Love your approach to “test the waters” Great way to get to know the place without locking yourself in a long term lease first. Best of luck on your journey Cheers!!!!
Try Ratchayothin or Kaset area, you can find a 30+ sq.m. room under 300 USD a month if you're lucky. The BTS is reachable in a walking distance (or take a motorbike aroun 15-25 THB) with and a lot of facilities nearby like malls, hospital, police stations, fresh markets etc.
I am semi retired and SE Asia is a great place to try new food, focus on health and engage with new people. Appreciate the insights especially the costs.
I lived near the Punnawithi station and had almost the same lifestyle for about a month, renting a cheap hotel room and then walking to True Digital Park and working there. I went very cheap some days and splurged on other days. One food hack I found is to wait until about 8pm when the supermarkets like Tops or Lotus discount their premade meals and sell them 2 for 1, you can met meals for about 25-35 baht each. It's a good hack to use when you're working late at True Digital Park and just want to grab something and go home and eat. The meals are tasty also, pretty similar to the street vendors.
You're living like a local😂 yeah these big supermarkets reduce the price 50% before they close. You have to go at certain hours because everything will be gone so fast.
Great video 😊will be moving next month to Bangkok! I think my day to day will be similar to yours. I’ll be in the Rama 9 area and my condo will be more expensive 😅 but I’ll definitely be sticking to local Thai food, not going out too much, etc especially since I want to save and invest the majority of what I make every month.
Thank for this video and the other video on short term rental as I am planning to come to Bangkok to study but it is such a fun place and I don't know if I will be able to concentrate. But I just don't want too much hassle, reading contracts, staying at cheaper places, losing your security deposits etc. May be I should try hostel or airbnb.
Most good condo deals are 1 year min contracts yes, but if you put in effort and negotiate can find 6 month deals too. Sometimes it can be even cheaper to make long contract even when you leave early than stay in short term accommodation. Location is important, but similar to your room can find for 3-4k (without electric etc) even in Sathorn area example. Also the price of electricity is lower in long term condos, for a 30m2 its usually around 2k, in apartment ive had as high as 4.5k. Great vid!
Although I'm not focusing too much on living cheaply while in bkk, I'm a person who usually can't eat out 3 meals a day. For breakfast, I eat snacks from the street vendor or 711. My favorites are boiled sweet potatoes, peanuts, grilled bananas, etc I went to the nearby market and buy them for 30-50B and will buy some ready to eat meals like curries or noodles that cost 40-50B for lunch or dinner. I cook my own rice and veggies(very cheap like 5-10B a bunch). For dinner I have some soy drink (15B), fruits. I spent less than 150B. That's the cost when I had to work from home. But if you eat out every day and every meal, it should be around 300B +. Thailand has too many food options to resist. And if you like to drink smoothies, iced coffee, and tea, those will add up. I notice you don't drink any of that, that's why your food cost is so low.
thats a good video - thanks for posting . Its really hard to tell people how the cost of living is here - if you go out a lot and like better quality food the costs per day aren't much different from my country Australia. There are always lots of smaller incidental costs here. The big saving will always be the rent. Find a cheap room - put some decent furniture like a fridge a good bed with a mattress you can tolerate , desk and chair . I spent around 1500 on furniture and have everything I need and now just have 6000 baht to pay per month so its super cheap compared to Australia for rent. Food costs are a bit less but not that much if I am being honest. local thai food is very small portions so one small meal isn't enough. I save money on buying grilled pork and I got an egg steamer for home so I can cook eggs very cheap. The mall supermarket has a good salad bar and does cooked meals as well that are better quality and ok price. But if you drink or party expect your expenses to go through the roof. Also watch it with the air con as places charge double the govt rate for power and the monthly power bill will cost a lot if you use the air con a lot. The secret is find a room with everything you need close by, eliminate the travel and time wasting. condos never did it for me and I prefer cheaper older places that are usually bigger rooms than tiny condos. I want to eat healthy and don't cheap out on food quality so it costs me extra. Forget the gym - i run in my area and do exercises in my apt - I never really got paying for the chore of exercising. gyms are over priced here in general. I kinda set things up to come and go - with a cheap room I can easily pay for it when I am away and always have a cheap place to come back to. If I decide to leave it I don't lose much as the deposit is cheap anyway.
