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Cost of Living in Thailand

Thailand is quite an easy place to live provided you are earning a decent salary. But this definition of ease varies from person to person and the lifestyle maintained. A monthly remuneration of 40-50,000 baht can give a comfortable standard of living, however the more the better. This figure could cover all expenses including entertainment, transportation, food, both eating in and out, new clothes, miscellaneous expenses.

Expect to spend up to 15,000 baht a month for an apartment of your own, and a further 3,500 baht in utilities. Making a phone call using a fixed line costs 3 baht regardless of the duration of the call.

Supermarket prices :

• Pork, chicken and beef : All priced below 150 baht per kilo.

• Milk (800 cc) : 35 baht

• Cola drinks : 13-14 baht

• Beers : 35-45 baht

• Local fruits and vegetables are cheap, but imported goods can be really expensive.

• Salad bars charge depending on supermarket and quality of goods provided. At Foodland you pay 7 baht per 100 grams, at Tops 12 baht per 100 grams, and at Emporium or Siam Paragon Gourmet Market, the same amount will set you back 25 baht.

• A bread costs between 30 and 60 baht a loaf. Rolls are 7-10 baht. Bagels at Villa Market costs about 15 baht, at Au Bon Pain (shameful really) about 40 baht.

• Using the BTS (skytrain) or MRT (subway system) costs between 10 and 40 baht for a one-way trip Taxis are cheap with a minimum fare is 35 baht. For about 50 baht you can take a 4 km ride. Buses are frequent, but less comfortable. Fares start at 8 bath (for the non-air-conditioned buses). 20 or 30 baht can take you to the other end of town in air-conditioned buses.

As on February 2007, US$ 1 = about 35.5 baht, the prices stated below can surely be of help :

• McDonalds Big Mac combo (incl. Coke + fries): 99 baht

• KFC fillet burger combo (incl. Coke + fries): 79 baht

• Burger King Whopper combo (incl. Coke + fries): 139 baht

• Can of Coke / Pepsi in a supermarket : 13 baht

• 5 km / 20 km metered taxi ride : 50 / 125 baht

• Plate of fried rice on the street / in a food hall : 25 / 35 baht

• 950 ml bottle generic brand drinking water : 5 baht

• 1.5 litre bottle of brand name drinking water : 12 - 15 baht

• Kodak gold 100 print film 36 shot :  79 - 140 baht

• Local call from phone box (every 2 minutes): 1 baht

• Singha beer 330ml / 640ml in supermarket: 30 / 50 baht

• Heineken beer 330ml / 640ml in supermarket: 35 / 65 baht

• Jack Daniel's 700 ml bottle: 899 baht

• Portion of fruit from street vendor : 10 baht

• Bangkok Post / The Nation newspaper : 25 baht

• Packet of cheap / expensive noodles : 5 / 14 baht

• Cheap / Expensive men's haircut : 50 / 350+ baht

• Levis 501 jeans - genuine, not fake 2,350 baht

• Paracetamol 500 mg 10 tablets generic brand : 10 baht

• New release English lang. paperback novels : 300 - 450 baht

• New release English lang. hardback novels : 595 - 995 baht

• New release movie ticket at cinema : 100 - 140 baht

• Nightly new release VHS video / DVD movie hire : 30 - 50 baht

• New release DVD (copied) : 100 - 150 baht

• New release DVD (original) : 120 - 1,000+ baht

• Local phone call (direct phone line / apartment line) : 3 / 5 baht

• Durex condoms, pack of three : 50 baht

• 6 x 4 inch photograph print : 3 - 5 baht

• 1 litre of 91 / 95 octane petrol : 24.69 baht/ 25.49 baht

• 1 litre of diesel : 25 baht