Brace yourself, fellow noodle slurpers. My favorite noodle place just upped the price for a special bowl of soup from 30 to 35 baht! Maybe it's time to cash in the chips and go home?
No, no chance of that.....came here 13 years ago and the price was 20-25. 35 seems fair after all those years.

If you Retire on a Govt. Pension it may or may not increase with inflation, but if your Money is coming from Superannuation you should get the ups and downs but still be able to control your situation. I don't know about the situation in other countries but here we all expect to be self funded Retirees (spelling) I admit that put's you at the Mercy of the Stock Market but at least you have the Opportunity to move your money into cash or Bricks and Mortar when times are tough, and move them back as the Economy picks up. Sorry if this is not applicable to some, just food for thought !!

Every one different I try to keep a record of my expenses for the next 6 weeks, here is a data base format.

My cost was 1,000,000B for house still building it, 2 motorbikes, no car, rent apartment 1 mont at a time AEK, till home finished, no hurry to finish, home is at lockup stage at this time will finish the internal lining this trip, maybe.

So for staying here for six weeks I will list my outgoings, daily living expenses only no vehicle insurance or home costings, just electricity for the house, for me and the GF I can live for about 1200B a day general food drink, in holiday mode

Although I have scanned the posts relating to this subject, one must take into account a couple of things.
One: As one gets older changing your lifestyle can be traumatic especially if your resort to Thai food full time, so to ensure you remain healthy a good weekly does of farang typoe food available at some establishments and also from our friends in Chern Chim .
Two: I am sure we all are in good helalth and I know we have discussed this to death, some state having apot of money to pay for any evaentuality is ok, other need a health care package, both options will either take a sizeable sum from a nest egg to set up and maintain, or a monthly or yearly cost which must be in any equation.
if one is renting and as Udon is becoming a pace to be, rents will rise faster than at present, the only things which are fairly stable is the cost of basics, electricity, gas and water, fuel costs are at the mercy of the worlds markets and other costs are probably self inflicted, girls, alcohol etc:-

So a budget fo approx 40-50 k is affordable and can be fairly easily maintained and that is my benchmark
that accounts for all expenses listed above including Visa and other mundaine items that one requires over a year in order to maintain a fairly healthy and happy lifestyle. Just for info, I have no intention of listing my costs as above but the post is an indication of my thoughts and general views in attaining my optimum figure for a fairly satisfied lifestyle.

See if this is a bit bigger

Thats a listing for the first week, take off 3000B for tyres, that would take it to about 9000b a week,
take off the dog grooming and massage, the GF gives me the massage, I would normally do dog washing thats 7000 a week for living, add 2600B a week for home insurance , car insurance water electric, health, home maintainance, that puts it at 9600b a week or B42000 a month
Electric month 1200
home insur 2000
Motor veh 2000
health 1000
Water rates 1000
Home repairs 2000 repaint home ,lighting ETC
Household 1000 cleaners toilet paper

Most expensive meal was at Enrico Pizza, 1 x Brushchutta,175 1 x pizza 400 1 x pinapple crush 120, Pizza is more expensive than OZ, their pinapple drink is about 400ml, I usually but 300ml from the ma pa shop 12B, go to Enrico at least twice every visit, next time will go for the spagetti, GF likes the A/C room, living here full time I would go there once in a blue moon.
SOme nights we eat at the ma pa shop for 2 x fruit drinks 300ml and rice dish with meal 2 x 50B, and sometimes finish it off with the hard stuff Coke Cola on the rocks, that puts it a B140 total for dinner

The western farang own joints are always more expensive, even maccas is 200b for 2 pax. their OJ is 60b 250ml, so the ma pa shops are the best value, still like to have some western food on a weekly bases.

42k per month? You guys must be living high off the hog. All-in expenses for a family of 3 renting a comfortable 3 BR western-style house AND a car for a month ran me that much. It would be a struggle TRY to spend even close to that if I were single. Sans any TGF costs, I would probably spend MAYBE 20k - but would still be "living it up" in Udon.

Just my song-baht.

Cheers!

Thats my conserative figure, my usual 3-6 month stays I budget 2000b a day for outgoings, plus accommodation 6000b mt including water elect. health cover on top of that

When I start living here full time in my own home, eating at home more often I expect that to drop, I dont drink the hard stuff much, add 3 bears a day at a pub and that's another 200b. If you have a wife and stay home and adventure out once a week things would drop off the costings, I drink at least 1 lt fruit juice a day plus orange/ pineapple icee 300ml from ma pa shop. Give the GF/ wife 4000 a month and I pay all other expenses, on top of the partner wage I pay 200b a week for her to do washing ironing, that would drop down to 50b washing powder water electric, plus cost washing machine over 10 years good machine 10,000b last 10years thats 20b a week just to have a machine sitting there.

