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#1
20-01-2007, 00:45
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Cost of living in LOS
There have been many good posts about the subject of what it costs to live in LOS. I've searched this forum and read most of them, and thanks to the BM's on this forum I have a pretty good idea what to expect. But in my opinion it's a flawed question to start with. It's like asking what the cost of living is in the US or UK. It's all relative. Everyone's experience is very personal and unique.
I know people who live on less than $1000 USD a month in the US, but they are struggling and apply for all the government programs available to them. Some of them are happy, some miserable. Their $1000 USD a month would go a lot farther in LOS. Then I know people who make 8000-10000 USD a month and still don't have much to show at the end of the month other than good memories, but their lifestyle is much better. So I guess it depends on the lifestyle you are used to, or the one you strive for in LOS. Obviously most of us don't want to move to LOS to be poor or to just get by. We want a better lifestyle than the one we have currently. I've been thinking maybe a better approach to the question would be to ask how much an ex-pat used to live on back in their home country, and what they live on now. And then consider if their lifestyle has stayed about the same, or improved. This doesn't have to be said in dollar amounts, but can be better said in percentages. For example, if someone was used to living on X USD a week, and maintained the same semi-comfortable lifestyle in LOS, what does it cost in LOS. Would it be 50%, 75%? The percentages probably don't work the same at the extreme low end, so let's keep the bare minimums for another post. Personally I don't have the pleasure of being able to bar fining beautiful BG's where I live now, so to be fair, keeping the same lifestyle would be impossible for me. Also, as helpful as long time ex-pats may be in their advice, I think if they have been away from their home country for years, they might be surprised at what the cost of living actually is in that country today. The best suited person to answer a question like this IMHO, short of moving there yourself and finding out, would be an ex-pat with only a year or two living in LOS. This way he can compare apples to apples. Dodger comes to mind, but there might also be more BM's that fit into this category. Another concern, many people who move there go from working to "retiring", and I'm sure with the extra time it costs a bit more to live. Also once you actually live in LOS, with all the temptations, trying to maintain the same lifestyle might go out the window. Any comments are appreciated.
__________________
My Thai girl smokes the competition,......... and now it hurts when I pee. 
Last edited by Bushdoctor : 20-01-2007 at 00:52. 
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#2
20-01-2007, 03:03
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i think you found your man!!
i was living in hoboken, new jersey-right across the water from manhattan left my job and went and lived in phuket for close to a year at the time the exchange rate was 40/baht to 1usd: IN US -- IN LOS rent : 80,000baht -- 15,000baht utilities : 12,000baht -- 3,000baht spending : 132,000baht -- 120,000baht total : 224,000baht/mo -- 138,000baht/mo -id rate the accomodations as almost equal-lived in a converted warehouse in states vs a small 1 bedroom with a huge balcony and swimming pool downstairs -utlities-that included internet cafe that i frequented alot in LOS -spending-in LOS that was with a 4000/mo motrobike and a gf -eating-included in my spending and both places are eating out everynight also i went out almost everynight in los compared to 3-4 nights in US PS-the numbers were lined up nice but changed when i hit go Last edited by marc26 : 20-01-2007 at 03:07.
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#3
20-01-2007, 04:34
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Thanks marc. So for you it cost you roughly a third less to live in LOS than it did in the US. It sounds like your living conditions were about the same as far as type of apt and food, but it also sounds like you had a better lifestyle. You said you went out every night compared to 3-4 nights a week, and you probably had much more fun and entertainment than the in the States. Probably had a bar tab nearly every night too?
 And was your girlfriend a TG that you met there?  That's exactly what I was trying to find out. I think it costs more to live in NJ than in Florida where I'm at too. So then is it safe to say once I get settled in to a routine, if I make $X USD here, then to keep my lifestyle the way I want it, I could easily do it for one third less in LOS?
__________________
My Thai girl smokes the competition,......... and now it hurts when I pee.
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#4
20-01-2007, 12:17
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&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
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i lived in LA LA land (los angeles) before moving here, i live better on a lot less money. i spend about 80,000 per month including health insurance back in the good old US of A.
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#5
20-01-2007, 15:44
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I hope this is some type of catastrophic coverage with low premium. You're better of with your health coverage in Thailand.
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#6
20-01-2007, 17:15
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"I hope this is some type of catastrophic coverage with low premium. You're better of with your health coverage in Thailand."
well....since i don't know where i'll be in a year (i hope here), i have to keep it for now.
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#7
20-01-2007, 18:03
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This is the tough part in the beginning. For a cheap place it is really easy to spend a lot of money. Keep the bulk of your money outside and only bring it in according to your budget. After awhile the spending calms down as you settle in. Girlfriend can really help or hurt with that.
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Drink, sweat, dance like a idoit, crash your bike on the way home. Wake up covered in blood. Wonder who the hell Noi is with an 8 digit phone number.
