How do cultural differences in daily living influence expats' experiences in Thailand, particularly regarding kitchens and laundry?

Don't know what condos you are looking at, but in my experience you have to dig hard to find one without a kitchen and a wash machine.

Pretty standard stuff. Now in a modern urban condo, space is small, so it's gonna be a tiny kitchen, unless you pay for premium space.

And dryers are uncommon because everybody dries laundry on their balcony.

Honestly, even lots of hotel rooms have kitchens and laundry.

I think you've received bad info. Home cooking is a very high priority for a LOT of Thais. That's why there are so many lovely fresh markets. But as in every other area of life, they make do with smaller and less of everything than we Americans deem "normal."

Northern Iowa is great this time of year. When traveling there, I never consider why or when People do their laundry. THAILAND!, on the other hand has much to see and explore, the metrics of laundry is in direct proportion to how much do you wish to carry in your luggage.

Your time is obviously not valuable at all.

If you can make more money with your time why not pay for a service. Catch a wake up man. We in 2024, not 1970

not sure what/where you looked, but most condo's I've seen and also rented a few, had both.

You are most welcome to Dm me I recently started living in Thailand and will do my best to provide some support if you need it. I am from USA too.

Most financially independent people I know focus on capitalizing on their strengths and outsourcing their weaknesses. Know your worth and focus your time on the areas that are most profitable so you create more free time to do the things you love. This is how you attain success. You really think wealthy people cut their own grass and change their own brakes, etc? I’m surprised more people don’t understand what a waste of time this is. If you can make $200 an hour, why cut grass that you can pay someone $10 an hour to do. Makes no sense. Your time has a monetary value. Again……KNOW YOUR WORTH.

Millions of coin laundromats here. Definitely cheaper to eat out and easier. Thai kitchens are VERY simple. Outfit a corner on your patio if you need one. Ovens are rare. Make sure you're paying the minimum country rates for your utilities . Many places jack up the price to make money. Make sure you have a good newer ac.

As they say.......your not in Kansas any more baby.....try to adapt or stay home

@Catherine **********

also unfortunately in these expat groups too many over inflate their knowledge of all things Thailand, don’t let it discourage you. Most of the westerners (Falangs) I have met here and nothing like some of the mean spirited people in these groups.

@Catherine **********

I apologize for all the ignorant, mean spirited or arrogant comments you received on your post. It is a great post. My Thai wife who grew up on a rural farm in Essan and now lives in a urban city Hua Hin, first told me that most Thai and Falangs eat out when I made the same observations as you upon arrival in Thailand. She said it is cheaper and easier to eat out (specifically Thai food) than cook. Of course Thai in more rural settings will cook at home more.

What? Did you say most Thai house don't have a kitchen? That will be a problem for me, because I like to cook my own food..I am going to Thailand in one month, so I better know

Here in Chiang Rai I have Not done my own laundry in 4 years and at 2 to 300 Baht Why should I waste my time. Finding a Dryer could be a problem and the kitchens are small and some not even in the house but outback LOL 555.

yes, they are lazy and doing a bad job

Hillbillies!!

When I first arrived I also was wondering why houses are furnished, but don't have a stove. You can look around and find a house with a kitchen, but will have to buy a stove and gas or a hotplate. You'll also have to pay for a washing machine or wash by hand. The house with a kitchen is not more expensive than a house without one, but more expensive than an apartment. I don't know where you are. In my city you can rent a 1-2 bedroom house for 6- baht and an apartment without kitchen for 3-6000. But it's not easy to find a furnished house here, cause it's a small city.

May be a repeat, but these services are so cheap. For one person it makes sense. The variety of foods available at food stalls is mind blowing. When you first settle, do it until you find the ideal home, apartment etc.

That was a long rant about nothing. I think you should stay in your rural farm in the us crazy people over there.

You won't fit in here.

I love in a city in Thailand and do all my washing and cook my own food 6 days a week. Pretty sure I'm not the only one.

Most Thais have a kitchen and do their own washing. Many more have domestic staff than what's you come from.

