The Real Cost of Living in Rural Thailand 2023 🇹🇭

Life in Thailand can be simple.. live the life you want and not what you think you're expected to live.
Young family trying to make it work in Thailand. It's not an easy task... We will share the challenges... the up's and down's...
If you have any questions I'm probably not the best person to give you solid advice but I will answer to the best of my knowledge and anything I share i've normally heard from a thai or a well established foreigner so isn't always 100% correct.
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[@lifeinisan]

The figure does also include my car insurance which is 18k per year so I divided it by 12 and added it in same with road tax! Life in Isan Community discord link: discord.gg/sdXcEPdkG4

[@allanfahrenhorst-jones6118]

Subscribed. Yes good video. Great to see you have family. I'm Aussie, almost 70 years old. Pension doesn't go far. Been to Thailand, like it. My cousin lives there Khon Kaen. Have a happy and prosperous life. 👍❤️😇

[@MrSpaceturtle]

Im moving to Isan in a few months! Thanks for all this info!

[@cecillec2331]

Great practical insights, Drew.

[@lifeinisan]

Thank you for watching

[@NativeFarang]

Good video Drew, I just went and spent 1600 baht in Lotus buying nappies and wipes ect.. definitely adds up. We spend about £1k a month here too

[@lifeinisan]

Thanks mate, yes it certainly all adds up!

[@rickyisaan]

Good estimate Drew. Mine has been lower for a while but it'll definitely start climbing now with the twins 😅

[@lifeinisan]

Thanks mate, yes it will 100% start to climb now!

[@marwin3332]

Great honest video, dont forget wifi & mobiles, my electricity is up the same approx 2.5-3K baht as well used to be 1200 5 years ago

[@lifeinisan]

Thanks for watching, appreciate it, yes I did forget about phone and wifi though! about 1k in total!

[@Fat_Old_Bald]

Good information. I think those are good numbers for a decent lifestyle.

[@lifeinisan]

Thanks for watching!

[@paulatkinson2933]

Interesting insight into costs up north in issan Drew. Gives a good idea of what monthly income is required.Was phone/tv/internet included or would that be extra Cheers .

[@lifeinisan]

Oh dam you brought up couple things I didn't think about! Phone couple hundred baht a month and internet is 700 baht a month :) Thanks for watching

[@MichaelMyall]

Might I suggest you invest in solar? I believe 150,000 baht will get you a system to power your home 24 hours a day. This can pay for itself in 5 to 10 years. You're young... It might be worth considering. Regarding beer, personally I make homebrew (not legal but all materials are freely available!). I make Extra Special Bitter or Hoegaarden clone for around 30 baht/bottle.

[@lifeinisan]

Something I will look into at some point! Thanks for the suggestion. Oh interesting about the beer side! Thanks for watching !

[@polarbear3096]

Planning 5kW ongird system as well, definitely it's good investment, but need to know more about in/out counter and looks formalities are taking up to 6 month

[@jackmercer4244]

you are so lucky, cheers

[@jackmercer4244]

Europeans should be living like this just as well. Why not? Swej.

[@leosideofthegame]

New sub here great videos whats a truck like that cost? In the states currently a new 2023 ford ranger is 1.6 million baht.

[@lifeinisan]

Thank you for watching and the sub! It cost me 1.1million baht

[@polarbear3096]

I'm leaving in Somdet, real expenses abt 45k a month, family, 2y old daughter, one more still inside 😊. It's including supporting to her mother & father.

[@lifeinisan]

Very nice, like I said I'd round mine up to 40k. Id say we are very close :) Thanks for watching

[@KaptainKlunk1]

......YOUR A FOOL.....,

[@gymratt17]

Similar circumstances (house paid for, car paid, baby) we budget about 60k bhat a month. Pretty easy budget but the misses like to splurge on food some (helps out other family members). We are also in Isan

[@lifeinisan]

Oh nice! my spending goes up and down as well! Thanks for watching

[@Hoxton66]

Surely, that wasn't a wild macaw flying over your head. We get the pork at makro Store It tasted much nicer, makro Super Store. When I visited kalasin, the talipa fish was lovely too.

