Living in Pattaya

[rockets07]

hello to all,

 

ok, my question is pretty simple, for those who reside in Pattaya, how do you do it, do you have a steady income form your homeland, retired, on the run lol,

 

ok you get the idea, myself would like to take a 3 month break and get away from the day to day bullshit and kick back for a while in LOS, i have a steady income from my own business that will keep me going, how much per week in thai baht would i need...i have a price on a condo which is 5000bht per month plus utilites, so come on guys, whats your thoughts

[Expat46]

Most of us who live here are retired, some rent out their property back home, some maxed out all their credit cards to get here, lol.

How much do you need - at least 50.000 Baht - more comfortable 75.000 - with plenty of girls and booze 100.000 - all Monthly.

[rockets07]

thanks Expat46, i was thinking or around 60,000 per month should be good....i reckon i could budget, but hell its Pattaya isnt it..??

[Tallefjanten]

You guys surely spend allot of money, i live her or like 20-40k baht per moth. Ok im probably the most poor falang in town. But at least thats better then being the most poor bastard in Sweden.

[rockets07]

You guys surely spend allot of money, i live her or like 20-40k baht per moth. Ok im probably the most poor falang in town. But at least thats better then being the most poor bastard in Sweden.

[/quote

 

just out of interest, what type of room do you normaly get, I have a mate who gets a condo for 5000bht per month.....I really think I could do it on a budget....thanks for your reply Rocket :-)

[Expat46]

@ rockets07: basic rooms start at 4.000 have aircon small tv, small closet and a bed, bathroom have hot water.

From 6.000 better standard and many have security as well. From 10.000 usually more quiet place, maybe has pool too.

 

Don't forget Visa runs (unless u're married or over 50 and have 800K in the Bank), this cost me 20K yearly + medical insurance cost 15-40K year (depends of coverage).

Then you might want Ubc 2k monthly, so you have more to watch on TV, Internet connection 1-2k monthly, motorbike rent 3k monthly.

With 60.000 you will be ok.

[farang1]

thanks Expat46, i was thinking or around 60,000 per month should be good....i reckon i could budget, but hell its Pattaya isnt it..??

 

IMHO, from what I have been able to pick up on various forums, you need 20,000 per month for a decent place to rent. Notice I said decent, not merely livable. If you limit yourself to no more than 4 beer bar LT's per week, you should be able to make on 60,000. If you like Gogo girls, start thinking of 100,000.

[Khunsingha]

Like the poster I can tell you from experience that you need between 75.000 and 100.000 baht per month to live a good

life in Pattaya. It all depends on what you plan to spend on the girls.

[papatex]

Many guys in Pattaya spend most of their money on booze, smoke and girls.

If you don't do those things you obviously won't need much money.

 

Somebody who has a working girlfriend (those do exist), rides his bicycle, doesn't drink or smoke

won't need as much as someone who basically lives in a bar, takes a taxi home, smokes and bar fines different girls every night.

 

You can find livable/acceptable apartments for 3500 Baht (plus utilities) a month

or you can rent an executive condo for 100000 a month.

 

You find it all in Pattaya. One man's floor is another man's ceiling.

[rockets07]

thanks guys, as i am going over for one month holiday in april, i would like to think i can somehow arrange something for my return in june for my 3 month stay, if anyone has any ideas to good cheap apartments or rooms feel free to either PM me or post here for others to see...i have tried the google thing re: rooms etc, but i am sure most have their preference to position and price...i am looking for something around 6000bht - 10000bht per month, and yes i know i only get what i pay for...

 

many thanks guys

[whitespider - RIP]

Arrived on the run and now work my butt off 7 days a week

[willhaz74]

thanks Expat46, i was thinking or around 60,000 per month should be good....i reckon i could budget, but hell its Pattaya isnt it..??

i think that sort of money would be more than enough, if your bar fining girls every night it wont be enough,im sure if you settle to a routing and had the odd blow out 60k would be more than enough,

[mic59]

I would want to not have to stint at all with my monthly income at Pattaya, which has got me considering another option in retiring to Thailand. Instead of retiring to Pattaya, maybe some place like Chiang Mai or Kanchanaburi would be the favoured and cheaper alternative. Another advantage of doing this is that it still allows you to have Pattaya as a holiday option, and with the available transport around Thailand this could be monthly or whenever you want it. A place can be better appreciated sometimes when it's visited occasionally.

 

Hope this doesn't come across as blasphemy on this board.

 

And try the Thai classifieds(www.ThaiVisa.com) as well as accomodation websites. There are ads for houses in Naklua and Jomtien for 10000THB a month. I've been told these are generally reliable but you would want to have a word to some of the ex-pats on this board about that.

[rockets07]

I would want to not have to stint at all with my monthly income at Pattaya, which has got me considering another option in retiring to Thailand. Instead of retiring to Pattaya, maybe some place like Chiang Mai or Kanchanaburi would be the favoured and cheaper alternative. Another advantage of doing this is that it still allows you to have Pattaya as a holiday option, and with the available transport around Thailand this could be monthly or whenever you want it. A place can be better appreciated sometimes when it's visited occasionally.

 

Hope this doesn't come across as blasphemy on this board.

 

And try the Thai classifieds(www.ThaiVisa.com) as well as accomodation websites. There are ads for houses in Naklua and Jomtien for 10000THB a month. I've been told these are generally reliable but you would want to have a word to some of the ex-pats on this board about that.

