How Affordable is the Lifestyle? A general breakdown of overseas life costs

In the “How Affordable is the Lifestyle” YouTube video, we had a general breakdown in basic costs for a trip to Bangkok for people who like the big city, and Chiang Mai, around 400 miles north of Bangkok, for a lower cost slower lifestyle. And there's a lot of other desirable destinations throughout Thailand, each with their own attractions, such as beach communities like Phuket, Koh Samui, and Pattaya. Do some research on Thailand destinations to find what the right place would be for you.

Here is the video.

Here are the basic costs we identified for Bangkok and Chiang Mai as of September 2024. These are just general costs for necessities, budgeted for 2 persons. So there may be ways to save a bit here and there, and you may spend more on specific areas based on your specific needs and interests. And prices will vary by season. And since actual prices will vary, be sure to factor in some flexibility into your plans, and maintain a cash buffer in case something costs more than anticipated.

Bangkok

 Housing:

• One-bedroom apartment in city center: $562 per month (THB 18,900)

• Utilities: $78 per month (THB 2,630)

 Food and Groceries:

• Monthly groceries: Approximately $180-240 ((THB 6,000-8,000)

• Eating out occasionally: $180-240 (THB 6,000-8,000)

 Transportation:

• Monthly transport pass: $30 THB (1,000)

 Healthcare:

• Basic health insurance: $400 for two people (THB 13,400)

  Entertainment and Miscellaneous:

• Entertainment budget: $200 (THB 6,700)

• Miscellaneous expenses: $100 (THB 3,350)

Total estimated monthly budget for Bangkok: $1,730-1,880 (THB 57,980-62,980)

 Chiang Mai

 Housing:

• One-bedroom apartment: $300-450 per month (THB 10,000-15,000)

• Utilities: $60-90 per month (THB 2,000-3,000)

 Food and Groceries:

• Monthly groceries: Approximately $150-210 (THB 5,000-7,000)

• Eating out occasionally: $150-210 (THB 5,000-7,000)

Transportation:

• Local transportation: $15-30 (THB 500-1,000)

 Healthcare:

• Basic health insurance: $400 for two people (THB 13,400)

 Entertainment and Miscellaneous:

• Entertainment budget: $150-180 (THB 5,000-6,000)

• Miscellaneous expenses: $90 (THB 3,000)

 Total estimated monthly budget for Chiang Mai: $1,315-1,630 (THB 43,900-54,400)

And don't forget to include Air Transportation to/from your destination -such as $500+ for a short flight (e.g., Mexico) to $1500+ for an overseas flight from the US to a place like Thailand.