Possibly moving to Bangkok
Discussion
I have been approached about a rather interesting job in Bangers so am looking at the possibility of leaving the little red dot and heading on up to the land of smiles!
Spent plenty of tourist time in Thailand so know the costs of feed and beer, etc etc but am interested in an idea of the general living costs in BKK
It will be just me, so small place to stay studio, 1 bed or condotel either in central BKK or south west.
Taxes, and other local expenses that you don't notice as a tourist.
Also where are the "better" areas to live, bearing in mind that I will probably be heading out of town to Hua Hin most weekends?
Also what is reckoned to be a comfortable living wage for a farang in BKk (not the oil and gas type fully loaded expat package)
Cheers,
John
Ohh and does anyone in Singas want to buy a banana yellow Datsun
Spent plenty of tourist time in Thailand so know the costs of feed and beer, etc etc but am interested in an idea of the general living costs in BKK
It will be just me, so small place to stay studio, 1 bed or condotel either in central BKK or south west.
Taxes, and other local expenses that you don't notice as a tourist.
Also where are the "better" areas to live, bearing in mind that I will probably be heading out of town to Hua Hin most weekends?
Also what is reckoned to be a comfortable living wage for a farang in BKk (not the oil and gas type fully loaded expat package)
Cheers,
John
Ohh and does anyone in Singas want to buy a banana yellow Datsun
Buddy has a decent 3-bed condo a stone's throw from the cowboy for 45k p/m. Short leases (3-6 months) are also fairly common, so you can always move if it doesn't work out.
Strongly recommend a place near work, as traffic can be bedlam as you know, with a grocery store nearby if possible to keep things simpler.
Food costs are as little or as much as you want them to be. Street food can be had for 100 a day, but a posh meals can cost as much as they do in SG (perhaps slightly less, apples for apples). Public transport is dirt cheap (from 10B for a quick hop on the motosai - nobody but tourists take the tuks). Beers are cheap like water, and cocktails run from 200-500. Other forms of entertainment depend purely on your negotiating skills.
It's such a cheap country, that any salary matching your current one in SG will more than adequately provide for your needs. Also I would of course try and ask for at least rental in your package - seems the done thing, as it is here.
The rest of it I'm sure you can figure out.
Strongly recommend a place near work, as traffic can be bedlam as you know, with a grocery store nearby if possible to keep things simpler.
Food costs are as little or as much as you want them to be. Street food can be had for 100 a day, but a posh meals can cost as much as they do in SG (perhaps slightly less, apples for apples). Public transport is dirt cheap (from 10B for a quick hop on the motosai - nobody but tourists take the tuks). Beers are cheap like water, and cocktails run from 200-500. Other forms of entertainment depend purely on your negotiating skills.
It's such a cheap country, that any salary matching your current one in SG will more than adequately provide for your needs. Also I would of course try and ask for at least rental in your package - seems the done thing, as it is here.
The rest of it I'm sure you can figure out.
You are right Berw, was mixing up nana plaza!
Aye all true on those points deadlock, although I am not a big fan of BKK motosai's ....
Would be working in Lumpini if this comes off so have to see.
Was trying on one of the new ford wildcat pickups for size the other day, very nice piece of kit
Aye all true on those points deadlock, although I am not a big fan of BKK motosai's ....
Would be working in Lumpini if this comes off so have to see.
Was trying on one of the new ford wildcat pickups for size the other day, very nice piece of kit
Depends how much you're looking to spend on rent/mortgage and how long you're staying here for, but my ideal situation would be a relatively small condo in Bangkok and a house in Hua Hin. My thinking being that Bangkok traffic is awful, and spending an hour and half in the car every morning and again in the evening gets old quickly.
The sky train and subway are good in theory but as soon as you have to walk 10 minutes in the heat or rain (it's always one or the other, and often both) you'll wish you were in the car. You also pay a big premium for being anywhere near a station. I rather stupidly did this and I now use it about once every 3 months...
For access to Hua Hin you're probably best off over the river on the Thon Buri, but unless you're going at peak times anywhere with good access to the expressways will make that easy enough. Depending if you have to travel a lot, the airport is right on the other side of the city, so factor that in too.
The area around Lumpini is very expensive but if you go a bit further up Rama IV you will get more for your money quite quickly.
As DeadLock says above, other costs can be as much or little as you want them. Cars are expensive, but not compared to Singapore. Decent furniture can be expensive too, so if you look at anywhere unfurnished go and check that out first. There is a big Ikea here now which helps with that
As for the nightlife/naughtiness geography:
Nana is Soi 4. Lots of beer bars in the main soi, gogo bars in the plaza.
