Cost of Living in Bangkok, Thailand

My monthly costs for the following:
1. Food/Grocery
2. Accommodation
3. Entertainment
4. Utilities
5. Visa
6. Transportation
See what you can get for just $800 USD per month in a place like Bangkok.
Everyone’s lifestyle and standard of living are different, just ask your friends or family members for their cost of living.
I live for $800 USD per month in Bangkok, but if you watch the video, I don’t advise or advocate anyone else to do the same.
Now let me just say this so that everyone hears me loud and clear.
You can live very cheaply in Bangkok if you want to. But if you want to live in the nicer neighbourhoods, nicer buildings, live next to the MRT/BTS stations, or if you want a pool, gym, tennis court and a few bedrooms with all the benefits, then the price can go up very fast.
You can easily spend $1,000 USD per month just on a tiny studio somewhere inside Bangkok or $100 USD. You do get what you pay for.
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#thailand #bangkok #livinginbangkok
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[@onwardswego7490]

Don't beat yourself up about not partying mate, you seem like a very interesting person!Thank you for this video

[@Djmarkyrush]

good breakdown, wow just about 800 dollars a month thats awesome, when i stayed in bkk for two months, i spent about 1000 dollars a month, i don't drink or smoke either and eat once or twice a day.

[@jamesspignesi1]

@@jasonkeys5940 Really ? Shows how little you really know about Thailand

[@zeekf.3839]

Under $600 is ezpz Im right under 400 a month eating out 2-3x a day and living in a clean place not using a/c all the time. Just dont eat western food more than a few times a week and dont use a/c or taxis every single day. Get a room with a fan and a big window with a screen, its not even hot to me.

[@jamesspignesi1]

Zachary G. My total bills for May for two of us $400 that includes EVERYTHING ! So don,t tell me it can,t be done been doing it going on twenty years

[@Keyframe5]

400 a month.. wow

[@zeekf.3839]

@@jamesspignesi1 Dang $400 for two people? I could see $450, but $400 would be really cutting it tight unless you were on the outskirts of a city or something.

[@jamesspignesi1]

@@zeekf.3839 Sorry forgot to mention NOT in Bangkok. But it is totally possible more so if you speak Thai. Screwloose Greg Bender claims no one can live under $3,000 a month must be living in a wood shack with no power.

[@JediMasterZanetti]

great video.

[@piipown2710]

The food bill for the two of us amounts to about 40,000 Baht per month (on average we eat out in restaurant roughly once every other day), transportation (BTS, MRT, Taxi) about 5,000 per month, TV/Internet/Phone "Platinum" combo - 2500 per month, electricity/water - 2000 per month. We own our condo, so there is no rent, but there is a strata fee of approximately 2500 Baht per month. We also don't have to worry about visa runs and travel insurance. So the core monthly expenses for the two of us is about 52,000 Baht. I would say this gives us the same standard of living as we have in Vancouver Canada (we eat better in Thailand, but live in a much smaller place and without our own car). My general conclusion is that Thailand (Bangkok in particular) is not cheap to live in any more.

[@stevenoliver9728]

I think it can be fun to try living cheaply as an experiment but I wouldn't want to be in a situation where I was forced to do that.

[@thespecialist7442]

Useful info many thanks😎

[@HUGO70R]

thank you for being honest you are one of the few who say the truth

[@erikjanse3994]

Thanks for the VDO, really appreciated! Indeed Thailand is not so cheap anymore, e.g. luxury goods as TV's and washing machines are on average 50% more expensive than in Europe. Some groceries are even 300% more expensive than in Europe, e.g. good quality chocolate and avocado (even if, I am not mistaken, they grow in the Chiang Mai area). Middle class quality furniture is often 50% more expensive than in Europe, e.g. do the Ikea test, you find the same article in all Ikea's over the world and can see for yourself, that compared with some European countries, the same articles are 50% more expensive in Thailand. The same is valid for clothes, e.g. middle class quality towels are on average 30% more expensive in Thailand than in Europe. Membership of a fitness centre is 50 to 100% more expensive in Thailand, etc... Renting a condo/house is still cheaper inThailand (I think due to the oversupply), but prices for buying a home/condominium are getting close to European prices nowadays. So I would say in many cases Thailand is even more expensive than Europe and even way more expensive (off course this is also driven by the very strong Baht). Street food is cheap in Thailand as well as services with a heavy labor component (due to the still low salaries in Thailand). But many other things as explained above are actually way more expensive in Thailand than in Europe. Due to the relative low salaries in Thailand it will not be easy for the middle class Thais to increase their standard of living. After having bought a car, and paying the monthly payments, there is not much left... What are your thoughts on this? Thanks!

