Cost of Living in Bangkok

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I have a bachelor degree and would like to find a job in Bangkok that has a decent pay but I don't have any connection there.
I'm from Malaysia and have a good command in English, Chinese and Malay, is it possible to get a job there and live moderately?

Can someone advise me or is it possible to get some connections for me to become an expat/foreigner working there?

Regarding transportation. There are some factors to consider:

Private motor car. Cost of using the toll highways can be quite costly. This can range from THB25-100 per trip depending on location and distance

For the train transportation, again a further distance would cost more. THB40, is definitely not the average per trip in Central Bangkok

My observations on the cost of living here after staying here 5 years.

Rent - 10-20KTHB/month for a small studio/1 bedroom near a train station, if you want a large western style apartment downtown you are looking at 30K+.

Transport - Taxis are still cheap with the starting fee 35 baht. The BTS/MRT lines are expanding and reach a lot of areas in the city now, so if you can deal with a long commute you can save money by travelling further down the lines to the cheaper areas. This all depends on where you work, generally I recommend closer to your work the better, BKK rush hours are to be avoided if possible.

Food - The good thing about BKK is you can eat for 150 Baht a day or 15000 Baht a day if you want. Thai street food & food courts get you a decent meal and are affordable. There a lot of Western food options now but you may pay a premium for it.

Entertainment - This depends on you, if you are happy to stay home and watch Netflix, cook your own food etc you can save money. Alcohol is not that cheap, especially if you like imported beer/wine.

Travel - Travel within Thailand and SEA in general is affordable with many low cost airlines, but I f you want to fly home to your own country once a year this could take a whole chunk out of your savings.

Other - Health insurance, visas, setup costs. If you are moving here for work and the company takes of all this then it will be much easier and cheaper.

Overall

50,000/Month - This is a decent salary to survive, have a bit of fun and save a bit
75,000/Month - You will be more comfortable and live a better lifestyle
100,000/month - What you should be aiming for if you want to stay here long term, save money and be able to afford flights/travel home etc.

The company that I’ve got offered will pay me 50000B a month. Is it possible to save 30000B up every month? I don’t really need any fancy.

#arda with that money your whole family can live there very nice wealthy western style life :)

Not many happy smiling faces anymore.
The only reason you will get a smile from a Thai it's because they are thinking about how much money they can get from you.
Bangkok's air is full of toxic fumes.
You gave been warned.

Racism holds back economy as society ages:

https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1412495/racism-holds-back-economy-as-society-ages

The above link is for an article from the 'Bangkok Post' newspaper, written by SANITSUDA EKACHAI.

I live in Bangkok for over a year now and here is my summary costs in average:
- Rental: 15k 32sqm condo living in city center at 4-star condo. Great value and quality for money.
- Transportation: 2k BTS train station is 5 minutes away from where I live. I occasionally take taxis if I'm too lazy and it's hot. I also take motorbike taxis.
- Food: 6k including both local and western food. I also go have Middle Eastern, Mexican and Japanese every weekend so I'm enjoying my dishes.
- Grocery: 3k 7-11 & Family Marts are very affordable and I shop at imported markets once every month.
- Bills: Electricity ~1.5k - Water ~60 & Internet ~650
- Entertainment: Limitless. Depends what you do :)

Overall. You can live by with ~30-35k per month.

Who'd want to live in Thailand anyway not me because one brief visit was enough for me.

Minimum salary for foreigners is not true that is 1,114,995 most of foreign companies are BOI hence they have no minimum salary as the foreign workers are considered "consultants" and as such have no minimum salary

To Anonymous April 20 The figures quoted are from the Thai government website.

Can anyone provide any articles on this minimum annually salary?

# Roger Ian Tonge As of January 1,2019 the Thailand government changed its requirements for foreigners to live in Thailand.The current requirements are as follows.1,114,995 BAHT per year = $35,000 USD.Many retired foreigners are leaving Thailand because they cannot meet the requirements.The raise in requirements are due to alot of investments by the Chinese government throughout Thailand.