Cowboy runs between Rachada and Soi 23, behind Citibank at the Asok interchange. Mostly gogos and clubs.
Patpong is the area behind Silom. Home of the ping pong shows and other curiosities. Very touristy and lots of rip offs.
So I've heard...
A few others:
Soi 31 near Prom Pong has a few bars and restaurants catering more to the working expats than tourists.
Thong Lo is where the well off young Thais hang out, lots of eye candy, some nice bars.
Anything else let me know, and give me a shout if you fancy a beer when you get here.
The sky train and subway are good in theory but as soon as you have to walk 10 minutes in the heat or rain (it's always one or the other, and often both) you'll wish you were in the car. You also pay a big premium for being anywhere near a station. I rather stupidly did this and I now use it about once every 3 months...
For access to Hua Hin you're probably best off over the river on the Thon Buri, but unless you're going at peak times anywhere with good access to the expressways will make that easy enough. Depending if you have to travel a lot, the airport is right on the other side of the city, so factor that in too.
The area around Lumpini is very expensive but if you go a bit further up Rama IV you will get more for your money quite quickly.
As DeadLock says above, other costs can be as much or little as you want them. Cars are expensive, but not compared to Singapore. Decent furniture can be expensive too, so if you look at anywhere unfurnished go and check that out first. There is a big Ikea here now which helps with that
As for the nightlife/naughtiness geography:
Nana is Soi 4. Lots of beer bars in the main soi, gogo bars in the plaza.
Cowboy runs between Rachada and Soi 23, behind Citibank at the Asok interchange. Mostly gogos and clubs.
Patpong is the area behind Silom. Home of the ping pong shows and other curiosities. Very touristy and lots of rip offs.
So I've heard...
A few others:
Soi 31 near Prom Pong has a few bars and restaurants catering more to the working expats than tourists.
Thong Lo is where the well off young Thais hang out, lots of eye candy, some nice bars.
Anything else let me know, and give me a shout if you fancy a beer when you get here.
Cheers for that, yea house in HH and Condo in Bangers is the plan.
Its looking like 90% that i will be in the job next month so all good!
I guess small condo (1 bed, maybe 2 if lucky) for around 20k, i dont need anything flashy!
(un)Fortunately i am already well acquainted with the Ikea at Mega Bangna !!
Think i will be there next week, so if its an overnighter rather than a 1 day flying visit i will give you a shout for a few beers!
Its looking like 90% that i will be in the job next month so all good!
I guess small condo (1 bed, maybe 2 if lucky) for around 20k, i dont need anything flashy!
(un)Fortunately i am already well acquainted with the Ikea at Mega Bangna !!
Think i will be there next week, so if its an overnighter rather than a 1 day flying visit i will give you a shout for a few beers!
Well, the deed is done, will be working in Lumpini (All Seasons Place) from Monday ...
Hotels first few weeks, then a mates apartment for a month or so until i get everything sorted and am settled.
Wheels at the moment is going to be either a Honda Accord, an old Chevy Colorado or a Mitsubishi Triton ...
Things are getting organised!!!
Bangkok PH'ers feel free to drop me a line if you fancy a bevvy
Hotels first few weeks, then a mates apartment for a month or so until i get everything sorted and am settled.
Wheels at the moment is going to be either a Honda Accord, an old Chevy Colorado or a Mitsubishi Triton ...
Things are getting organised!!!
Bangkok PH'ers feel free to drop me a line if you fancy a bevvy
XJSJohn said:
Well, the deed is done, will be working in Lumpini (All Seasons Place) from Monday ...
Hotels first few weeks, then a mates apartment for a month or so until i get everything sorted and am settled.
Wheels at the moment is going to be either a Honda Accord, an old Chevy Colorado or a Mitsubishi Triton ...
Things are getting organised!!!
Bangkok PH'ers feel free to drop me a line if you fancy a bevvy
Congrats & Good luck fella.Hotels first few weeks, then a mates apartment for a month or so until i get everything sorted and am settled.
Wheels at the moment is going to be either a Honda Accord, an old Chevy Colorado or a Mitsubishi Triton ...
Things are getting organised!!!
Bangkok PH'ers feel free to drop me a line if you fancy a bevvy
Further update - Employment pass done, bank accounts opened, been suitably laughed at when i suggested they give me credit cards!!
Even settling into the job!
Still staying in a hotel during the week, its just easier and its a good excuse to stay lurking about Sukhumvit swapped the long rent Izuzu D-Max for a Mazda BT50 (try before you buy and all that!!)
Even managed to sell the Datsun down in singapore in super quick time so stuff is actually coming together!!
Even settling into the job!
