Hi Patch and thanks for the comment.

Indeed I look forward to meeting you in Pakchong. I’ll be there for a couple of weeks from 22 April 2011.

Any chance of sending some photos of your retirement house for people to see?

Best Regards

Alan

Hi Joe,

Sorry to have taken so long to reply but your question is so important that I didn’t just want to reply quickly without giving you the accurate information that you need.

I had to go out and gather in some information for you and in fact made a whole new web page about Thai visas, types of Thai retirement visas and how much money you need to qualify for a Thai retirement visa. this web page simply has to be the definitive guide to Thai visas for people wanting to retire to Thailand.

Now let’s get on with answering you question which is “Can I make it (retiring in Pakchong (Pak Chong), Thailand on $1,400 per month and what should I expect?”

The Short Answer To How Much Money You Need To Retire In Thailand

The short answer to your question is that if you live like the Thais – with $1,400 a month you can live like a king.

I am planning to retire to Thailand in the next couple of years and my pension will be around $1,500 a month – similar to yours. I expect to live decently but I do (or will) own my own house in Thailand. I also own a one year old pickup truck. So no major capital cost expenditures for me.

But if you want to live like a Westerner and have steak and red wine every day and travel all over Thailand in your own car staying in decent hotels then forget it.

There are other ‘Buts’ too.

Like where will you live? Will you need to rent a place to live?

How is your health? Will you need to pay for medical care?

And a big question is: How will you deal with the Thai government requirements to be granted a long stay visa, which requires you to have an income of 65,000 Baht a month or a bank balance of 800,000?

How To Live In Pakchong (Pak Chong), Thailand, On 30,000 Baht per Month.

First, let’s translate that 30,000 Baht into two common Western currencies:-

30,000 Baht = $1,000 at the current rate of 30 Baht/$
30,000 Baht = £600 at the current rate of 50 Baht/£

Now look at this email I just received in answer to putting your question to an American friend of mine who is building a retirement house in Pakchong (Pak Chong):-

“Alan,

I don’t know about the visa, but I would say he can live on the 30K (Baht/month), the question is if his wife / girlfriend can.

His being 71, I would imagine he would not get out much.

Does his girlfriend have a house or will he have to rent one. That would make a big difference.

Will he need a car or not another large expense.

Other than those two cost of living, i.e. food and clothes should be no issue to live on 30K

I send my wife 30K to take care of our house and I would expect we have much more expenses then he would incur.

We have two cars, which need fuel, insurance, have Satellite TV. My wife has Internet on her phone and call me in Singapore everyday, we pay for the workers at the farm and subsidise it, etc.

Regards,

Steve”

At current exchange rates your $1,400 x 30 = 42,000 Baht, so you have 12,000 a month left over – nearly 30%.

Some Examples Of Cost Of Living In Pakchong (Pak Chong) Thailand

My wife, Kanyah, stays in The Mansion, Pakchong (Pak Chong). She has a single (large) room with double bed, wardrobes, a bathroom and balcony. It is modern and clean, but there are no cooking facilities. It costs her around 5,000 Baht/month including electricity and water.

A typical Thai meal at a roadside or market stall say noodle soup or fried rice will cost you around 40 Baht. (Just over a dollar)

At the same kind of establishment of in a supermarket local Thai beer will cost around 45 Baht for a large 500 ml bottle.

A bottle of cheapest Thai wine from a supermarket is around 500 Baht a bottle. (Not at all cheap). Imported wine is far more expensive. Forget that.

If you travel to the tourist areas like Hua Hin or Phuket etc the prices skyrocket.

Seafood lunch on the beach at Hua Hin 26 April 2011 for three people including beers:- 1,490 Baht.

Diesel Fuel Costs In Thailand

I have an invoice here dated 27 April, 2011, for Diesel at 30.25 Baht/Litre. Compare that to costs in your own country.

Proof of Income or Capital Requirements to Qualify For Thai Retirement Visas

The Thai government have imposed quite onerous requirements on foreigners wishing to live in Thailand to demonstrate that they have adequate finances to support themselves.

To qualify for a long-term visa to stay in Thailand you have to prove that you have an income of 65,000 Baht a month or a bank balance of 800,000. This is explained in great detail on the “Thai Retirement Visa Requirements” web page.

The Big Ticket Items

So you can live like a king on $1,400 (42,000 Baht) a month or less in Pakchong (Pak Chong), Thailand, considering daily living expenses.

But there are other potential expenses that you may need to budget for and these are Big Ticket Items. Like:-

If you need to fly back to USA. Could be for family or health reasons, or to maintain your home back there if you have one.

If you need to leave Thailand to renew your visa. (Quite common)

If you fall ill and have to pay for medical treatment.

Sorting out financial problems that your Thai partner’s family have got themselves into.

Do You Really Want To Retire to Thailand?

I am always asking myself this question, even though I am building a retirement home in Pakchong (Pak Chong), Thailand, at great expense and worry.

If you have read my article “Don’t Retire To Thailand” you’ll see some of the challenges that you will face. If you haven’t read it then do so now before you go any further.

That’s all for now, Joe.

I have tried to answer your question accurately and with the best information. I have created a new web page on the requirements for Thai retirement visas and provided you with links to further information.

I hope you are satisfied that i have done my best to answer your question but I do realise that after you have read through this reply you will have many more questions to ask.

If so, don’t worry, just ask away and I will do my very best to find the answers for you.

It’s this kind of information that people need and it keeps the website alive.

All the Best

Alan