Job Discussion Forums

[ronald_reagan]

I am considering doing a 4 month contract somewhere in Thailand. I was wondering what the costs are, if any, for getting started there. For example, visa fees I know are one cost I will need to handle. How much does the visa run? Mediakids, who I have been in contact with, informed me they would help me with the cost of the visa. What else is there besides a plane ticket? Also, how much would you advise to take for the initial month before I am paid? If housing is provided, is there much else to worry about other than eating? I am assuredly safe in assuming anywhere outside of Bangkok is really cheap and easy to sustain oneself.

[MaiPenRai]

Mr. President,

Cost of living in thailand is hotly debated by many teachers in thailand. Some will say you can live on 15-20K/month, others will tell you that 30K/month is minimal. There are even some who say they couldn't live on less than 40K/month. I have personally lived off 15K/month before due to student loans taking half my salary. It wasn't always fun, but I survived, never went hungry, had a few beers every week and even managed a weekend trip to Bangkok every 4-6 weeks or so. My accommodations were provided by the company/school I worked with. Living outside of Bangkok just means that there is less stuff to spend money on. It can also be cheap to live in Bangkok, but it would be hard to sit at a noodle stand every night watching the guys across the street at the beer gardens or at Pizza Company or something.

Other initial costs might include teaching clothes, apartment stuff (kettle, fridge, tv, DVD, etc.) Some places have these things included, but some dont. You may want to rent a scooter as well which would run you about 2500-3000 baht/month and maybe a deposit.

For the first month, you will probably want at least 30K baht as you will still need to adjust to Thai food and weather.

Hope that helps. Have fun whatever you do and remember that no matter what happens, it will be a new experience. My noodle soup days are over, but I am much better and stronger because of those days.

[Master Shake]

Maipenrai has some good advice. And you are right in assuming, Regan, that living outside of Bangkok will save you a bundle.

I live in Bangkae (about 30 min southwest of BKK by taxi) and pay about 5000 baht for rent a month (after utilities) for a studio with a balcony. You can find studio apartments inthis area for as low as 3000, and even 1500 is possible if you dont mind sharing a bathroom.

Inside of BKK, I haven't heard of anyone renting a place for less than 8,000 - 10,000 / month.

I'd bring at least 30,000 with you to cover set-up costs and anything unexpected (visa runs, appliances, etc.). 40,000 would be safer.

You'll find a lot more jobs once you're out here so it might be a good idea to come out on a tourist visa and then look for a job. Many of the better English schools don't recruit online.

Good luck.

[ronald_reagan]

Thanks. I think that I am going to go with MediaKids. I have taught abroad already twice in my life, and since returning to the States I can't find a full time teaching gig, only sub work. The 4 month thing falls right in the summer vacation months, it overlaps a bit but no big deal. I'd like to teach there for 4 months, then come back, but who knows, maybe I will like living there. I have been to Thailand 3 times in my life. I love it to visit but we will see what the long term is like.

I think the cost of living thing seems so relative, everyone has different things to say. I suppose one way to look at it is Thai's live on a hell of a lot less than us teachers make or will make. True? This was the case in China, big time. I had no complaints making about $1000 a month. I managed to save and take some trips. As soon as I got back to the State, however, whatever I save went very very fast.

So, what is the cost of the visa?

[RebelGirl26]

I agree with bringing about 30,000 baht for initial costs and living expenses until you get a paycheck.

I live well outside of Bangkok, in Rayong, and my rent is dirt cheap, about 3,000 / month plus maybe 400 for water & electricity. It's a furnished studio with a bathroom & tiny balcony... but no kitchen. Big enough, safe enough... but nothing fancy.

If you want to live really frugally you can - a plate of fried rice or noodles is 35 baht, songthaews are like 10 baht a ride. But that gets to be a pretty boring existance after a while... a meal at a nice restaurant will be more like 100-200 baht plus booze. Local beer is cheap - 35 baht/can but any imported alcohol will be expensive- 600 baht for a bottle of vodka. Motorbike taxis add up too - 30-50 baht per ride. And if you do any traveling on the weekends, that'll eat into your salary pretty quickly too.

I think I'm striking a pretty good balance between 'living like a Thai' and 'having fun like a tourist', and I'm doing okay making around 30,000/ month. I certainly wouldn't want to be making any less than this.


Oh - and the visa... I can't remember how much my tourist visa was, but by the time it ran out I had a job and my company helped me get a non-immigrant B visa. Between getting an extention for my visa, and switching it over I think it was about 10,000 baht. Not cheap.

I've never been on a visa run, but I went to Cambodia on vacation... I know I needed a Cambodian visa for 1,000 baht to cross the border, then I think it was like 1,000 to get back into Thailand. But then, I had a non-immigrant visa so it might be different.

[MaiPenRai]

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Oh - and the visa... I can't remember how much my tourist visa was, but by the time it ran out I had a job and my company helped me get a non-immigrant B visa. Between getting an extention for my visa, and switching it over I think it was about 10,000 baht. Not cheap.

Non-Imm B Visa is 2000 baht. Extension is 2000 baht. Laos Visa is about 1500 baht. Transportation from BKK to Laos and back (and transportation to Vientienne and consulate and back) should be about 1300 baht. Accommodation in Laos for 1 night about 500 baht. Food for 2 days maybe 500 baht. Pictures and photocopies maybe 200 baht. If you include EVERY single necessary cost, it shouldn't cost over 7-8,000 baht to get your Non-Imm B Visa AND extension. Any good school or company should pay for your work permit. Going to laos is easier than trying to switch a Visa at Immigration in Bangkok. Those guys change their minds every hour. Pain in the ass they are.

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I've never been on a visa run, but I went to Cambodia on vacation... I know I needed a Cambodian visa for 1,000 baht to cross the border, then I think it was like 1,000 to get back into Thailand. But then, I had a non-immigrant visa so it might be different.

If on a Non-Imm Visa and leaving the country, you have to get a re-entry permit if you want to retain you visa and work permit status upon re-entry to thailand. And yes, I think it costs 1000 baht.

And yes, 40,000 or more would definitely be safer. 30,000 would be bare minimum for your first month in Thailand I think. You dont want to end up as one of those foreigners begging for money nearthe skytrain stations trying to get a ticket home (or a few beers for the night). lol

Good luck

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