Wednesday, January 21, 2009

How much would it cost to live in Thailand for a year

How much would it cost to live in Thailand for a year?
If I wanted to live in Thailand for a year how much would it cost? I would probably rent a house in the south like koh pangan or koh phi phi. I don't need anything too fancy but not dirt cheep. Something that is fairly clean and has hot water. I come from a middle class family but can rough it a little. I would want to rent a scooter as well. This would be U.S. dollars. Any estimates?
Thailand - 9 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
I don't know about Ko Pangan or Koh Pipi because I live in Pattaya but I can tell you the rental prices here. A 100cc motor bike costs from 150 to 200 baht per day. A 500cc motor bike costs about 500 baht per day. A one bedroom town house costs about 10,000 baht per month to rent. a 2 bedroom detached house costs about 20,000 baht per month to rent. You can easily get the exchange rate. Google it.
2 :
Koh pangan is the gulf of Thailand side i think every thing such as a food , cost of rent a house ect. would be cheap than Koh Phi Phi which is andaman side.
3 :
You have to figure out how to stay in Thailand for a year if you are not working for a company or not of retirement age. Thai Visa Forum can help you out too. http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showforum=1 http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showforum=2 You also have to plan on how you will receive money to support yourself. I have a credit union checking account that also has a MasterCard debit card affiliation. My pensions go to that account in my country and I can make withdrawals via ATM in Thailand. That credit union also pays for my overseas ATM withdrawal charges. In Thailand you can take out 10,000 baht at one time per day (my account anyway.) Plan ahead of time how you will have access to spending money even if you have to open up new accounts. You need to figure out how much you can afford per month to live overseas and then make the accommodation and extras fit that budget! Good luck.
4 :
It would probably be cheaper to buy a scooter 35,000 baht and at the end of the year give it to a friend
5 :
Try $1,500 to $2,000 a month.
6 :
oh - you can do it ok for $1,000 a month - or even less - buy a used scooter - sounds like you have been here - - do the math..
7 :
i think it will be easier for u to live in thailand without any hesitations and can easily find a work too since you are a native speaker that is if u intend to work then it willl be more easy for you to support your living there for one year and at the same time enjoying your long time holiday.....go first so u will come to know it.
8 :
I'd like to have something like 2.5 million baht after tax.
9 :
Hmm, tricky one. I would budget around $1000 a month, so $12,000 for the year. Living in Thailand always tends to be more expensive than people think it's going to be. When I stay in Thailand I usually budget 70,000 Baht a month, but I tend to stay in Bangkok and like to travel a lot too. A friend of mine lives in a really nice apartment in the suburbs of Bangkok and pays only 7,000 Baht per month - I usually end up paying around 25,000 Baht per month, so location is all important. I'm not up to date on prices on those islands you mention but I would be interested to know! To be honest it all depends on what you are planning to do - for example if you plan on taking a lot of dive trips that will push the price up a bit. There's some info on the cost of living at the link below that you might find useful.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Where is the best place to live in Thailand

Where is the best place to live in Thailand?
My wife and I are planning on moving to Thailand January 2012. I will most likely be working in Bangkok (I speak Thai) and my wife would like to teach English (she doesn't speak Thai). We would like to be somewhere thats within 30 minutes of bangkok that has a fairly good country feel. We would also like to rent a house. Any suggestions on where to live? Should we get a car over there? Thanks
Thailand - 7 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Public transport is good and reasonable but if you like to get away on weekends, a car is a good idea. Bkk is a really sprawling city - - If you are going to be working in Bkk I would put an emphasis on what you will need to do for a commute and then start shopping for a place to stay from there - - during rush hour, depending on your mode of transport & place of work - 30 minutes might only be ten blocks from your office - no kidding.
2 :
The general rule in Bangkok is to stay as close to your place of employment as possible. It's a nightmare getting to work and back. I have been in traffic in Bangkok and traveled only about 1 or 2 km in 30 minutes. Sometimes you don't move at all. I lived in Nonthaburi to the NW of the city, about 30 to 60 minutes from the city center, depending on transport. That had a very rural atmosphere. There were still green field with animals to be seen, temples etc. It's was better than living in the city but a nightmare to get to the city. House prices there were also very much cheaper than in the city. Most teachers I knew (including myself) bought trucks, not only for getting to work etc but also because some of the roads, especially in rural areas are not made for cars. Also they are quite strong in the event of an accident. I drove in Bangkok but it's not something I would advise. I came from Africa so I was used to a cowboy style of driving where there are no road rules. People do not obey the rules of the road and driving conditions can be quite chaotic and always very scary. Public transport is excellent and you really won't need a car
3 :
Ayuthia the old capital is very nice but it is about 1 1/2 hours away from Bangkok.Old ruins and no bargirls.
4 :
I would try Thonburi or Wong Wiang Yai area. http://bangkok.sawadee.com/skytrain.htm West of the Wong Wiang Yai station of the BTS skytrain. There are few tall buildings and more open air. It has more of a country feel. My friend drove me through that area after visiting her house and it has a small town feel. I know there is a small mall in the area cause I met someone there. So it has all the modern conveniences and fewer people. Though there is still traffic. hahaha Take a taxi to minimize your liability to problems, may cost only USD 1-2 each way or 35-60 baht
5 :
You will have no choice you need to live in Bangkok and not far from your job, unless you want to spend 1 to 2 hours a day going to and from work. Traffic during rush hours can be hell, especially when schools are open. I would recommend somewhere in Thonburi to live also, close to the sky train or river so you can get transportation to work. Remember when renting you will need to have a lease, and pay 3 months advance. I used to live in Thonburi but no where close to the sky train. Only transportation was the bus which took 45 minutes to an hour just to get to the sky train so I could take that into the inner city. Yes I would get a car if you are planning to live here. Just wait a while and see how they drive here and learn the routes around the area before you make the final decision. It's good to have a car to get out of the city during the weekends and holidays.
6 :
For sure live in Bangkok people who lived there and moved out are wusses coz they cant handle the traffic or whatever take no notice of them Its perfect and you are most welcome to live here and join us By the way my friend its actually called Krung Thep Maha Nakhon thats the Thai name other answers people here just make fake accounts for whatever reason I dont know too much time on there hands or 1 hand in the case below lol Just coz they are top means Jack ok ask me anytime I am the one who knows everything and can sort you out anytime We love the Americans here btw
7 :
My boyfriend ,,,,, top contributor below is right what he writes here you will spend 1 to 2 hours a day going to and from work. Traffic during rush hours can be hell, especially when schools are open. listen to his advice he is so knowledgable see you later honey and kiss for you ok

