The Cost of Living in Thailand The Truth, Hardest Vlog ever Vlog-026 

remember that there is 40 bt to the pound at the moment and Kev is costing everything at 50 to the pound so you need to add 20 per cent eg. can of heinz beans is more like 2 quid

Can’t believe this guy left us in April this year. It was great meeting this guy. Helped me a lot regarding living out there. RIP Kev.

Miss you Kev! Hope and pray you are having a blast in heaven!

RIP Kev. This came up on my recommended videos

Watching for a bit of nostalgia. rip kevo

so sad seeing him full of life. Rest in Peace, Kev. I would have enjoyed meeting him in person 😔

I miss you're videos Kev. RiP mate gone but never forgotten 👍

great advice...miss you..RIP x

RIP Kev Thailand , the good people die first was saying in U.K.

Kevin is old school people he tells it as it is simple man that likes simple things Proper cockney boy and he’s spot on

FINALLY! Someone posts a simple you tube video that explains the basic overall costs of living in Thailand in a matter of minutes without all the "I'm walking down the street now, oooh look at that sign...yada yada" crap? Not a boring blog at all Kev, VERY informative! Thank you! Understand how you can make it as expensive as you like but 8000 baht/mth ~$304AUD is amazingly inexpensive!

I miss Kev , I've been watching some of his old videos from years ago and I'm in one of them when he did his Hideaway bar meets from a few years ago and I've had many a good conversation with him back in the day and it's still hard to believe he is no longer with us.... RIP Kev it was great knowing you.... 👍

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 RIP bud

Nice one kev good info mate. I live in Bangkok past 13 years. Bust my gut paying off bungalow 21 years early. Car paid for. So...no rent needed, my wife’s an accountant and we live like Thais, market in morning, cinema on cheap nights. Water a month £1.50, electric 1000 baht ish on,y ac on on hot nights lol. Can easy survive on £250 a month. Never go Pattaya or bars etc, easy life mate. Thank you

Thanks to you Kev and these types of videos I now live in Pattaya, bought a beautiful 70m2 condo and couldn't be happier...thanks Kev , miss your vlogs 🙏.

Miss your vlogs RIP

RIP, Kav

I've lived in Thailand for a few years, so I'll offer my 2 satang on the cost of living topic... First, I know people here that get along just fine on 40k baht per month and I also know some can't see to get by on 200k baht per month... Cost of living is subjective and based on one's wants and needs... Having said that, there is a reason that the Thai government sets the required minimum monthly income at roughly 65k baht to hold a non-immigrant visa with a retirement extension... They know that most farang will not want to live a Thai lifestyle and they also know that to live a middle income lifestyle in Thailand takes around 65k baht per month, per person... For that you can rent a nice house in a secure community, have a car, a motorcycle, play golf, have the occasional night out in the bars, eat well, go get a massage, take off to the beach on the weekends and so on... What blows the budget is the one-off expenses, such as getting in a motorcycle accident and having to go to the hospital, or needing a new computer, or renewing your annual health insurance or finding out you need to have 2 dental crowns replaced... Same sort of stuff as home, but it adds up and there is always some extraneous expense usually on a monthly basis... The longer you live in Thailand, the cheaper it gets as you learn to live more like a Thai and less like a foreigner...

I've worked and visited in Thailand on and off for 30 yrs. and this is a superb piece of info that believe me will benefit anyone thinking of the move.

Rip kev a great man with great advice. Much appreciated and missed. Pattaya and London legend 🙌 ❤

This just came up on my home page you tying to get in touch lol that voice will live with us forever we had some laughs mate hope you are playing cards or darts we're ever you are

RIP 🙏🏼🙏🏼

Well said Kevin. One of the more realistic cost of living videos I have seen.