[@pfranks1752]

I agree with you Erik Janse, I'm originally from Thailand, but live in the US for 30+ years. I have been going to Thailand on and off. The last time when I was in Thailand was Jan.2018. I compare a lot of things between Thailand and the US. I came up with about the same as your info. Thailand is not cheap. The rent and street food still reasonable but that about it in my opinion.

[@erikjanse3994]

@@Keyframe5 Thanks for your response. One of the things I noticed when I was in BKK last April were the billboards promoting the sale of new houses. I often saw billboards that where saying "start from 24 M. Baht". Off course these were very nice luxury villa's. But for this price I can buy a very beautiful vila in Europe as well. And I expect the European villa to be (still) of a better quality. For me it would not be a reason for not living in Thailand, because I think there are a lot of other attractive aspects of Thailand. It is just an observation.

[@piipown2710]

Agree with your observations - Thailand is not cheap! Some basic grocery items such as apple, orange, grapes, pears are more expensive than where I am from (Vancouver Canada). Prices on salmon, beef steak, lamb are just outrageous (Thai beef is quite tough). A day pass on BTS is 140 baht or $4.50 USD, expensive when compared to the daily minimum wage. As for big ticket items, condo prices is comparable to many big western cities if you want to be near BTS/MRT; car prices are lots more expensive and come with smaller engine (for example Honda Civic Canada Price in Thai Baht is 700,000 Baht vs Thai Price of 1 Million). But all in all for me, Thailand still has more pros than cons, as it has many good attributes that just can not be described by numbers.

[@psy4ctive159]

Due to the relative low salaries in Thailand it will not be easy for the middle class Thais to increase their standard of living. Yes that's right. My wife was working for the ministry of culture as a account manager and her salary was about 17.000 Baht per months. After the monthly payments there was not much left. So we decide to go to Germany . Now she earn this in a week.

[@Franky009]

Awesome info thank you sir ! Very educational

[@asiaexpat62]

Living in Thailand if you are younger than 50 and not working in Thailand can be a real challenge. Tourist visas and Visa exempt entries are limited and one can be refused entry if Immigration considers one has too many. The expenses seem normal and is in line with my daughter's (Thai national) expenses.

[@gotthesinglelife]

Yeah stayed in Bangkok for a few months using MRT/BTS with the rabbit card was a fast way to travel then short walk to most places unless you vist Dreamworld. The best part any credit left you can get back. As for staying in Pattaya the BHT bus is the way to go 10bht is cheap. And about the same in Bangkok but in Pattaya cheaper as i lived in a 2 bed room condo on the dark side little bit further from the main bar areas.

[@getsmartpaul]

Informative video for expats ! But you should mention that you are best served by finding and befriending Thai locals that can help you find reasonable food, lodging, transportation etc. How about a video on creating friendships with Thai Locals ? Best, LA Guy

[@jamesspignesi1]

GetSmart Paul: How about learning basic Thai language so you are not depending on Thais to help you ? Sorry its not that hard to learn. Thousands of excuses i have heard over time. I got tired of having to recuse foreigners every time they had a problem or were looking for the toilet.

[@getsmartpaul]

james spignesi that’s a good point and we should learn basic Thai . 👍Nevertheless, you still need local help ( Thai or Expat ) to avoid paying foreigner prices.