# MISHU 70,000 BAHT will get you a very comfortable life in Bangkok. Unfortunately the minimum requirements to live in Bangkok is 800,000 BAHT per month.Although 70,000 BAHT is a good salary especially since the locals normally make $650 USD per month.The government will verify the minimum of 800,000 BAHT per month for anyone no matter what country you come from.They have a prestage area where they verify the minimum funds per month required.If you don't have enough per month they'll send you on the plane out of Bangkok.The Thai government is very strict and the monthly amounts are likely to change soon to be higher.Hope my accurate information helps.

#Mishu 70,000 BAHT per year is nothing.Basically that's $2,195 USD per year.Honestly it'd take at least $1,800 USD minimum per month to live in Bangkok.Does the employer hate you?LOL That doesn't even meet the Thai government requirements of minimum 800,000 BAHT per month income to stay there.

Hey. I just got an offer from Bangkok and it's 75k B. I am with my family. How much I can save there. I am vegetarian guy

I am living in BKK now for over a month. And here are my observations,

1. 25000 is enough for a single person if you don't live a very Western life, because Western goods ajd services are expensive.

2. If you wat at high end places every second, you need at least 70k to make some saving

3. You can have a studio apartment in city center at 15k

If you want to move to BKK and you're salary is less than 50k, you got to live little strictly to make Saving but if you can think twice before doing shopping, then you can have a comfortable life

Lived in Thailand for 12 years. The prices mostly reflected in the comments are if you want to live like a rich farang. There are many, many nice places to live that cost at most 30k baht month.

Hi Jacob
Will you get more offer from a company? such as the cost of accomodation , transportation , foods
However , if you did not get more so for somebody is enough but somebody is not enough up to the life of person. If you like go to bar every night or go out to another city every weekend, I guess it is not enough.

A salary offered to you up to 40,000 baht a month in Thailand is just to get by.
What does it exactly mean?
1.You won't be able to save money.
2.You can't afford trips in Thailand.
3.You can't pay hospital bills with the basic medical insurance that Thai employers might offer.
4.You can't afford a plane ticket to fly back home.
5 The 'fun' you can afford on 'some' weekends is eating fast food and paying for taxi.
Don't compare Thai people's income with yours.That is a trap employers use to lure foreign employees.A western person can't live like an office worker in Thailand who makes 15,000 baht a month.Thai people don't have your expenses like visa fees,traveling to the west,hospital bills like yours,eating western food,expensive local trips,and FYI most Thais don't have savings.
You will hear some foreigners swearing that they can save a few thousand baht a month with a salary of 40,000 baht/ month.
But what is the point in living in Thailand when they live like a beach bum?

@#rush on Apr 24, 2018 :You can NOT rent out your apartment/condo on a short term basis. Daily or weekly renting out is prohibited by law. A local agent is not necessary, if you can handle the paperwork by yourself.

Hi Rush for 2 bed 2 bath condo in Platinum area rent around 40,000 THB/month for Size 79 sqm. , rent around 42,000 THB/month for Size 84 sqm. and rent around 53,000 THB/month for Size 90 sqm .

According to to news below that 60% of the expats people surveyed saying it has become either somewhat or very difficult to afford living in Thailand over the last 12 months

Thaivisa Survey: Half Of Expats Have Considered Leaving Thailand In The Last Year
http://www.buriramtimes.com/thaivisa-survey-half-of-expats-have-considered-leaving-thailand-in-the-last-year/

Hey Guys,
I'm looking to buy an apartment in Makkasan or Pratunam area and I have a few concerns. Reasons behind the purchase is mostly as an investment property and my family and I visit Bangkok twice a year and we always stay in Makkasan area with access to shopping and plenty of street food. Whenever we're not using the apartment I want it to be rented out.
I was told that renting out on a daily basis should be done in self while renting out on the long term will be done by an agent. If I get help form a local and rent the place what would be the appropriate salary for them??
Also, what would be the approximate rate for 2 bed 2 bath condo say at Manhattan Chidlom or Platinum Condo??
Please advice

Dear All,

I have been offered a salary of 30000 THB. Accomodation , VISA, insurance & Flight tickets are offered by company. I continued to get my home base salary seperately as i am going on deputation for 1 year.

