gas, water, electricity, internet, TV, car fuel, food and drinks, shopping, occasional restaurant visits, and some entertainment.
2- But it doesn't stop there. Every year there are larger recurring costs for home and car insurance and maintenance. Plus an essential cost item being health insurance.
3- I will leave out rent, holidays and/or a visit to the Netherlands because it is different for everyone.
If I add it all up, I arrive at ad 1 - monthly quality subsistence at ThB 40K;
ad 2- monthly average ThB 25K. Together 65K ThB per month, and then add rent etc. to that.
Anyway. The argument is that Thailand is still a cheap country, and the result should be: well, for some it is and for others it is not! However?
Nevertheless, I have three comments: people often mention cheap food in food courts and the use of street food. Be careful with it because for 40 baht you get a meal that is not very nutritious, the portions are meager, and the taste is enhanced with ajinomoto. A long healthy life is not guaranteed. Nevertheless, many Thais depend on it.
Furthermore: it is absolutely not easy for the Thai to get through the days, which is reflected in an increasingly violent everyday life. Andrew van Schaik talks about drug use and gambling debts. I would add to this the many fatal domestic violence, murders also among young people, and massively fatal traffic indifference. In my opinion, often expressions of frustration and despondency.
Finally, the mountain of debt for Thai households is rising sky-high by the day. Often one is only able to pay the interest, and the debt remains. Thai authorities blame the rising debts on the ever-rising interest rate and on the high fuel, gas and electricity costs. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/2694134/troubled-debt-set-to-exceed-b1-trillion
Look, Soi writes like it is. Knows Thailand best.
The problem of the loansharks that you mention is now being tackled. Today a group of Indian sharks were arrested who are asking for “loi la jie sip per day” so 20% interest on a day loan. The cheeky dogs. Tackling the Thai sharks will be a bit more difficult A. There are an awful lot of them and B they have paid “protection money”. Thank you for your clear explanation. Many who constantly look the other way can benefit from it. That's how you learn something!
I turned my attention to looking for an answer to this statement.
My personal statement is yes, of course it is cheaper but it can vary considerably from location to location throughout Thailand
Big cities or the countryside.
I only used Numbeo as an example and of course my own lifestyle.
There will undoubtedly be people who say no, it is not cheaper, but it is considerably more pleasant.
The big 'hitters' are of course purchase or rental prices as a percentage of your income.
The relatively cheap utilities compared to the Netherlands.
Expense items that differ due to the climate can also be significant.
The 'Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:' shows the differences across the board in both countries.
https://ap.lc/NgOLD
https://ap.lc/esYZQ
Quote Numbeo
Summary of cost of living in Netherlands:
A family of four estimated monthly costs are 123,401.3฿ (3,226.1€) without rent.
A single person estimated monthly costs are 35,273.7฿ (922.2€) without rent.
Cost of living in Netherlands is, on average, 76.5% higher than in Thailand.
Rent in Netherlands is, on average, 154.0% higher than in Thailand.
Of course, Thailand is a cheap country for Western expats.
To do this, you don't just have to compare prices but use your common sense.
Expensive and cheap are relative concepts and do not depend so much on the absolute, average or otherwise, prices of products, but on spending patterns, salary/income and other personal wishes and circumstances.
For an expat working here for 50,000 Baht a month, married to a Thai woman, living and renting in Bangkok and having to take care of her two growing children and sick parents in the countryside, Thailand is expensive (and getting more expensive). For a retired expat with a monthly income of 100,000 Baht, married to a Thai woman who also receives a pension, living in the countryside and who likes to live like the (lower) average Thai life (simple house, street food or cooking yourself, no Western food, no car but a motorbike, no needy Thai family) Thailand is dirt cheap.
I wonder what the Thai blacklist and very high drug use + gambling debts have to do with the question?
In general I agree...if you want to eat, live and live (half) Thai.
So without licorice, chocolate sprinkles, mice, cheese spread, real butter, bitterballen, herring, olive oil and reasonably affordable bottles of wine?
The shopping list will really be different if you want to live, eat and live like a NL/EU citizen.
grossly exaggerated and certainly not a norm in Isaan. Only the imported products are expensive, otherwise dirt cheap according to our home standards. With a pension of 1700 euros you can live decently here, the Thais themselves earn an average of 8000 baht per month if they already have work.
A Thai with some education really earns a lot more than 8000 Baht. That 8000 Baht is really what people actually pay to uneducated lowlifes who do odd jobs here or there.
https://adecco.co.th/salary-guide
A recently retired neighbor/primary school teacher had 70000 Bht per month and now half as a pension. Two million extra cash on retirement. Another neighbor 90000 as a head nurse in Bumrungrad. Her two daughters study abroad. Neighbor software programmer in Bumrungrad over a ton. And son in Pattaya 25000 apart from a dot tip and free housing. The biggest chunk has to make do with 15000 Bht per month. You can't get by on 8000 here in Bangkok. Rent a condo from 3000 with two bedrooms and something more luxurious 6000. It's getting harder to find a tenant for that. They are usually run down and many drug users. Much rent arrears. Much stress for the woman.
Those salaries are not paid at a public school but at a private school. My Thai colleagues at the public university had to make do with 35,000 Baht basic salary. With a few extra tasks (5,000 Baht per basket, such as student counseling or quality management), the total amount was 45,000 or 50,000 Baht. And as far as I know, it's either a monthly pension amount or a lump sum benefit. Not both.
Good staff are also well paid in Thailand. The problem is that most of them are not good enough and therefore have to make do with less and have hardly any career prospects.
