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#1
10-11-2006, 09:22
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Possible to live fairly cheap in Patong?
Hello all-
I would like to travel to Phuket for the winter, but would like to do so on a budget. I really don't drink very often and I enjoy just about all foods. I was hoping to get a hotel for a week to find an apartment. The biggest things I need are a good internet connection, a seperate living room area, and withing walking distance to the beach & restaurants. I am a fairly decent looking younger guy, so I was also hoping to not have to P4P. I have seen quite a few estimates on how much you guys spend per day and its quite a bit out of my range if I'm going to stay until April. I was wondering what a person could get by on if he ate 2 meals a day (nothing really fancy) and just hung out at the beach all day. Are there halfway decent places to stay close enough to the beach with what I'm looking for that would go down to 15,000 a month if I rent 4-5 months? Also do you need to have a prescription to buy most drugs or no. I'm not looking for any narcotics, just basic stuff I get from my doc here. Thanks for any help and please don't flame me. I have read and read - just looking for some fresh opinions - db. 
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#2
10-11-2006, 09:36
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15k per month apartment.. Yes possible, not easy and will probably want something like a commitment few months but possible.. Internet (fast) at that price ?? Probably not (but maybe).. You can set up internet of buy into the wireless broadband but both options cost you and incurr some fees, the wireless fees are a higher initial as you have to buy the hardware card.
Young good looking doesnt matter.. The girls are working.. They expect to be paid (even if they dont explicitly ask.. Many dont).. They have families and kids to support.. Sure you can meet a regular girls somewhere but that isnt in the bars and discos of Patong. Basic normal stuff is not prescription controlled.. Most things borderline or prescription US are not controlled (antibiotics, sleep tablets, etc).. What are you considering as a budget ?? If you really only want beaches and resturants and drinking and P4P is not what your are looking for you can radically change your outgoing budget by not being in Patong.
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#3
10-11-2006, 10:37
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I have never been to thailand before, so all of my knowledge is from reading about it. You guys have been a great help so far. Its not that I'm not really into the bars or P4P but I'm pretty conservative on my spending. I picked phuket because of the many beaches in such a small area. I am not positive on Patong yet, but I would like some of the anemities that the tourist zone offers. Do you think I may be better going down to Karon or Kata? I do really want a good internet connection (that is one thing I don't mind paying extra for). I would like to be close enough to the beach where I could go there 2 or 3 times a day if I wanted to, so I wouldn't want to pay for a cab every time. Do Karon and Kata have 24hr restaurants and sidewalk food like patong has? I like to be able to leave the house at any hour and walk around, maybe get a bite to eat or walk the beach. I have a bad back and sometimes can't sleep so I have to get up and walk it off so that is why I thought Patong may be better for me. Anyone? Thanks, db.
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#4
10-11-2006, 10:57
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Well if you havent been here its really hard to try and pigion hole you.. Also when you come will really have an effect too as high season and low season are two totally different beasts from a long termers point of view..
Patong is a great little town, I actually feel really at home here now and even though Bangla and the main bar zones is kinda nuts its also easy to avoid or just jump in when you feel like.. Theres food carts and stalls everywhere.. Theres markets for cheap clothes, theres cheap food produce markets that are clean.. However its easy to fall into the bar life black hole and thats expensive, as a non drinker or low drinker you can probably avoid that a bit.. Patong is a party town though and P4P is the driving force.. Available women are everywhere but its expected to be showing some generosity no matter what age etc you are.. That changes if hooking up LT but the 'good girl' % is not much.. Kata and Karon will not have 24 hour action.. Even patong slows down and shuts up most places at dawn (except some really late night drinking dens).. I also have funny sleep patterns (I think the heat also makes you less day / night divided.. I often cat nap or siesta and then am up at odd hours dawn or whatever.. I would imagine you would probably rent a bike when you come here (3000 - 4000 per month for an ok one) and have your own transport.. Until you experience the place and find your own preferred place and lifestyle its really impossible to predict.. But dont think Patong is so cheap, its a tourist enclave, with tourist prices.. A subway sandwich is 5 USD, a starbucks coffee is a couple of bucks, etc etc etc.. Prices tend to be what the market will bear. Yes you can get by once you know what your doing.. it wouldnt be impossible to live for under 40k per month but it also wouldnt be very exciting either, and you need to allow for some learning curve to get there and get yourself a little bit set up.
