This is Part 4 of the “Foundationology of Migrationology” series.
My apartment in Bangkok, Thailand
I’m going to be honest, I don’t live in a luxurious apartment nor do I drive a Mercedes (or drive anything other than my laptop).
I do however live in a safe and quiet neighborhood, enjoy quite speedy internet (most of the time), and dine on world class Thai street food – everyday!
I live in an a studio single bedroom apartment that’s shared among a few in-and-out permanent nomads. It’s more of an open studio room with pads, a place for any of us to crash for the night.
Our apartment complex is brand new, it is clean, in a safe neighborhood on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand.
We are blessed with a huge fresh food market about 5 minutes away and an overwhelming supply of Thai street food that never gets boring.
Here’s my budget cost of living in Bangkok for a month:
I normally pay half the rent – we split these monthly expenses. We have NO hot water and NO kitchen, just a single room, a bedroom, bathroom and a small balcony.
Balcony in Bangkok
- Studio Apartment Rent – $108 (3300 THB)
- Internet – $13.10 (400 THB)
- Water – $2.95 (90 THB)
- Electricity – $6.88 (210 THB)
Total Apartment = $131.36 (4000 THB) split by 2 = $65.53 each
- Transportation – $29.57 (903 THB)
- Food – $125.66 (3837 THB)
- Mobile Phone – $13.09 (400 THB)
- Entertainment (Going out) – $23.25 (710 THB)
- Misc – $27.84 (850 THB)
Total Everything Else = $219.53 (6700 THB)
Grand Total = $285.06
(2000 + 6700 = 8700 THB)
1. Internet (400 THB) – $13.10
I pay for the internet by computer, the price is 200 THB per computer per month. It’s apparently an 8 mb connection, but upload speeds are closer to an 1/8 of this. I’m not complaining, for everything I need to do, it’s quite sufficient.
2. Water (90 THB) – $2.95
My apartment has NO hot water. I do take showers, flush the toilet and wash a few dishes here and there. Our apartment is on the 5th floor and the water pressure isn’t too strong (could this be a water saving blessing?).
3. Electricity (210 THB) – $6.88
I’ve never used the air-condition, and my body has adapted to the tropical humid degrees in Bangkok. There’s a fluorescent light in the main room and a small bulb in the bathroom. My computer and a pair of speakers are connected most of the time. I also power a water heater for coffee and two small fans.
4. Transportation (903 THB) – $29.57
My apartment is not located in the center of Bangkok, but it’s only about 10 km away. I don’t live directly on the convenient inner city train links (BTS or MRT), but I live about a 5 minute walk from a bustling major street with cheap buses that flow past constantly and very frequently. I can be to the center of Bangkok in 30 minutes with no traffic.
Buses in Bangkok cost 6.50 THB at the lowest, up to around 20 THB for a ride on buses that take the expressway and use air-con. An average bus costs me 8 THB, old clankers with character and open windows.
Typical all-out dinner in Bangkok
Fruit in Bangkok
5. Food (3837 THB) – $125.66
I guess from my budget, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out what my passion and priority is; I love to eat. Thai street food is what I dine on 9 times out of 10, but there are the occasions when I make involuntary culinary purchases that comprise of either international cuisine or some kind of classy dining.
For breakfast I eat a selection of tropical fruits and usually supplement them with some oatmeal (don’t like it too much, but it’s cheap, healthy and filling). I then go into feasting mode, often dining on som tam (green papaya salad) and sticky rice for lunch and branching into an extensive street food smorgasbord for dinner. I try not to eat an entire roasted fish by myself every evening, but I do almost every other night. Check out how much food you could eat for $10 in Bangkok!
I do buy water, fill up bottles of filtered water for 1 THB / liter. Usually costs me less than 100 THB per month.
So even though food is cheap, it happens to be my biggest cost of living in Bangkok.
6. Mobile Phone (400 THB) – $13.09
I buy scratch cards to load money onto my mobile phone. I do talk on the phone a fair amount (with my girlfriend), but calls made to the same mobile phone supplier at night are very cheap (I think it’s less than 1 THB / minute).
