Cost of life in Bangkok

Cost of life in Bangkok in 2017

You have probably already heard that Thailand is a country where life is cheap. Basically it depends of the point of view; on the other hand the cost of life increase a lot in Thailand and mainly in Bangkok even if it’s still “cheap” compared to western countries. Indeed, with an income of 1500 euro (1600USD), one could lead a very comfortable life in Bangkok.

For you Siam-relocation has lead a study, which will give you an idea of your real purchasing power in the realm.

School fees at the French International High School in Bangkok

Primary classes: 259 414 ฿
Middle school: 320,726 ฿
High school: 378,703 ฿
Registration fee: 150 000 ฿
Half-board: 21,175 ฿

Quality of life

Thailand is a beautiful country and offers a very interesting quality of life thanks to :

• Its very mild climate: with an average temperature of 28°C, Thailand enjoys a particularly pleasant climate that enchants many Europeans. What a privilege to bask in the sun while Europe is snowed under! For most expatriates in Thailand, the climate and the almost permanent sunshine give the impression of being on holiday all the time and take away some of the stress of working and being away from home.
• To its lush nature: Thailand offers the opportunity to enjoy a pleasant living environment and a rich and preserved nature. Even if you live right in the centre of Bangkok, there is nothing to stop you escaping for a weekend to the seaside resorts of Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Samui or Pattaya.
• To its gentle way of life: expatriating to the land of smiles also allows you to appreciate the flavours of Thai cuisine, whether in street food or in restaurants. This is an opportunity to taste the finest dishes and to discover exotic preparations such as scorpion skewers, mango with glutinous rice or red ant eggs
• Cost of living: Compared to Europe or France, the cost of living in Thailand is relatively low. Whether it is the monthly rent, transport costs or living expenses, the price difference benefits the expatriate and his family who can aspire to a more comfortable life than the one they had in France.

This quality of life is also expressed by the different activities that the expatriate will enjoy after work or on weekends like discovering Thai culture, scuba diving and snorkeling in the hot waters of Phuket, golfing in Pattaya, walking and trekking in the mountains and forests surrounding Chiang Mai, without mentioning the famous Thai massage, essential to enjoy a quiet moment after a stressful day.

A gateway to Asia

The geographical location of Thailand is a great advantage for the expatriate who can easily discover the surrounding countries like Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Burma, Malaysia, and even Hong Kong and Taiwan a little further. If you are a producer, you can use this location to export your products to other countries, with lower freight costs.

To summarise

Daily life in Thailand is about 30% cheaper than in France. In Bangkok the prices are higher than in the rest of Thailand but still very affordable.
Thailand has a standard of living in the high average, it ranks 18th in the world GDP before Australia. In terms of the HDI, Thailand is in 79th place, which is the same as Bosnia in Europe.
Thailand is therefore a rich country with a low standard of living, which makes it particularly attractive to expatriates.