Updated cost of living in Pattaya ????

[Owen` 2]

I cannot imagine my self not having an occupation...one that I enjoyed

 

 

Everyone perpetually tries to find a role model to follow. About 3 generations could do that in the 1900's.

 

You can't do it anymore. You can't instinctively think of your parents' later years and how they lived and what they did and imagine yourself as that. You can't. They had pensions and you probably won't.

 

That pension was more than just money. That was a "paycheck" that continued to define what they were. They weren't a "former" Vice President of this or that. They weren't a "former" professor of this or that. They weren't a former teacher. Or a former general contractor.

 

They were a retired VP. Or a retired teacher. Or retired this or retired that -- and they belonged to the Retired Teachers Association. Or the Retired This or That Association. They retained an aspect of identity. They were still associated with whatever they had been because they were still getting a paycheck.

 

Those days are past. No paycheck is coming to help you hold your identity. You have to create your own.

 

So what you will be is an entrepreneur and you will be it online. The internet wasn't there for those three generations. It is now and it changes more or less everything.

Edited July 22, 2007 by Owen`

[js007 795]

One thing that I've found out about "retirement" is that I no longer have any sense of accomplishment. Sure, I can get up every day and do whatever I want, but somehow I miss the sense of accomplishment that comes with working, doing it well, and earning good money. On the one hand I don't really want to jump back into the 9-5 rat race, but on the other hand I do feel like I should be doing something constructive. I guess that, at 55, I'm just not ready to sit around and do nothing all day. Maybe I need a hobby?

 

J

[Emil 0]

I guess that, at 55, I'm just not ready to sit around and do nothing all day. Maybe I need a hobby?

 

J

 

I retired at 54 and found a hobby at 55. It was looking for cute TGs to shag. Wished I would have discovered Pattaya before I turned 55 as I would have retired a few years earlier.

[kinshasa 0]

 

Thank you everybody for this usefull information.

 

I will have my pension (2.500 euros = 3.500 USD/ month) and additional dividends from my savings (at 4 percent > another 2.000 euros = 2.800 USD/month). Which makes 4.500 euros/6.300 USD to spend month after month without touching my savings.

 

Reading your comments, I must be able to live like a king.

 

You confirm what I've been telling to my friends before. In Pattaya I can't finish my money unless:

1. I would be crazy enough to get married and the Thai girl will surely find a way to make the money disappear

2. I would start going to casinos (but I think they are not there)

 

That's the good part.

Bad part: I have to wait till 01 July 2011....

 

3 years, 8 months, 16 days to go.....

 

I hardly can't wait.

 

But I have to keep in mind not to commit mistake 1 (!).

 

Kinshasa

[js007 795]

Well, I'm back in the USA, at least temporarily. My father is still alive and I had a problem to deal with in that regard. I've now got that sorted out, I think, at least for the time being. Anyway, I'll be back here in the desert southwest for the winter. Could have worse problems than laying around by the pool. I might actually do some work while I'm here. Nothing I was planning on, but I have a deal allowing me to work whenever I want to, so maybe I'll do a little bit, part time. Make some money.

 

Still, I'd rather be in Thailand, all things considered. I'll probably fly back in January to renew my retirement visa and have a little fun and will move back again next summer. The financial markets seem a bit shaky, but the dollar seems to be holding its own against the Thai baht. Maybe it'll stay that way. It would be nice if they'd quit playing games with the world money supply.

 

My conclusion: I'm spending about the same amount of money in the USA that I spent in Thailand. But for the cost of flying back and forth, it would be good to have a place in the USA and a place in Thailand. Maybe a cheap condo in Thailand?

 

J

Edited November 14, 2007 by js007

[Owen` 2]

The exotic scenario of the rich person who has "a winter residence in Tuscany" and "a summer residence in Vancouver" is generally all crap.

 

Insurance companies are very loathe to cover a property that is vacant for months at a time. The broken water pipe upstairs has months to destroy everything within when a place is vacant. Insurance companies won't endure that.

 

So your alternative is a caretaker. They aren't free.

 

You have to be playing in the 15+ million dollars league to be able to tolerate multiple residences around the world. Or you have to be willing to endure the risk of that pipe destroying everything and you paying all the repair costs yourself.

Edited November 17, 2007 by Owen`

[js007 795]

It's funny you mention broken water pipes. I know two people that have dealt with that issue. One guy has a house in Vail and another house back east. Left the house back east for the winter only to have a water pipe break and flood the place. I think he finally sold it. Whoever bought the place had to just about gut it and start over. Another friend had a similar problem with a lake property. He'd go there once in a while but sometimes wouldn't go for year or so and so it'd sit empty. Right now he's in the process of rebuilding the place. Between broken pipes, trees on the roof, etc., it was a mess. The insurance paid, though.

 

Of course, you can always shut off the water.

