Cheapest cities in Thailand
Budget is an important consideration when moving to Thailand. Ideally, expats would settle down in a city in Thailand where the cost of living is low but where they could also enjoy a decent quality of life. Would you be able to give a few tips to someone planning a move to Thailand by answering the questions below?
What are the cheapest cities in Thailand?
Why are they cheap? What singles them out as a city where the cost of living is low?
What is the average budget for one person living in these cities?
Is it easy to find a job as an expat in these cities? What is the overall quality of life like?
Are they expat friendly? Would you recommend these cities to someone looking to settle in Thailand?
Please share your experience,
Bhavna
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I can assure you North of Thailand is the cheapest option, if budget is your primary concern. I know quite a few foreigner working in Chiang Rai as a teacher and manager, also they used to have their own small business like resorts, guesthouses, coffee shop, restaurants, etc..
Chinag Rai and Chiang Mai are your best option in North, another places are too small, you will not find a descent job, unless you open by yourself and if it is the case do not expect a great influx of customers. I personally like Mae Sai (border with Myanmar), quite nice climate, great mountain view, good food, nice and calm people.
Isam, is very noise lately, lots of development, I know some places only as a tourist, can't say much about, but most of my former and actual colleagues are from different parts in Isam and they don't want to live there.
Bangkok, I think there enough information about on this site.
Chonburi (Pattaya) is a tourist area, but a lot of foreign living there permanently, also the port area there is a lot of business going on.
Rayong is little quiet than Chonburi, still nice, lots of factories and a city you find anything you need.
Chantaburi - Beautiful place, amazing beaches, but to quiet for me, not many business going on.
Trat - Well again, just like Chantaburi, except for Koh Chang, it is a big island and there is a lot of foreign working there, but they mostly work for themselves (owners) and not as employee of some Thai company. I use to go there almost all weekends.
Currently living in and working in Hua Hin as Chef - I like this place, I used to visit Hua Hin the time was living in Bangkok. Hua Hin and Koh Chang are very good options to live, if you have a family go for Hua Hin because the infrastructure is much better than Koh Chang. If you are single Koh Chang will be a better option if you like nature, diving, sports, etc.., Hua Hin has one of the largest foreign community in Thailand, just like Phuket. Lot of development going on here, check it out maybe you like.
The deep south I do not recommend to live there due the local problems, personally I like Pattani and Songkla, delicious food, but I have no idea about working in this location.
In resume:
North is the cheapest place I recommend Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. Followed by Isam, cities like Kon Kaen, Ubon, Udon Thani, Nakhon Rachasima, Khorat (growing pretty fast).
Central Thailand: Bangkok and surrounds.
South: Hua Hin, Phuket and Koh Samui, these are the most expensive but of course it depends on your lifestyle, you can find good deals.
Avoid small towns, you will get bored easy and fast, unless you own your business, there is no good deals.
Thailand can be a dream or a nightmare, choose wisely your location, I moved almost everywhere, small towns and big cities. I don't like Bangkok, to noisy for me, but Hua Hin is just the perfect combination, you can find anything here and it is just 2 hours from Bangkok.
Good Luck.
I think for employment a lot of us buy our selves a job by buying an established or starting a new one, It is not as hard as people seem to think it is. If you are in IT, a good chef or a school teacher its pretty easy to get a job.
Paul Baker ex Auckland, NZ
Like i write before we use around the same 40.000 baht pr month.
When i was single living in Bangkok i use around 28.000 baht pr month.
And today with the knowledge about living here, I can still live for that if i was single again. Even so the price have gone up a little bit.
This is our live, Not saying it is cheap or not, But for me it is.
For me coming from Denmark it sure is a lot cheaper to live here in Thailand.
I do have a friend living up in North Thailand with hes wife and 1 kid for a total of hes pension of 26.000 - 28.000 baht pr month, And i think it is great he can have a great live here in Thailand for that, As hes live back home with that kind of money is no fun at all !!!
Of Course Thailand change immigration laws, Do people think that Thailand have to use the same rules for ever ?
Take a look at when they change it last time, I think it might surprise people how long they use the same requirements (talking about long stay using Extension to stay).
And do people think Thailand have to let everyone stay & live here that want to, Without have the funds to support a live here ?
And yes, Thailand set the amount we need to have.
No reason to blame Thailand for it, It come after years and years of foreigner abuse the Immigration law to stay here, Use agent to get Extension without have the funds to live here.
And so many have use Tourist Visa to live in Thailand years after years, Even so that not what a Tourist Visa is for.
So if you want to blame someone, Blame the foreigner.