Still staying in a hotel during the week, its just easier and its a good excuse to stay lurking about Sukhumvit
swapped the long rent Izuzu D-Max for a Mazda BT50 (try before you buy and all that!!) Even managed to sell the Datsun down in singapore in super quick time so stuff is actually coming together!!
XJSJohn said:
Further update - Employment pass done, bank accounts opened, been suitably laughed at when i suggested they give me credit cards!!
Even settling into the job!
Still staying in a hotel during the week, its just easier and its a good excuse to stay lurking about Sukhumvit swapped the long rent Izuzu D-Max for a Mazda BT50 (try before you buy and all that!!)
Even managed to sell the Datsun down in singapore in super quick time so stuff is actually coming together!!
I'm moving back to BKK in the next week or so as done now here in the Philippines so will have to meet for a beer!Even settling into the job!
Still staying in a hotel during the week, its just easier and its a good excuse to stay lurking about Sukhumvit
swapped the long rent Izuzu D-Max for a Mazda BT50 (try before you buy and all that!!) Even managed to sell the Datsun down in singapore in super quick time so stuff is actually coming together!!
Credit cards ...
Bangkok Bank say i can have a B100,000 one, as long as i put 100,000 in a fixed savings account ... so a bond
SCB say 3 months pay slips
K Bank 3 months pay slips
Citibank 3 months pay slips
UOB 6 months pay slips
Not too bad and somewhat understandable, most seem to say 3 months pay slip.
So beers in a few weeks then a PH Bangkok "Mini Meet"
BTW there are some prety cool cars down at Central World, all of the Thai Super Car Cup (or something like that) racers, plus a morgan 3 wheeler!
Bangkok Bank say i can have a B100,000 one, as long as i put 100,000 in a fixed savings account ... so a bond
SCB say 3 months pay slips
K Bank 3 months pay slips
Citibank 3 months pay slips
UOB 6 months pay slips
Not too bad and somewhat understandable, most seem to say 3 months pay slip.
So beers in a few weeks then
a PH Bangkok "Mini Meet" BTW there are some prety cool cars down at Central World, all of the Thai Super Car Cup (or something like that) racers, plus a morgan 3 wheeler!
XJSJohn said:
Credit cards ...
Bangkok Bank say i can have a B100,000 one, as long as i put 100,000 in a fixed savings account ... so a bond
SCB say 3 months pay slips
K Bank 3 months pay slips
Citibank 3 months pay slips
UOB 6 months pay slips
Not too bad and somewhat understandable, most seem to say 3 months pay slip.
So beers in a few weeks then a PH Bangkok "Mini Meet"
BTW there are some prety cool cars down at Central World, all of the Thai Super Car Cup (or something like that) racers, plus a morgan 3 wheeler!
I like the idea of a Bangkok mini meet. There's a Morgan dealer in Bangkok as well as RWB for the Porsches too, and the Lamborghini dealer in Paragon.Bangkok Bank say i can have a B100,000 one, as long as i put 100,000 in a fixed savings account ... so a bond
SCB say 3 months pay slips
K Bank 3 months pay slips
Citibank 3 months pay slips
UOB 6 months pay slips
Not too bad and somewhat understandable, most seem to say 3 months pay slip.
So beers in a few weeks then
a PH Bangkok "Mini Meet" BTW there are some prety cool cars down at Central World, all of the Thai Super Car Cup (or something like that) racers, plus a morgan 3 wheeler!
not sure where would be good to start, i am prety new to the city, spent a lot of time in Thailand but have generally kept out of BKK other than the occasional lads weekend ... so thats Nana and Cowboy covered, but other drinking areas i am not so good at!
However i am sure we can find ourselves in more than enough trouble!
Interesting to know there is a Morgan Dealer here, how much must they cost!! Think i will stick with my Mazda and Izuzu Pick-up trucks for now!!
Looks like things could get lively in town this weekend though ... they are already gathering in the various rally points for a good old bustup!
However i am sure we can find ourselves in more than enough trouble!
Interesting to know there is a Morgan Dealer here, how much must they cost!! Think i will stick with my Mazda and Izuzu Pick-up trucks for now!!
Looks like things could get lively in town this weekend though ... they are already gathering in the various rally points for a good old bustup!
When the red shirts had their last major hoopla burning down Central World, I was living next to the Four Seasons and was stuck in the middle of it for months where they basically shut down where we lived and had to stay in a hotel near the end. I walked around the whole encampment right after the army went through. I have some amazing but sad pictures from the aftermath, especially as I could wal right up to central world whilst it was on fire.
On another note, I could be flying Sunday night late, any room at the inn?
On another note, I could be flying Sunday night late, any room at the inn?
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