I’m old, 38 years old. Before my 50th birthday, I’m going to open a bank account in Thailand with 800000 in it and apply for retirement visa when I turn 50 years.
Hi Lucian Thanks for sharing. I’m looking to test the Thailand waters for about 3 months. Your video was helpful in letting me know what I might get for around 9000B/ month. I’m curious, where do I find possible 1-3 months rental. I do belong to Facebook groups but most contract for 9000B are requesting 12 months commitment. Thanks again Great video
I spent a month in Don Mueang in 2023.As it was a little further out it was quiet and I'd plan my trips to central to do specific things. I made use of the airport shuttle to get me to and from my location and because of that i spent a lot of time maneuvering on foot to get a feel of different parts of the city. It was mainly research for moving
Great video Lucian. Where are you originally from? You have an accent but you said Asia is a new experience for you. I'm curious on how accommodation differs than where you spent most of your life. Being from the US cheaper units are small in comparison to where I am but we normally have much wasted space. A hotel room is kind of the same size worldwide but we don't seem to look at it normally for living long term. I noticed having food, activities and amenities close by when I was in Danang made a big difference as you're not in your room as often as you would be at home.
Hi, I'm originally from Korea. It's true the overall culture in SEA is quite different from Korea, but in terms of housing, I think it's more or less the same? In Korea, many single guys also live in studio apartment around 27-35 sqm and it's getting more expensive. That's one of the reasons many single ones continue living with their parents into adulthood. And I completely agree that having all the amenities nearby can save a lot-it’s often the biggest factor to consider. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Thanks for the vid, very enlightening! I noticed that you didn't have any expense for travel/ health insursnce. That's one expense that concerns somewhat older people. No expense for bars, entertainment, socialising, etc - which is cool too. However, it's great to know that $736/ month as a foreigner can done, even in BKK. Locals can survive for 600 or less. (their rent is cheaper in a more local area, they cook own food, etc). I've seen your vid from your new apt. Will you stay for another month (tourist visa extension at Immigration ofc) or will you change countries? In Cambodia, you can get 1 month visa then extend for 1, 2, 3, 6 or even 12 months! In VN, you can get a 3-month visa (not free, need to pre-apply online). For Malaysia, I think as a Korean you can get 90 days tourist VOA (free). Good luck & safe travels!
thank you for the video and the info. i am living now in KL malaysia right in the golden triangle bukit bintang and i wanted to move to bkk and after watching several videos of people living in there, and i realise it is much more expensive there than where i live here. in KL, i stay in 900sqf (83sqm) unit with 2bedrooms/2 bathrooms fully furnished, free wifi/netflix and i pay like 730usd/mth and this is not a one-year rental; i can leave anytime i want, just give them one month notice!!!..traffic jams are not as bad as in bkk and cost of living is relatively cheaper than bkk, and i am not talking of eating street food everyday. so, if i move to bkk, it will be a downgrade from my living in KL :(
@@AbroadLucianafter viewing several videos on the cost of renting in BKK as I wanted to move there, KL is definitely more affordable. But certainly not Singapore. 😢
@@GeFarr why not 2 bedrooms?.. if the price is affordable, will you not take a bigger space instead of living in a studio or shoebox ahhahaa...i can see your ignorance and never came to kuala lumpur :)
I'm planning to move there in about two months. As for the visa, the DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) is a pretty good option. Thanks for the accurate figures on your living expenses and greetings from Germany.
Great video, but I am curious how you committed to $328 for that place, when I've seen super luxury options for $300-$350 a month.. Was this just a choice?
