ExhilaratingKiwi1513 I live in downtown Phuket town, 30 min from Patong beach. A two bedroom duplex with air con costs me $190 (6k THB) a month. Wife and kids are not complaining. Also have a cat, rabbit, and three scooters. Hard to imagine myself on the wrong side of the balcony.

37,000 THB is what you'd pay for a house near or at a beach resort. Suggest to come here first, stay at an average apt for a few months, then look.

A few years ago, once I was over 50, a Thai consulate abroad gave me a Non-O visa. Used a letter from my employer stating my salary, which was over 65k THB a month. No bank needed for the visa. Once in LOS opened the bank account. Easy peasy. But that was before the scammers muddied up the waters.

He was looking for something like this. We tried to tell him but got pissed.

@Ron *******

on two occassions, they had me go back to the house, take new pics, then make a video call, which they apparently recorded. Always a new one.

In Phuket the IO requires a current lease, the owners' house book, and the ownwers' ID, all signed.

@Bf ***********

yes, you hit it on the nail. It is lfestyle choices. I see *a lot* of expats who live a life they could not even dream of at home. They move here and turn into "two week millionaires". Why is it they cannot live a normal life, like the rest of the locals that surround them? Am very saddened during flying season for those who lived the life of the rich and famous. My 2 bedroom with A/C rent is $190/mo and my shrimp fried rice is $2. A beer is $1.1. Is it really that ugly? Oh by the way, this is in Phuket. The drawback is that the songtew to the nearby beach is $2-3 each way. Been here since before the tsunami. My two cents.

Been living in LOS >20 yrs on $1.2k-2k per month, with non working wife and 2 kids in private Thai schools, yet live better than my local neighbors. Used to have a car, now have 3 scooters. KISS method: no luxury condos/houses, stay away from beach resorts and expat restaurants. Live a normal life, and you still live better than the family next door. The trick is to live a *normal* life. You will never find yourself on the wrong side of the balcony. Cheers.

The best 1000 THB ever spent. Put it in an envelope and hand it over with a smile. Do as the Romans do.

@Det ******

there is a dress code since 1979 but they usually use the 20k THB rule instead. See below.