 

J

[David2014 0]

Take the 2 year test... if you KNEW you would die in 2 years, what would you do differently? Would you still do what you're doing now? Would you go for it? What would you do? I have a STRONG feeling i am not going to regret it, as probably most have not, getting out of dead end, burned out, no zest careers or jobs and pursuing a dream.

 

I am a bit frugal, but thought i lived like a king for 2 weeks last summer in LOS. . . cost me about $750 for the 2 weeks (excluding plane ticket) , course i don't drink much, and would buy in stores instead of bars usually, got on average a 'massage' a day, and traditional Thai massage a day, so 2 massages a day of one kind or the other. There are places, others know better than me, not 3 minutes walk from the beach, that can be had for $300 a month.

 

Am retiring myself in 1 year, 1 week, plan to do what Lamil did, retire for 1 year, then start some other kind of career, one for the love of it, not for the money, be it teaching Thai kids to speak English, or selling mountain property in US, or playing poker in US, whatever, maybe all of these, part time here, part time there.

 

Good luck, chok dee, to OP, et al

[lostinpattaya 0]

Insurance companies are very loathe to cover a property that is vacant for months at a time. The broken water pipe upstairs has months to destroy everything within when a place is vacant. Insurance companies won't endure that.

I own several properties in Thailand and Australia.None of the insurance companies have ever asked how much time I spend in any of them.They just quote me a rate which is the same regardless of how much time I spend in it.Is insurance in other countries different to this?

[touristman 1]

I own several properties in Thailand and Australia.None of the insurance companies have ever asked how much time I spend in any of them.They just quote me a rate which is the same regardless of how much time I spend in it.Is insurance in other countries different to this?

 

I'd check the small print of your policy.When i owned-and-let in England, my insurance company wouldn't have paid anything if left vacant for significant period............................the 'vacant' clause was just another way for them not to pay out if i ever claimed (which i didn't).

 

Insurance is a western mindset IMO and probably needed more in the West...............i don't have domicile insurance here (finger crossed though )

[Taltos 7]

Lost, of course they are happy to take your money. I know I would. But you just waite until something happens with one of them, well my guess is that you would be in for a surprise.

 

A rule of life is "You are never as well insured as you think you are"

[mrstein 0]

ALL DUE RESPECT TO OWEN..........

 

He is a bit off on quite a few items.

 

If you have 250 grand plus you can get 9-15% returns on your money forever.

 

He takes the smallest approach and yeilds in at 4-5 % Nobody with money even comes close to those type of gains.

 

If any of you are at that half million mark plus USA $$$$ You have it made in the shade forever as long as you do not go crazy and spend like a fool.

 

Big problem thu as what is happening in the philippines The us dollar is getting Killed so you do need to be a bit carefull but with proper planning You could get by Just fine Forever.

 

There are so many funds and ETC that yeild 10 % plus yearly its stupid.

 

Stein

[Eneukman 1]

And funds returning yields of 10% GENERALLY (though not always) carry a higher risk. Get independent financial advice before investing any funds.

 

Alan

[chantrycat 0]

i've been to pattaya 7 times now in 2 years and for this visit i tried business class for the first time - and the last. it just is not worth the extra cost. my ticket cost £3800 with quantas. i could have got an economy for £560 and put the extra money to better use. i would never fly with quantas again i must say as, like their partners in crime, ba, the staff are rude and just not very friendly.

 

I agree Business Class is just not worth the additional fare...have never paid it but have travelled Business Class many times on Thai Frequent Flyer upgrades...great on a complementary basis but every time I travel I wonder just why anyone would pay the additional fare

[jacko 8,696]

I agree Business Class is just not worth the additional fare...have never paid it but have travelled Business Class many times on Thai Frequent Flyer upgrades...great on a complementary basis but every time I travel I wonder just why anyone would pay the additional fare

Not for me, economy is a truly vile experience. I have budgeted for business class and hence it doesn't hurt me. I certainly don't budget or pay £3800 pounds though. If you can be flexible and book ahead, avoid peak times, it should be about half of that. There are other benefits like mileage bonuses that make the free upgrades or flight tickets come around more quickly too. No more snoring fat guy drooling on my shoulder and the noisy kids gawping at me over the back of their seat.

[ginseng 0]

Not for me, economy is a truly vile experience. I have budgeted for business class and hence it doesn't hurt me. I certainly don't budget or pay £3800 pounds though. If you can be flexible and book ahead, avoid peak times, it should be about half of that. There are other benefits like mileage bonuses that make the free upgrades or flight tickets come around more quickly too. No more snoring fat guy drooling on my shoulder and the noisy kids gawping at me over the back of their seat.