Grate video Kev. You always tell the truth and don't worry about what people would like to hear in your videos. You give some information about the elctric and water, everyone should think about, bevore rent an condo or house. Hope to see you in pattaya when i come back again in 2019. Kind regards from germany . Holger

"the rest is up to you" Brilliant

This vid is your most interesting so far. Thanks a lot. This is the type of stuff people moving to Thailand need to know. Cheers Mark...

I rent a 2brX1bath in a plex for $200US, have an old car that gets me there and back, stay away from night life & bars where all the thieves hang out. Enjoy going to movies, and lunch out when ever I please, have plenty of nice Thai friends, a few farangs. Have been retired 7 years and was a school teacher here in Thailand for 8 years. Have a foster daughter who stays with me on weekends I met when she was 3 and now she's 15 and speaks perfect American English getting straight A's in a International school. I now live on US retirement benefits and live a comfortable middle class life! Summer all year round!

Another video with nothing but real good solid advice, great tips and telling it like it is. Thank you once again Sir Kevin for not glossing over the reality of living in Thailand and telling it like it is. ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!!

Hey there Kev just found your channel and have to say that I have seen ton's of video's on the cost of living and wasn't expecting too much new stuff but am really glad that I found you cause your the first person to talk about the electric price, I never heard about that and that is a very important thing for a new person to know so thank you very much and I plan to check out all your vid's :)

Great video, I live in Chiang Mai, retired. best notes are electric and water. Lots of people with no experience here get caught in that. AC can get pricey in the hot season. Luck.

I'm from the States and I can understand Kev just fine.

Been wanting to stay in Northern Thailand for a long time.. but always put it off. I'm not interested in bars or the playboy lifestyle. Nature photography and national parks is all i'm wanting to do. I have a farmer friend living there with a guest house & farmstay. Simple living seems appealing to me. Thanks for the video mate, very helpful.

Thanks for making this video my friend, very useful & nice of you to go over it in a video for us all :-)

Best vlog you've done! I don't care if it's "boring". The facts you've given are the ones we need to know. Great job!

Hi Kev! Just subscribed, have a good day and keep up the good work! Cheers!

The best explanation l have heard on the net, well done Mate and thank you👍

Kev, I re-watched this. So bloody true. I caught on early in my trips to the whole 'rent a simple conversation' shit. The beer bars, go-go's et al are just black money holes for me.

Never change mate, fucking great to hear a proper London accent on ere....

Watched alot of your Vlogs and this was the best one yet... 100% truth and No Bullshit. People that can't live a normal life in pattaya shouldn't even consider moving there... Best thing is to go try it for a few months and see if you have enough self control before making the decision. some of my costs: Educational Visa with 1 years worth of thai language school, decent accommodation,internet,transport,eating thai and western food and health insurance. Now add on, occasionally getting wasted, lady drinks,soapy massages,normal massages,alcohol,day trips,nightclubs, ST and LT's,showing mates The Windmill and having spare cash for a plan b and/or not feeling like a total cheap charlie.... That's a fair few $$$'s....

Just found your channel, thanks for the vid Kev, not boring, lots of good info, ...PS what about Health insurance ? many thanks from the UK

I have been going to thailand for more than 20 years, hoping to retire in about 8, But it is getting expensive now,, beer, food from supermarkets, and the cost of health , visa's all need to be taken into account. And also need to take into account now how the GPB has crashed nearly halfing the value of your income . I would like to see a vlog about the health cover costs ( especially for those that are over 70 , visa costs , and how people cope when they get to the age they can not move so easy , if at all.. how do they get to do their visa checks or visa runs. I am guessing the retirement visa and marriage visa need to be renewed annually ?

Nice straight to the point & factual vlogg. If only there were more of them out here.

No need to apologise for telling the truth, most people come to Pattaya and struggle to let go of holiday-mode. This is your best vlog to-date, alongside the one about your upcoming new dwelling over the Darkside which 'm very interested in seeing the updates. I live just around the corner from where you have your breakfast at the Take Away. If I see you around I'll say 'hello'. I'm regular over at Sensations too so will look out for you there in future as well. Just subscribed to your channel.