[@jamesspignesi1]

@@getsmartpaul I DO NOT pay foreign prices. I have always been able to find the best and cheapest places. You just have to know the going rates on places. Granted i do not live in Bangkok and never will. I have a nice home 400 feet from the ocean for under $100 a month. They are around you just have to ask around or know where to look. Speaking Thai you can save much money. It pays for it itself and saves you a great deal of time not having to play charades which the Thais get real tired of quickly. Most Thais do not have the time trying to understand foreigners too lazy to learn.

[@getsmartpaul]

@@jamesspignesi1 Yes, you are doing it right ! No argument at all ! You might be able to have a small business of guiding good Expats who want to learn the ropes and are committed to integrating into Thai society.

[@viviennele9224]

@@jamesspignesi1 where can you recommend the locations near the beach - thanks.

[@elcidenkorea]

Thailand isn't cheap anymore unless you're willing to live as a local. Was just there 3 weeks ago and it ain't cheap. I'm retired living in Malaysia and usually go visit every year for a get away. I'd say to have an interesting time there you'd need 1500 to 2000 USD per month. IMHO. And that's not including if you like to party everyday coz that would easily add another 1000 USD per month... I also own our house in Malaysia which is something you can't do in Thailand. So no rental expenses but my costs are still around 2000USD per month.

[@jamesspignesi1]

I could not spend $2,000 a month in Thailand if i tried. Willing to live like a local? Ever thought of learning Thai? You are likely eating nothing but imported food .

[@nicobic]

My goal was less than 35K baht a month but my average so far is 40-45k/m. My flat costs 8000/m close to Chong Nonsi BTS, electricity 1800+- , combo Internet-Phone 1175 (high speed), Netflix (500), Spotify 130); scooter to work (1000) the thing is like you I don't smoke & drink, no massage...so where does my money go?! :) But I'm a movie lover and don't wait for Wednesday special. I go to Western restaurants too often. Also I don't trust eating street food on a daily basis due to hygienes - once twice a week is OK though. So a good Massaman or padthai will cost 150 minimum, beverage not included. Oh yeah... TRIPS! Lots of them lol (8000) honestly believe many Western European countries now cost almost the same as Bkk. The hardest part particularly in BKK is the constant temptation of spending and having the best of both worlds : Western and Thai. In mainland China you have less variety. It's easier to be frugal.

[@keijiazum9282]

cant see the accommodation site u recommend I can only see agoda

[@tnguy9696]

exchange rate for americans looks good and very stable from what i can see

[@SideTripLife]

Good vid KF5! Can also rent a furnished condo with pool/gym in Bkk for 7000-8000 baht.

[@bobjuniel8683]

Every month I need at least 43,000 Thai Baht, equal to about US $1,460 or in Australian dollars $2,000, to live. Any less and you are just existing.

[@zeus9931]

I see exactly the same .... under 1500 - US $ is at best a survival ...

[@bobjuniel8683]

Kevin Waters you can get a room with en suite for about AUD $25 a night. Room serviced. I pay $34 a week for a 1 bedroom house with monthly rental. Unfurnished. I you are living in Thailand on a retirement Visa the government requires certified proof of your address. A hotel is OK but not for buying a motorbike or car. If you rent a flat, or house, that is a permanent address. Get a Thai motorcycle and a Thai car license and you have a permanent address to by a vehicle. Learn to ride in your own country. Go to a Thai riding/driving school. Cars are safer but less convenient. New Honda Click 150cc, CVT automatic, ABS dual braking, good lights about $3000. Fuel about $3 a week. Always wear a helmet. I wear industrial safety glasses. License ID says you are melding into Thailand, gets discounts (Thai price) on entry into theme parks etc.

[@bobjuniel8683]

Kevin Waters there are 300,000 sex workers unemployed here due to the corona virus. ฿1000 Thai baht Learn the symbol for a short time, 1 hour. $2000 for a long time, all night. There are millions of women that want a hansom rich foreign boyfriend. But they want you to fall for them, marry them buy them a house and support their children, parents, brothers, sisters and the temple. Surprise, some of these ladies already own their own homes. You will succeed if you always genuinely smile, never get angry, and show strength of character. They will make it clear within a few minutes if they are available. Do not use and abuse but beware, you are likely to become the victim. You cannot leave a permanent rental quickly. Use Translate on your mobile to translate and learn Thai.it is a very difficult language. I should have gone to the Philippines where the writing is in English (Roman Numerals). The language is part local, part Spanish, part English. Few Thais speak English.