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#8
21-01-2007, 00:17
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A question should be short
Your query was like" War and Peace"
 If you want an answer then just ask a question.  Just post your query - we will get back to you. 
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If you can't take a joke you shouldn't have joined up!!!
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#9
21-01-2007, 01:02
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Cost. It's all relative! As Einstein said - If you hold your hand over a candle and it hurts that costs little and seems like eternity.
If you have a beautiful woman sat on your lap for an hour.....That can be quite expensive and doesn't seem to last very long..............Probably! I bought milk today but can't remember how much it was or how much it is where I come from...........Therefore I am!
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The idea is to die young.........as late as possible. 
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#10
21-01-2007, 01:08
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SUFFERING FROM MEMORY LOSS................. IJ
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one life.......live it.......tomorrow never comes......
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#11
21-01-2007, 01:19
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Something like that IJ. It's a massive question Bushdoctor poses.
As a Brit I can't answer it as I don't know the costs of living in the US. Are they different from State to State? What would be my overheads where you are Jonny in Ireland? I don't know. My rent here is on a par with my mortgage in the UK. Everything else on a day to day basis is cheaper. I smoke too much and everyone I know who has quit smoking has said "Put the money you would have spent on smokes in a jar and you could have six holidays a year!" Well, I am saving £4 a pack here and if I saved that up I could probably do my rent out here from it! As Crusty says, specifics I can do. Lots of things as you know are cheaper. If you wanted 'ballpark' figures then I personally would go for about half the price across the board, day to day cost of living, I was paying in the UK.
__________________
The idea is to die young.........as late as possible.
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#12
21-01-2007, 18:09
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Speaking of cost of smoking, what is the cost of a pack of Marlobors these days? Having moved from UK to Switzerland recently I could not believe how much cheaper smoking is overhere (if that is a good thing or not is a diff conversation)
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#13
21-01-2007, 19:01
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I gave just over 700 Baht for a carton of 200 Benson & Hedges at the Supermarket yesterday.
Think I got around 69 Baht for a £ the other day. Therefore, around the pound a packet for me. Saving £4 per day over a 30 day month alone is £120 (8300Baht-ish!) If I am honest with myself I smoke two packs a day with a drink or three, so heading towards the 17K per month cheaper than Gordon Browns RRP!
__________________
The idea is to die young.........as late as possible.
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#14
21-01-2007, 19:21
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I noticed its very hard to find Golden Virginia in thailand, ended up with some nasty drum stuff last time
 Hopefully i'll get the chance to purchase some cheap GV in bkk airport on my way through.
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#15
21-01-2007, 20:46
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Well good on you mate. Seems good old Gordon is too busy telling the British public who to vote out in Big Brother than to realise he driving the country downhill fast with all his outragous taxes on the "good" stuff.... 
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#16
21-01-2007, 20:51
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55555.......Right, I see your point! Especially coming from hell to a tropical paradise, I rekon the cost of milk becomes pretty insignificant! Congrats on your move and hope you enjoy. Here's one for memories..........http://www.youtube.com/watch?search=...&v=BwkGySOtiio
__________________
My Thai girl smokes the competition,......... and now it hurts when I pee.
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#17
23-01-2007, 00:17
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Tropical splendor for under EUR 500
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I live like a king for under 500 euro/month in a poolside serviced apartment in Chalong (Phuket), with all the mod cons (incl SatTV/ADSL!), but I dont' smoke, drink, use drugs or hire ******s (I get it free) and prefer my own cooking to MSG-laden restaurant cuisine.
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#18
23-01-2007, 02:58
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Re. bushdoctor and his financial comparison. Kiro, if you think England's being mismanaged by Gordon, draw a comparison with Angie's budgeting. As a Brit living in Germany I have to earn 1200 Euros minimum per month just to pay my rent, health cover, food, car expenses, incidentals and the odd beer or two. Cigs cost 5- 6 Euros a packet, a beer 2.5 Euros. This doesn't include clubbing, a stroll down the Reeperbahn or a date with the remote possibility of intimacy. How does that square with the Thai cost of living? P.S. VAT just went up to 19%. It's snowing here and the temperature is -9C. Can't wait to do LOS again.
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#19
23-01-2007, 04:22
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You can get GV in BKK airport duty free.....560b?? or somthing for 5 big pouch...cheap cheap 5555
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#20
23-01-2007, 04:37
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You're lucky mate....in ireland the prices are as follows... Beer(bud,heineken) 4 euros pint..(200b) smokes 7.05 euros per 20 (was 6.50 in dec) up 55cents... Rent for a grotty cold flat min 400epm...600-700 if you want something half decent... clubs 10-20 euro 21% vat And when the ps3 comes out 599euro everywhere else 630 here I could go on and on...
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#21
23-01-2007, 07:18
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what was wrong with his query, thought it was well written and explained exactly what he was looking for Last edited by marc26 : 23-01-2007 at 07:22.
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#22
23-01-2007, 13:29
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