 

thanks mate, i am going to try and catch up with some expats while i am over there in april...but your idea of Chiang Mai area sounds like another option...i am not retiring, i am only 40, but in need of away from Aus for a short time...thanks again mate for your input

[BSJ]

Oh yer, retiring is such a pleasing thought! Only trouble is I don't reckon I have enough money in the bank to retire early. Would like to give LOS a try for a year just to see! Then if it doesn't work out it's back to shitville.

[blue1878]

rockets07 at the beginning of your 3 month stint you'll no doubt have an idea what you budget will be for the 3 months that your in LOS. So it'll be interesting to know at the end of your 3 months if you spent what you thought you'd spend. Or went under or over

[Devil Plaything]

thanks guys, as i am going over for one month holiday in april, i would like to think i can somehow arrange something for my return in june for my 3 month stay, if anyone has any ideas to good cheap apartments or rooms feel free to either PM me or post here for others to see...i have tried the google thing re: rooms etc, but i am sure most have their preference to position and price...i am looking for something around 6000bht - 10000bht per month, and yes i know i only get what i pay for...

 

many thanks guys

 

Turn up and look around - there's loads of places in the sois between soi buakhow and 3rd rd, in the 5000 up range for aircon. You won't find any of them online - book a hotel for a few days, make a list of your requirements and put in some leg work (hint: don't bother going up to look at the room if it doesn't meet your requirements (e.g. no internet, common), because there'll be another one that does.)

[jerry]

In Pattaya you always need more money than you think ,

nothing is expensive but you have to pay for everything .

But 60.000 bath will do if you not freak out every night .

[bill130]

rockets07 at the beginning of your 3 month stint you'll no doubt have an idea what you budget will be for the 3 months that your in LOS. So it'll be interesting to know at the end of your 3 months if you spent what you thought you'd spend. Or went under or over

I don't think I could survive for three months

[sinbinjack]

Get a condo In the NIRUN (2 pools and a gym) complex for 4500Baht a month and up +leccy and water ,because its out of the way A BIKE 2000-2400 baht a month + petrol.After that its up to you how much you spend.You know how much the girls cost ,how much you drink or are liable to drink so you can work that out,do you play golf ,go to the movies,how much food do you eat, would you eat Thai which is cheap or western which is not.All of it is up to you. No matter what others spend, I spent less than £2400 last year at 53.5 baht to £ for 2 months but that included the airfare.

No matter what, 60000 baht monthly would be a good budget and I personaly would bring money home,which I always do as its best to bring too much and not spend it than to bring too little and need more.

[Expat46]

I have used the classifieds on thaivisa before, only to find out that many is already rented, and majority is priced higher (2-3K) than if you found it yourself. Drive around in the area you like to live, many have signs for rent, call and get a better price.

 

Good advice there from mic59. Up country is much cheaper to live, and find a girlfriend is not a problem in Chiang Mai or Udon Thani.

I mix it myself, half time in crazy Pattaya, half time up country in real Thailand.

 

@rockets: what area in Pattaya do you prefer? You like to live near the action, or prefer more quiet area? Some prefer jomtien beach area, if they're daily beach goers. Do you have (rent) a motorbike there?

[cairns8]

I have been the two week millionaire in thailand many times.I have plans of moving to thailand full time in the near future. I'm coming over in june for a month,and am planning to treat the experience as if i'm living there fulltime.I've been up to chiang mai,phuket,koh samui,but i really like the buzz of patts.You can get some great accomodation quite cheap around patts,i stayed at canterbury tales last time,dave as some good sized rooms and well priced under 15000baht for the month.I'm going to try some other places this time,but he has a good bookstore there,so i will drop in for some books.So allowing up to 20000 baht a month for accomodation,i'm going to try to restrict myself to 45000 baht spending money for the month total 65000baht.I'm bringing my golf clubs,signing up for thai lessons,joining tonys gym,and limiting my mongering to three times a week.It will be interesting to see if patts is as enjoyable a place to live as it is to holiday???

[lutbon_sawng_loo]

heres a list of the BASIC cost to survive in thailand, it's very true and includes just costs to survive in LOS, so just add on your beer + girl + treat money

 

http://www.coolthaihouse.com/blog/?p=351

[Daveo]

its all worth it what ever you do (within reason ) to get to stay here

[rockets07]

I have used the classifieds on thaivisa before, only to find out that many is already rented, and majority is priced higher (2-3K) than if you found it yourself. Drive around in the area you like to live, many have signs for rent, call and get a better price.

 

Good advice there from mic59. Up country is much cheaper to live, and find a girlfriend is not a problem in Chiang Mai or Udon Thani.

I mix it myself, half time in crazy Pattaya, half time up country in real Thailand.

 

@rockets: what area in Pattaya do you prefer? You like to live near the action, or prefer more quiet area? Some prefer jomtien beach area, if they're daily beach goers. Do you have (rent) a motorbike there?

 

thanks Expat, i personally prefer the Nirun Condo area, coz its a bit quiet, but not to far from somewhere to drink ect...i am not totally convinced i will be staying in Pattaya my whole time, i will be heading to Chiang Mai to have a look then back to BKK...but will no doubt spend some time in Patts to unwind...my circumstances have changed slightly since first putting this post on here, however going for three months hasnt changed...i would be only renting a bike while there...we will just wait and see what goes on when i step off that plane...and many thanks to all who have given me advice

Edited June 14, 2010 by rockets07