[@bobjuniel8683]

Kevin Waters Food is a major problem. I like Thai restaurant food in Australia, but local Thai food is different. It is difficult to know what you are eating. Tourist centres like Pattaya and Chiang Mai have a few good western food restaurants, not cheap but good. You will get tired of KFC and Mac Donald’s. Wine is very expensive, 3 times the price in Australia and generally very bad. It’s beer or whiskey. Drink J&B rare, Ballantine s, Dewars not the local. Blend is OK occasionally but not in quantity. Drugs are dangerous, you do not want to be in a Thai jail. Pattaya has big shopping centres where you can buy western small goods and decent bread. Google Irish Pub, British food, French, Italian, Indian. New Zealand, Australian..

[@bobjuniel8683]

Kevin Waters travel light. A smart phone is essential, and I like a tablet with true WiFi and international calls. This means you can watch KZbin and use the internet. I live here and so iI have a 65” 4K TV with Apple TV, using my tablet to select but watching You Tube and internet on full screen with good sound. Oh, never get married, never live with a Thai woman. Read that 3 times. If you are single, be single. As I understand it, de facto marriage laws only apply if their are children involved. Travel light, Cheap Thai silk shirts are coolest and do not need ironing. Polaroids are cheap, hats, caps are sold everywhere. Sandals and slip ons are the norm here. I need to wear good shoes and socks. Shorts are worn everywhere by foreigners but upper class Thais wear trousers to work and in air conditioned environments. If you travel around one case is almost too much. Chemists are like GP medical doctors. Tell them your symptoms and they prescribe the medicine. I recommend the Bangkok Hospital which has private hospitals in many towns. thethaiger.com advertises hospital/medical insurance for foreigners. I have not tried them. The Thaiger has a news in Thailand website in English. I chose Thailand because I believe Thailand is safer than the Philippines, but avoid travelling south of Surat Thani unless you fly direct to Phuket. Phuket is expensive and the tuk tuk mafia spoil the atmosphere. I’m not really a night club man. I live in a quiet country town. Cook western food at home. Like to draw and paint. Bars an bars girls will make you boozed and broke. You need an interest. Play pool? Oh, do not gamble, never road rage. When trouble starts some Thais ... Be prepared to say, it was great fun, but I am ready for a change, and move on. Have Fun.

[@peten409]

I'd need 3k a month which isn't for food transport or accomodation or drinking.

[@chuck5555]

💯 😂🍻

[@geoffreyholliday1971]

For the red light district lol

[@hermancane9224]

@@geoffreyholliday1971 3000k!!!! Are you getting a lady everyday...Geeze lol

[@LiveMyAssOff]

i probably spend ~$3000/month. more if I explore more. i don't go to Thailand (or anywhere, for that matter) to just sit around and count my pennies. if i want something, i buy it. its a good life.

[@Keyframe5]

$3000/month = baller :D

[@LiveMyAssOff]

@@Keyframe5 LOL. Hardly, When you're 49, I am sure you won't think so... What's "comfort" for some is "necessity" for others.....

[@r.s.334]

@@LiveMyAssOff 54 here and I agree. If you plan it right and get a free breaks life is good.

[@siamiam4306]

As I consider the move, or partial yearly stay in Thailand, I appreciate these type videos from all perspectives. My plan includes also living outside Bangkok and about, for three month intervals............ At the same time, I'm witnessing a systematic crackdown against western ex-pats. ....... I'm also fine with just living there three months out of year.

[@Roof_Pizza]

Curious how much you saved being 'Thai'. I went to a fight in Phuket where the price was, I dunno, 500 for me and free for a Thai. I didn't stay and just did something else.