Hi! That’s interesting. I think I’ve seen similar videos about neat condos in that price range before, but those were filmed in 2021-2022 during Covid. If those prices are recent and also month-to-month, I’d say that’s a great deal!
I used to live in Bangkok- for similar life style 8 years ago. I think you should consider not so touristy places- I live now in khon kean. And for that amount of money you can increase your life excitement by 30%. I think Bangkok is a bit too expensive if you want to live on a budget.
@@AbroadLucian Even more savings on yearly contract! Niiiice! Looking forward to other postings about the financial aspects of expat/nomad life. If you are able to share: do you work remotely or have online business, or investments, etc.?
1. Can you discuss the visa situation? My family and I are coming to Thailand in 7 months. We're booking a hotel or resort instead of an Airbnb due to some of my research and hearing stories from tourists where owners of Airbnb can be shady. So until we get to thailand, I feel it would be best to play it safe and book a hotel. I'm over the age of 50, so I will be applying for a retirement visa.
Yeah, I think staying in a hotel is a smart choice when you first arrive. I’ve also heard that many Airbnbs operate in a bit of a grey area. As for the visa, this trip is temporary for me, so I’m on a tourist visa. But I’m considering other visa options for my next visit😀
Everyone is talking about how much something costs. How about the question: How much is such a life worth? There are already a lot of relevant studied which show that retire early in your 20s or 30s is quite unhealthy also from a psychological point of view.
How does the exchange rate affect the price of rent? Since the dollar is stronger than the THB, would that be favorable for expats or the price adjusted accordingly? Thanks ahead
Love your approach to “test the waters”
Great way to get to know the place without locking yourself in a long term lease first.
Best of luck on your journey
Cheers!!!!
Try Ratchayothin or Kaset area, you can find a 30+ sq.m. room under 300 USD a month if you're lucky. The BTS is reachable in a walking distance (or take a motorbike aroun 15-25 THB) with and a lot of facilities nearby like malls, hospital, police stations, fresh markets etc.
Thanks for sharing the info!
Thanks for the non-hype straightforward sober format.
Really enjoyed this video mate. Loved the complete breakdown of the expenses. Subscribed and looking forward to more!
I am semi retired and SE Asia is a great place to try new food, focus on health and engage with new people. Appreciate the insights especially the costs.
I lived near the Punnawithi station and had almost the same lifestyle for about a month, renting a cheap hotel room and then walking to True Digital Park and working there. I went very cheap some days and splurged on other days. One food hack I found is to wait until about 8pm when the supermarkets like Tops or Lotus discount their premade meals and sell them 2 for 1, you can met meals for about 25-35 baht each. It's a good hack to use when you're working late at True Digital Park and just want to grab something and go home and eat. The meals are tasty also, pretty similar to the street vendors.
Wow, that makes two of us😆😆 I’ll try your trick next time.Thanks for the tip!
Great tip @TheCheapNomad. Do you have a TH-cam channel too?
You're living like a local😂 yeah these big supermarkets reduce the price 50% before they close. You have to go at certain hours because everything will be gone so fast.
@@jnsa9454 I do, there's a few videos up and I'll be uploading more soon: www.youtube.com/@TheCheapNomad
@@TheCheapNomad Thanks for sharing. This video generated a lot of helpful comments. I’m glad you shared yours.
Great video 😊will be moving next month to Bangkok! I think my day to day will be similar to yours. I’ll be in the Rama 9 area and my condo will be more expensive 😅 but I’ll definitely be sticking to local Thai food, not going out too much, etc especially since I want to save and invest the majority of what I make every month.
Sounds great! You’re also arriving at the best time of the year. Good luck with your move😃😃
Thank for this video and the other video on short term rental as I am planning to come to Bangkok to study but it is such a fun place and I don't know if I will be able to concentrate. But I just don't want too much hassle, reading contracts, staying at cheaper places, losing your security deposits etc. May be I should try hostel or airbnb.
Thank you for sharing....It is so helpful.