7. Entertainment (710 THB) – $23.25
My girlfriend is not a big party goer or drinker, and I guess one could say that that is a great thing for my budget. I do go out to meet friends at night on occasion (perhaps once per week), but I don’t go crazy. I tend to just hang out with friends, relax, and chill out.
My entertainment budget is low due to the fact that I consider food as my premiere form of entertainment. I guess one could say that I would prefer to drop $3 on a massive stomach pleasing lavish meal (including an entire grilled fish) than a single bottle of beer.
8. Miscellaneous (850 THB) – $27.84
Soap, Tylenol, toothpaste, a photocopy – I don’t really know, but there are always a few unexpected random things that need to be purchased and it can fluctuate differently every month.
Do I live a deprived life?
On the opposite spectrum of deprived, I consider myself very well-off. I have yet to be dirty, lose sleep, or even come close to being denied of food.
Here are a few random things I do without breaking the budget:
- visit a local floating market
- meet fellow bloggers
- hang out with friends
- walk around local Thai markets
- go on a trip with a local Thai family for the Songkran festival
- discover things like Bangkok’s best fruit shake
- devour Bangkok street food
This budget cost of living in Bangkok, Thailand, is just a taste of living possibilities. I understand that we all have differing priorities, lifestyle comforts, wants and needs – but if you really want to make something happen, it’s feasible.
We each have our own levels of comfort and it doesn’t need to be compared to others.
No matter what anyone else says, I know I’m living like a VIP for $285.06 per month.
I’d love to hear your questions or comments below.
————————————————————————————————————————————————-
This is Part 4 of the Foundationology of Migrationology series.
Don’t miss the next article (2 August 2011): Migrationology: Living With Future Intentions
Enter your e-mail below to sign up for my (FREE) monthly newsletter to get more long term travel tips and advice on how to live a life to pursue your passions.
Stay tuned for the next articles in the series!
- 5 July 2011: How Failing the SAT Helped Me Make Enough Money to Travel the World
- 12 July 2011: 7 Simple (but Effective) Strategies to Save Money to Travel
- 19 July 2011: Migrationology: The Sustainable Way to Travel Long-Term
- 26 July 2011: How To Live Like a VIP in Bangkok for $285.06 Per Month
- 2 August 2011: Migrationology: Living With Future Intentions
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It looks great, especially for someone who is out and about most of the time. What an amazing budget! Thanks for the inside peek!
Thanks Paulo!
It’s awesome to see your breakdown like this. I don’t know if I could live without frequent hot showers (they’re my guilty pleasure), but other than that I wouldn’t mind living like a VIP either.
Christy @ Technosyncratic recently posted..San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge
Thanks Christy. Sometimes I know a hot shower would really be nice, but when I start dreaming, I just jump in the shower and get it over with – I can also go to a friend’s house with warm water!
I must admit that I am now of an age and comfort level in life where I do not need to deny myself some pleasure, but I admire your honesty in detailing what life can be like in Southeast Asia – especially a cosmopolitan city s/a Bangkok for less money than a hostel in the USA. Having recently returned from SE Asia (I am a travel writer) and having traveled extensively on a budget – staying in hostels, apartments and budget hotels at my “advanced” age – you are correct! Travel, adventure, decent living standards and good food can be had in many areas of the globe without credit cards. Good for you!!! (PS: I too would miss a hot shower – well maybe a “warm” shower considering Bangkok’s humidity, but A/C at night ….to sleep….?)
Thanks for the comment Marc!
I do remember when I first arrived in Bangkok, trying to sleep with no AC and waking up all sweaty. Now I think my body has really adjusted to the temperature, I don’t ever wake up hot or sweaty at night anymore – I normally even need a sheet in Bangkok! Some parts of Bangkok in the central areas can be quite expensive, but if you just get off the normal Bangkok trail you can immediately locate much cheaper options for almost everything. Thanks for reassuring your expertise on the budget!