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#5
10-11-2006, 11:46
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The good (depending how you look at it) news is that I'm not strapped for cash - I'm just cheap. I was hoping to get by on 40-60,000 a month including my room and everything. I spent last winter in a little surf town in Costa Rica. It was quite a bit more expensive there though from the looks of it. Most of the rooms were about 2-3 times more expensive than what I'm seeing so far for the same anemities. When I was in Hermosa, Costa Rica last year I could drive to the next closest town to get something to eat, but still only until about 10 or so. I was hoping to just be able to go on a little walk to get a bite to eat. So as far as late night eating and general stuff being open Patong would probably be the best bet for me? When you say rent a bike - you mean a motorcycle, right? Are there places you can rent one for pretty cheap. Do you get harrased while driving much? When I was in Costa Rica I got stopped almost every time I went by a cop outside of the city. They always wanted to check your papers to make sure everything was in check. I did have Wisconsin plates though, so I'm sure that didn't help! Thanks again for your information. -db
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#6
10-11-2006, 13:15
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You can rent a small 125 style scooter for 75 - 100 USD per month.. Everyone rides one.. Simple effective transport.
Thai police are not too bad for the shakedown, if you have an IDP (international licence) and a helmet on you dont get fined.. If your breaking the law then you have a small fine.. its all pretty above board and legit these days and not being shook down like cops in more 3rd world places. Patong is definately the most 24 hour place on the island.. If thats a good or bad thing will be personal preferance. 40k - 60k is about right for a low / non drinker and being frugal.. Doable in Patong. I only kept pushing it as some people seem to think you can live like a Thai and think that if a Thai salary is 250 USD a month why cant I just live like that. Or posts on where to get rooms for 5 USD a night etc.. May be possible in the sticks but Patong is not the sticks.
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#7
10-11-2006, 14:07
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Have to correct you a bit LiL, i have been drinking there at 6 in the morning till the sun came up and I could go for breakfast, 24 hour kitchen (Kata centre Inn?) outside on Patak Road near Tin Tin's prefered Farang Bar is the thai hangout in the middle of the night watching football and eat, on the road to same road as Kata Centre Inn is a shophouse eating place open till deep in the night morning as well and ofcourse the scouse doesn't close till the last one is gone. Yes it is not as busy and crowded as Patong in the middle of the night, but it is still alive haha And ofcourse there is always the 7-11 with company
__________________
Having your own piece of Thailand at home is a dream of many. Life will never be the same.
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#8
10-11-2006, 20:49
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I thought my living costs were cheap, and i was most certain i could live a comfortable life style for 30-40k truth is though that i was wrong. 40k would last me 2 weeks without any shopping, while 80k would last for a month without drinking too much. I wouldnt put myself in that budget situation atleast not if travelling alone. Would be awfully boring to just hang out in the appartment and eat noodles the last 2 weeks of the month.
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#9
10-11-2006, 21:37
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Ok agreed.. there are bars in Karon (everywhere) that will stay open all the time but for wake up at any hour, walk out and fine something to eat, or some action.. Patong rules by a wide margin IMHO.. I was in some bar in Kata behind the boxing and the sun came up.. They were very willing (encouraging even  ) to let me crash in thier girl room above the bar with them.. But I figured if it was dawn already my GF may have had more hump than usual if I didnt come home to the afternoon..
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#10
10-11-2006, 21:43
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We have done the budget thing to death a few times.. 40 is a pretty bare minimum.. Its possible, especially once you know the place and where to shop etc, but there isnt much party budget. 60 is doing ok, your not throwing money about but you can have fun and a nice life.. You still have to pay close attention and your not in non stop party mode. 80 and your able to relax, spend a lot, be out most nights, have girls when you want.. Generally for a few months visit I would try really hard to have a 80k min budget.. Possibly to spend a lot more sure but after 80k your starting to spend harder than you need. From 80 its easy to keep on going.. its surprising how much you can spend drunk in this environment.. 20k nights are not hard to do !! Drink + loose women = brain is in neutral.. Some of the best nights of my life are nights that if I looked at the cost sober I would never have done.. At least I have the memories. You can act like a rock star for the cost of a normal night out back home, things I will smile about on my deathbed.
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#11
10-11-2006, 22:06
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dbcooper, type in "cost of living" in the search function and you will get very detailed information in several threads from very diverse perspectives. From those threads you should be able to work out your own budget based on your own living standards and way of life. Your first month will entail a learning curve and set up costs so pad in 25% more for that one.