Nearly all baby boomers are the same.as you I certainly.am.and feel uncomfortable having work.done for.me.but I am.a few years in now and all is good watching the misses do.eveything cooking laundry cleaning the house (above and below eye level 555).but when it comes to my bike well that's a different ball game i like to do the work myself ..its not about the money it's about the skill..and quality of.work ..normaly there are some very skilled thai people who work exceptionaly well but can't help.but look over it while work is in progress just cos I am.a fussy c.....t

You'll also find most farangs such as many posted here think they are Thai. 🤡

Many Thais living in urban area are working there living alone, or sharing a flat with others, away from their countryside home. So cooking or owning a washing machine is a bit of luxury for them. If you are looking at the bigger condominium flats, townhouses, or single houses, those would most probably come equipped with kitchen and washing machine.

Most Thais have a washing machine and kitchen but if you're staying in 2 star hotels I understand

I’m exactly the same, from Michigan. I cook meatloaf at home sometimes lol.

That was really interesting to read about cultural difference. Keep going. Thank you for your post!

You’re looking at properties that don’t have these facilities? .. are you looking at properties outside of cities ?.

My condo like most others have cookers , washing machines/ facilities etc ..

if your looking at places in the country sure most do there washing by hand and cook on propane .. properties ? You get what you’re prepared to pay for .

@Catherine **********

I grew up on a dairy and tobacco farm in southwest , Wisconsin…near Prairie du Chien… probably not far from where you grew up…

I think you'll find all condos come with a kitchen, and many with washing machine. That's my experience anyway

You think there are some cultural differences hoo boy? 🤦🏼‍♂️🤡

I prefer to make more money with what I like to do and pay others for the things i don't really like to do. Live and let live.

Everybody is different luckily.

My family have washing machine and stem iron machine. Still we send some of our clothes to local cleaning service lady in our neighborhood. Why? We want to support her and it also allow us more time to do things more important to us like extra study, side gig, spend time on investment, etc. I also find many thai dont like washing by machine. My mom loves hand wash.

I here what you are saying But lots of people here make a living cooking cleaning and doing laundry

Welp my wife works, so over the years when I’m home in Thailand I do laundry, clean and cook and I work the farm. Big difference between the country life and city life where there are more conveniences

Also, it’s too hot to cook inside. But in an apartment there is usually no outside kitchen. Also, you can wash your clothes by hand. Many Thais do this.

People who use services value their time NOT doing something more than the money it costs. So they have a surplus of money and a lack of time and they want more time. You are experiencing first hand differences in culture which are when you think something is “wrong” or morally superior to what someone else considers “right”. Last, just remember, if you aren’t the one doing it, it’s none of your business. Feelings will follow suit.

Have you been to Thailand?

I understand Catherine, you make a good point. Time is the answer, just give it time and you’ll adapt and find other ways to keep busy perhaps.

I’d be more worried about the obvious lack of decent conversation offered by the expats in Hua Hin. If this group is anything to go by they tend to not read very well and are argumentative.😉

You should do a lot more studying about Thai culture…

If every culture in the world was the same?

Why would anybody want to go abroad…

Maybe your missing the point 🙏

You need to rent a house or a very big condo. House is usually cheaper.

Your conclusion is not quite right. That is not culture, it’s just someone who live with a convenient life because they don’t have much time to do all things by themselve.

It's more about supporting others, particularly small businesses to survive and keep doing what they are doing. You'll find it's very affordable and you will make some rewarding connections with the locals if you are kind and generous of heart.

We are originally from the Midwest, so I get it. We’ve been here since 2011 and have lived in multiple places. We first were in this kind of long stay hotel type place before we got our first house. I’ve found it’s a bit hard to find places online. Being in the area and having a good agent helps. We have ended up building/modifying our kitchens. Some places have them. Others have a room where you make one, which is what we’ve done. And we’ve made space for a washer and a dryer.

You should visit for a few months to see if this culture is a fit for you

If you wages are around 400 $, which it is for many Thais, then you can not afford to more than 4 walls, a toilet and a watertank, the money to build kitchens and buy washing mashines are simply not there, and with streetfood, and local cooks (typicaly older women) that can supply you a meal for around 50 Baht, then you have to cook many meals in order to make the investment in a US style kitchen.

A washing machine will cost you 5000 - 10.000 Baht, so that is roughly half of a months wage, so that is a long time investment.

Even though there are coin laundrys that cost around 30 Baht / machine, or you can get someone to wash for you at 50 Baht/kilo.

