How much does it cost to live in Bangkok?

Hello there:

I been living in Bangkok for around 8 months or so. Enough to know a few things, but not all of it.

I have only rented condo's here ( 1 room, 1 bathroom + american kitchen style along with living room all furnished and with different amenities)

The low end condos can go from the ranges of 5000 bath a month to 15000 thb/m depending on the area you living. ( If you living somewhere close to Sukhumvit it will be quite expensive, far of your budget)

Good areas to live in are Hui kwan, Suthisarn, Phra Ram 9, Chong Nonsri,Phra Khanong, On Nut. All near the BTS & MRT. And no so damn expensive.

As for bills: Water around 500 thb/m, Electricity - Depends if you are going to use the Air con all night long- Around 1000 thb/m, Internet around 700 thb/month.

For food: Well thats your choice, you can choose the range of mobile food shops all over Bangkok that each "dish" costs around 20 thb, if you are a restaurant type, around 300 to 700 thb ( medium range restaurant ) or if Your condo has a fire plate you always can cook something at home. Now, there is two different kinds of supermarket here: The "national" range, such as Tesco's, with the vast majority of products from Thailand and Asia related, or the supermarkets aimed for ex-pats with a wide variety of imported European and American products. These last ones, are also the most expensive ones.

For transportation: Taxis, are well cheap ( the ones that got "meter" on top ) around a 100 thb per destination. Motorbike taxis might vary, but less than a taxy normally. And tuk Tuk's unless you are able to defend yourself with some thai, youll be ending up spending around 500 thb for a ride ( like most of the  tourists do )
As for Bts & Mrt - Skytrain and Underground - Depends where are you going, but around 35thb per ride. Then you can have some short of an "oyster" card that you can top up. ( never had one, so i cannot tell you the thb's)

As for mobile phone: Going to MBK you will be able to get a nice deal for around 500 thb new thai number and can top-up in any supermarket or minimarket such as 7/11 with a 100 thb or 300 thb.

The apartments with two bedrooms are quite expensive for renting, some approach your budget and you would not be able to live on much. What Thai people normally do, is that they use the "living room" as a second bedroom, with a sofa-bed or a inflatable mattress.   

Total per month:

- This is what i spend normally a month -
*Condo fully furnished+pool+gym+guards+garden=9500thb month
*Transport= ( because i dont live near a mrt or bts) 3400 thb month - need to take a taxi then a train then a bike and back-
*Bills= 2050
*Food= - Got kitchen at home - 5000
*Going out =  5000 thb month.

Total:24950 thb/month ( this varies depending if im a bad boy or not on weekends )

Hope this helps you get an idea of what is going to be per month.

Ah forgot to mention that all this includes two persons.

That's really great advice, thanks.  I was just wondering what sort of deposit do the estate agents ask for before you rent out the flat.  Do i need to save up a lot before I go?  Nigh on impossible really but I thought I should be prepared.  Also do you recommend any good estate agents that deal with british people?

@ LuisF

I must be doing something wrong because my cost is an order of magnitude greater than that. I've my electricity bill right here (I live in a studio) and it's 2336 bahts. I work at home, so it's on 24x7, but still...

And I'm living alone.

Best regards,
Juan

@Juan. What do you do? eat electricity???  

In my ex-house at Phra Ram 9, a little condo, 2 aircon's all day long + computer + fridge and other stuff, never went up more than 800 thb.

Nowadays, in my condo in Yannawa, Ive have had some peaks that approximate yours, but is because the electricity company made a mistake and read the meter that wasnt.

Por cierto a que te dedicas? Si no te importa que te pregunte?.

@Zoe10

Normally is a month in advance + the month that you going to start to live in.

Best is if you dont go by state agents, and if you have a friend that speaks and reads Thai. That way you might be able to get it cheaper.

I will ask a friend of mine what were the main websites were she looked for me the condos. But you can start in Craiglist classifieds. There is offers there of english speaking Thai nationals for condo renting too.

@LuisF

Trabajo como desarrollador freelance para proyectos web o puramente en servidor. Busco los clientes en España y trabajo en remoto desde aquí (con la oportuna visita allí para la captura de requisitos y el despliegue).

He visto en tu perfil que eres diseñador. Quizá en el futuro podríamos hablar

Un saludo,

Juan - Viviendo en Tailandia - El blog

hi,
yeah if you could give me a list of the best websites that would be great so i could look at some condos.

I have been living and working in Bangkok for 6 years. I really admire Luis for his extensive description of his budget. While it is definitely possible to live here on a tight budget, i prefer to give you a slightly different picture.