[@lifeinisan]

haha, we dont have a makro close unfortunately. Thanks for watching

[@ThePilgrimsProcess]

Great budget video Drew! Fun trip to the market as well. We are spending about 25k in the north, so not too different!

[@lifeinisan]

Thanks for watching, Wow you do really well!

[@ThailandThomas]

I don't cook much Drew. Street food about 60 baut per meal, another 60 for drinks during the day. No rent. Electric about 3000 baut a month. Insurance 3000 a month. Total for me about 8800 baut or $290 Dollars. Of course I did not count fuel, transportation or entertainments since that changes daily.. With traveling and ect I probably spend more like 30000 to 45000 baut a month because I can, but you can get by with very little.

[@lifeinisan]

Oh nice we don't really have much around us for street food a few stalls but nothing to keep us always interested so cook at home. I think you do really well! Thanks for watching another

[@chrishayes312]

The best way is to stay alone, no family, no kids, less spending! Freedom and you can enjoy Thailand! 😄👍

[@shabbos-goy9407]

yep

[@Mike_in_Thailand]

How long are your showers if you spend 400฿/month on water ? Here in rural Ubon our tap water bill is only around 40 baht per month, plus drinking water. I spend around 15-20 thousand plus another 10K for the missus. that covers the day to day groceries at Lotus and big C, plus whatever stuff she buys at the town market (or Lazada), fill up the scooter and pickup. A mix of home cooked farang food and Thai, no farang bars here to waste my money in! A few bottles of Sangsom and mixers per month, and a rare beer. Electricity this month was a whopping 696 baht...no air-con only fans. During the peak of Covid when you couldn't go anywhere and alcohol sale was banned we were spending less than 20k/month so thats about a rock bottom amount IMHO.

[@lifeinisan]

Only 4 hours a time 5555 The water was with drinking water :D that's why it was that much we still buy the bottle (maybe I made a mistake in the video do apologise! I feel thats very reasonable and matches up with a lot of people here in Rural Thailand! I wish I was like yourself with the electric and no aircon sometimes! Thanks for sharing mate much appreciated

[@kathyhirsch379]

What sort of restrictions you had in the rural areas,, any street food availability 😊

[@user-zu3jp9zo1f]

IWe spend about 20000 a month incl. car rates.So for living and food and fuel for the car and motorbike 10000.3000 Thb for electricity! So the ac runs day and night in several rooms.Rubbish at all!Not representavie!

[@2ossy]

You should have shown us which brand soy sauces you guys buy xD

[@isanBen]

Brilliant video, im thinking we could live on 30ish k, but we're not really looking much at money, I'd estimate our expenses, 1 scooter, electricity is 2 3 ACs for the whole house, yada yada, food etc, fun, yeah I'd say wrong side of 70k 😅 Cut away all the times we eat and drink in town, probably nearer 55k, includes her mom and adult sons electric, internet, water etc. Not too bad, I'd be happy to live in a rural area and grow all our veggies and herbs, but my missus says no, because her mom is getting older and im not complaining about 5 minute walk to a nice place with ice cold beers, big fans and great Thai music 😅 Oh tried hydroponics in april, remember to dig the water tank into the ground and put that green or black shade over everything, it burned so quickly in the sun, lessons learned aye 😅

[@lifeinisan]

Thanks for watching, appreciate it! Yeah I feel like it certainly can be done cheap/cheaper but just depends how you live! Sounds like you're settled in well!

[@isanBen]

@@lifeinisan absolutely yes, had my first amazing encounter with a biga** centipede in the bathroom today, caught me with my trousers around my ankles 😂 crawled right over my foot while I was reading news on the phone, I didn't know I could lift my knees and feet that high, yelp 😂 Thank God my missus is a undercover ninja, came running to save her man in distress 🥳 God I love Thailand, back "home" I had to worry about toilet paper and freezing toes, here it's never a dull moment, still no toilet snakes tho, maybe next week 😅

[@naughtynightlifeasia857]

What’s that truck? Ford Ranger?