Hi Kev, good to see you sharing your experience in Thailand Pattaya, keep making them mate.

Hey Kev, never say sorry for your thoughts, just own it and stand by it.

Spot on Kev , enjoyed that one mate ,not candy coated just the plain honest truth .

priceless! wise, straight to the point, no bullshit just like a parent teaching his children the raw realities of life! much appreciated!

Kev sounds like Brick Top from Snatch lol You're a sensible man. Hard to be that disciplined.

Kev you have the most geezer accent I've ever heard,Great vlog mate.

Outstanding! Thank you for sharing your life with all of us. It certainly helps me.

That was one refreshing video. As a yank who spent two weeks in Bangkok, I can attest to the fact that you speak the truth. Please don't apologize for speaking the truth.

I had a hard time getting use to the accent. I really appreciate this straight talk video. Good info. I subscribed within the 1st 5 mins of listening.

Great advice. Right up front and to the point. No sugar coating.

For those who don't have the time to sit through this video: -Rent, electricity, water are cheap. -Beer is cheap. -Getting drunk leads you to spend more money, and can be expensive. Cheers

hi kev great vlog been kooking at a lot of your vids keep them coming 7 weeks and i will be back there we stay around soi bau khao so im there 4 times a year as i still have to work i hope to see you and say in person hello and you doing a great job with your vlogs.

Great vlog! Your honesty is much appreciated, buy you a beer my next time in Pattaya

Hi Kev. I just watched your video and decided to subsribe to your channel because your a straight down the line no shit talker. Ive travelled to Thailand (Pattaya) quite a few times and everytime i go and try to improve my way of spending. Thailand is getting more expensive these days but the expense will not prevent me from coming back, hence the reason i enjoyed this video. It re-enforces the fact that although spending can be quite costly, you can also lessen the burden on the bank account providing its done sensibly. I found out the hard way the first few times. Spending money like it was going out of fashion. But within my last couple of trips ive learnt the best places to stay, best places to eat etc etc. Keep up the good work mate. Hopefully next time im in Pattaya we can meet at your favourite hangout so i can buy you a beer. Cheers Rod(from Australia)

Great upload Kevin, all the info was good, I have been in Thailand many times, the best bit of advice that I can give anyone is don't stay in Pattaya or Bangkok as you will get rinsed, I jump on a bus and go out about 200km to a farming village, brilliant, good hotel about 6,000 Baht per month with A/C.

Great advice.., pity I didn’t meet you, we’re both the same age. May you RIP

Oh the wisdom of age. Many thanks for that Kev. Most informative. And entertaining.

Sad watching Kev video good guy from Scott New Zealand

Spot on Kev 👍🙏🏻

don't say that's not what I want to hear, this is exactly what I need to hear and not boring at all very very very helpful

cracking informative vlog.About time people explain the real pattay well done kev.big thumbs up

This is a very interesting topic to me & I enjoyed it. I would like more in depth costs and what is the going rate for this n that so we can figure out how our lifestyles would budget if there, thanks again 👍

I was tempted to go back and count the 'it's up to you" and then I thought, no, it's up to me. Been here 2 years, he is correct.

Not boring Kev' Say it as it is...Many friends ask me also so I'll use that Vlog! Brilliant! :) With a Welsh accent !

loving your videos mate! just got back from Thailand 3 months ago and im hoping you'll do a vlog on the 30 somethings that move to thai... any info will be greatly appreciated

Thanks! you gave out some great information for people wondering if their budget will afford them the lifestyle they are looking for in Thailand. You explained some of the economics involving Thai social and cultural protocol that can add up if one is not careful. This is information not every one has broken down so clearly and it is helping me to decide ...do I stay or do I go?