For apartment/condo, it depends on the area/location, how many bedrooms. Luis has a one bedroom at THB 9,500 condo and as he mentions this is the low end condo. I see that you pay THB 800 electricity per month. That's probably a very good deal but at this prices there are disadvantages.

For your info, i pay approx THB 2,000 / month for my electricity, living in a 2 bedroom condo with 3 Air cons.

To answer Zoe question, I would say that if you are ready to live here "Thai Style", you can probably live with your THB 59,000 budget. But with many restrictions and compromises.

I understand that you plan to work here, so you will have additional revenue.

Below a link to look at condo for rent:
Note that indicated prices are usually high and should be discussed with the agent

residenceforrent.com/condoforrent25-34.html

Note that i have been using them for many years and i found them effective and efficient. Many of the so called real estate agents will make you visit a huge percentage of crap condos...

The best deal can be found without going through an agent. But you must be very patient and accept to allocate huge amount of times for visits.

Thanks for that.  I have been given 5 days by my employer to find accomodation as they will house me for 5 days but that's it.
How is the violence at the moment?  Where abouts are the main troublesome areas in relation to Sukhumvit?

So finally my friend gave me some of the urls that i told you about. Here they are:
http://www.soho-properties.com/condos_rent1_1.phphttp://www.bangkokcondos.com/bangkok_co … estate.asphttp://www.mybangkokhomes.com/index.php … lts&pclass[]=
http://www.bangkokrent.com/http://www.kkbkk.com/?do=find&what=rent … 0&room_bed[]=1&2029=on&2031=on&go=SEARCH&fulltext=

Hope you find something nice, have seen some very near asoke quite nice and relatively cheap. Hope it helps.

Hi,
Thanks for replying.  Do you know if the banks allow you to go overdrawn like they do in England?

Which is the best bank?

Thanks

Hi there,

Actually, it is not that expensve to live in Bangkok..The main expense comes from rental..When I started out here, I survive on 20,000 Baht includig all expenses.However, with very little socialising since I was new to the place. At the end of the day, it also depends when you like to hang out.

I understand your situation, I'm in the similar situation as well. The main expense comes from lodging.Sukhumvit is a high pricing area. So I choose somewhere near to skytrain station and with convenient grocery shopping but a less expensive area.

I go for studio type since it is easy to look after, it also save on the utilities..For starter, its good to go easy on budget.

I know a condo which is furnished and along the river, near skytrain station and cost less. Let me know if you need my help. Just drop me an email:[email protected]

@LuisF

I asked the same question here (regarding the cost of electricity) and other people in Bangkok seem to agree that 2.000+ bahts is normal (1 aircon + fridge + laptop + tv).

How did you get 800 bahts ?!

Hi, my electricity bill range from 700.00 to 900.00 baht.I guess its about life style as well.

Perhaps for me, I work till late everyday so by the time I reached home its about 21:00 hrs and my air-conditioner only works for about 2 hours per day on ave. My fridge is a middle size 2 door type. TV usage on ave. is about 4 hours per day. These are my major sources for energy consumption. Well, it really varies from one household to another. I live a lone.

cheers

morbid. Then, that's the problem: I've my aircon 24x7 (literally!). I work at home so I really need it.

Thanks for the info!

juan, great to know the info helps...Yup air-con is a must...too hot here..

What about the protests- how is it affecting you guys?

Can someone tell how much we are talking about in usa dollars?
        Thanks Bob

Its a mess..My staffs can't come to work since BTS is closed and again for tomorrow. Some have to move to another location for the time being. Other than that its all normal. All entertain just stop since the main shopping areas are under the attack of the protestors. It just destroying the image of this country and lots of inconvenience for many people..Loss of business for the people in Touris..I'm just lucky to live at an unaffected area..

@Zoe10:yups...not good at this time...im using taxi everywhere but sometimes get rejected as well ..but hopefully for next week everything can back to normal for some period at least...oh, FYI..I live in Sukhumvit Area.

@rolling: I think its better for you to convert everything by urself. 1$=32THB ( approximately ).

@rolling: type in google: - "ammount" thb in USD  -
and it will convert by itself with current rates.

I just wanted to know if the banks let you have an overdraft facility like they do in the UK.  So i could still pay bills etc if my money runs out.  Sy account might be -10 000 baht but once I get paid it will be ok again.

I dont know that really. Havent got a bank account yet

Hi ive been living in Bkk for about 8 years now. I also have about 65,000 per month budget. For this i live a great life. I have my better half and a 4 year old.