You really need to go and find out how Thailand works, it seems you don’t have a clou.

And don’t burn you bridges in US, you might want to go back really soon.

/user//

Simple rooms like this ( or even one without any windows, will be shared by 2-3 people, to be able to pay the rent, and provide for the family back in Isaan.

Note to Americans & Canadians: Thailand is different. Don't try to change it. We like it as it is.

Essentially apartments aren’t “homes”

It’s just a place to crash when work is finished - the home is back in suburbs, Isaan/some province etc

you would be surprised that you can find a house in bkk for half the price of a similar surface condo if you search a little bit out of internet, not easily but definitely possible depending on what rent you can afford and where you want to stay

Rice cooker, hob cutting board and a morter and pestle. Dont need all them fancy appliances you find in an american kitchen.

If you can afford to live in a place without a kitchen or washingmachine, maybe you can look at it from the cook or cleaners point of view. They like to have a job, and you give them a chance to make a living.

I think the main distinction is that in an urban setting, apartments/condos can’t allow gas cookers in units due to fire risks. The lack of an oven is that most of their cuisine do not require it plus it’s expensive. I’ve found that cooking at home is more expensive especially for 1. Now I do generally cook breakfast and lunch. And the lack of washing machines is all due to costs. Rental units get a lot of abuse.

I visited more than 10 house when l was looking for a rental. Every single one had a kitchen and washer. dryers aren't that common because most people hang their laundry to dry.

i prefer doing my own laundry and washing my own dishes. most everything else i’m happy to have help

I lived in Iowa for years. I too grew up doing most of what you have done. I also raised 4 children. Two of my grown children still live in Iowa, with their families. But Living in another country requires adjusting to their ways. You are a guest in their country. What life was like before, is now gone. Unless you move back to Iowa. You can rent condos with washing machines. Thats a must have for me. I can adjust to smaller kitchen, since it is just me. An air frier comes in handy, when you don't have an oven. I wish you luck, hope you can get your mind set to a new way of life.

I do my laundry at a laundrette weekly 40 baht for wash, 40 baht for dry, 20 baht for detergent. Doesn’t get much cheaper than 100 baht a week

LOL, Average Thai's cook their own meals, and do have kitchens. Not a kitchen you probably have though. Many cook over outdoor fire, some have kitchens in a back room and cook on one or two gas burners. You'll also find many Western style kitchens with built-in stoves and ovens, even full laundry. Many Thai's have no table, chairs, or Western style beds, they sit and sleep on the ground/floor. More Westerners should probably get out of their own Countries to appreciate other Cultures .

Maybe stick to Iowa then - this place is not for you ………

Most Thai people work very long hours and add in the travel to and from home means they are tired. So they can buy a somtum for 40 baht and a sticky rice for 10 baht why wouldn't they? It's already done with no ingredients to buy. As for washing clothes I'd guess 90% of them would do it themselves. The ones that are retired or don't work would most likely do everything for themselves too.

This isn't Kansas, Dorothy

My girlfriend parents live in a rural area near Hat Yai, south Thailand. They have a kitchen and a washing machine.

Its one of the ways to support the local economy

Good post interesting take 👍

It can actually be cheaper eating out than cooking your own food unless you do not enjoy Thai street food. It's expensive cooking for 1 person because you need to get a list of ingredients just to cook 1 dish.

In the Midwest, you have to drive to get to a food joint. Over here, you only need to step out onto the street and you'll find a food cart or two, 7-11 round the corner with ready meals. And most are 30-60baht only.

Most apartments here provide a small kitchenette even for studios. My 1 bedroom even has a full sized oven.

From England.

16 years here. First few I did my own laundry. Hand wash.

Now built the house got the machine.

Cook sometimes but so cheap to eat out so nice to do that too.

As someone 43 years of age, how do you plan to live here, what visa. What income.