And yes, I got hit with my Embassy dont make income letter any more.
So i have to use transfer into my Thai bank account in August 2019 to extend my stay here, So have to wait and see how that go !!
Thailand is still a great place to live, That have not change for me in the 8 Years i live here.
Kindly.
Rainmon wrote:Don't waste your time moving to Thailand unless you have a good job that will do all your paperwork and get your visa, the laws have changed twice this year and after over 12 years living in Thailand I am leaving, they only want rich tourists who will pay for expensive hotels and tours etc. What was once the Land of Smiles is now the Land of Rip Off the Farang, behind the smile they hate you and will spit on you.
this sounds like a disgruntled expat--he is exagerating thungs... but dont come to thailand if you have minimal funds..
they dont want people that cant properly support themseilves in case of sickness or acciden etc
If you compare Thailand with some countries in Europe or in the Americas, it still very very cheap to live here.
If I were an expatriate, I would never buy real state in a country that do not allow me ownership over the land (Apartment is fine if it is not lease), what is the point to own a house but not the land where it was built on? another important issue is the VISA which the expat will be allowed to be here, some foreign just do not want to marry a Thai national to be here!
Plan a lot before moving to Thailand.
Very important for me is to have insurance with full coverage, times have changed. If you're having an accident and hospitalized, they'll keep your passport until you can pay them.
I've been in the lower northeast ( Isaan) for the last 16 years and the prices for almost everything have skyrocketed!
Teaching salaries went down, these days you can see job adds where they offer 22 K for an experienced teacher with a teacher's license.
The islands are all more expensive because they have to bring all the goods with a ship/boat. Chiang Mai is so polluted that I'd never ever move even close to CM.
Rayong, at the east coast, is so polluted, too many plastics and other factories are killing thousands of people, one of them was a relative who worked in one of these cruel factories near Rayong.
IMO, it all depends on your lifestyle, many foreigners "can't eat Thai food", that's complicating it a bit.
Sisaket is a middle-sized town but has all to offer regarding food, car parts, parks, fitness studio, etc..
I'd say that Sisaket is the cheapest option because people here have the lowest pay all over Thailand. But when you go shopping at Tesco's, Macro, or Big C, they all have the same prices.
When I settled down here, I could rent a small house for 1,500 baht. The same shoebox is now up to 3,500 baht!!
Pattaya isn't Thailand in my eyes, too many idiots from all countries, including mafia, drugs and more. The crime rate is amazing, not the country, the times are long gone that you can call it Amazing Thailand. That's such a surreal place that it already hurts, look at all the fake ladyboys who rob people! Do you really want to live in a beach city where you can't even swim in the sea because it's too dirty?
If you have enough money, settle down on Ko Lanta, an island that belongs to Krabi province. But again, it all depends on what you expect to eat, how you live and how much money you have to spend per month.
I might go back to Europe to make sure that I receive more money as a pension because I don't want to be starving when I'm older.
I've got around 35 K/month, but if something at my truck breaks down that's more than 5 K, I do have a little problem and saving money is impossible. Anyway, I wish you all a nice life in LOS, no matter where you are. Cheers-
And still some forgenier think we need to have 4 -10 timers that, To have a great live, I never going to understand that !!!
So for you a great live depends on you can buy a NEW Car, Clear that money is big thing for you.
We dont have a new car and we are having a super great live together.
We talk about buying 1 for a long time, But we dont really need one, So why use the money for one.
Not all people can have insurance or having the money if they really sick, But they take a chance to come live here, And take live as it come, Lucky for most people it turn out to be okay, And yes a few get hit hard times.
But that the live they wanted, And for many compare to the live back home, This is what they want, And they love that live.
You might not understand it, or approved it, So what ?
You live your life, And others live their life.
We people have different picture of what a great live is, What we need to be happy.
For you it is a New Car.
For me it is to be with my wife, pay our bills, eat every day.
I dont care about New Car, Mobile phone, and others item, Nice to have, But not important for me, And i found a wife that fell the same way.
Ohh I almost forgot, Thailand have many great school that dont cost that much, That can give a good education, My wife and her 2 brothers all go to public school, And later universitet and they all turn out more then good, Same for the friends my wife grow up with.
Kindly.
correct also-- pattaya is NOT typical thailand-- however, i can live very well there on 35, 000thb/mth, but i dont pay rent {own my own condo}.. also have seperate funds to cover me in case of sickness or accident--also substantial other income for regular overses trips..
dont come to pattaya if you have an alcahol problem or you are on limited funds-- stay home....