NIce video - I like your perspective. I am considering relocating from America to Bangkok for a year and this video is helpful context.
Hi! Glad it was helpful😃
Most good condo deals are 1 year min contracts yes, but if you put in effort and negotiate can find 6 month deals too. Sometimes it can be even cheaper to make long contract even when you leave early than stay in short term accommodation. Location is important, but similar to your room can find for 3-4k (without electric etc) even in Sathorn area example.
Also the price of electricity is lower in long term condos, for a 30m2 its usually around 2k, in apartment ive had as high as 4.5k.
Great vid!
Great job Lu, super helpful reference prices. Thank you for NOT making a Tik Tok influencer video.
Although I'm not focusing too much on living cheaply while in bkk, I'm a person who usually can't eat out 3 meals a day. For breakfast, I eat snacks from the street vendor or 711. My favorites are boiled sweet potatoes, peanuts, grilled bananas, etc I went to the nearby market and buy them for 30-50B and will buy some ready to eat meals like curries or noodles that cost 40-50B for lunch or dinner. I cook my own rice and veggies(very cheap like 5-10B a bunch). For dinner I have some soy drink (15B), fruits. I spent less than 150B. That's the cost when I had to work from home. But if you eat out every day and every meal, it should be around 300B +. Thailand has too many food options to resist. And if you like to drink smoothies, iced coffee, and tea, those will add up. I notice you don't drink any of that, that's why your food cost is so low.
That's a good point😀 yes, I see drinks are as expensive as meals here.
@AbroadLucian Yeah, expect to add at least 100B a day on drinks. The weather is hot so you will be drinking a lot of water or refreshments.
thats a good video - thanks for posting . Its really hard to tell people how the cost of living is here - if you go out a lot and like better quality food the costs per day aren't much different from my country Australia. There are always lots of smaller incidental costs here. The big saving will always be the rent. Find a cheap room - put some decent furniture like a fridge a good bed with a mattress you can tolerate , desk and chair . I spent around 1500 on furniture and have everything I need and now just have 6000 baht to pay per month so its super cheap compared to Australia for rent. Food costs are a bit less but not that much if I am being honest. local thai food is very small portions so one small meal isn't enough. I save money on buying grilled pork and I got an egg steamer for home so I can cook eggs very cheap. The mall supermarket has a good salad bar and does cooked meals as well that are better quality and ok price. But if you drink or party expect your expenses to go through the roof. Also watch it with the air con as places charge double the govt rate for power and the monthly power bill will cost a lot if you use the air con a lot. The secret is find a room with everything you need close by, eliminate the travel and time wasting. condos never did it for me and I prefer cheaper older places that are usually bigger rooms than tiny condos. I want to eat healthy and don't cheap out on food quality so it costs me extra. Forget the gym - i run in my area and do exercises in my apt - I never really got paying for the chore of exercising. gyms are over priced here in general. I kinda set things up to come and go - with a cheap room I can easily pay for it when I am away and always have a cheap place to come back to. If I decide to leave it I don't lose much as the deposit is cheap anyway.
Hi! Thanks for your advice. You are a true minimalist😎😎
I plan on it. I’m retiring there in 12 years.
Nice to know you! You might be around my age, judging by your timeline😆
I’m old, 38 years old. Before my 50th birthday, I’m going to open a bank account in Thailand with 800000 in it and apply for retirement visa when I turn 50 years.
go to London, and live in a share flat, your room in Thailand will be enormous comparing with that.
Yeah, actually, I lived in London back in 2011 and lived in a shared apartment with random strangers. Good old days, in retrospect😂😂😂
Got a bit smaller room for £600 atm, maybe 1/3 smaller
Hi Lucian
Thanks for sharing. I’m looking to test the Thailand waters for about 3 months. Your video was helpful in letting me know what I might get for around 9000B/ month. I’m curious, where do I find possible 1-3 months rental. I do belong to Facebook groups but most contract for 9000B are requesting 12 months commitment.