That's why I put it in black and white to see where it all goes, most people have no idea what a car cost in OZ to run, I drive a 1 tonne Ute/ pick up 6 cylinder like the Hilux, currently worth 38,000Aud new it will cost me 42 cents a klm to run and pay the vehicle off over 5 years with all servic expenses insurance rego, the average dude thinks its costing just 12 cents a k fuel only, so when some one says we going to the coast for the week end, it not the $50 in fuel it 600klm trip by 42c is the real cost, most people just look at the fuel cost and not the tyres repairs ETC.

Todays food cost eating out was300b yesterday 850 depends where we eat, I got a 5 year plan to build my home, this trip I'll install the plaster board on the walls ceiling, stay at appartment with partner while building.

Eating in or out is what makes the difference, most will have a car bike, health insurance, all can vary slightly, comes down to one own personal eating habits or drinking.

I use Quicken to manage my finances, so I thought I'd share my expenses as it's relatively easy to do.

My expenses are considerably more than most of the people who've shared so far. My lifestyle is fairly typical middle class, I think. These are my annual expenses.

Spending by Category - Last 12 months
12/23/2008 through 12/22/2009 (in Thai Baht)

Category Description

Auto 58,858.02
Fuel 36,970.00
Insurance 13,078.02
Service 6,852.00
Vehicle License 1,958.00

Banking Fees 6,446.45
Charity 5,220.00
Clothing 6,652.00

Computer 21,980.83
Hardware 6,534.00
ISP 7,580.00
Service 4,300.00
Software 3,426.83
Other Computer 140.00

Dining 78,867.92
Entertainment 14,260.00
Gifts Given 251,397.25
Groceries 92,160.75

Household 95,425.75
appliances 16,107.00
Furnishings 14,900.25
Maintenance 48,094.00
Other Household 16,324.50

Immigration Expense 8,232.50

Insurance 97,948.21
Health 85,394.38
House 2,906.12
Life 9,647.71

Legal Exp 90.00

Medical 38,074.39
Dental 3,225.32
Doctor 33,052.30
Laboratory 72,591.03
Medicine 45,261.91
Other Medical -116,056.17

Misc 13,018.90
Personal Care 11,295.25
Postage 1,628.00
Tax Preparation Fees 263.14
Transportation 39,005.00
Union Dues 1,588.80

Utilities 67,025.26
Electric 29,737.11
Satellite & Cable TV 32,632.65
Telephone 3,957.00
Water 698.50

Vacation 17,938.00
Soi 9 Property 51,659.00
House loan from Kay 30,000.00
House loan from Na 4,000.00
House Loan from Tukta 85,000.00

OVERALL TOTAL 1,098,035.42

So, I'm looking at 91,503 baht a month in total expenses. Most of these expenses are here in Thailand. My health insurance is a company retirement benefit, and I remain a member of my union; the retired dues are minimal.

I give the wife 2,500 baht a week (more when we go the Bangkok) that she doesn't have to account for. Much of it goes for food and family. I also give my inlaws 5,000 baht a month. They are 67 and 74 and still working. The money is mostly a token to show respect to them.

I borrowed part of the cost of my house from family members and repay ~10,000 a month. This year I did some improvements to the house and had to replace an a/c unit that failed.

We fly to Bangkok several times a year for medical care, visit family and friends, and to overeat. Medical expenses include my reimbursements from insurance.

I have True Visions (Platinum plus HBO and Discovery add ons) and Home Cable. We have a 9 year old car and an older m/c.

We don't go to bars, but do eat out frequently with friends and family. My net worth keeps going up so I'm trying to figure out how to spend more.

WOW !!!!! bt91,000 a month thats nearly how much i get paid .working in england a month.you must be a very wealthy man!!!!!!............i wish i had that money!!!!!............

No dee, I'm not wealthy. I'm basically spending what I get. This past year some investments did OK, so I came out ahead. The year before my net worth went down because the investments didn't do as well.

And, according to you, you do have that money, and more.

What's your address? I'm putting a sign up on my lawn telling the robbers to leave me alone and go there instead!