 

 

Gotta agree. Business class is the only way to fly! But I also agree it's probably not worth forking out the dough to pay for directly. What I have done is use frequent flyer miles + My China Airlines credit card to get upgrades on the long haul portion of the flight. That's from SFO to Taipei. That part is like 13-14 hours. It makes a huge difference not to have to be around crying kids and having a seat you can actually sleep in. Also whether you sit window or aisle there's plenty of room to get out and go to the bathroom without disturbing anyone. It also entitles you to the premiere lounges during stop overs where you can relax and grab some food in a peaceful environment. With my miles + the Credit card I've been able to do this twice now. For the final part of the flight from Taipei to BKK I just fly economy to conserve air miles. That's only a few hours and by then I'm so excited nothing could bother me.

[Eneukman 1]

Not for me, economy is a truly vile experience. I have budgeted for business class and hence it doesn't hurt me. I certainly don't budget or pay £3800 pounds though. If you can be flexible and book ahead, avoid peak times, it should be about half of that. There are other benefits like mileage bonuses that make the free upgrades or flight tickets come around more quickly too. No more snoring fat guy drooling on my shoulder and the noisy kids gawping at me over the back of their seat.

 

I now budget for Business Class when flying back to Scotland. I was over in October and am going back for a week in May. The cost of both tickets was less than £3,300. In May, I am flying with Emirates so will make use of their Chauffeur service to get to my hotel in Edinburgh free of charge. I then go on to Fife and will again use the chauffeur service to get back to the airport. This will cost me about £50, which is about double what I would otherwise have had to pay in total in rail fares. It will also be somewhat more convenient!

 

Alan

[Emil 0]

I certainly don't budget or pay £3800 pounds though. If you can be flexible and book ahead, avoid peak times, it should be about half of that. There are other benefits like mileage bonuses that make the free upgrades or flight tickets come around more quickly too. No more snoring fat guy drooling on my shoulder and the noisy kids gawping at me over the back of their seat.

 

I can manage to get by in economy, 3,800 pounds is a little more than the total I paid for my past 16 R/Ts plus my upcoimg trip from California to Bangkok. Unless I'm placed with Singapore the food and entertainment suck but I like the 17 to 1 ratio. I grab the emergency exit row aisle seat so plenty of leg room and the only person in front of me is the FA on take offs and landings

[flyboy747 21]

Some very valuble stuff here guys. Im giving LOS a big look for retirement, never been to Patts, but have a good mate in Hua Hin, who just about gets by on a £1000 budget (but he is a Shag Monster) and a high % of his dosh goes on mongering. Im Air Crew (Yep Im that rude Purser on BA' Eneukman' lol) and often do 9 day trips BKK-SYD-BKK with 4 nights in Bangkok...now I seem to spend a bloody bomb there (Ok the Amari charge you 1,000bht to bring a girl in...and make you feel like a perv grhhh) think I would have to reel my wallet in, if moving to LOS, but all the input looks about right....one thing I hadnt banked on was the cost of storing stuff here in the uk, cheapest I can find is around £800 a year, for very small space...also found the issue of what you do all day interesting (I did post about this 5/6 months ago) Good luck to all making the move this year...hope the budgets work out.

[Tengotodo 52]

2000.00 A month US$$ is quite a bit for Thailand.

 

Goes to show ya how bad the dollar is shrinking up around the world.

 

Stein

 

 

Wow! and that was a year ago! Wonder what a reasonable monthly baht income would be these days..

[MM 6,562]

Wow! and that was a year ago! Wonder what a reasonable monthly baht income would be these days..

 

A reasonable monthly baht income to stay in Pattaya hasn't changed nearly as much as a USD income required has.

[nus01 305]

I own several properties in Thailand and Australia.None of the insurance companies have ever asked how much time I spend in any of them.They just quote me a rate which is the same regardless of how much time I spend in it.Is insurance in other countries different to this?

Thats becuase there is an automatic exclusion written into them , excluding any damage if the house is unoccupied for more than 60 consecutive days

[bigdelta 46]

So I assume living on USD 1525/48k baht in Pattaya will make me a pauper?

What can I expect for that amount of dosh?

[js007 795]

So I assume living on USD 1525/48k baht in Pattaya will make me a pauper?

What can I expect for that amount of dosh?

 

Thee are plenty of threads on here about the cost of living in Thailand. If all you want to do is eat and sleep and watch TV or whatever, it doesn't have to cost you a lot, especially if you eat Thai food. On the other hand, if you go out screwing around every night at the bars, you can easily go through 150K baht a month. Living there, though, you probably wouldn't want to do that long term.

 

Here's a rough estimate of monthly costs for Pattaya at the lower end of the spectrum:

 

Rent 10K baht

Electric 2K baht

Food 5K baht, perhaps less

Internet 1.5K baht

Laundry 1K baht

Transportation 1K baht

Misc 2K baht

 

Let's say you can cover your basics for 20K baht. That would leave you 28K baht for entertainment. Not very much. You could go out and spend 4K baht seven times a mont, at most.

 

Keep in mind I didn't include costs for medical care or visa runs.

 

j

[jacko 8,696]

Well my rent is more, my internet less, but I really mess up on the 'Misc'