The TanMan
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#12
10-11-2006, 22:23
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I know that mate, and i was quite optimistic last time we spoke about it. On the other hand tho, my budget was based on my own spendings in and around BKK and in BKK i figure you need to spend money to not get bored as hell, while the living costs in Phuket is higher. I guess its about priorities. I need to do stuff to not get bored, while someone else could relax on the beach everyday and not spend a whole lot. Its soooo easy to spend more then you realy can afford in BKK. I mean sheesh, look out trough that window of yours and you can allmost taste that next Chang. 15 min later you are out there trying to find a cab to take you to your favorite venue. Or try to go to bed in Pattaya when the music starts playing close by. Its like torture realy.
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#13
11-11-2006, 03:20
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"airfare not included conservitve estimate"
100usd per day average that will include, motorbike rental, a clean place too stay you can rent a cheaper place away from the beach and take your rented motorbike instead of walking,get a LT gfe cheaper and she will save you money on rip off's and barfines,limited drinking i/e every other day,food is cheap unless you want farang food, make shure too save a few baht for 911 and your airport exit tax and also for those daze you want to do something exciteing and be prepared to be broke and broken hearted by the time you leave.... good luck and have fun cheap charlie... ps... just a couple of questions??? 1..do you have enough money for a visa run?????? if need be..... 2.. what do you do for a living???? i want the winter off...... Last edited by me123 : 11-11-2006 at 03:25. Reason: i can't spell
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#14
11-11-2006, 03:50
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south side of the nightbazaar
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haha I can imagine, is that the new boxing ring on the south side of the nightbazaar? My memory goes a bit further back, pre night bazaar time. Have seen the new area as they were building it in the august 2005-march 2006 period. Eating I never had a problem in Kata (and I used to be outside from time to time at sunrise) But you are right to say Patong is bigger
__________________
Having your own piece of Thailand at home is a dream of many. Life will never be the same.
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#15
11-11-2006, 06:42
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My wife and I are in the same boat as the original poster. We manage to find the cheap way to vacation. I can't imagine that both of us can't get by on $1000 a month spending, not counting our room, which is only going to be 17,000 baht for the month. Eating from the roadside, getting a few massages, doing a few daytrips, and just hangin around the beaches. In the past I've never really kept track of spending, because we always have done timeshare presentations and made most of our spending money that way. Attending a 2 hour timeshare presentation in Mexico pays up to $300 for a married couple. By chance are there any timeshares in Bangkok or Patong???
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#16
11-11-2006, 07:02
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2nd time i came to phuket for a month , and spend 200.000
 A 1000 euro a week !!! [+/-] i have a serious LOS problem!!  but that changed a bit , and i,m spending about 30 to 40.000 a week now [ which doesnt include "gifts of gold" to G/F] wait a minute!!! that's about the same 
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#17
11-11-2006, 07:13
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The general issue with living in Thailand is that your basic cost of living is not that great a bargain really. Yes you can do it on the cheap but you're taking a few negative hits to your quality of life and the frustration of not being able to spend when the temptations are right in your face. Maybe that's countered by the positives but either way it's not the road to paradise.
Where the true advantage comes in to play I think is an 80-100k baht budget range will allow you to live a lifestyle unattainable for the same cost in the west.
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#18
11-11-2006, 07:23
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OK, now the bones show. Kee neow mak mak. The TanMan
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#19
11-11-2006, 08:21
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Yes we have scamming, lieing, high pressure, time wasting scum here to.. Dont defend it.. I know many of them closely.. Hearing people boast about keeping couples hostage until they cry, billing deposits on tier credit cards, etc etc etc does not make them popular.
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#20
11-11-2006, 10:04
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They don't have the [you] gag here, but you will find plenty of trannies....
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#21
11-11-2006, 10:23
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Wow, now you got me excited. So do you have any idea what they pay a married couple to do the tour? Are there many timeshares available in Patong? YES, timeshare salesman are about as hardcore as they come. I've done around 20 timeshare tours. I've learned most all of the tricks. More often than not, its the SALESMAN that is crying by the time they get done with me. lol Timeshare tours are not for most. You need some really thick skin to get through them. Enjoying a good argument doesnt hurt either.
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#22
11-11-2006, 10:28
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I guess I can see how the spending could add up when you factor in the fun stuff such as girls and drinking. But I'm mostly there for the beaches/snorkeling, and just to hang out in a warm climate during our winter. I'll have to be sitting the sidelines watching as all the others enjoy the bar scene. Thats what having a wife gets ya. 
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