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[TawtViet]

Can anyone give me at least a ball park figure of what I would spend on food per day in Thailand? I want to discipline myself and eat somewhat lightly, yet healthily. I'm in love with vegetables cooked or raw. I enjoy chicken, fish, and tofu. Rice (unless it's whole grain) is a digestive nightmare for me. Chocolate I gotta stop! I must beat the old sweet tooth into submission (please laugh). I am would be willing to prepare my own meals as much as possible. I am thinking about coming over for the PELT learn and earn program. I am not a small guy, 6' 2", about 225 lbs (a good reason to eat lightly!!!).
Thanks

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Hello TawtViet:

The main factor in how much you spend will be whether you can learn to adjust to Thai food or not - or whether the temptation to hit the western restaurants at the malls will be too much for you to resist.

Rice is the main staple here, but you can easily substitute noodles for rice anytime, anywhere. If you stick to Thai food, you can eat VERY well on 200 or 300 Baht per day. If you mix it up a little and eat western once a day, 400 Baht per day ($10) should be plenty. By the way: a typical Thai meal in a typical 'mom & pop' eatery runs 30 to 50 Baht ...

excluding beer which will add another 40 to 60 Baht to your bill.

One footnote: Almost nobody cooks for themselves here; not even the Thai women! There are so many small 'mom & pop' Street Cafes EVERYWHERE you turn, it's actually cheaper & more convenient to 'eat on the street', and that's what most people do. On top of that, you'll find a 7-11 and/or a Family Mart on practically every street corner in Bangkok, open 24/7, when you need that chocolate 'fix' or a new pair of socks.


cost-of-living [based on approximate prices in Bangkok as of 2005]



1 small soft drink: 8 Baht
1 small can ice-coffee: 12 Baht
1 1.25 liter bottle Coke: 26 Baht
1 kilogram of pork: 100 Baht
1 Kilogram of chicken: 80 Baht
1 kilogram of bananas: 15 Baht
1 small bag of freshly sliced pineapple: 10 Baht
1 kilogram of rice: 15 ~ 30 Baht (depending on type & grade)
1 lunch in a non-aircon Thai 'Mom & Pop' Street Cafe: 25 ~ 45 Baht
1 lunch in a nicer aircon restaurant (Shopping Malls): 100 ~ 150 Baht
1 lunch set at McDonald's: from 69 Baht (includes sandwich, fries & drink)
1 lunch buffet in a 4-star Hotel (example - J.W. Marriott): from 500 Baht
1 hot dog @ 7-11 with all the fixins': 15 Baht
1 small grilled sausage on a stick: 5 Baht
1 hot dog on a stick: 10 Baht
1 pack of L&M: 38 Baht
1 men's haircut: from 50 Baht
1 women's haircut: from 120 Baht
1 box of dry cat food: 49 ~ 57 Baht
1 Bangkok Post Newspaper (in English): 20 Baht
1 beer in a bar: 50 ~ 150 Baht (depending on where you go)
1 beer from the supermarket: 21 ~ 45 Baht (depending on brand)
1 hour in a typical internet cafe: 20 Baht (more at Malls & tourist areas)
1 new pair of trousers (good enough to wear for work): 450 ~ 750 Baht
1 new long-sleeved shirt: 450 ~ 750 Baht (on sale from 199 Baht)
1 single journey token on Bangkok's new Subway: 10 ~ 15 Baht
1 month Skytrain pass ---> includes 30 rides of any length: 540 Baht, or 18 Baht per ride
1 roundtrip air ticket from Bangkok to Phuket: from 2,500 Baht (depending on season & airline)
1 one-way bus ticket from Bangkok to Aranyaprathet (near the Cambodian border): 180 Baht
1 one-way bus ticket from Bangkok to Chiang Mai: 625 Baht
1 city bus ticket: 10 ~ 30 Baht (depending on distance travelled)
1 short taxi ride: 50 ~ 100 Baht (depending on distance travelled)
1 short motorbike ride: 10 ~ 40 Baht (depending on distance travelled)
1 ticket to a Movie Theater: 100 ~ 140 Baht (depending on seat location)
1 brand new & basic no-name PC: from 11,000 Baht
1 brand new no-name mobile phone: from 2,200 Baht
1 brand new Nokia mobile phone (model 3315): 3,000 Baht
1 brand new Nokia mobile phone (model 2300): 3,800 Baht
1 brand new (125cc or less) motorbike: 26,000 ~ 55,000 Baht (depending on brand & model)
1 month rent: small studios from 3,500 Baht (much more depending on # of rooms, amenities & location)
1 month electric ---> for a 1 room studio, running air all night (set at 25C economy): 1,200 Baht +/- 300
1 month home internet (ADSL): from 590 Baht ~ 2,500 Baht (depending on speed & package)
1 apartment security deposit: typically 1 and a half [or possibly] 2 month's rent
1 night in a 4 star hotel: from $US 110
1 night in a 3 star hotel: from 950 Baht
1 night in a cheap hotel: from 450 Baht

Today's $$$ exchange rates: http://www.krungsri.com/eng/50/511.asp (Bank of Ayudhya)

~ reposted from The Master Index Thailand, located at the top of this forum

[sigmoid]

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

You can read both of those newspapers online for free:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/ (The Nation)

http://www.bangkokpost.com/ (The Bangkok Post)

Agreed: I prefer a roof with my lunch too.

Eating 'VERY well' on 300 Baht may have been a tad too strong. Let's change that to 'rather' well.

PS: You forgot the sliced cucumber!

[sigmoid]

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Last night as I was chugging down my third cold Chang, it occurred to me
that on the weekends, I actually spend more on beer than I do on food.

Now that's scary.

[TawtViet]

Thanks for all the great information about food. It was better than I expected. You've given this not-exactly-rich-guy a lot of hope!!!