[@lifeinisan]

Yeah ford ranger Wildtrak

[@drinkslee]

Very good that’s about right I would say great to no 👍

[@randomworld4662]

How many hours AC do you use per 24 hours?

[@lifeinisan]

AC is on like 24 hours nearly lol 1 unit

[@randomworld4662]

​@@lifeinisanif you are not married on which type of visa you are staying in Thailand?

[@lifeinisan]

I'm on Non B mate

[@mikk1332]

What's your age and where are you getting this income from to afford that? Thanks

[@lifeinisan]

I'm now 27 and I've businesses 👍 I think there's a video on the subject somewhere

[@harrydocwalkerharrydocwalk5998]

Thailand you just pay,pay,pay forever!

[@lifeinisan]

Less Less Less than home though :)

[@loveausie6301]

Everywhere everyplace in this world you have to pay pay pay. Not only in Thailand. You have to pay pay. . Wake up and see how the world is changed.

[@raymondwebb2029]

Yeah 35 to 40 a month is about right my lifestyle is similar to yours

[@fleurstark8350]

How much is monthly internet?

[@lifeinisan]

Hmm I think our Internet is 600 baht off memory

[@thesheperd7567]

I pay 1,400 for a 1 year SIM card with 24/7 fast internet at 10mbs. The only limit is don't exceed 100gb per month which for me is impossible. The SIM gives total freedom to move around.

[@andykostynowicz]

and that didnt include rent

[@porkpie8667]

I was expecting it to be alot more . When you spent alot at the market. You have a good life style. You couldn't raise a family on that in the UK

[@lifeinisan]

Certainly could raise the family on that amount! Thanks for watching

[@shivarnm]

Am 42 years old. am Vegan. I never travelled outside india. I rarely had physical relationship but i like to. I don't like hookup or hookers. I like to be in relationship with one girl . is Thailand village life good for me to find girl?

[@haysjoe7432]

Better stay in India, it's cheap than Thailand

[@rudd2962]

Understand many people are giving the gf 10 - 15k monthly allowance so that will add up ...

[@lifeinisan]

Yeah some people do that's a fair point

[@anthonydemouilpied4472]

Think you need your head feeling

[@lifeinisan]

Head testing? If so I think I do as well

[@Sheikenstien]

Bosh

[@Duncandisorderly9111]

Can I ask a question don't answer if it's too personal Why you not married I don't drink my electric average 2000 500 one month for security I live in gated community My average spend 35000 baht monthly got no health insurance just my wife and myself Won't say I'm lucky because I've worked 50 years at sea got money behind me for security don't go splashing it about

[@lifeinisan]

Thats a very good question, one I can't really answer. I just don't really see the point but I will do a village one for my partner next year

[@simonchurchley8088]

@@lifeinisan Hi Drew trust me it will make a huge difference to your Thai family. You have to think of it as like England a long time ago where it was a bit of a scandal to have a child out of wedlock. Anyhow something to think about and obviously times are changing but to the old folk of a rural Thai village they still look at things that way. Non of my business of course but just trying to help you see the Thai side of things. Your wedding day is also one of the best days of your life if you marry the right girl too :) Your pretty much all but married anyhow so Id say go for it and good luck!!!

[@eddie8pints804]

@@simonchurchley8088 Yes I agree, why should he get away without being married, he should be miserable like everyone else.

[@simonchurchley8088]

@@eddie8pints804 haha I think he is married essentially he just hasn't realised it yet :)

[@lifeinisan]

Hahah funny chat going on here and I fully understand what you're saying and I will do it, marriages not gone well in my family puts me off haha

[@tilapiadave3234]

IsAAn two "a"

[@lifeinisan]

Thais said it like "esan"

[@tilapiadave3234]

@@lifeinisan Thais don't live in IsAAn in reality the people living in IsAAn are Laos ,, they speak Lao , they love Lao Khao ,, they love Kao niaw :)

[@GalaxyJ-mr3lp]

You are lucky Thai wife