Moving to Thailand in 2013

[chicoyoung]

Hello,

I am new to this site and have many questions. I have read through many of the Threads pertaining to, moving to, and living in Thailand, most are extremely helpful.

I would like to introduce myself. I am 42 years old, from the US, have been with my Thai wife now for about 4 years. I have visited Thailand 3 times in the last decade and have enjoyed the experience good and bad each time. The first time, visiting all of the nice resorts and nice restaurants, living in a nice upscale house in the outskirts of Bangkok. Had a great time but still had it's ups and downs.
The last time I was there I visited my wife's family in Pangna (Southern Thailand). This time I lived the life of a local. We lived on very modest means, traveling mostly by bus and by motor bike. Stayed in a make shift house that had running water that came out a drop at a time from the water well. House had a metal roof so when it rained it sounded like a tin can. The living conditions were very different and the surrounding native culture took much adjustment since I spoke relatively no Thai and could only communicate by my wife translating.

Well, given the economic situation here in the U.S., we are planning to move to Thailand in 2013. I will be planning to teach English in a local school or as some private tutor and she will try to find work in a resort, possibly doing massage therapy or as a tour guide. I will have additional $1000.00 of income coming in from a rental property here in the U.S.

I have read through many of the great threads that recommend Thailand for retiring but I was wondering if anyone had input on living, working as a teacher and or raising a child in Thailand?

Any real live, current stories would be greatly appreciated.

[stealthe]

Originally Posted by chicoyoung

Hello,

I am new to this site and have many questions. I have read through many of the Threads pertaining to, moving to, and living in Thailand, most are extremely helpful.

I would like to introduce myself. I am 42 years old, from the US, have been with my Thai wife now for about 4 years. I have visited Thailand 3 times in the last decade and have enjoyed the experience good and bad each time. The first time, visiting all of the nice resorts and nice restaurants, living in a nice upscale house in the outskirts of Bangkok. Had a great time but still had it's ups and downs.
The last time I was there I visited my wife's family in Pangna (Southern Thailand). This time I lived the life of a local. We lived on very modest means, traveling mostly by bus and by motor bike. Stayed in a make shift house that had running water that came out a drop at a time from the water well. House had a metal roof so when it rained it sounded like a tin can. The living conditions were very different and the surrounding native culture took much adjustment since I spoke relatively no Thai and could only communicate by my wife translating.

Well, given the economic situation here in the U.S., we are planning to move to Thailand in 2013. I will be planning to teach English in a local school or as some private tutor and she will try to find work in a resort, possibly doing massage therapy or as a tour guide. I will have additional $1000.00 of income coming in from a rental property here in the U.S.

I have read through many of the great threads that recommend Thailand for retiring but I was wondering if anyone had input on living, working as a teacher and or raising a child in Thailand?

Any real live, current stories would be greatly appreciated.

Hi.. I am also an expat and have been here in Bangkok suburb for over 4 months. My wife is pregnant and she has to complete her 2 years stay so i want to be h.ere to be with her and the baby. Planning to go back to the states next year. I am not working so can't give advice regarding employment. Do plan to have additional income to support your lifestyle as there is almost no work for foreigners (teaching English is not my thing). I think food is about same price as in US and in some case higher when you account for portions and quality of food. So if you are planning to homecook, expect today more. Love the beaches in Thailand so that is one thing I look forward to. Not sure what others do for fun but I don't like rushing to the mall as it gets old after a while. Lots of locals do that every weekend but I am not much into that scene. Fortunately I have Internet so that I can still keep iN touch with people back home.

[chicoyoung]

I hear you....My wife mentioned (when she visited last year by herself) that the price of food had gone up. She mentioned it was because of the flooding.

I remember there are an array of shopping malls that like yourself get redundant after a few trips. Yes, the beaches are a definite plus to life in Thailand. Thank you for you reply. I will make sure I stay connected to the internet this time!

[stednick]

chicoyoung:

What you want to do "can" be done. However, it will not be easy. First, can you handle "living" in Thailand. Considerably different from visiting/vacationing. As you have indicated in your post, you know that the good is accompanied with the bad. When living in Thailand you will have to accept the bad as part of your way of life. Don't minimize the frustration this may cause. The last thing you want to do is move to Thailand and THEN decide you have made a mistake. It would be a very costly mistake.

Cost-of-Living: I enjoy Thai food and ate primarily Thai food, restaurants and food vendors. Lived in a "good", not luxury, nor serviced, apartment. One bed, air conditioned, cable TV, Internet, American Bathroom, Thai kitchen. Used public transportation, primarily, sky-train, bus, tuk-tuk, and the occasional motorcycle taxi. No drinking, no bar girls. Entertainment was primarily the typical tourist type venues and attractions - "double-pricing" system, guided.

Anyway, for the "lifestyle" identified in the previous paragraph, I found the cost-of-living in Bangkok "slightly" more expensive than the US. I wouldn't be able to live in Bangkok on a teacher's salary. Even if subsidized with USD 1k/month.

English teachers salaries in Thailand vary considerably based on school, location, Certifications, etc. The actual salary paid can be dependable and/or erratic. Either way, you need to be very particular about who you work for. Use great care in selecting your place of employment.

You have experienced both the high and low classes of life in Thailand. A teacher's salary supplemented with USD 1k/month places you somewhere in the middle. Also, realize that there are hazards, potentially expensive, in being a "long distance" absentee landlord. You obviously can't rush back to your rental properties to take care of emergencies, nor, to handle tenant turnover.