[@01DOGG01]

Wow man. You're living super cheap! I don't know how you're doing it with the food. I eat mostly Thai. But I'll buy some imported goods but not alot. I do order alot though. Used to use foodpanda (free delivery right now) but LINE man is a much broader service and operates when foodpanda doesn't. You do need to know Thai (menu not the app) or get a Thai to translate for you. Entertainment. Amazingly cheap! Many will spend that in one night, excluding any lady friends. I don't drink in bars but I like the 200 baht German beer from 7. Your power and water seem a little expensive. You probably should've mentioned the water heaters. They add to the cost. I pay 300 baht or less water and 3000 or less power. And I use alot. There's 6 aircon units here but only 3 are used. Not all the time though. Visas... Asides from the visas you mentioned, there's VIP visas. 20 years for example, for 2 million baht and 20,000 yearly. Comes with limo service and other benefits. Transport is way low as well. You must not go places alot or you do shitloads of walking. Even taking motorbike taxis (at fair prices) can add up. Rent. This is the biggest one. If you want a good deal, you have to know a Thai who can find you one. Foreigners will NEVER find a good deal by themselves. I rent a 2 storey house in Lat Yao, which is next door to your apartment. The property is about 625 square meters. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, various other rooms, outdoors maids rooms as well, big yard, in a secured community, very quiet, for 15,000 per month. I looked on various sites on the internet and could only find 30 to 35 square meter apartments for the same price. For anyone living in BKK right now, AIS is offering fibre installation for only 650 baht. 799 per month for 200/50 megabits. Great deal! The worst thing that I've encountered in Thailand is a tick infestation (2 dogs). You have to go to extreme measures to get rid of them. I've been battling them for weeks now and am finally winning the war.

[@jamesspignesi1]

Foreigners will NEVER find a good deal for themselves ???? Maybe learning the language might help. Every rental i have found for myself and every time a great deal. My Thai partner could do no better.

[@01DOGG01]

@@Keyframe5 Yeah, there's various VIP levels, but 2 million is a lot I agree. If you have the money though, it's a hassle free way of residing on a long term basis or going in and out without worry. The house and property is big by Thai standards yes. I don't want to let go of it lol.

[@01DOGG01]

@@jamesspignesi1 Well, is that in a smaller city or in BKK? I think that you're likely to pay more as a foreigner in Bangkok in a face to face negotiation. The best deals can be found by looking around physically for advertisments, or enquiring with the security for a neighbourhood, for example. You'd never find the house I'm in for rent on the internet. It's actually on the market for 20 or 25 million, I forgot which one. But I've been renting for 2 years now and there's been 0 interest. Maybe they took it off the market, I have no idea. Also by 'foreigner', I'd meant non-Thai speakers mainly. Most foreigners can't speak the language, or have a fairly limited understanding of it. I only understand a minute amount. But the landlords are rich and travel abroad, their English is good.

[@01DOGG01]

@cloudzinmyize You can get all kinds of sprays. You have to know which chemicals to use and which sprays contain specific ones. I struggled to find diffusers/smoke bombs/fog bombs/bug bombs/foggers/whatever you wanna call them. When I finally did, they were mostly useless for the ticks. Basically, you use a cocktail of chemicals on your house/yard, feed your dogs pills, and wash them in tick shampoo, as well as manually removing ticks daily. It takes a lot of time, dedication, and patience. Took me almost a month to eradicate the infestation. They were absolutely everywhere! The problem is how they come in waves incessantly. If some survive and reproduce, the numbers will be back to insane levels in no time. It's not a matter of just spraying once, and treating/washing the dogs. Those ticks are unbelievably resilient and rapidly reproducing.

[@therevolution91]

Bangkok is actually really expensive compared to Eastern Europe. I lived there 5 months & I simply wouldn‘t recommend it.

[@reggiedoe7684]

Nicolas Balint where in Eastern Europe? What was your cost of living?

[@therevolution91]

Reggie Doe In Kryvyy Rih, Ukraine & Bansko, Bulgaria. (183 days rule) Like this you save the most globally. 😜 🤝 (ask, if you want to know more: I live from € 2 000.-/ m like the real 👑 of The Darkness like this!!!) But the cost of living are significantly lower than in Thailand!!! (globalisation & post communism) In Ukraine almost everything is nearly for free so to speak.

