Thread: The real reason Thailand DOES have a low cost of living.

Farang tourist chicks seem to stare at me and my bird and comment to each other here more than I remember. Doubtless they're saying to each other what a fetching couple we make.

understandable...

I got by fairly well on 33k a month, though admittedly my wife was also on 25k, so we had a dual income. We rarely felt skint. To be honest I feel more skint in the UK and I do more hours here than over in LOS.

Originally Posted by robitusson

Farang tourist chicks seem to stare at me and my bird and comment to each other here more than I remember. Doubtless they're saying to each other what a fetching couple we make.

hmmm or perhaps "look at that fat dirty seedy bastard and his barfine"

Of course the answer is that the Thai market offers the same low cost living that has been in existence for centuries. This low cost of living has effectively caused new enterprises to innovate to offer competitive low prices (25 to 40 baht for a beer, 400 baht and up for a decent hotel room, 30 to 100 baht for a good meal). The low level of government intervention has allowed the market economy to work effectively. The "sin" taxes common in western nations that greatly raise the cost of tobacco products and alcoholic drinks haven't been legislated yet. The Thai State has been able to avoid being drawn into the ever present wars that have bankrupt major nations and enable major tax legislation. The Thai people have not been indoctrinated that it is their right to take as much as they can from the State treasury. That they live in a tropical area and are heavily populated with self sufficient farmers is a major factor. It is what Adam Smith called the invisible hand that causes the Thai people to make good economic choices that are the reason the Thais and foreigners get good value for money in Thailand.

Originally Posted by ryydman

hmmm or perhaps "look at that fat dirty seedy bastard and his barfine"

harsh.

Originally Posted by Papa

Of course the answer is that the Thai market offers the same low cost living that has been in existence for centuries. This low cost of living has effectively caused new enterprises to innovate to offer competitive low prices (25 to 40 baht for a beer, 400 baht and up for a decent hotel room, 30 to 100 baht for a good meal). The low level of government intervention has allowed the market economy to work effectively. The "sin" taxes common in western nations that greatly raise the cost of tobacco products and alcoholic drinks haven't been legislated yet. The Thai State has been able to avoid being drawn into the ever present wars that have bankrupt major nations and enable major tax legislation. The Thai people have not been indoctrinated that it is their right to take as much as they can from the State treasury. That they live in a tropical area and are heavily populated with self sufficient farmers is a major factor. It is what Adam Smith called the invisible hand that causes the Thai people to make good economic choices that are the reason the Thais and foreigners get good value for money in
Thailand.

It's a lot simpler than that. Workers mostly get paid next to nothing, and have next to no rights.

Result = cheap products.

Products which have to remain cheap for the low paid population to be able to afford them.

If you have a wife (not working) and want reasonable accommodation with reasonable furnishings, a vehicle, the ability to save, the ability to travel, the ability to help extended family, the ability to cover the inevitable medical situation for yourself and extended family, a reasonable social life, eat a variety of foods etc. etc. etc. then I'd say 70k in BKK is about the minimum.

agreed and with kids even more than that. Hell to go back to the states for a month with a family of four runs me 8 to 10 thousand bucks, and we are doing nothing extravagant.