Heres a run down of our expenses.

Mortgage on our house  12,000 baht per month

A fried of mine rents a two bed condo close to mrt sutthisan  15,000 baht (and yes it is possible to find a nice example at this price if you put in the work.)

Electric: Approx 800 baht (Ive lived in condos and houses in bkk if your paying more than 1000 then your getting ripped off by private apartments instead of goverment rate electric bills thats how apartment owners make extra cash never agree to more than 5 or 6 baht per unit i get goverment rate and thats only about 3.5 baht per unit. We have air con on all day. Fridge. Computer and Two t.v on in the evening.Plus extras like fish tanks etc .
A single person on their own should expect to use around 150 units per month.

Water: Its so cheap that i don't even know how much it is.

Internet, Sattelite t.v and two I phone 4's on true network as a package 4000 baht per month.

Food.  6000 BAHT  We do a monthly shop at Foodland one of the more expensive farang oriented supermarkets.

Car loan:  8000 baht per month. 2009 Honda Civic  (we did put down a large first payment)

Petrol: 4000 baht per month

School for daughter: 3000 per month ( nice little school IF your going by thai education standards)

Socialising: 20,000 baht  (I go out with friends every saturday and my wife every friday.)

We then save the last of salary and my wife's salary Okay so im lucky that my wife works and we can still save around 20,000 a month.

This is the cost of a nice little life as a three person family we have want for nothing and we save every month.

not wanting to judge or anything but if you cant live on 60,000 baht in Thailand as a single person then there is something very wrong with  your lifestyle. When i was single here i lived a similar lifestyle for around 45,000 baht. If your spending more then i would guess your either spending too much time with bar girls who take anything they can from you or you have a serious alcohol or shopping problem.

Anyway enjoy your life in Thailand

Good luck too you all

Usually their will be no overdraft at the bank fo a foreigner and if you want a credit card they usually ask you to leave money with them as security which is usually more than the credit limit. HMMM thats very bloody stupid.

If you live Thai Style? Try to bear in mind here average wage for a Thai in Bkk is about 20,000 baht. If your spending 20 to 25k then your living Thai style. If you speanding 59,000 then your living a farang life style.

Your are 100% correct about not getting an apartment through an agent you pay through the nose.

Hi LuisF,

You are real good in giving all the details for cost of living in Bangkok - rent, transport, food, electricity etc.

Chai yo

Zoe 10,

When one lives in the city where most expats are, its very costly especially sukhumvit area.  I had lived in studio apartments that cost 5,000 baht, service apartments that cost 25,000 baht, shop house that cost 10,000 baht, town house that cost 7,000 baht.

Different locations and type of residence will have price variations.  I have lived in different places around Bangkok and mostly away from most expats.  I mixed with the locals to know more about them and get good price for residence etc.

Some condos, you need to pay monthly fee for security guard, cleaning of common areas etc.  Some might charge you extra for electricity and water as you pay to the condo management.  It would be cheaper if you pay what the electric or water bill is, likewise for residence telephone.  If you are using True internet, then you need a telephone line in the house.  But if you use 3BB then no telephone line is needed.

Based on your 59,900 baht budget, I can live on that without working and enjoy living in a big house, turning on air con every night, eat the food that I like by shopping in tesco lotus, siam paragon, villa, carrefour.  Its where you live and how you travel like using taxi, motorbike taxi and van.

If you cook at home, the stoves are the triggers for a huge electricity bill, I have confirmed it in the past months. So its better to eat from the small shops in the street, that cost around 30 bath.

I rent a nice house with garden at THB25k/mth. incl. bills (I don't like aircon and don't watch TV),, but it's far from the BTS/MRT. My work is even further out. So I need a car (old second hand) that costs me another THB12k. Food is cheap (and good) at about THB6k/mth. (I don't frequent fancy restaurants). Since I don't drink, rarely go out and have no interest in local girls or other expensive hobbies, other expenses are minimal. But I do need to escape the madhouse of Bangkok at least once a month, mostly by flight, which costs another THB10k or so.
Thus I need less than your budget and have an o.k. life. But I'd rather stay elsewhere at double the expense (since I earn well) and have a better social life due to being able to talk, read and write.

I thought I would also chime in and share my personal experience living in Bangkok, lending contrast and/or comparison to what has already been posted here by some of these helpful & informative users. This post needed a 2012 update and I'd like to reconfirm that BKK is still an amazingly cheap and easy city to live in, even if you are not a rich businessman.

