Job Discussion Forums

deerock · Joined: 10 May 2007 Posts: 6

hello,

how come people are concerned with saving money in thailand?
if my goal is to move there, work for 1 year and move back to the states, will the salary be enough to live on?

i could save enough in the states to buy my plane ticket ahead of time.

takgeyon · Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 51

If you can save enough money in the States to pay for a plane ticket here then you must have one heck of a job there. Living in Thailand is all about the place, atmosphere etc....You can live very easily on the salary you'll make because the cost of living is very affordable. If you want to pick up a part time job or private students you can save a lot.

tedkarma · Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 12:57 am Post subject:

I guess it depends on the quality of life you are used to - and intend to live here.

Personally, I would find it quite difficult to save any money here - and I am not a party guy. But I do like to live in a comfortable home, have a car and go out to eat when I want and not fear having a second beer (without checking my finances first).

People who save "a lot of money" here are working all the time, live in an efficiency (bedsit) apartment and walk everywhere. No problem with that - it just isn't the lifestyle I prefer ( I am a bit older than most and have had my fill of shared houses and closet-sized apartments). And I live in a smallish town on Phuket - a car is needed as public transport here is slow, unreliable and stops at 6pm! And I don't wish to be crippled in a motorcycle accident - which we see several times every day.

You CAN live decently on what you earn here - but many people draw from savings to make it - very few actually save anything.

laconic · Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 1:48 am Post subject: IMO

Having lived and taught in Thailand for several years, I would also dispute the notion that you can "save a lot" in Thailand. EFL teaching salaries in Thailand are ridiculously low and almost no teacher who I have encountered has ever mentioned "saving a lot." This includes those working extra part-time gigs and the like. Of course, to a certain extent, this all depends on what one defines as "save a lot" and expects in terms of quality of life. Having said that, the average teacher in Thailand seems to save very little, if anything, IMO.

takgeyon · Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 51

Kent F. Kruhoeffer · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2129 Location: 中国

'if my goal is to move there, work for 1 year and move
back to the states, will the salary be enough to live on?'

Yes

but try not to accept less than 36K in Bangkok.

40K ฿ and above in Bangkok is ideal, imho.

If you take a job in the provinces,

don't accept less than 30K.

maximmm · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 59

Umm... you are wrong about Korea. There you can save what you make here on monthly basis with ease.

takgeyon · Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 51

maximmm · Joined: 04 Dec 2005 Posts: 59

oops:)