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

How much does it cost to live in Thailand

How much does it cost to live in Thailand?
Hi, how much does it cost to live in Thailand ? How long would 10000 pounds last ? I realise theres a lot involved, just wondered if anyone has done it, anyone from the UK live there and knows what its like ?
Thailand - 7 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
I'm from U.S. and have lived in Thailand 4 years. The cost of living is similar between U.S. and U.K. 10,000 pounds is about $20,000. A single Thai could live 3-4+ years very comfortably. I could stretch it into 2 years but be very uncomfortable doing it. One year would be a lot easier for me, if I had to.
2 :
I know one who's been living in a Thai province for just under USD 800 per month including visa trips. However, this involves limiting himself to two meals per day and no partying. According to what I hear, most English teachers in Thailand live for less than USD 1,500 per month, but that is obviously not a life in luxury. So, don't expect/plan spending anything less that GBP 1,000 per month as you'll also have to consider costs related to renewal of your visa.
3 :
We all want to live in LOS, but it needs to be well planned and depending on what you will do day in day out this will have an impact on your money. If you visit bar after bar it will melt like snow in the sun.... However think on making money while youu are there and then maybe you can start with the following site.... it will tel you anything you need to know to be legaly in LOS and make money
4 :
There's a big range here. If you're working (or living off savings) here and have a modest apartment, like eating local, cheap food, limit drinking in (relatively) pricey pubs and clubs, and don't mind taking the bus every so often you can get by fine. I'm no hermit but 10,000 quid could probably keep me here for a couple years! If you need all the creature comforts and the life of Reilly, as some of my friends do, like posh digs, fish n chips, burgers, etc, popular expat pubs, popular Thai clubs, regular trips to Pattaya, big shopping, etc, etc, then you're looking at maybe 8 months. And then there's everything in between. I know its obscure but hope it still helps. Regardless, you'll have a great time down here.
5 :
Hehehe...how long's a piece of string? I would say the minimum is around 35,000 baht per month. I actually recommend 70,000 baht per month but then I do like to live in a fairly nice apartment. The one I normally rent has 24hr security, swimming pools, laundry, maid, restaurants, top floor and all mod cons. It all depends on how frugally (or not) you want to live. Also depends on where you are going to be living: BKK or somewhere else. Check out the resource below, I've written quite a few articles on this topic.
6 :
some here must live a very luxury life here, I have a good life here with everything I had in the west and live on well less then 1,500 us dollars a month. and most teachers here outside of those who work at international schools makes about 1,000 us dollars a month. i think some need to get out more and see what life is really like.
7 :
$3.60 a day

Thursday, January 1, 2009

What animals in Thailand live in the mountains

What animals in Thailand live in the mountains?
I'm doing an article about pollution in Thailand, and I wanted to do a bit about how pollution drifting up from Bangkok threatens animals that live in higher elevations. Can anyone give me one or two animals that live in the mountains of Thailand so I can reference them for my article? Thanks.
Zoology - 1 Answers
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1 :
Goral , common name is Chinese Goral( Species: Naemorhedus griseus) Found especially in steep mountains of northern region such like Doi Inthanon, Doi Monjong, Doi Chiangdao etc. http://www.siamensis.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/webboard_preview/goral16.jpg Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa ) and Serow (Capricornis sumatraensis) found on mountaintop such like Huai Kha Kaeng Wildlife Santuary (Uthaithani Province) etc. Clouded Leopard http://nationalzoo.si.edu/SCBI/ReproductiveScience/ConsEndangeredCats/CloudedLeopards/images/cover_cloudedleopard2.jpg Serow http://nimg.sulekha.com/others/original700/thailand-serow-2009-12-3-4-40-35.jpg (Goral and Serow are two out of fifteen in the list of preserved animals of Thailand.) Hope I helped.