I'm a 30 years old white Jamaican ex-pat living on Sukhumvit in a 42 sq. meter studio condo, 3 minutes walk to Nana BTS skytrain. I live alone (my girlfriend lives in Rama 2 and occasionally stays over) so my place is really quite OK in size and western farang style "luxury."  I have a big beautiful granite bathroom with tub, a nice kitchenette with dual stovetop burner & washing sink, more kitchen cabinets than required, a medium size 1-door economy refrigerator/freezer, microwave oven, massive california king-size bed, (2) large wardrobes which I cannot even fill, a gigantic entertainment/book case cabinet, standard size sofa, (2) lazyboy style chairs, coffee table, economy floor fan, japanese style folding room separator, and large ceiling mounted remote controlled air conditioner. (I'm Jamaican, so that's fancy)

With all of that said, my 42sq. meter room is still VERY open and airy, with what might be one of the best panoramic views of Bangkok I have ever seen (photo attached below). The condo is in a high-rise with 24-hour security, parking garage, keycard access, rooftop swimming pool, squash court, great small gym, 2 mini-marts, 2 laundries, 2 restaurants (one is around 35 baht for some of the best Thai food I've had and the other is more pricey farang style). 

Guess what?  My rent is 11,000 THB per month.  And that is inclusive of the condo maintenance fee.  Granted the building is NOT one of those brand new fancy deals, but it is surely nice and modern enough with some very friendly people. I'd say the proximity to BTS is worth more than 11,000 alone. I am posting this to make a point to everyone that it is still very possible to find yourself a great condo/apartment if you put in the time and stay away from agencies and their overpriced schemes. This is for the everyday joe who wants to "do it himself/herself" whilst not tossing away unnecessary cash into the bin.  Be smart and take the time to get what you want!

Expenses breakdown per month:

Rent:  11,000  THB

Electricity (3.5 per unit gov't standard rate):  Under 1000 THB even if my girlfriend blasts the aircon when she sleeps over.  My place really doesn't get hot like outside. It may have something to do with the direction the unit faces as well as the altitude I am at. Also, the floor-fan is fantastic and If I stay home during the day it suits me perfectly when aimed correctly. No sweaty Jamaican style lounging.  I also have a brand new 32" LCD television which seemingly uses very little power compared to those old jobs. I may keep it on about 2-3 hours a day as background ambience. My girlfriend is a different story. I'd be willing to front 3000 THB a month just to keep her annoying whiney dramatic Thai tv shows turned off. Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about...  >.<  The things we do for love.

Water:  Cheapest thing in BKK.  Around 200-300 THB

Food:  I really don't bother cooking at home, other than my tea kettle. Food in BKK is so cheap and amazing and will cost you less to buy than to utilize the stovetop (electricity).  My girlfriend comes over and cooks approx. 2 or 3 times a month.  The food budget is going to be calculated depending on your lifestyle and habits.  You could easily eat for 20 baht a meal and end up paying less than 2000 THB per month on really tasty and healthy thai food.  Or you could mix it up like I do and eat Thai food half the time and go out to some of the amazing western style joints around BKK, which can also be inexpensive.  I'm a regular at places like Wine Republic & Wine Connection.  My food expense for a month is around 8000-10000 THB, but I'm admittedly a foodie! There are far worse addictions.  You don't need to be a seafood freak like me.

Transportation:  Trying to live cheaply?  BTS BTS BTS!  MRT MRT MRT!  Bangkok is big but transport will not break your bank- even metered taxis are cheap if you don't worry about traffic.  I just bought a car here this year and that obviously put a huge jump in my transport expenses.  Up to you.  I have never calculated my expenses for getting around... probably because it's just not that expensive. I also don't work in BKK so if you have a job here and need to be on the move everyday like clockwork, then it will be a little more cash per month.

Mobile phone:  My thai phone is a Samsung Galaxy with True Move network and I just buy prepaid credit. I can't say I ever use more than 300 THB per month, but I also use a lot of wifi instead of data service.  Calls are cheap.. Data is cheap.  Win. Win.

Internet:  I am reading the current "True Online" brochure as I type this.  Right now they offer dsl 7 mb connection with wifi router for 599 THB per month. 10 mb cable connection for 699 THB. It goes on from there...  I require fast reliable service for overseas film/video work so I pay 10,000 THB for my cable connection in my flat. I get 200 mbps download and 15 mbps upload, which is still rather weak compared to western gigabit connections.  Choices choices.