And still some forgenier think we need to have 4 -10 timers that, To have a great live, I never going to understand that !!!
Yes, a Thai family can live on that, but I do not know many foreigners who could. You misunderstood me, the new car was just an example and regarding your non-existent insurance, thank you very much! But no worries, if you belong to this category, I'll also visit you and help you with all I can!
I'm voluntarily working for an organization that helps particular foreigners in emergency situations. Then I've got to take my over a 20-year-old truck, visit them, usually in a hospital and try to find a way to solve his, or her problems.
So for you a great live depends on you can buy a NEW Car, Clear that money is big thing for you.
We dont have a new car and we are having a super great live together.
We talk about buying 1 for a long time, But we dont really need one, So why use the money for one.
I do not give a flying kite about a new car, even when people are always asking me why I wouldn't buy a new one. My L 200 is older than 20, but I keep it technically 1 A. You seem to be talking a lot, but I haven't yet me a Thai woman who likes to talk about things that never happen. Things that better your life, it's not about a new car now, or a new mobile phone! Fragg Fartbook.
Not all people can have insurance or having the money if they really sick, But they take a chance to come live here, And take live as it come, Lucky for most people it turn out to be okay, And yes a few get hit hard times.
But that the live they wanted, And for many compare to the live back home, This is what they want, And they love that live.
What's wrong with you, I'm certain that you've had health insurance back home. Why do you think that you don't need one here? By taking the chance, did you mean to set up a GoFund Me page when all goes wrong? If so, shame on you.
I've sent money to two very injured guys after a motorcycle accident, who'd set up a GoFundMe page, I'm a motorbike rider myself and I understand how fast an accident can happen in the "Land Of Smiles." But I'd never sent money again to any of these people, too many people are liars and set such a page up to make a holiday, or similar.
You might not understand it, or approved it, So what ?
You live your life, And others live their life.
My parents in law are farmers whom I love a lot, I help them with my money when I can. They respect me as a full member and I speak their slang. I'm not the Farang in the family who's just a walking ATM, do you get that?
We people have different picture of what a great live is, What we need to be happy.
For you it is a New Car.
Yes, maybe I'm more down to earth and please don't tell me that life with rotten teeth and old worn out clothes is somehow cool? I know quite a few guys where you really feel very unwell ( throw up like) when you see their teeth. Beer and fags seem to be more important than going to a dentist and spending the money on something that makes sense. Who'd like to kiss such an agly mouth?
For me it is to be with my wife, pay our bills, eat every day.
I dont care about New Car, Mobile phone, and others item, Nice to have, But not important for me, And i found a wife that fell the same way.
Good to hear that you eat every day, it would be a shame when you came to Thailand to have food every second/third day. My cell/mobile phone is as old as a dino, but I don't care, because it's just a tool for me. I've just bought a big bike because that's a part of my life and always was. Why should I not enjoy things that make me and my wife happy? She helps me fixing it and loves riding it as well. She's a bit short for an 1100 cc cruiser, but it's okay. It's life for us to breathe fresh air, doing 150 km/h or a bit more.
Ohh I almost forgot, Thailand have many great school that dont cost that much, That can give a good education, My wife and her 2 brothers all go to public school, And later universitet and they all turn out more then good, Same for the friends my wife grow up with.
Oops, I almost forgot. I've been teaching in Thailand for the last 14 years, I've got a real teacher's license issued by the TCT in Bangkok ( Khurusapha). I've taught all levels, starting from Kindergarten, up to tertiary level and without wanting to hurt you, here's the truth about an educational system that fails in all corners and PERSPECTIVES.
The ordinary school is nothing else than brainwashing. The majority of Thai English teachers can't even have a conversation with an English speaking person, not necessarily with an NES. Are you okay with a Thai teacher who hits your child at primary school? Do you like it when a male teacher touches a little girl in a very perverted way, of offers better grades when they do some sexual favors?
Some teachers cut big parts of hair off when they believe hair is too long, I almost cried when I saw my son many moons ago, but told him to tell his teacher to never do that again, or I'd do the same to him. It never happened again. Why do students have to go down on their knees when visiting the teacher in the office? It's a very sick system id lost faces, not more.
My ex-neighbors, three gay Thai teachers, always raped high school students in their lunch break right next to our house. I wanted to go to the cops, but my wife told me not to. I felt so stupid, but there's nothing I could do.