Oh Mark stop tempting me to go over there!
ayngelina recently posted..Into the wild
Come through! We have a lot of porky eating to do!!!
Great details, Mark! I’m sure many of your readers are going to be checking airfares to Bangkok right now.
I wish I knew how cheap it could be to live in Bangkok when I was single. Now I have a family, I need more rooms so I can shut the door and have a bit of quiet time. I don’t think that would cost so much more, though.
Thanks!
Yah, for a little more you could definitely get a bigger place in Bangkok to accommodate a family. In Bangkok, as soon as you get off the main routes and step into the more “local” zone, the cost of living goes way down. I’m trying to save as much money as I can now, so I can start a family too eventually!!
This is something I’ve been thinking about for a while. How do you get started?
Hey Jug, thanks for stopping by.
While I was in university, traveling and living overseas was my goal. I saved for the years that I was in university by selling things on e-bay and by working a full time job (check this article: http://migrationology.com/2011/07/how-failing-the-sat-helped-me-make-enough-money-to-travel-the-world/).
You don’t need a lot of money to get started – I had a bout $8000 to my name when I left from the states 3 years ago, but you could definitely do it on less. The first step that I did was just buy my plane ticket and then find small ways to keep going and keep living.
Check out the rest of the articles in this series of posts, and I hope you can get some more tips. I will also be publishing more articles with regards to getting started traveling.
Good luck with everything Jug and feel free to ask me more questions!
Thanks for sharing your breakdown! It’s interesting to see it all lain out.
Although you’re right that you can’t really compare as everyone has different preferences and standards, I must admit I was curious how yours was so much lower than mine in Saigon! I’m pretty similar with some choices – taking the bus, not drinking a lot, preferring street food but my location priorities are different. I choose to pay a premium for living in the centre but for me that offsets what I’d pay for (in both time and money) getting home once the buses stop at 8pm.
Ruth recently posted..Beginning to pick up local customs
Cool, thanks for sharing Ruth!
Awesome that you are living in Saigon now. I’ve visited Hanoi but never been to Saigon – must be an exciting place. Do you enjoy living there?
Yes, totally right though, we all have our individual preferences and we definitely need to do what is most comfortable and what we can personally handle. Convenience, safety, or other variables should also be contributing factors that make up our lifestyle/living conditions!
Saigon is very different to Hanoi. I love both cities but Saigon is a bit more cosmopolitan (though a little less cultured) so it’s a fun place to live. Its reputation as a foodie city seems to be mostly about the diverse restaurants, though that’s not definitive as I’m still exploring!
Ruth recently posted..Beginning to pick up local customs
Keep exploring and keep checking out those restaurants! Hope you continue to enjoy your time in Saigon!
Have to love the prices in Southeast Asia! As a budget traveler Mark, kudos to you for this one!
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No problem, thanks for taking a look Jeremy!
Great break down Mark! I guess VIP is all perspective on what you want and how you want to live. Its the things that matter to you the most like spending money on a good meal verses a bottle of beer. So of the four people you and your girlfriend are two of them of is it you and 3 other nomads?
Thanks Kirk!
Exactly, living like a VIP is one’s personal choice, attitude and being comfortable with the level of comfort. In my apartment, it’s just myself and one other buddy of mine who teaches English full-time. My girlfriend lives in a separate apartment!
This breakdown is great and I’m sure will inspire more than a few people to join you! I too am at the age where I need a little more comfort but that does seem to be a reasonable option too.
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Thanks Debbie,
Even living with a a few more comforts in Bangkok is still very reasonable – I definitely understand!
Wow! You are definitely living the good life. Comparing this to my budget in Buenos Aires makes me want to cry a little.
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It’s alright Stephanie!!
I lived in Buenos Aires for about 3 months a few years ago and I think I paid about $250 USD per month for a room in a shared house. Even though your budget might be a bit higher, I know you are creating incredible lasting experiences there!