The above metioned 30000 THB is for meal & other stuff. DO you think if i am able to save something ?

Hi All,
I got offer from a big IT Farm with 80,000THB salary. I am planning to move Bangkok with my wife. Need help to find some good Apartments/Place to live.
My monthly budget is 12,000THB. Please share some infos.

My offer salary id 40000 THB, is it possible to live in Bangkok with this salary.
I am single and don't have a lavish life but I want to save at least 10000THB per month.
is it possible?

I read somewhere, before I decide to live abroad, I should visit that place a few times a year before I decide to move there. Looking for input to where to start to visit within part of Bangkok. Near subway or rail station will be ideal.

#Thomas J Smith on Nov 11, 2017 :
Thomas your salary is very high (80,000-120,000baht) to live in Bangkok easily, and so happy.
(our minimum wage is 9300thb (281.81usd) (egg is 0.09usd per piece), but you know who get this
minimum salary can even keep money to buy car or land.
if you live in neighbor city, the cost living is less than that. but more peaceful.
Bangkok suitable for traveling, but not suit for living long (just my opinion)

Hi,

I got offer for 31k / month as a base salary. The company will provide transportation, accommodation, even meal. Is it a good offer?

I am planning to move bangkok this month, can anyone advise me place for stay where i can find indian plp (expect little india) something near rama 3

I am thinking of moving to Bangkok. I have a range of 80000 to 120000 bhat.Will I do well on that?

Hi i am madhu,
i got an opportunity to work in Bangkok. Salary is 55000 THB. planning to move with my family (ie. Self +Wife). i am vegtarian. i would like to know, what could be the monthly expenses on a/c of Food/Accommodation.
How much i an save in THB.
Madhu

Would love to find companies working with poly Lycra, manufacturing sports clothing accessories in Bangkok area.

Hi there
I'm planning to work in Bangkok from October 2017.I will be paid 40.000THB per month.I'm single.my question is that can I afford expenses of rent,transportation, food,etc.?
And how is the security and comfort of bangkok for a 30 year alone girl??

I agree with comment #58 (May 24,2017) that 8,000 THB would be a better average apartment price.

"Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 20,580.60 ฿" is certainly not a representative price considering that 15000 THB is already a very high price.

my wife has a 4 level building in bangkok we would like to sell before augest 2017 3 floor living space down stairs salon and cleaner 18,000.000.tb thanks

Export items are more expensive than neighboring South East Asian countries

cost of breakfast----buffet on soi 5-would be 200 baht

James, depends on how much party you do, your standard of living and if the sum is before/after taxes. For 8 days of party I would budget around 50k-60k BHT. So the 80k that you talk about is pretty low...

Please let me know the average price of breakfast in Bangkok

I also forgot to ask for a recommendation of where to start (who to contact) to find rentals without getting taken to the cleaners as a foreigner, until I can learn Thai. Thanks.

Bangkok is pretty cheap if you can eat local food found in markets, street vendors, food courts, The closer to the BTS and MRT the higher the rent will be but there are reasonable condos to rent a few km from the stations. If you don't mind a 15 minute mini tuktuk for 7 baht to and from the BTS/home it's eas to find a cheap room.

Dining can be expensive if you are constantly eating in western restaurants and bars. Happy Hour pints of local beer are about 100 baht. You can buy a 5k bag of rice for 80 baht - that will last a single person a long time.

Hi All,
I am currently based out of India and getting salary 70000 BHT per month, where I don't have to pay any rent because i have my own house, I have an offer from Thailand in Travel company near City centre complex they offered me 150000 BHT per month as salary.

Can you suggest me what would be cost of living in bangkok compare to India , in India i dont have to pay rent only food and bit of travel thats it.

how is the room rent in BKK? , i have to travel along with my wife and no kids.

Is this good decision to move to bangkok , can you tell me all about costs near by my work place near Pratuwman?

Waiting to hear back quickly.

Amit