What expat salary do you need to live in Bangkok?

Hello everyone,

I’m moving to Bangkok with my family (4 people total) in August 2016.

I’d like to know what local salary is needed to live comfortably.

Housing and a car are provided.

Thanks for your help, Fred.

Hi,

It all depends on whether the other two members of your family are children... School fees are significant in Thailand. In Bangkok, between 80,000 and 100,000 baht or more 🙂

Hi,

My company already covers the school fees.

All in all, I only have to pay for outings and food.

Thanks, Fred.

Hi,

My company already covers the tuition fees.

All in all, I only have to pay for outings and food.

Thanks, Fred.

Housing paid, car provided, tuition fees covered, and I assume health insurance for the whole family too. In this case, and since you're not single by definition, so unlikely to be swayed by local charm, 80,000 baht per month should be more than enough. You could even hire a cook within that budget.

Okay, I might be bursting the bubble a bit here, but well, this is the reality on the ground.

I’ve been an expat in Bangkok since 2021, and I see a lot of people arriving with the idea that "Thailand is cheap, so with 1,500 €/month I’ll live like a king." Uh... no. Well, it depends on your definition of king.

The minimum to live decently: I’d say 35,000–40,000 baht per month (around 900–1,000 €). With that, you’ve got a decent studio with AC and a pool in neighborhoods like On Nut or Phra Khanong, you eat well (mostly Thai food), and you take the BTS and Grab rides now and then. It’s comfortable, but you don’t have much wiggle room.

To live well: 50,000–70,000 baht (1,300–1,800 €). At this level, you can afford a nicer apartment, go out, eat at Western restaurants occasionally (because yeah, after 6 months of pad thai every day... well, you know), get decent health insurance, and take a weekend trip to an island now and then.

The thing no one talks about: The "invisible" costs in Thailand are healthcare and visas. Healthcare because there’s no social security, and a trip to the ER at a good private hospital can quickly cost 500–1,000 €. And visas because depending on your status, you’ll pay between 250 € (DTV) and 12,000 € (Elite Visa for 5 years). You’ve got to budget for that.

Oh, and alcohol isn’t cheap in Thailand, contrary to what people think. A beer at a bar is 3–5 €, a cocktail 7–10 €. If you’re a big partier, your budget will skyrocket.

In short: for a "comfortable" expat salary on a local contract, I’d say a minimum of 60,000 baht net (1,500 €), ideally 80,000+ (2,000 €+). If you’re on an expat package with your French company, aim for 100,000+ baht (2,500 €+) to really enjoy it.

Hi there, I suppose though that in ten years the person has had time to make up their mind or move on... I also notice that this person hasn’t logged in since the third day after signing up (ten years ago too).

Isn’t it crazy, these questions where the answer is different for every single person who asks them? Do they think we can read their minds or do they believe they’re the only ones in the world? 🙂

hi 900 € for a studio rent seems excessive, especially for Bangkok. But okay, if you say so 😉

Hi, 900 € for a studio rent seems excessive to me, especially for Bangkok. But okay, if you say so 😉

Oh, for a 100 m² studio, that’s a normal price [;]