Job Discussion Forums

SAF37 · Joined: 01 Sep 2013 Posts: 11 Location: Woodstock, GA

I'm thinking of teaching in Thailand and I'm wondering if it is possible to save any money?

EFL Educator · Joined: 17 Jul 2013 Posts: 988 Location: Cape Town

Saving money is possible in the LOS but depends on a lot of factors. Salaries in Thailand for ESL teachers vary considerably. In general EFL salaries in Thailand allow for a comfortable lifesytle. Enjoy Thailand while you can! Smile

plumpy nut · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 1652

If you're frugal you can live on $500 US, although some jobs provide an apartment so you can subtract that cost if that is the case. With that a 30,000 Baht job will net you maybe $450 US a month. A 40,000 Baht job netting you $ 700 US monthly. 40,000 Baht jobs are not too prevalent especially people that are new to Thailand. Another thing to consider if the school is closed for some reason i.e. the floods in 2011, you might not get paid for months. You should come to Thailand with money reserves.

TomAndHuck · Joined: 16 Sep 2013 Posts: 16

Work upcountry or downcountry outside Bangkok. These days at 30k per month you should be able to save a little money. Inflation is here so that might not be true forever. If you are in BKK forget it. You'll be lucky to save much of anything.

Good luck and be careful out there.

BlueStater · Joined: 24 Oct 2012 Posts: 20 Location: Bangkok

In BKK (where I live) it's definitely possible to save $$ - IF you work for an International School or similar. I have found that many jobs pay 30,000-40,000 thb/month. That would be tough to save much at all. I found a rare "medium" pay job, and then there are the much higher paying Int'l Schools, where of course the requirements are a bit higher. They generally pay about 100,000-130,000/ mth- then you would have little trouble saving.

sam862010 · Joined: 15 Dec 2013 Posts: 18

It's very easy to save money here in Thailand if you live outside the major cities.

At present I live in a small town in Nakhon sawan province.

I'm currently getting 35.000thb per month.

Rent 2200thb

Scooter rental 1000thb

Money home to wife and kid 10.000thb

Food, around 3000 - 4000thb

saving roughly around 18.000 per month.

If you drink.. maybe another 2000thb on beer money

Hope this helps

EFL Educator · Joined: 17 Jul 2013 Posts: 988 Location: Cape Town

Hello there,

Yes I agree it is possible to save money outside of Bangkok...but one must be very frugal. Good luck!

Nuolan · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Posts: 36 Location: Thailand

Is everyone here on or previously on a 12 month contract? Most agencies I know give 9.5 month contracts with some kind of bonus at the end of each term.

EFL Educator · Joined: 17 Jul 2013 Posts: 988 Location: Cape Town

Hello there,

Yes most agencies supply EFL teacher manpower to government schools who usually offer work to prospective teachers for less than a year. This is due primarily to budget constraints. If you are seeking a 12 month contract you should directly contact universities and/ colleges and bypass agencies all together. The bulk of teaching work in Thailand is with Thai government schools and sometimes private schools although private schools generally pay much better and offer some benefits including extra overtime work. Good luck!