Thanks again
Great video
Hi! Actually, I’m thinking about making a video on that topic. May I answer it in the video instead?😃
@ Great. I’ll stay tuned.
I spent a month in Don Mueang in 2023.As it was a little further out it was quiet and I'd plan my trips to central to do specific things. I made use of the airport shuttle to get me to and from my location and because of that i spent a lot of time maneuvering on foot to get a feel of different parts of the city. It was mainly research for moving
Great content keep going
Interesting - subscribed 👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻
Thanks for sharing! Please keep them contents coming! Much love from South Korea!. 화이팅입니다~!
감사합니다😄😄
Love this video! 😊
Nice to see the country from your lens! I would love 25 degrees Celsius weather right now. I'm currently freezing at -10 degrees 🥶
soon will be there too,couple of months and i move to bkk!
That excitement! Don't forget that.
Great video Lucian. Where are you originally from? You have an accent but you said Asia is a new experience for you. I'm curious on how accommodation differs than where you spent most of your life. Being from the US cheaper units are small in comparison to where I am but we normally have much wasted space. A hotel room is kind of the same size worldwide but we don't seem to look at it normally for living long term. I noticed having food, activities and amenities close by when I was in Danang made a big difference as you're not in your room as often as you would be at home.
Hi, I'm originally from Korea. It's true the overall culture in SEA is quite different from Korea, but in terms of housing, I think it's more or less the same? In Korea, many single guys also live in studio apartment around 27-35 sqm and it's getting more expensive. That's one of the reasons many single ones continue living with their parents into adulthood. And I completely agree that having all the amenities nearby can save a lot-it’s often the biggest factor to consider. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
👋🏻 good breakdown of cost, where did you find the room?
Hi! I found it on Renthub.com. Actually my next video is about how to search for apartments. Stay tuned😃😃
Happy New Years
Good stuff! Thanks so much! Fighting! :)
Thanks for the vid, very enlightening! I noticed that you didn't have any expense for travel/ health insursnce. That's one expense that concerns somewhat older people. No expense for bars, entertainment, socialising, etc - which is cool too.
However, it's great to know that $736/ month as a foreigner can done, even in BKK. Locals can survive for 600 or less. (their rent is cheaper in a more local area, they cook own food, etc). I've seen your vid from your new apt. Will you stay for another month (tourist visa extension at Immigration ofc) or will you change countries?
In Cambodia, you can get 1 month visa then extend for 1, 2, 3, 6 or even 12 months! In VN, you can get a 3-month visa (not free, need to pre-apply online). For Malaysia, I think as a Korean you can get 90 days tourist VOA (free). Good luck & safe travels!
Thank you for your advice! It helps a lot. This time, I'm planning to move somewhere else. But I think I would come back to Thailand soon.
Aren't there monthly tickets for the MRT?
Hi! Not sure about the MRT. For the BTS, I only saw the multiple-trip package.
thank you for the video and the info. i am living now in KL malaysia right in the golden triangle bukit bintang and i wanted to move to bkk and after watching several videos of people living in there, and i realise it is much more expensive there than where i live here. in KL, i stay in 900sqf (83sqm) unit with 2bedrooms/2 bathrooms fully furnished, free wifi/netflix and i pay like 730usd/mth and this is not a one-year rental; i can leave anytime i want, just give them one month notice!!!..traffic jams are not as bad as in bkk and cost of living is relatively cheaper than bkk, and i am not talking of eating street food everyday. so, if i move to bkk, it will be a downgrade from my living in KL :(
Thank you for sharing the info! I didn't know KL was that affordable. Perhaps KL's Singapore-like exterior gave me a bias😆😆
@@AbroadLucianafter viewing several videos on the cost of renting in BKK as I wanted to move there, KL is definitely more affordable. But certainly not Singapore. 😢
Dude why do you need a 2 bedroom ? I'm calling bullshit ...