I had such a terrible time last summer because it was SO HOT! I was always sweating and felt like I had trouble breathing. But this summer I don’t think it’s so hot and I don’t sweat much at all. I never thought it would happen, but I guess I’ve adjusted!
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That’s so cool to hear that Laura! It’s amazing how one’s body really does adjust to a climate after some time.
I don’t even notice the heat or sweat of Bangkok at all anymore!
Thinking of living in South East Asia for a few months (haven’t decided where yet), so very useful post this. USD 285 pr month – twice or three times that with a child, perhaps? But even so… incredible!
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Great to hear that Sophie!
Yah, you can definitely get an upgraded nicer apartment for $200 – $300 in Bangkok / month, and with a child there might be a few more miscellaneous costs. I think 3 times the budget I’m on might be a reasonable guess. Hope to meet you someday in this part of the world!
Do you know Got Passport? They are great friends of mine and recently published an article about a family of 3 living in Chiang Mai: http://www.gotpassport.org/2011/07/09/the-cost-of-living-in-chiang-mai-for-our-family-of-three/
Mark, this is highly informative post. I think some of the key components of your tips are living on the outskirts & giving up a few amenities. Thai street food is probably the best I’ve ever had in Asia & why would ANYBODY ever need to have a hot water shower in Thailand
I’m guessing it’s probably cheaper to eat out than to cook at home (it is in Korea) which obviously negates the needs for a kitchen. Furthermore, the budget you’ve given (as low as it is) would be more than what an average Thai person spends meaning you’re living quite well relative to others for under $300 a month.
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I agree Samuel, I think Bangkok in particular has a mix of the best food in the world. Not only can one find Thai food from every region of the country, there’s also loads of international dining options too. Yup, just like Korea, it’s cheaper to eat out here than to buy food to cook (that is unless cooking for 10 people or something like that…).
Your’re right, I think I’ve heard that an average Thai salary with a decent job is around $300 / month, and many of them have a lot more responsibility than I do at the moment (parents, kids, family etc.). It does really go to show that no matter how we live, we should always be grateful for what we do have, and not dwell on what we don’t have…
It seems the more and more I read about Thailand the more and more I want to visit. The loveable family from Got Passport live in Chiang Mai and with what you are saying about Bangkok I really want to visit there. Which may just happen if we follow through with backpacking through Asia after we hit up South America.
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Yes Cornelius, just a few weeks ago I read the budget guide from Got Passport in Chiang Mai – it was great. And they are an entire family living at a very decent budget. I think apartment rentals in Chiang Mai are actually lower on a whole than in Bangkok. Would be great if you stopped by Asia after traveling to South America!
This is really interesting. When it comes to maths I am very poor and you have calculated everything so well. The apartment looks very clean and the Street food looks really Yummy!
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Thanks Sailor!
I really like the apartment I’m staying in right now. It’s simple, just a clean floor and a few things. The street food is delicious!
Thanks for this Mark, I will be coming to Bangkok for a month in October to study Thai language and have surfed the net looking for where to get an apartment for a month. The further out is much cheaper.
Right about that Ron. If you get anywhere off the main train transport line, apartments get much cheaper. The Bangkok bus system is very good so it’s not a problem to be a few kilometers from any train station. Good luck with the search and that’s awesome that you are coming to Bangkok soon!
Appreciate you sharing this Mark. I think one of my questions would be are you able to save enough to travel outside Thailand? Second, do you have room for couchsurfers?
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No problem Grace – glad to share it!
At moment, I’m not really able to make enough money to really to travel – though I still travel with money that I made and saved up from teaching a year in English and from my previous job. I’m hoping that in the future I’ll be able to make enough to travel without using the previous savings. One of the downsides about living in a small 1 room apartments with already 2 and sometimes 3 guys is it’s quite crammed and there’s not really space to comfortably any other surfers. I’d love to if I had a bigger place and was a little more organized.
Hi Mark,
Thanks for this detailed break-down. I was only in Bangkok for a short period on my current trip, but I did spend about two months in Chiang Mai. I think on my next long(er)-term visit I’m going to try getting renting an apartment instead of staying in guesthouses.
