Living In Thailand - Where And Why

Retirees are attracted to the mild climate, pristine beaches and lower cost of living.

The total cost of living in Thailand will depend on where you choose to settle and general numbers can vary widely but Westerners have reported being able to live on $400 a month in some areas.

Living In Bangkok

Most Westerners choose to live in popular tourists areas and Bangkok, the countries capital is the main draw. Because Bangkok attracts over 11 million tourists each year, pricing for food, entertainment and accommodations is similarly priced to Western countries.

A basic apartment rental offering only a single room, fridge and air conditioning can be gotten for just a few thousand Baht. At 30,000 Baht or about $1,000 a month condominiums offer the style of living that Westerns have gotten used too, at this price range expect 2 bedroom apartments and access to a shared swimming pool.

One advantage of living in Bangkok is the ability to go without a car. The cities BTS system referred to as the Skytrain, and the MRT subway system offer reasonably priced and fast travel around the city. Taxis are also readily available.

Outside of Bangkok, Thailand has a very diverse landscape, with mountain, jungle and farmland areas. Mountains can be found in the North while lush jungles are in the south.

Living In Chiang Rai

In the north is the still somewhat undeveloped city, Chiang Rai. Chiang Rai is located in a popular tourist area but has managed to avoid becoming too industrialized.

Here apartments can be rented for around $100 a month, with furnishing while unfurnished houses are available for around the same price.

Living In Phuket

On the island of Phuket, accommodations will depend on how close you live to the Beach. Studio apartments featuring the bare necessities can be rented for around $300 a month.

You will need some form of transportation to get around and motorbikes are popular and are rented out for about $85 a month.

Other Expenses

Most budget Thailand apartments lack kitchens. Instead, you can eat from food stalls or the many restaurants available.

Street food is safe and cheap, running about 30 Baht a meal while a reasonably priced restaurant meal for four can costs around 500 baht.

Expect electricity bills to go up during the hottest months of the year, where most foreigners cannot resist turning up their air conditioners.

State of the art health care facilities are also available in Thailand and treatment can cost as little as $10.

Foreign restaurants are available but expect to pay more than you would in a local establishment.

Retirees who come to Thailand are often able to comfortably live off of their pensions and investments. Regardless of where you choose to settle, living in Thailand is still cheaper than Western standards.

Depending on your budget, you can live like royalty or practice a frugal lifestyle while saving up your money.

Read more about this topic on the following pages:

The Best Place To Retire

Thai Language - Easy or Difficult?

How To Learn The Thai Language



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