What you're calling a "good education, is a big joke! Until March, I've taught grade 12 students at the best school in the town in an IEP set up, only a few could speak more than the obligatory "I'm fine, thank you and you? bla bla. All students pass, IMO around 92 % of all students would have failed. But would I fail many students, I'd kick myself out of that school, where students copy from textbooks into notebooks, they copy their homework from a bright kid who actually did it.[/color]
Some teachers here are child molesters but it's better not to talk about it. Nobody wants to go to the cops, it happened at a school where I almost freaked out, but the cops were not interested that an 11-year-old girl got molested over a period of two years!
Students who've done one year abroad are usually very bright. If you can do that for your kid(s), you'll open them a much better future. Enough, one final question.
What would you fo if you got hit by a speeding pick up driver, being heavily injured and the hospital bill's 3 million baht? It freaking happened to me when a speeding Kathoey hit my truck sideways. But I've got my social security that already paid a few thousand times more from what I've paid in. I hope that you get my point and don't come with a nasty answer.
It might time to wake up. We're all getting older and we tend to get sick. I had to visit people thru my organization I wouldn't even talk to when meeting on the streets, some of them do not have insurance, but believe that they are special and go to a first-class hospital, set up a GoFundMe page and let others pay who'd worked hard for their money.
Kind regards.
On a trip to Thailand after a few days/week, I was back to "normal" like before i got sick.
To choose between a live with insurance in Denmark and one without insurance in Thailand, Was so easy for me.
Because some people dont have insurance, Is not the same as the have no money.
We save up what we can, And take things as they come.
8 years now here and that alone have being worth the move for me.
I probable have taking my own live if i stay back home, As it was not a good live.
The education in Thailand are fine for Thailand, They get the people they need to do the job the need people to do, Sure it not same as back home, But hey !!
Thailand is a 3th world country, And mine is a 1th world country, So there is no reason to compare the 2 country, imo.
Yes you right, we so lucky in the west that our kids never get hurt by a teacher or other grownup.
Come on man, That happen all over the world.
In Thailand it "normal" for the part involved in things like that to make a deal and keep it out of the court system, I am not saying it is right.
Again you might not like it or understand it, But that the Thai way, And we are living in Thailand.
For me i can say, I didnt need to give money to my Thai family before i was part of them.
Like my father in law say the first time we meet and talk about everything.
when we have that talk in the start, As i back then believe the crazy story from foreigner about one have to give money to Thai familie and he told me.
A Man take care of hes own familie and take care of the wife and him self, The wife familie is NOT the Man job to take care of.
And i can say today, Like i write before, I only know of 1 Thai man that give money to hes wife familie 2.000 baht pr month, And that even so a lot of them make more money then many foreigner have.
Other Thai Men / couples give money to who every parents help take care of there kids.
Many simple dont have more to give.
And after we got married, Father in law gave us this house to live in.
So one dont need to give familie money to get respect / accepted buy our Thai familie.
It is a bar stole story that one need to give them money.
But if you like to do, That fine.
No, Not time to wake up, I know what i did before moving here, And have zero regret about it, And i dont worried about what might happen or not in the furture, Like many Thai, I live here and now.
Kindly.
jana611 wrote:Chiang Mai,...is far more expensive than the Pattaya/Jomtien (near the beach) region of Thailand.
You can't be serious.
no need to start a fight here.
some guys here are talking just like communists!
I think I got enough from this thread.
Wish good luck for you all.
I spent 4 months in Koh Samui
I found I needed 1000-2000 baht a day for everything
Rent 15,000
Electricity 1200
Food 500-800B a day for 2
Petrol Scooter hire
Entertainment
Clothes
It was more than I expected but now I know I need 50k-60k a month to live nice in Koh Samui My Goal is to have at least 100k per month for 4 months and spend 3 months in Spain and Cape Town and 5 months in Australia
Nonsense. 26,000 to 28,000 with child? What life do they live in? I live in Sisaket/Isaan which was and still is the poorest province of Thailand.
Our son is 22 now and old enough to make his own money, but living on that money wouldn't be enough. I have a certain standard, got a big bike and a pick-up. I also want to eat out often and from time to time there's something broken at my car or bike.
We also have a small Yamaha 110 cc with 78,000 km on the clock, still running well because I can fix it.
Our house is cheap and big. 4 K for the house 1.5 K for electricity. About 800 baht for water. 2 K for gasoline. Once you've pad all bills including internet, you'll soon find out that you can't save any money, even when you have 35 K/month.
Now taking COVID 19 into account, I strongly believe that maybe Cambodia would be an option. An old friend of mine lives there and her pension isn't that high to live a very comfortable life.
I still think that Sisaket or nearby provinces are very cheap, you can eat out and get fried rice with pork/ shrimp, etc for around 50 baht. That's not possible when you go to Pattaya which is pretty dead now.