The idea of living on less than $300 sounds depressing if you were in North America, but it just goes to show you can get a lot out of your money in other parts of the world while living and eating well!
- Lily
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Right about that Lily! For my personal style of living, my purchasing power brings a lot more value being in Asia than most other places in the world. I think the cost for living in Chiang Mai is a bit less than even living in Bangkok. If you choose to remain in a place for a month or longer it really would be worth it to rent a place instead of staying in a guest house!
Slightly misleading title
I found that a decent expat experience can be had for about $600 in Ho Chi Minh City: http://www.saigonist.com/content/cost-living-vietnam-its-really-cheap
If one were to live on the outskirts, eat only street food (which is often over-glorified), and not own a motorized vehicle, you could certainly live for half that. I mean people in Vietnam live on much less, but they’d hardly call themselves VIP!
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Hi Tomo, thanks for stopping by.
It was great to read your article about the cost of living in Saigon – I think it’s a bit cheaper to live there than in Bangkok. As for VIP status, I’ve got everything I need and I live in a safe neighborhood and dine on awesome Thai food!
Hi Mark
Dropping by from dropout diaries when I read about the excellent interview! Was really interested to know more about your site and here I am. Anyway, first and foremost… just got to say that I really do have alot of respect for you for taking the less than trodden path to travel to the other side of the world, work on freelance projects, making do with lesser pay but living the life that you’ve been dreaming of all along. That, itself, takes A LOT of courage and I cannot be more impressed by your courage to do so. Likewise, I have a lifelong dream to spend a year to travel around the world… I just started working about 2yrs back – in a job that i dread going to, especially with a new boss that works like he’s ruling north korea (lol) – and cannot wait to leave but at least same time, i do know that i will probably stick to a practical choice of finding another stable and well-paying job than to travel (yet). Nonetheless, it inspires me to read about real life stories from people like yourself and it encourages to take a step to the path i want.
On a lighter note, I’m from Singapore and Thailand is a fav country amongst many of us. Like you, i LOVE thai food (Esp tom yum! cannot resist it) so it’s awesome that you have a thai food guide.
keep it going and i look forward to reading more awesome entries from u!
Hey Steph,
First of all, thanks so much for checking out my site and for taking the time to write a comment – I really appreciate it. Cool that you found me through Dropout Diaries, I really like their blog and story.
It’s great to hear that you have set a goal for the future (to travel the world) and you are keeping that goal fresh on your mind at all times – that means that despite the difficulties, or working to save up at a job that’s not your favorite, you WILL accomplish your goal eventually and reach your dreams. Sorry to hear about you boss, but keep persevering. You can do it for sure Steph!
Awesome to hear that you are from Singapore and enjoy eating Thai food too. I’m with you and tom yum soup – I crave to eat it almost every day here in Bangkok!
Wow now that’s cheap. I live in Guatemala and just my internet is $100 a month! And I live in a 3rd world country
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Thanks for the comment Marina!
Yah, the cost of living is one of a number of reasons why I’ve remained in Asia for so long. That is a little pricey for internet, but I’m sure that you are having an incredible time living in Guatemala!
This a very helpful post for those dying to get out and live in a different country. Bangkok, Thailand would be one of my preferred places to resettle.
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Great Ted! Bangkok or anywhere in Thailand offers a relatively low cost of living and standards are still quite high. For myself, the food is luxurious and there’s no way I could eat the way I do without being in Thailand! Would be great if you wanted to resettle here!
I think what your doing is fantastic. I’ve been coming to Thailand since 2002, right now I’m up in Chiang Mai, and I know how cheap it is to live here. Living with other people in a bachelor apartment is not my thing. Hey, but street food………it’s KING. The best and cheapest food in the country is found on the street. Enjoy Bangkok, and keep telling us about the fantastic Bangkok street food.
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Thanks Nancie!