Thai Baht fluctuations can change the buying power of your USD 1k/month supplemental income. In the past ten years the Thai Baht has fluctuated from approximately 30 - 45THB/USD. This is a 40% swing. Or, in more practical "worse-case" terms, your $1k/mo supplemental income may hit a low of $600/month in buying power.

The point being, Global Economic and Political Uncertainties can seriously impact your budget and future plans. Realize the economic uncertainty is on a Global basis, not a USA based local problem. Also realize that the global political climates are changing on an almost daily basis.

You must have a bailout plan. Should things head south, you must be able to fall back on a Plan B that provides safety for you and your family. Remember US citizen hostages and evacuations, i.e. Iran in ‘79 and Indonesia in ‘98. Political climates change. A political upheaval in a country or a region may make immediate evacuation necessary. No time to arrange things post-incident. You must preplan. Pray for the best and plan for the worst. Your Plan B emergency repatriation must be planned and periodically reviewed.

Anyway, this post is "Food-for-Thought". I hope this helps and good luck.

[Song_Si]

Originally Posted by chicoyoung

I hear you....My wife mentioned (when she visited last year by herself) that the price of food had gone up. She mentioned it was because of the flooding.

another factor is flooding/natural disasters in other countries, their demand for Thai-export foods impacts on local prices too; and the wealth of China - an article a couple of months ago about local (Chanthaburi) orchardists selling mangosteen fruit to Chinese buyers at 100b per kilo (they re-sell at 180b equivalent in China) when locals expect to pay around 35b/kilo at the market. Reminds me of NZ where the best crayfish, steaks all go to Japan at prices most NZers could never afford - supply and most of all, demand.
Fuel cost has risen so much, and has an impact on foods with greatly increased transport costs.

[chicoyoung]

Stednick:

I had to take a moment to digest your response. There is much information in your words. I read through you response some 10 times. It is a bit like receiving pieces to a puzzle that ultimately will never be finished. " THE JOURNEY OF LIFE"

I have some six months before we make our move and before then I will continue to research and prepare, taking all of your words into careful consideration.

Thank you,

Not just for the detailed response(to my thread and the countless other threads on this forum) but for the wisdom within those words to help myself and others!

[stednick]

Originally Posted by chicoyoung

I have some six months before we make our move and before then I will continue to research and prepare, ...
Thank you,

chicoyoung:

Your Welcome. Thank you for your kind words.

Your research and preparation will guarantee the success of your venture.

Good luck in all your future endeavors.

Tom

[cooked]

Does it have to be Bangkok? Living costs there seem horrendous to people that live out in the sticks, we do ok, more than ok, in Buriram on ฿46 000.- a month (no kids, own house, which we could rent for ฿4 - 5 000.- if we were looking for something).

[stednick]

Mr. Cooke,

Your point is correct and it is unarguable. You can live economically in Thailand.

Location does make a serious difference in "how much you spend". You can live for considerably less in Thailand than I did in Bangkok. However, the amount I spent living in Bangkok was determined more by my lifestyle, preferences and desired luxuries than by my necessities.

I used my Bangkok spending habits because I know them. They are facts, not speculation. I easily could have "survived" on less, and, considerably less, if money was tight. However, money was not an object and my spending habits reflected that.

The lifestyle I lead, cost "slightly" more in Bangkok Thailand than it does in the USA. However, since I have never lived in the "heart", or inner city, of a large metropolis in the USA, my example is not comparing apples-to-apples.

I have typically lived in the outlying suburbs of a city in the USA and drove my personal automobile for transportation. In Bangkok I did not drive and utilized public transportation.

An apartment "similar" to my Bangkok place, in the heart of the business district off Silom would cost approximately 25% less in the USA suburbs. Bangkok luxury is pricey. Counterpoint to this would be my in-laws flat in the Dindaeng district. Two room Thai 25 sqm, dimly lit, basic concrete construction, fourth floor walk-up living quarters. This cost approximately 10% of my Bangkok apartment. Could I live there - yes. Would I live there by choice - no.

Another, unnecessary expense is my desire for specific personal care products; soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, lotions, etc. Considerably cheaper brands are available on the economy - but I could afford to "splurge" and I did.

One thing to take into consideration is that the "amount" of your compensation (teacher's salary) in chicoyoung's case, is largely determined by location and the cost-of-living at that specific location. The closer he/they live to a metropolitan area where the availability of our exotic foreign products increases along with the cost-of-living, the higher his compensation will be.

In closing, you can live on very little in Thailand - if necessary. However, not everyone can handle the Thai country lifestyle. Your personal cost-of-living is entirely dependent upon yourself.

And we all do realize that: All that really matters is you and your families ultimate satisfaction and happiness with the "ways and means" of how they live.

[Song_Si]

on the 'cost of living' topic - this site Cost of Living in Bangkok, Thailand quotes figure from "766 entries in the past 18 months from 79 different contributors"

Nothing's perfect, but at least gives an indication; having never lived in a large city here be interested in what people think of those estimates.

Gasoline
Noted gasoline prices up again today - standard 91 is now 43.05 baht a litre

In January 2009 it was half that - 21.39 baht per litre. January 2010 it had increased 35.64. (source)

Easy to see why my bus fare Chanthaburi - Bangkok has gone up a whole 15 baht last month.