[@stevedom1]

40% increase in cost of living since january due to weak pound & strong Baht + increase on Thai prices at 1% a month, more on some western goods like butter. Now impossible to talk about Thailand as a cheap holiday destination. It is in fact more expensive than UK in some areas.

[@WHERESSS]

this is crazy, how little it can cost to live in such an awesome city. I went to Bangkok twice this year. I spent an average of 12k per day including hotel but not flights. And no, this is not a "paid companionship" trip. This amount sounds crazy, but it is a bargain for what I got. In big Western cities this budget would ONLY cover the hotel room. I don't spend like this on a regular basis, so comparing to your daily living costs isn't much of a comparison. But for this amount, I drank like crazy, took overpriced cabs, stayed in 5 star hotels, and all the expensive touristy stuff like private boat rides, bottle service, tipping gogo strippers and buying them drinks, steak houses, pretty much anything and everything I wanted. Considering 6k of that 12k per day was hotel, its really cheap. Some days I only spent 1 or 2k, other days 10k. Even more so if you compare what the experience of a 6k per night hotel is like in bangkok compared to a $400 a night hotel in New York. (Hint: there is no comparison, five star hotels in Bangkok are way better than their much more expensive counterparts in big cities of the West) If you're used to living in city center in a city like London or New York, you obviously have a certain lifestyle and I just can't see coming to Bangkok and adjusting to lower than 100k a month coming from these big Western cities. Luxuries in Bangkok cost just as much as in the West, except rent is a TON cheaper. The difference in rent alone can fund a lavish lifestyle in Bangkok. But if you cut out the drinking and all the touristy stuff, I'd imagine a Westerner from a big city used to certain amenities and luxuries here and there can get by on about 1500 baht a day, not including rent and still live damn well.

[@yoyoyo3531]

So on average that's about £300 a day, I'm sure you had an amazing time. I went for around a month and spent around half the amount you did per day. I agree with you too about 5 star hotels, compared to other big cities around the world. Like you said no comparison at all for what you pay and get.

[@ThailandBound]

Just wondered if the budget included visas and Healthcare?

[@r.s.334]

Watch it

[@msachillefs]

I do like to ask you a question, if I visit Thailand for one month can I visit Vietnam for one week and then come back to Thailand to finish my 1 months vacation in Thailand? In advance thank you for your help !!!

[@totalpkg6912]

we are the same

[@ZZ-xo8wb]

I don't see anywhere to contact you and get in touch. Is there a way?

[@tomcat8978]

Where do you find this exchange rate for baht to US$? Does not sound like recent information.

[@willyjimmy8881]

Google, EU Central Bank, Bing. Plenty of places online to get daily exchange rates.

[@CheCosaTesoro]

Thailand is over for cheap travel. Most people's viewpoint of Thailand is out of date. Its now a major manufacturing hub for cars and digital technology. The THB will remain strong. But also the country is heavily polluted, less friendly and still focus on ripping of foreigners. Before if you got ripped off it wasn't that bad, even a joke, as the value in most currencies was manageable. Now it's expensive. Plus foreigners rights are low. Now visa and accommodation registration are getting more complicated. It's over folks. Even if you have money, it's still complicated. Better bet.....Malaysia.

[@pfranks1752]

800 USD/mo. does not include the rent, right? It's a nice VDO, Thank you!

[@blackcharvel]

I like your vid , Why u can speak thai good sound👍??

[@Travelsity]

i lived 20k baht/month mostly ez

[@googleuser8196]

"I'm a very boring person to hang around with" 55555

[@civivva4501]

Hello are you me? 😂

[@serfingsushi3607]

Cheap farang. 800 dollars is nothing for average Thai.

[@zeus9931]

$ 800 means survival, but certainly not life

[@Keyframe5]

I used to spend $3000 a month in Toronto Canada. And to me that was surviving. This video is not about showing off that one can live like a pimp.

[@mariadoevzky6376]

Bangkok is a great city...if you're a rat.