But let's not forget that we all can have an accident, hit and run and you find yourself in a hospital and they've got your passport. That can add up to a few hundred thousand baht and they won't let you go before you've paid the bill.
IMO, the times are over where you could move to Thailand, find a teaching job without a degree, and buy all dirt cheap. The cost of living has skyrocketed and I'd think thrice to settle down here.
But why not giving it a try and live here for a while, travel around to find a nice area, and then decide if it's possible to live on that money?
I should add that I've been living here for 20 years now, happily married since 16 and working at a school now for the last 16 years. having a steady income is very important to me, but we get older and there'll be a time when I'm too old to find a job.
I wish you the best of luck. BTW, are you in Thailand now?
If use 40-60.000 or more, they think people use less, That they dont live comfortably.
And other that use less, Think people use 40-60.000 or more, Are spending to must.
Are foreigner so small mind ??
Is there NO room to undertand we all different and have different need for what we need to live a comfortably live.
And we have different amount of money to live by, And we try to match that to our live.
Still remember when i was here first time, A foreigner told me, That the stupids people in Thailand is the foreigner, And yes he was so right....


Kindly.
THE foreigners consist of many people from a lot of different countries that you can hardly make such a statement that they're all stupid.
You should have a long look into a mirror and be ashamed of yourself.
Not all Thais are poor, some are uneducated, some aren't. Isn't that the same with foreigners?
Thailand without tourism would look like Myanmar now. Perhaps you can Google and see how bad the situation for many Thais right now is who were considered rich when they could make money from foreign visitors.
And please stop calling foreigners stupid, it could get you banned here.
Kind regards.
Please note that some off topics posts have been removed from the thread.
As @stumpy mentioned, kindly stay focus while replying please.
Cheers,
Cheryl
Expat.com team.
Ontheriver wrote:This entire conversation confuses me..I have watched videos and read up on what it takes to live comfortably in Thailand and it sees that the magic number is between 40,000 to 55,000 in most places and not break the bank..I cant imagine that any foreigner would attempt to retire anywhere on less that 40,000.?? I know there are people who want to live on less but retirement is not just finding the cheapest place to hold up is it? My retirement needs to include living and living well.
Good for you, but we are all different in what "living well" means, I live well on peanuts, and have done
for the last 15 years in LOS.... 
Transam wrote:Ontheriver wrote:This entire conversation confuses me..I have watched videos and read up on what it takes to live comfortably in Thailand and it sees that the magic number is between 40,000 to 55,000 in most places and not break the bank..I cant imagine that any foreigner would attempt to retire anywhere on less that 40,000.?? I know there are people who want to live on less but retirement is not just finding the cheapest place to hold up is it? My retirement needs to include living and living well.
Good for you, but we are all different in what "living well" means, I live well on peanuts, and have done
for the last 15 years in LOS....
Quiet now, We have people on here, That think anyone not using the same as them, Can´t live good live... Ha ha
About cheap living, I think one can live cheap multi place in Thailand.
Take me, I did love to live in Bangkok back when i move here, And still today, I think it is one of the cheapest city in Thailand i live in.
But today no way i live there, Simple because of the Air pollution, It have become to much for me and the wife.
Same when we was at Patong-Phuket.
Eating in the the middle of Patong, Food cost and arm and a leg, And tast was below average, So Wife look at facebook / line group .
And found where other Thai recommended to eat.
And then we got great food, At nearly normal rate compare to what we normal pay.
Taking the bus to "Old" Phuket town, and price on everything was so damn cheap.
Putting out the 2 place, As people "normal" say there are very expensive to live in.
We have many friends living in Bangkok in a big room or 1 bed room + living room for around 2.800-3.400, Water under 100 Baht, Power around 700.
Then if it was me and i was single, I need Internet, Fiber from AIS 499 per month for high speed. That take care of internet, Tv and call over the internet.
I can easy eat for 100-140 baht per day and be super happy about it.
I love Thai / Asian food, And can eat same as the local.
I never choose Westen style food. (But my wife like to eat that now and then, That the only reason we every eat it)
So as i say, One can live cheap and good, And be happy.
I use around 1.000 Baht per year for my medicine.
5.600 Baht once a year for my injection for back pain.
Then i can choose to spend ekstra on what every i want.
I dont drink, smoke, I never go to Bar´s, I never go to movie theater.
As i enjoy to watch movie at home.
I travle and see all i every want to in Thailand. So no need to spend money on that, IF i was single.
If i was single I buy a Motor bike, But again that super cheap, And dont cost must.
Kindly.
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