@Django *********

maybe - the 1702 number is a WhatsApp so could be anywhere. On trace I could find indicated China. Chinese do buy property in Thailand so could be legit. It’s also underpriced. If you contact them avoid sending any money / deposit until you have been in it. I couldn’t find the article you sent me to work out the name of the condo, some are better than others location wise and neighbourhood. I google the price range for studios which said 11-12 k.

That said, Jomtien is a great place to base yourself. A lot of great expat bars and. Nightlife, Pattaya 5 mins away 100 baht taxi. You could take it for 6 months as a base and then travel with a friend :). 90 mins from Bangkok (1200 - 1400 baht). From there Air Asia to many great places in Thailand and low cost airlines. I don’t know when you thinking of coming, I know over Xmas there wasn’t a condo that wasn’t booked. I dont know what your doing visa wise either they are currently you talking about reducing the 60 day VOA back to 30 days. DM me if you want and happy to try and help you all I can. I have two mates one in Jomtien and the other in Pattaya if you end up there I can connect you up.

Hi Django

This is always a tough question as so many variables. Your overall budget is not far out but not high living, my spend would be different.

$700 if you are moving around in hotels that would be 750 baht a night. In Pattaya this would be staying in a hostel. Out in the sticks a hotel room with en-suite but would be 3 star. To rent a house / condo can reduce the cost but fixes you in one place but most Thais want a 12 month contract.

Some hotels do an expat long term stay rate if you book for three months or more. Save 40%.

you can “rent a room” (with a bathroom) in a block mainly full of working Thais for 4-6k baht a month. (Water and electric on top). I have done this 12 yrs ago perfectly fine.

Condos depending on where 12-80k per month.

My experience if there is two of you and you want a 4 star trip island hop trip:

We’re currently island hoping for our annual holiday trip, (wife and I). Samui, Koh pangang, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Phi Phi, phuket, Bangkok. 28 day trip and probably the best but most expensive part of Thailand, Hotels for the trip 104k baht, (110 USD pn) spending money 185k baht 5 Flights and 5 ferry,s 40k baht 330,000 baht or $9800 USD.

This is 28 nights away if you did this for 6 months it’s 59k USD. Your $2600 budget 15.6k so you will need to compromise.

last night:

Seafood dinner 2400 5 different dishes and 8 small bottles of beer. Then at the bar, bill 1500. Taxi about 1km 300 each way. Total 4500 baht. $133 USD for dinner and a night out. We were home by 11.00 so not a big night out.

My advice would be to plan your trip in detail, where your going to be, do research in accommodation cost, transport costs a daily budget for;

Scooter hire, clothes washing, restaurants for breakfast, lunch dinner, allowance for beers etc to calculate a daily budget. If you have a full time girlfriend (gulp! Probs double it and add $40 USD. Don’t forget those 2 nights a week were you go full on.

I live in Thailand monthly budget 130k baht. My wife and I own our cars. We rent a house for 23k per month. We have 30k each for spends for the month, 15k for farang food shopping (we eat at home Thai and western food). 10k Big C shopping (soap bread water beers). 3-6k electric (4 air cons), 15k for golf. etc etc.

That excludes holidays (which we have many short breaks to Mae Phim, Rayong Koh Chang Hua Hin) and excludes a monthly golf trip with the golf club for 2-3 nights.

We always overspend our budget.

Thailand is cheap in many ways bottle of beer 60baht, kapow lunch the same but real living costs of a good but not exorbitant life style, plus all the little things add up to more than you think.

It’s not worth coming here for 6 months and living poorly. My son came for three months he burned his money and 4k USD of mine, after 2 months I told him to go back home. He didn’t and had a miserable last month living but not LIVING.

You can do your 6 monthly trip on your budget but will need careful forward planning and a lot of self control once the Chang (lager) hits common sense flies out the door (I do it regularly).

Thailand is very large and living costs in Udon Thani are worlds apart from Phuket. So plan out a trip and ask for peoples opinions on your plan. Most western people come here either find the most beautiful girl in the world and travel with them, or have/ make friends with other expats. Bars and bar girls are fun but expensive - life isn’t fun if your on your own in a town or city we’re many if not all don’t speak your language. PS : Everywhere usually has an expat/sports bar.

Plan wisely my friend there is nowhere quite like Thailand it is the most beautiful and exciting place to visit but a fool and his money easily parted.

Good luck.

PS. I would not recommend leaving your property empty for 6 months. Squatters, leaks, infestations can destroy your property. Www.spareroom.com is a website to rent out rooms by the month.

If you had two bedrooms and a separate lounge. Move your stuff in the lounge and rent out the two bedrooms. In NY it’s approx 1000 dollars a month a room. An extra 2000 dollars a month would greatly improve your budget. Tenants have a 1 month rolling contract. They ensure that any problems are quickly identified/resolved. On your return you can easily reclaim all of your property, or keep the rooms rented to fund a return trip. A great way to earn a living whilst sitting in the beach in Thailand.

@Ian ********

simple economics the Thai baht exchange rate means we are getting less baht from our home currency. At the same time a significant increase in oil prices (Isreal is now believed to be planning retaliatory action on Iran oil fields) means we will have increased fuel costs, most things in Thailand are delivered by road. So on the one hand we have less baht in our pockets and it will cost more to pay our bills. A double whammy that was the point of my comment. The exchange rate and inflation from oil will both have a similar negative impact to those of us that live here. They are mutually inclusive not exclusive events.

@Iain ********

read the room “motorists might be heading towards higher petrol and diesel prices when they fill up the tank in a couple of weeks as oil prices surged amid rising tensions in the Middle East, a situation that could lead to the cost of everyday goods jumping.

@Ian ********

That tiff is just about to kick off Iran's oil output grew from 3.66 million bpd in 2022 to 3.99 million bpd in 2023. According to the EIA, Iran holds the world's third largest proven oil reserves, as well as the world's second largest natural gas reserves.

@Erik **********

yes got that the wrong way round, it’s exports that suffer from a strong baht but watching the latest news in the Middle East I can see the price of a barrel is likely to add “fuel” to the situation. :)

@Ian ********

condo final stage payments reported in Bangkok times are being delayed due to increased capital costs, fuel is imported, once petrol prices are affected inflation will start to increase creating problems for those in Thailand who don’t have a lot of money. This will affect both Thais and farangs.

@Jared ********

I would second your recommendation, I live here but have used his taxi service BKK to Pattaya and Buriram 4 times this year with family visiting. Easy reliable and the best price I have found anywhere.

12 years ago I was in Buriram market, I saw mangosteen for sale and was a little hungry. The sign said 100bhat for 4. my girlfriend didn’t want any so I thought I can eat four and made the purchase. It seemed to take a long time and then the seller handed me two very large carrier bags and asked for payment.. I explained to the seller I only wanted four, by now quite a lot of market sellers were watching the commotion, my girlfriend stepped in and explained all the market sellers roared with laughter. It was 100 bhat for 4kg. I picked up the bags and promptly headed out of the market.

@Ken *****

when transferring with wise you have to state a reason for the transfer. Scroll to the bottom and there is “transfer to support long term living” selecting this option.