Party/Drink:  I don't do much of this because I am a workaholic and I have an amazing girlfriend.  (I am a good boy).  It is widely known that Thailand is cheap to do both of these things, especially if you know where to go.  Though, you could make it an expensive habit just like anywhere in the world if you have no boundaries.  I occasionally go to happy hour hotel bars where you can order a buy one get one free beer (good imports like Guinness, Asahi or whatever) for 160 THB and also eat the free food for a few hours while it is out. Some of this food is rather fancy as well.  Like I said, I am more into eating.

So, there it is- 

High quality living for one person with no hassle and an array of luxuries at the doorstep. When I first moved to BKK 2 years ago I paid 30,000 THB + monthly for a 1 bedroom apartment in Thonglor area and thought I was living it up, next to all the new hip bars, etc. I certainly was not.  BKK is not like NYC or London where you need to shell out loads of cash just to live somewhere convenient. Thailand is full of people who make generally low salaries, which keeps the rental market economical. My 11,000 THB condo is considered low end, especially for farang, but it is more than nice for me, especially considering I also keep my house in Jamaica and a flat in Stockholm, Sweden.  I am a music video director, and occasionally film & tv, working from Los Angeles all the way to Hong Kong & Tokyo, and I STILL prefer to always come back to my place here in Bangkok.  I've seen the world ten times over and there is just something to be said about this city.  It's cheap, friendly, easy and fun.  That's why there are so many farang trying to remain here.  Bangkok offers high-end living for a low budget!  Or you could certainly go and spend 80,000 THB + for a fancy 2 or 3 bedroom high rise suite. Last month I invoiced 500,000 THB + and spent a tiny fraction of that on my happy BKK home away from home.  I don't want for anything and can plan my future purchase of a house in Rama 2 so I can bring my dog! 

Oh, and check out my view:



Let me know if you need any personal tips at finding a decent apartment in a nice location.  I have some potential strategies.  BKK is for everyone. Enjoy it!

That should be plenty, obviously depending on how you live. Now my expenses run 60-70K, in the past about 120K but that's living very well and includes savings plans, medical insurance and 45K spending money.

Real Bangkok Budgets...

I think it really really depends on if you like to party or not.

I have lived in Bangkok for many years, But Luis has given some fantastic advice which is spot on.

If you dont party too much i think its easy to live on 35,000 PM

Last month i spent less than 15,000 baht for the entire month
11,000 rent house
1,500 Bills
2500 Food

yes that's for an entire month!
Then again im not very social these days and enjoy watching movies every night and sitting in the garden reading all day. But find a nice abode and you wont want to leave it so often.

Socializing however, i can easily spend 5000 baht a night without blinking an eye. And its easily done in Bangkok or Pattya too. Then again you can be frugal and just spend 2000.

My advise is budget your cash flow each week, get a few envelopes and buy a cheap safe from Carefour, put your weeks allotment in 4 envelopes and spend only that amount each week, or if you get an overlap leave it for savings for that perfect beach holiday every few months.

I found that when i did this, rather than just go to the ATM machine everytime i ran out of cash (doesn't everybody?) Its amazing how much more mindful you can be about your spending habits, after a few months of doing it it just becomes second nature and you will know what your spending and probably not need to do it anymore.

zenred wrote:

I think it really really depends on if you like to party or not.

I have lived in Bangkok for many years, But Luis has given some fantastic advice which is spot on.

If you dont party too much i think its easy to live on 35,000 PM

Last month i spent less than 15,000 baht for the entire month
11,000 rent house
1,500 Bills
2500 Food

yes that's for an entire month!
Then again im not very social these days and enjoy watching movies every night and sitting in the garden reading all day. But find a nice abode and you wont want to leave it so often.

Socializing however, i can easily spend 5000 baht a night without blinking an eye. And its easily done in Bangkok or Pattya too. Then again you can be frugal and just spend 2000.

My advise is budget your cash flow each week, get a few envelopes and buy a cheap safe from Carefour, put your weeks allotment in 4 envelopes and spend only that amount each week, or if you get an overlap leave it for savings for that perfect beach holiday every few months.

I found that when i did this, rather than just go to the ATM machine everytime i ran out of cash (doesn't everybody?) Its amazing how much more mindful you can be about your spending habits, after a few months of doing it it just becomes second nature and you will know what your spending and probably not need to do it anymore.

Zenred - maybe you can live off 15,000 baht a month, but for some, that's much too frugal and leaves little money for anything. In fact, since I have a wife and two children, I spend 15,000 just on food and groceries every month.

