@David ******

cut and paste? These are MY VERY OWN texts. Ready on my harddisc intended for cheap charlies like the one you are, unable to get out of your Western New World bubble

@James *********

GOOD for every Farang who has arrived in Thailand, BAD for those who are too stupid and stubborn to leave their Western World bubble

@David ******

You have never really arrived in Thailand. You are living in your FARANG CHARLIE bubble world. Poor puppy you

@David ******

I don't live on streetfood. I cook my own food from fresh produce. . . . . . My ideal shopping basked does not contain western luxury imported food or imported wines. I live on foods, fruits, meats and drinks the local markets or the Lotus' offer. They are only 30% -40% of the prices I pay at home. Lotus's in medium Isaan towns are packed with high quality foods, fruits, fish and seafood and everything else at LESS THAN HALF price from what I pay at home. If we dine out, we don't eat streetfood - we visit a good Thai restaurant, and still pay only 30% of what I would pay at home

@David ******

The PURCHASING POWER of your DOLLARS or EUROS in Thailand

The PURCHASING POWER of your currency is more than TWICE as high in Thailand as in Europe, USA, Australia and New Zealand

Anyone who plans to eat expensive imported items such as wine, imported sausages, cheese, Australian beef steaks, New Zealand lamb fillets and Alaskan wild salmon has not really arrived in Thailand.

The prices for such luxury imported goods should not be used for a comparison.

A typical shopping basket in THAILAND compared to one in your country, in approximate percentages:

*** a TV set, a notebook, most electrical items: rather one to one, i.e. the same price

*** Cars and motorcycles made or assembled in Thailand: cheaper!

Only imported brands are almost twice as expensive in Thailand as in your country

*** clothing & shoes: cheaper, but it depends on the quality and brand

*** Rentals in Thailand are much lower: 20% to 25% of the price in your country

*** ELECTRICITY: mostly 30%-35% of the price per KwH in your country

*** WATER fees: something like 10% to 20%

*** FISH and other seafood: mostly 35% to 50%

*** PORK and CHICKEN: 35% to 40%

*** VEGETABLES: 35% to 40%

*** FRUITS: 40% local fruits. Imported fruits cost about the same than in your home country

*** one hour of labour: 10% (!!)

*** a scooter: 40% to 60%

***GASOLINE and DIESEL: depends. If you are from Europe, you find the Thai price real charming

*** Restaurant food: 40% to 50%

Beer and all alcoholic beverages in general do not belong in a typical shopping basket for comparison!

*** Non-alcoholic beverages: 40% to 50%

*** BAKED PRODUCTS: 40% to 50%

*** EGGS: 40%

This means: Anyone who can spend 1500 Euros or Dollars in Thailand, can enjoy a living standard as if he/she had 3000.- Dollars or Euros at home

Of course, always assuming that you have done your homework. Most initial investments need to be secured:

***health insurance

*** furnishing

*** means of transport

*** costs for obtaining the stay permit (some require a deposit in the bank)

@David ******

This is the TYPICAL REPLY from a snob arrogant westerner . . . . . you are comparing pears with apples. Your comparison is completely invalid. Rentals are 30% of those at home, one hour of labour is 10% from home. My shopping basked does not contain western luxury imported food or imported wines. I live on foods, fruits, meats and drinks the local markets offer. They are only 30% -40% of the prices I pay at home.

@Mel *****

there is no grace period for a person who holds a "based on being a dependent" stay permit. Once the main caretaker passes away, the Stay permit becomes null and void the same day.

@Mar ****

it is actually a bit more complicated, but I will leave you to your opinion and won't lecture you

@Joseph ************

there is one good thing about Thai banks - they sell you accident insurances, one year for 5000 THB. So any hospital stays because of injuries obtained and surgeries resulted from an accident are covered. Leaves only the part of health issues to be insured separately

@David ********

100% serious, just think about how much you save every day by living in a land where everything is half price. What then, by hindsight, are any interest for 800,000 THB in your bank account for you? It's neglectible. In my SCB savings account, the 800K are earning at least around 3000 THB interest every year