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

Think of it as though, by choice, you are moving into a tiny house. It's going to be an adventure, not a loss!

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

You'd be surprised what a good Thai cook can whip up with a two burner cooktop.

And the minifridge is fine if you're shopping at a great fresh market daily as opposed to Costco or whatever.

One reason some urban Thais don't cook at home is because many of them work 12+ hours per day, with a handful of days off per month. Their just too exhausted to shop and cook.

I think your biggest error, if I can call it that, is to think that real food can't be prepared in a tiny kitchen. You will be shocked.

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

Thai cuisine doesn't feature many dishes that require an oven. "Ranges" so beloved by Iowegians are strictly for rich foreigners who insist on having what they are used to. For those who want to bake and can afford it, built-in ovens are very popular.

In America, even the poorest live in comparatively huge houses.

In Bangkok, with modern condos coming in at around 30 sq meters-ish, having a range which has little application in Thai cooking would mean forgoing a sofa or full-size fridge.

But money talks. Some condos would blow your mind with their awesome kitchens. But that's not for us poor folks.

Bangkok is Thailand's NYC. Check out what 10k baht/month buys you in NYC, and report back.

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."

@Sean *******

Just be aware that the definition of insurance that "covers me abroad" may not be what you think.

All hospitals in Thailand maintain a list of insurance companies approved to make direct payments to the hospital.

If your insurance company is on the list, happy days.

But if not, you will be required to pay your bill yourself, usually in full. Then you wait, and hope that your company reimburses you.

@Jorge ***

Yeah, I tend to agree. I spent my working life traveling worldwide, and while I have certainly seen some unfair discrimination passing immigration in many different countries, more often than not the traveler does something to trigger the officers.

It's amazing how few problems I experienced personally over the years.

@Jorge ***

Everybody thinks they're a comedian.

Some truth to it though.

@Damien *******

Far from pathetic, just different.

There are too many variables to give an average number.

A really modern well-insulated house with carefully chosen window locations and modern well maintained AC units could run you around 5K baht/month.

An older uninsulated home with cheap, poorly placed windows and aging, poorly maintained AC's could run you 15K baht/month or even more.

Aside from what's required by the specific letter of the law, joint bank accounts just aren't a thing here like some places in the west.

IMHO, that's a very good thing.