How long to last on tourist visas with $50k

**Thinkingofachange** · 4th June 2012 01:05

Imagine one person comes to Thailand with US$50,000 that he plans to use for living expenses, with occasional entertainment costs (little to no alcohol) and a cheap (~8,000/mo.) apartment. How long will the money last?

Of course, besides rent the biggest cost would be visa runs--what would be the most cost effective way to organize these?

How much longer would the money stretch in Chiang Mai over Bangkok?

**Jimmy Mulga** · 4th June 2012 01:11

Is that 8K a month for an apartment in baht or dollars?

**buddahas** · 4th June 2012 01:13

5 years

**Jimmy Mulga** · 4th June 2012 01:18

....and sod Chiang Mai, they think pork rinds are a special part of their cuisine.

---Update---

Originally Posted by Thinkingofachange

Of course, besides rent the biggest cost would be visa runs--what would be the most cost effective way to organize these?

I would always consider flying, immigration at airports is always far more civilised than at land borders.

**Amanpour** · 4th June 2012 01:34

Originally Posted by Thinkingofachange

Of course, besides rent the biggest cost would be visa runs--what would be the most cost effective way to organize these?

You will have visa problems though. Immigration isn't going to like you coming and going and coming and going and coming and going with a never-ending succession of tourist visas.

**Thinkingofachange** · 4th June 2012 01:36

I was thinking 5 years too, but my friend wouldn't believe me. The 8k was in baht.

The only problem is flying can get pretty expensive. What's the cheapest air visa run route?

**Jimmy Mulga** · 4th June 2012 01:41

Look for discounted flights.

There may be some education visa scam you can get in on.

---Update---

8K a month would be a very modest apartment, if you are willing to live modestly then that money should easily stretch for five years.

**Thaitanium** · 4th June 2012 02:04

A few years ago Chiang Mai to Kunming in China was about 1500bht 1 way...the nice thing is it's only 1h 40m flight...

Education visa would be a good bet...just sign up for Thai lessons...

---Update---

Check this out...there's shit loads of places like this...do a google...

ED Visa Thailand for Foreign Students|AAAThai.com

---Update---

As far as how long would 50k US last?...well obviously it depends solely on your personal spending habits...but the average teachers salary is 30-40kbt a month which is roughly 1k US...so if you lived like an average teacher...think less than 50 months...

factoring in visa runs

**Jimmy Mulga** · 4th June 2012 02:06

^yeah but your average TEFLer drinks like a fish.

**Thaitanium** · 4th June 2012 02:15

If you don't drink it your going to spend it somehow...most likely traveling around the country

If you're not working it's going to get boring and the only way to alleviate boredom is to spend money...

**Jimmy Mulga** · 4th June 2012 02:16

^true, if it was me I'd plan on a years holiday and enjoy myself.

**Thaitanium** · 4th June 2012 02:18

That would be one helluva year...

**Jimmy Mulga** · 4th June 2012 02:21

I didn't mean I'd plan on burning 50K in a year, I meant after a year I would see what I have spent and then decide whether to stay longer or go home and work.

50K in a year would be awesome though.