Partly agree,
Live alone with my Thai wife, no car, but a motorbike. Fixed monthly costs are internet 749 baht, water 300 baht, electricity 800 baht, cooking gas 140 baht, garbage collection 150 baht per year, groceries are hard to estimate, sometimes Makro, market, eating out, don't smoke, but a nice beer now and then, and good coffee of course.
Fruits and vegetables on the market are cheap. Meat, fish and rice have increased somewhat in recent years.
I think we spend an average of around 35 to 40K per month. What does take a bite out of the budget is that health insurance is about 100.000 baht per year for both of us.
Transport is also cheap here, as are the usual things, such as clothing. Immigration 1900 baht per year, excluding petrol, passport photos, copies. I'm sure I've forgotten something, but overall it's a good time here.
Dear Thailandblog readers and editors,
And I like to come to Thailand every 6 months a year.
Want to be with my Chaantje and enjoy the good weather from Oct to Apr.
Maarrrrr definitely also wants to have the “Swiss Life” feeling!
What I mean by that is: really taking a holiday; just like I would do when I take a holiday in Europe in the summer.
And then the Th Baths in Thailand are just as popular as in the EU!
OK, I don't want to do anything or just mess around around our house in Ubon R.
But most of all I want to feel the wind under my wings and we go out,
and yes: that takes a lot of work.
So the editors are really correct with that first estimate! And outside health insurance.
Not a word is said here about the often very expensive hospitalization insurance that is ultimately unaffordable for many elderly expats, and I know many elderly expats here who also have to deal with a whole series of exclusions!
No, that is not true. Several respondents often indicate that health insurance can make a big dent in disposable income. But that is all very personal and depends on how high someone's budget is. Do you come to Thailand with 5K net per month or do you just reach 40K baht per month. That is and remains someone's individual decision. For example, I have decided not to take out health insurance because I am not going to pay a premium for a policy that does not want to fully insure me in advance or excludes me in all kinds of ways after a serious illness. On the other hand, I do have a 5Mb Thai health insurance for my wife. I have been putting 10K ThB per month in a separate pot for years, and in the meantime it has become well filled. Annually I then end up with an amount of around 170K baht. But that is because I can afford it, and if need arises there is more. I think that someone who emigrates to Thailand should consider more than just whether he/she can make ends meet with his/her monthly income because Thailand is simply cheaper. Thailand is known for having no government social safety nets for farang (even for many Thais), no health insurance, and no opportunities to participate in what is offered by the Thai SSO. And rightly so. It is all already scarce. Thai first! A slogan that is gaining ground in the Netherlands.
In short: in the preparations one must take into account the absence of facilities and consider whether there is room to accommodate illness and ailments in addition to the cheap, normal daily subsistence. You have to provide this yourself. Is my statement.
If you only calculate the basic living costs, then Thailand is indeed always a very cheap country to live.
Only many who calculate that they need at most 40.000 Baht per month with their partner, usually live and eat very Thai-like, in an already existing house, and are also usually frugal compared to what becomes increasingly important at a certain age. health insurance.
When I read comments that someone thinks they have health insurance for 24.000 per year, this is like an insurance of 2000 p/m with a huge question mark as to what it will actually pay if an illness becomes really serious.
Depending on age, good insurance will certainly cost more, and if I ask my Thai partner, who I do not want to leave alone on her 30 Baht care, we are talking with certainty about completely different amounts.
In addition, most even good insurance policies exclude pre-existing illnesses, and an illness that suddenly occurs and is treated will immediately become part of the pre-existing illnesses from that point on.
What always surprises me is the negative approach of some readers/writers. Wherever you have lived in the past (NL, Belgium or elsewhere in the world), you can always tell a few stories about things that went wrong. About people who have been/are being scammed. About terrible traffic accidents caused by alcohol and drug use.
Watch the news and read the newspapers from your own country to read that it is not paradise there either. Murders, liquidations, thefts, drug abuse, accidents due to alcohol abuse, political chaos. The list is too long to mention it all. Just for fun, try parking your (electric) bicycle unattended, unlocked, somewhere in a city/village. I'll give you 5 minutes before you no longer own it. In Thailand you can park your bicycle/motorcycle including clothing/helmet/belongings. Hours later everything is still there.
But some people like to close their eyes to what is happening in their own backyard.
I always wonder what keeps people in Thailand when it's all so bad. I suspect it's all NONSENSE. That it's whining for the sake of whining. That everything that doesn't go well is a reason for it.
I have lived in Thailand for about 4,5 years now. And all those negative stories... I don't experience them. And I can assure you that I am in contact with A LOT of Thai people every day. That I travel by car throughout the country, including Bangkok.
For now I'll stay here. And certainly not because it is so much better in the Netherlands. Thailand is a beautiful country with very nice people, delicious (street food) food, everything very affordable.
For the negative whiners: look up, the sun shines more often here than in the Netherlands.
Quote: 'Watch the news and read the newspapers from your own country to read that it is not paradise there either. Murders, liquidations, thefts, drug abuse, accidents due to alcohol abuse, political chaos.'
I always find it so terribly funny that people shout: 'Don't whine about Thailand!' immediately start whining about the Netherlands.
I assure you, Glenno, that what you write about the Netherlands is even a little bit worse in Thailand. Tell the truth, that's what I try to do, no matter what country. I try to show the good and bad sides of Thailand. That's not whining.
The biggest admirers of Thai life are the immigrants. This also applies, for example, to Thais with a Chinese background, the Sino-Thai. I do not mean migrant workers, but those who can afford a good life financially and otherwise. It is mainly the Thais themselves who grumble and whine about the conditions in their country.