Clarify that before asking about Thai life

Ready made food is tasty, good eatin', and not expensive (unless at the upscale restaurants). I buy food to go daily and get rice, vegetables, and either chicken, fish, pork, etc, all for 60-70 THB (~$2), and if I add a beer, it's now $3. Not a Peterbuilt truck driver sized meal, but good enough. This is more efficient than cooking at home. You cannot buy "just enough" ingredients for a meal, so one ends up buying excess ingredients, cooking (then eating) more than needed. Since I went thru the trouble of living overseas, am not going to spend that time cooking. Laundry is the same... wouldn't I be doing something else other than washing clothes? On the other hand, lots of locals have washing machines, but not driers. Customs do differ wildly. There isn't such a thing as a common Thai house with a fridge or freezer with frozen pizza, steak or TV dinner. They do not bake turkeys, hams, or cookies. Forget about stew or minestrone soup. These are mostly cold countries activities, and the temp is too hot to be baking. Living routines are invariably fitted to the locale.

You can rent with all the facilities you want, just make an effort to research

I will say you’re spot on in your thinking Catherine. I live in Bangkok but from Oklahoma/southern California, and had the same awakening a few years ago on my first visit to Thailand. No laundry except a nice Thai lady and her daughters who apparently did laundry for the surround neighborhood. Ok. I said to my self…..I dropped a big load off and it was perfectly folded and vacuum bagged for a couple hundred baht….wow. Went to some friends ‘Up Country’…(everyone uses that term..555) and we went shopping at the local outdoor marketplace that’s been there for 50 some years….got back to the ‘house’ and they cooked all that food outside, underneath the house……no kitchen. I looked at condos for sale and still no proper kitchen….a single sink but no stove for cooking. I make another dozen trips to Thailand and decide to live in Bangkok. I leased a modern condo, underground parking, elevators to the 7th floor, dual air conditioning, nice modern fridge and freezer, sink, microwave, but still no stove. I like my clean clothes and sheets so I walked to the Mall (fashion island that has a Home Depot type place) and bought a combination Washer/dryer in one machine. Talking a look around many people have this machine on their balcony. So I did the same thing. Works amazing. Very quiet. Same for cooking. Apparently the hot ticket is an Induction cooker that can be stowed under a counter. Got one. Works very fast. I split time between California and Bangkok but I can cook and do laundry nice and proper in both locations. Bob. Here’s some photos…you’ll have to put the machine on a base mount. Lucky I had 3 inches to spare….555.

I had a similar upbringing in the rural south. At first it felt weird but now I find it refreshing that I can walk a few meters and get a good meal for a couple of dollars and support local businesses. I still do all of my own laundry though. However, it’s easy in Bangkok to find a room with a kitchen and washer and typically a dryer in the building. Not sure where some of these negative comments are coming from - you acknowledged it is a subjective matter. Unfortunately expat groups are some of the most toxic places on the internet. I just block anyone unhelpful 😂

I totally understand. Doing for yourself was ingrained in me too. My folks are from Missouri and North Dakota. Farmers all.

You will find a big difference between city Thais and country folk. One of the things and there are many that amaze me in the small village that I live in is the utter lack of maintenance performed. Equipment gets run till it dies. Homes never get taken care of or even painted…

Where are you looking at properties?

Mine has an inside kitchen with cooker, hob, microwave and dishwasher, as well as an outside kitchen with a washing machine. Even the condo I stayed in at first had a hob and washing machine.

This is a very, I've not travelled much mentality. Not everywhere is like the USA

You are SO wrong

I'd wager 99% of condos and houses for rent have cooking and laundry facilities

So many things to get used too. The only hot water in the house will be a water heater in the shower. Rest of the house only has cold water. No toilet paper down the loo unless you are in a newer house. The pipes are very narrow. Bum guns in every toilet. Just go with it. Life is different but good.

Perhaps Thailand is not for you. I tend to embrace differences. YMMV, obviously.

Never understood why people care about what other people do.

You learned most Thais don't cook or do laundry? Lol. I don't think you've learned much about Thais at all. They cook in their Thai style kitchens and most have washing machines.

Most cannot afford a washer and dryer so they hand wash clothes and air dry them outside. Then they usually cook outside because they dont like having cooked food lingering inside the home. If in the city, the kitchens are small due to only able to afford a small place.

Most Thai people cook for themselves and do their laundry themselves. This being said, there are significantly more places to eat out and places to get your laundry done than we are used to in the west. Also, especially on the country side, the kitchen is usually placed outside the house under a side roof and, as well as the laundromat. That's why you might find the layout of the house doesn't include these areas in per default.

You haven't lived around a lot of Thais. Most can cook a great meal on top of a propane tank and wash their clothes in a pan. They're not lazy, they just don't need all you do.