Great that you are living in Chiang Mai now – it’s another good place to live in Thailand, in many ways much more relaxing and laid back than Bangkok. The bachelor apartment definitely is not for everyone, and things will surely change for myself as well – so I’m taking advantage now before things do transition! I’m not sure if I’ve been anywhere that can beat Thai street food when comparing all variables like price, quality, cleanliness etc. Thanks for the comment!
Mark, this is an awesome post. We are headed to Bangkok in October, and I can’t wait to get back to eating and doing what I want and not feeling insanely taken advantage of. We were in Central America, basically living like kings, for 6 months, and now, after 3 months in Europe and so far almost two months in Canada, we have been shocked at the costs and holding back on everything we enjoy (food) for things like gas and sales tax. Hopefully we can met up when we get over there – it’s our first time in Asia!
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Thanks!
After living in Asia for almost 3 years now, I’m a little scared of leaving, partly because I’ll be shocked at prices in other parts of the world and partly because I still wake up everyday dreaming about what kind of Thai street food I’ll be able to eat! Great to hear that you will be coming to Asia soon, let me know and hopefully we can meet up at some point!
Hello,
Where is it you live in Asia?
Thanks,
Evan
Evan recently posted..How to Use a Squat Toilet Like a Pro
Hey Evan, I’m living in Bangkok at the moment, but I travel all around.
this is on my bucket list – eat until I’m stuffed at the food carts!! I can’t believe you can live in bangkok for less than $300!!
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Awesome Jen – you can eat street food until stuffed everyday in Bangkok!
wow, this is pretty amazing Mark! When i’m tired of traveling, i live in Bangkok (been here 8 months now) but compared to your 9000 a month budget i feel like a flash packer! I would struggle to spend less than 30,000 ($1k) minimum in Bangkok, but need 50k ($1600) to have a cool lifestyle.
Fair play, i guess laying off the booze helps alot!! :S
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Thanks Johnny!
Yah, Bangkok is a great city because it’s possible to live on a range of budgets. The central area of town really can get to be quite expensive, just doing normal things. I know that when I head into town I immediately start spending more, but living on the outskirts of town it’s really easy to get by on less (just like in rural areas of Thailand). Booze can really add up too!
Hi Mark,
I write with such envy, not that I have a less comfort apartment, but you are living a life I couldn’t get myself to do it! Thai food is my favourite food, Thai people is the nicest people, Thailand is my favourite country to travel.
You are indeed living a dream.
Thanks a lot for the comment Fui, and glad to hear that you also enjoy Thailand. I do have to agree that it’s a great country to live in, and Thai food is amazing!
Sounds good. But as I am about a billion years older than you, I’d be interested to know how much a slightly less spartan apartment would be–say, one with hot water and a few other amenities (not luxury, but something moderate). As for the street food, location etc–sounds perfect!
Nancy
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Haha, thanks Nancy!
For around the $300 – $400 / month range you can get a much nicer place in a nice apartment complex with hot water, maybe a gym and a swimming pool also! Are you planning on coming to live in Bangkok anytime soon?
Good post mate don’t think I’d want to live on that low a budget but I don’t see how it’s realistic, you never mentioned how much you pay for your Visa, no health insurance? not a good idea dude! You never go to the dentist for checkups and cleaning? You say your average meal cost in Bangkok is 42baht per mean. Eating oatmeal for breakfast and fruit yeah, but somtam and sticky rice for luck costs 30 baht leaving you 12baht not exactly VIP. Sleeping on a floor in a cheap apartment isn’t exactly VIP either. I like the idea of this article but it’s not exactly truthful.
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Hey Chris, thanks for the comment!