My own rent for a four-bedroom home is 7000 baht.

Electric is 4000-6000 baht depending on how much we use the air and what time of the year it is.

Spending 2500 baht for food = 2 meals @ 30 baht plus 2 drinks @ 10 baht x 30 days.

I like to go to the movies once in a while, or to The Mall for a meal or coffee, go swimming, or like last weekend, go to the Butterfly Park. I should say, I do not party, don't drink, and I don't go to bars. But if you go to a place like the Butterfly PArk (Suan Rot Fai), you need to pay for transportation costs (120 baht by taxi), a little food (200), water, etc. So there are additional expenses.

Also, it's one thing to subsist, it's another to live. We save approximately 12,000 baht a month (which is not all that much with a family), have medical insurance and a few other things. Our bills, including savings and spending used to be 120K-150K a month. Now it's about 60K-70K a month. This is for two adults and two children. Add in the kids private school and it's an extra 22-25K a month.

So a budget in Bangkok is dependent on how you want to live and how much money you have available. I would rather spend $2000 a month to live in Thailand versus the US because for the money, my family and I can live much better.

hispaniola wrote:

I thought I would also chime in and share my personal experience living in Bangkok, lending contrast and/or comparison to what has already been posted here by some of these helpful & informative users. This post needed a 2012 update and I'd like to reconfirm that BKK is still an amazingly cheap and easy city to live in, even if you are not a rich businessman.

Let me know if you need any personal tips at finding a decent apartment in a nice location.  I have some potential strategies.  BKK is for everyone. Enjoy it!

Hi there,

I woud be interested to know some of your strategies! I am currently on a 3 month lease which runs out in December and may be looking for a one year contract next year.

I am paying 18,000 per month for a 1 bedroom Condo in On Nut (near BTS).

Regarding electricity costs, I was a bit shocked when my first month's electricity bill came in yesterday at 2,454.69 baht, as the Condo owner had estimated I would pay only around 1,000 p/m (or 2,000 tops if I have the A/C on 24 hours). There are two air conditioners but I only use one, although it is on during the night. From now on I might be using it less!

As I cannot read the bill it is hard for me to understand the breakdown of that cost.

The only other power usage is for lighting (standard energy saving lights) and fridge. There is no washing machine or clothes dryer.

cheers

Australian Man #2 wrote:

hispaniola wrote:

I thought I would also chime in and share my personal experience living in Bangkok, lending contrast and/or comparison to what has already been posted here by some of these helpful & informative users. This post needed a 2012 update and I'd like to reconfirm that BKK is still an amazingly cheap and easy city to live in, even if you are not a rich businessman.

Let me know if you need any personal tips at finding a decent apartment in a nice location.  I have some potential strategies.  BKK is for everyone. Enjoy it!

Hi there,

I woud be interested to know some of your strategies! I am currently on a 3 month lease which runs out in December and may be looking for a one year contract next year.

I am paying 18,000 per month for a 1 bedroom Condo in On Nut (near BTS).

Regarding electricity costs, I was a bit shocked when my first month's electricity bill came in yesterday at 2,454.69 baht, as the Condo owner had estimated I would pay only around 1,000 p/m (or 2,000 tops if I have the A/C on 24 hours). There are two air conditioners but I only use one, although it is on during the night. From now on I might be using it less!

As I cannot read the bill it is hard for me to understand the breakdown of that cost.

The only other power usage is for lighting (standard energy saving lights) and fridge. There is no washing machine or clothes dryer.

cheers

My electric bill was low this month - 4200 baht. We have two air-conditioners and I try to only use one at any given time. 2400 isn't all that bad if you're running the air-con 24/7. My guess is you could get it down to 1500 or even 1000 if you only used it at night.

I close my kids room when they have the air on. At midnight, when I go to sleep, I shut it off. They wake at 5AM so there's enough cool air to keep them comfortable. That's one way I reduced our bill.

Get a Thai to help you with the bill. I'm assuming you're being billed directly from the electric company?

18,000 for a 1-bedroom condo? You could get a very nice furnished, one-bedroom apartment from somewhere like the Lumpini Group for 11K a month. In addition to my home, about a year ago I had an apartment in the Pinklao area; one-bedroom, clean and quiet, new, and it was 9,000. 18K is steep, even if near the sky train, especially for the Onnut area.

The Life and Times of An American in Thailand

Well for me as a girl, I live in a studio apartment and I don't pay much. I monthly pay 15000 Baht monthly for everything but entertainment.