@@GeFarr why not 2 bedrooms?.. if the price is affordable, will you not take a bigger space instead of living in a studio or shoebox ahhahaa...i can see your ignorance and never came to kuala lumpur :)
Very interesting!
How long do you plan to stay in Bangkok, Thailand?
Thank you! Maybe until next month?
I'm planning to move there in about two months. As for the visa, the DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) is a pretty good option. Thanks for the accurate figures on your living expenses and greetings from Germany.
Great video, but I am curious how you committed to $328 for that place, when I've seen super luxury options for $300-$350 a month.. Was this just a choice?
Hi! That’s interesting. I think I’ve seen similar videos about neat condos in that price range before, but those were filmed in 2021-2022 during Covid. If those prices are recent and also month-to-month, I’d say that’s a great deal!
I used to live in Bangkok- for similar life style 8 years ago. I think you should consider not so touristy places- I live now in khon kean. And for that amount of money you can increase your life excitement by 30%.
I think Bangkok is a bit too expensive if you want to live on a budget.
I'm moving to Bangkok in feb. I'm currently looking for housing options right now
Actually I'm thinking about making a video about the topic soon😀
Are you renting month to month vs paying for entire year?
$328/month is not bad!
It was month-to-month. It could have been much cheaper if it were a yearly contract😀😀
@@AbroadLucian Even more savings on yearly contract! Niiiice! Looking forward to other postings about the financial aspects of expat/nomad life. If you are able to share: do you work remotely or have online business, or investments, etc.?
Thank you! I'm mostly freelancing online.
Man for 300 you can have a really nice modern condo. But contracts are minimum 6 months or year.
As I expected no allocation for Alcohol
I occasionally bought a Singha 6-pack, but cost-wise, it was nothing😆 However, hanging out in Bangkok is a whole different matter.
That camera on a tripod pointed at the bed is Hella sus ngl
🤣🤣🤣
How much was the total?
$736😃
@AbroadLucian do the same 800pm but w AUD😂
@@MeditateMeHigher i think the USD is pretty strong these last couple of years
Yeah, that's true that USD is very strong at the moment. I used the $1=THB 35 rate.
Can I live comfortably in thailand on 3800usd monthly after tax? Im single without kids
Hi! That depends on how you define 'comfortably,' but from my perspective, absolutely!
@@AbroadLucian thank you for the content and feedback 🙏
@AbroadLucian just trying to enjoy nature and health and wellness. Not trying to ball out lol
@@maximizevitality That's gonna be 5x his budget in the video, ofcourse you can, unless top end 24/7 you'll be on permeant holiday like a king
@ekay4495 Thanks for the feedback. Im just looking to enjoy nature gym and wellness. I'm not trying to ball out
I survived for 400$ in Bangkok
Wow! May I ask about your know-how?
I can survive there only $2 a day. 👍👍
1. Can you discuss the visa situation?
My family and I are coming to Thailand in 7 months.
We're booking a hotel or resort instead of an Airbnb due to some of my research and hearing stories from tourists where owners of Airbnb can be shady.
So until we get to thailand, I feel it would be best to play it safe and book a hotel.
I'm over the age of 50, so I will be applying for a retirement visa.
Yeah, I think staying in a hotel is a smart choice when you first arrive. I’ve also heard that many Airbnbs operate in a bit of a grey area.
As for the visa, this trip is temporary for me, so I’m on a tourist visa. But I’m considering other visa options for my next visit😀
You have the closest 711 ever!
I bought that the day before 😆😆
Everyone is talking about how much something costs. How about the question: How much is such a life worth? There are already a lot of relevant studied which show that retire early in your 20s or 30s is quite unhealthy also from a psychological point of view.
As opposed to slaving your life away working? Lol
How does the exchange rate affect the price of rent? Since the dollar is stronger than the THB, would that be favorable for expats or the price adjusted accordingly? Thanks ahead
Hi! If the prices are converted in USD, probably yes. But from my currency(KRW), THB has appreciated a lot recently😭
@AbroadLucian Thanks