I didn’t mention the cost of a visa or the cost of my health insurance, but this article is meant to just cover the cost of how I live in Bangkok – when I’m here (this is not my entire living budget per month – and of course every month is unique). For visa I get a 2 month double entry visa (and up until a few months ago Thai visas were free). Now, yes, I pay 2000 THB for a double entry 2 month visa – so you add an extra 500 THB ($15) per month. As for health insurance – I don’t think it pertains to this article – this isn’t the all-inclusive living budget. I brush my teeth a lot and floss every night, so I haven’t been to the dentist in a while – though if I did go, it would be 1 time per 6 months or so (I think it’s about 400 THB per clean-up?). For food my budget was 3837 THB per month which evens out to around 128 THB per day – and if you live frugally and on the outskirts of Bangkok – this really possible! A Quaker oats 1 kilo tub is 101 THB at Tesco. But the article is definitely my personal opinion – sure sleeping on the floor isn’t everyone’s choice (my apartment came with a bed, but I took it out), but for myself it’s extremely comfortable and that’s the way I grew up. Definitely not everyone would feel like a VIP under these living conditions, but I wrote this article just to demonstrate the possibility! I’ve lived in Africa most my life, so if you compare my living conditions with lots of people in that continent, I really am privileged. The reason I used VIP in the title is because it’s such a relative term – what does it even mean?
Hey Mark,
First off, I think your blog is fantastic and you inspire me to travel and do the same!. You are truly living the dream travelling and enjoying what truly matters in life – experiences.
This post caught my attention in particular as I am looking to set myself up in a similar way, travelling through South America & South East Asia.
At this point my cash investment is returning US$406 per month. My goal is to increase this to US$500 per month (by the end of 2012), and also plan to set up an online income of around US$200 per month.
Although I would totally be up for living how you are, I think I would need to kick my standards up a notch (for the partner).
What living standards could I expect in Thailand with this kind of money? $6-700/month.
All the best in your travels,
Sam
Thanks a lot Sam – I really appreciate you checking out my articles!
This article definitely demonstrates the lower end of the possibility of living in Bangkok on a tight budget. With 600 – 700 USD per month you can go a couple steps up. I know you can rent a very decent condo in Bangkok with 1 bedroom, 1 living room, kitchen, maybe even a swimming pool and fitness gym for around the $300 – $400 per month range – so with 2 people that can be a pretty good deal. Food and entertainment is the other main expense. The more local you eat, the less expensive prices will be.
For 600 – 700 USD per month you can in my opinion live extremely comfortable!
Also, if you choose to stay in a place like Chiang Mai, prices are lower than in Bangkok.
Would each of you have a $600 per month budget?
Hey Mark,
Thanks for your reply – it is good to know the local knowledge.
My goal is to have around $1000 in passive income by 2017. and do a 6 month split in South America/South East Asia. However, right now I only have around $400, which is just for me. I would assume our expenses to be 1/3 more with two of us? (same price for accomm, transport, just a extra for food?)
To answer your question, yes, my partner would need to bring her own money to the table! Essentially we would have $500 each.
Cheers and merry Xmas
Sam
Hey man, just to let you know 8 megabits is about 1 megabytes download speed. So you should be able to download at 1Mbps or 1024Kbps.
Btw maybe we can meet up soon. I move to Thailand on the 7th of next month.
Hello Mark,
very inspiring …….
I have been to Thailand twice before, but very short visits,
3rd visit may be upcoming….it is getting cold in Canada…..
The life style you live I can identify with…..
my question is what other free lance jobs etc. you do other than teaching to
make some income.
Hey Sen,
Thanks for checking this article out.
Along with freelance writing, I’ve been doing some freelance video and also designing facebook pages for companies. I try to do a number of different things, but still trying to really figure things out. Also, I’ve written a number of e-book guides which I sell.
Hope this helps!
Mark
Hello Mark,
How often you do the visa run, do you go to Burma or Cambodia?
If I am in Thailand How often do I have to do this.
Any other way you can by pass the system.? Just wondering…..
PS: I am also a huge Durian fan. loved your post on all you can eat Durian.
Hey Sen,
It all depends on what kind of visa you have. I normally try to get a 2 month double entry visa which allows me to be in Thailand for 2 months and then I just need to stamp out and back in to Thailand and I’ve got another 2 months (Normally do this by just going to Cambodia for the day). Alternatively, you can also renew your visa for an extra month at the immigration office in Bangkok. I don’t normally do this, but it can be done. Hope this helps and glad to hear that you also like Durian!