Udonexpat, Thats what I would figure I would live on if I retired now, although I would only spend 10,000b on the thai family, the wife mother is dead, she has 2 sister 1 brother, all live 10k udon 5 k from our home, I estimate that I could live well just the 2 of us, using the MC as the main form of travel, even going to Bkk 3 times a year on it and lots of road trips. I think if I take out your family support and a few other items 600,000b sounds very very doable.

Thanks for the imput Udonexpat, we appriciate it how the other half lives Iam hoping my retirement fund will pay out 1,200,000b a month in 10 years time. I meet an expat Ausie last trip , his retirement super fund is 1,5000,000b a year and as a single guy he spends most of that, lives in appartment, and changes GF every other month, drinks smokes constantly, and eats out 99% of the time. to each his own

I think your expenses are on the mark, I currently spend 1000b a day just living , no long term cost, had to spend 500b for motor bike lights, new battery, the maintenance on repairs and replacement of household items adds up, I still think 40k a month is living cheaply including all short and long term cost,for 2 people. unless your a big rice eater breakfast lunch dinner.

I made my home colorbond on the outside no painting in my life time, and all other paint where exposed was good quality Dulux, but still I figure 15 years time give a another coat, and probably dead by the next 15 years when due.
The wife at 40yo still likes to go clubing once a month, Iam a more of a bush dancer at 50 would go every week if some one was doing that type of dancing, other than that ball room suites us once a month.

Have a nice day Chums

Well, as a future retiree in Udon, i find UdonExpat's 91,000baht a month living costs scary! In this thread, it has rarely bumped past at the very top, 50K-60k baht a month needed. Obviously the more you have, the better, but, many thinking of retirement to Udon, have to consider ex-wives, family, other commitments in their home country, and are therefore trying to work out if it is possible to retire on what's left to them. After the dust is settled, i'll have about in fact, 50k-60k baht a month, i would think. Or i delay retirement building up my savings/pension, but getting older and older in cold old England. What to do!? Lovely Thailand and poor, horrible England and in my work still, rich?

I would say those living well off wouldn't want to reply, just us poor fokes, 30k a month for 2 people living cheaply is very doable.

Warm wonderful Udon thani, you just love it.

Phil, I think you are correct in your post.
People should not forget the Thai Government believes 65K is sufficient for a single Falang to live on & 45K enough for a married couple. Most of these retirees live in places in Thailand with probably a few more distractions to sped your money on as well I have not seen any reported problems that the Government believes this is now insufficient & need to increase these levels as retirees are resorting to begging in the street as they cannot manage.
It is one of the laws of economics that expenditure increases to match income.
Obviously the more income available the more comfortable your defenses against the evils of inflation.

I figure 35-40,000 a month of my expenses is cream: Two computers and accessories; life insurance for both of us; money to the wife and family; charity; yard service; home improvements; flying to Bangkok several times a year; good liquor; and eating farang food a lot.

When I first came here in 2002 my expenses were about 1/3 to 1/2 what they are now. With COLA's and age my retirement incomes and investment incomes have increased, as has my spending. Then I rented, had better health and was single.

Money is a bit like space. If you have space you'll fill it with stuff. If you have money you'll find something you want to spend it on.

There are many guys here who have, and spend more than me. It seems none of them have seen fit to provide another financial picture of life in Udon. I thought I'd expand it a bit. This shouldn't discourage you if you have less to spend; life here is sweet compared to the US, and probably most of Europe. If you have more to spend you can have some idea of what is a more expensive way to live here.

Dahm, Khon, forget the sign. My house is like a fortress. The thieves will choose something easier without security bars and vigilant neighbors. I'm the only farang on my soi and nothing happens on this soi that at least one of the Thai neighbors isn't aware of.

ABoy you've got your head on straight and can have a great life here on 600,000 a year. You'll be saving money and then having to figure out ways to spend it. I'm sure the wife will help you.

30K a month for 2 people you're existing cheaply.

60K a month and you're living cheaply.

IMHO of course.

As a visitor, not yet resident, my expenses are a bit different; but overall i think not that different to total living costs if resident. As a single person, i could easily live on 30,000 baht a month (not counting girlfriends needs) and could exist on 20,000 without needing to beg. It is the girl friend/family needs that can boost it up. But that depends on the girlfriend. Some will cost you less than 10,000 a month, others more (much more!). My TGF needs some financial training (budget is whatever is in her pocket) but she gets by on 4,000 baht a month when i am not there apart from her business income ( which is often negative). But you have start up costs early in a relationship; allow for that. If TGF expenditure continually rises, watch out. But i would hope to keep recurring expenditure to 40,000 a month; hopefully less.