Hi Mark,
this is great post, just what i was looking for. In The end of the year i plan to move to Thailand for at least three months and i was really looking for some actual figures regarding the costs Are this kind of rental rates generally common for this size of apartment and type of neighbourhood? I was hoping to live with 600 Eur and of course share apartment if i manage to find a room mate,
Nina
Nina recently posted..Foodie Heaven – La Boqueria in Barcelona
Hey Nina, this guide is on the low-ish side, as I am a real saver myself, but it is a picture of what’s possible. You can easily get a 1 room studio for less than $200 per month and if you are splitting an apartment with another person you can get a great place for $300 – $400 per month. You will definitely be able to live quite well for 600 EUR per month. Let me know if you need any more suggestions for recommendation!
Thank you Mark, i will bookmark you, so when the time comes closer to the end of the year i will probably have million of questions:) Wish you nice weekend,
Nina
Nina recently posted..Colombia Itinerary
Thanks Nina, you too!
“I would prefer to drop $3 on a massive stomach pleasing lavish meal (including an entire grilled fish) than a single bottle of beer.”
Such a clever attitude!!!
I’m Thai and glad to see you enjoy staying here. There’re many things in your blog that I haven’t known, especially how to live with just less than $300/month in Bangkok. So coooool!!
Hehe, thanks so much for the comment and for checking out my articles Chira! When you start comparing the food you can get for the same amount as beer, it really puts things in perspective…
Hi Mark
Its Eddie again from Karachi Pakistan
Hope youre doing okay:):)
Your emails always make me very hungry.
Would love to meet up with you and try out some street food.I normally stay at The Bedroom Boutique Hotel next to Onut BTS.
Any cheaper but just as new hotel u can recommend?
Do you live far from Onut??
Regds
Eddie
Hey Eddie,
Are you in Bangkok now? I’m actually going to be traveling soon but send me an e-mail to let me know how long you’ll be in Bangkok.
Good to hear from you.
Mark
Hi Mark,
Great filosophy you’re living! Your articles on living and eating in Bangkok have been most informative to me; thank you so much.
Kind regards,
Brian
No problem Brian, I’m glad you enjoyed this article and that it can be helpful. Thanks for reading!
Hi Mark,
I live in S.E.A. a neighboring country to Thailand and I love Bangkok . I am surprised to see that your expenses in Bangkok in less than USD300 per month. It truly inspire me and I think I am prepared to take my next step to be a traveler like you and to live in Bangkok…. You go Mark!!!!
Thanks for the message Catherine. This kind of lifestyle really is possible! Let me know how it goes and feel free to e-mail me, it would be great to hear from you.
That’s amazing Mark! I’m blown away by what all you get for so little…it’s a great way to stretch your travel experiences out.
John recently posted..The Santa Barbara Zoo – Lions and Tigers and Ocean Views, Oh My!
Thanks for taking a look at this article John. Living with a few goals call really stretch the funding!
Hah! I agree with most things, except for food allowance. Even for a Thai college student, figure on about ฿5,000.00 minimum/month, particularly since food costs have sky rocketed with the new government. Cold shower is enjoyable most of the time in Bangkok. I too was addicted with hot shower, but learned to enjoy cold invigorating shower. In winter months, you’ll be OK if shower is taken before 4pm. BTW I’m a Thai.
Haha, I’m the same way with the shower. During the winter in Bangkok I always take a shower in the midday to avoid the colder water at night. Thanks for the input!
Mark
That food looks amazing!
Do you speak Thai? I imagine the prices would be a little higher for food etc if not … Even at those prices however you are living for next to nothing!!
Duncan
Duncan recently posted..How To Get Cheap Flights Around The World
Thanks Duncan,
Yes, I can speak Thai for most practical things. For food it really depends on where you are eating, what you choose to eat and especially the location in town where you eat. Prices are really different from central areas to the outskirts as well. Thanks for checking this article out!