Its good my mate pulled me up on this one Kev, because I have now seen in another video of yours, and you say you have a 12 month retirement visa. Getting a 3 months extension on this, is all well and good, but Kev the most I would have got is 15 days extension on a 30 day entery visa. I am pi- - ed off, however, it is good that my mate spotted this. So in the morning I will go to my local Thai Embassy in Liverpool and apply for a 2 month or 3 months visa. Then I will have a chance of a 3 months extension. Anyway, it is good to double check. Only wished you would have mentioned this in the video, that you had a 12 month visa. I am sure you would agree, there is a big difference in me obtaining 15 days, compared to 90. Ah, what the hell. Cheers anyway.

Great vlog Kev. when I lived in Cambodia, I drank in my flat before heading out. or stayed out the front downstairs boozing for a lot less money. But I still will practise your advice next trip to thailand.

Hi Kev, really not a boring vlog, but a truthful one! Like you, I can live in Thailand cheaply, because I'm not partying nightly, or eating English food daily. Plus, I stay in a Thai rental, in a predominantly Thai area of Bangkok. You can live in Thailand cheaply, but I've seen friends blow more in a day, than it costs me a month! As you say, it depends on the individual and what they want from life and how they want to act! Keep up the good work mate and knock back a Chang on my behalf, until I get back there.

My father retired now living in Thailand. Surin to be exact with my mother who is native to Surin. They own 3 properties, two cars, motorcycle, have their own driver to take them where ever they need to go. My father retired from the railroad in the USA. They also own a store front with seating so people can eat. My mom cooks. My father renovated all three properties with plumbing, electricity, full kitchens, central air, hot shot water heaters and American toilets. I would say they're living very well.

Dont forget about health Insurance. That can cost you from 25 000 to 500 000 Baht per year, depening on your age and physical shape.

It's not boring Kev it's informative. I have been to pattaya 38 times since 1989 so I know.

Thank you for a very honest and realistic view on the cost of living in Pattaya. And this is something I keep saying to anyone talks to me about the living in Pattaya , drinking alone is cheap .. or .. very cheap ... But the baggage that comes with heavy drinking can break your back ... Regards

Hi Kev, bloody good informative vid, im coming out there soon so thanks for the advice.

Good explanation on the drinks, I've watched a lot of video's on Thailand, first time I hear this explanation.

Not a boring vlog at all Kev, very informative informational vlog. Same rule applies in Australia - Why the fuck would you drink/party every night? Don't do it here, why would I do it anywhere else?

Kev. Just recently come across your vlogs. Very informative and presented without bias but with reasonable opinions and conclusions. Of special interest to me are the vids on restaurants with good and cheap food - Cheap Charlies and the like. Please keep them coming. As a home owner ( nearly paid the bank off) I thought you might like another angle on the water costs issue. We have 2 bathrooms/3 toilets plus a wife who puts on the washing every 2 days and a garden to water. Our water bill for the last 10 years has never been over 100 Bht a month. Yes, one hundred baht a month. So, the apartments are clearly making huge profits on water bills. Of course, nothing can be done though my wife told me that the government has passed new laws that all apartments have to charge government rates for water and maybe electric. She said this was about 6 months ago - worth looking into.🤔

thanks kev I'm heading there in September with my family, can't wait to see the beach's in thailand,just watching a lot of vlogs to get tips before visiting thailand👍

Can you say it in English.? Great vlog, thanks for all the info! Glad you are alive and kicking. You da man!

Well you were right there Kev, a boring blog only to us old hands, quite informative to newbies though! Your right about the diff between being on holiday in los and living there but that's the same any where. Shame your not a drinker, I was planning on sinking a few the next time I'm there! But it may be a while until I'm free😜

Good advice. Always ask how much electric rate is. If on a budget try to at least have $ for weekly massage. If eat Thai food cheaper but the Dukes in Chiang Mai is very good.

Hi Kev, it was not a boring video, quite the opposite actually, very informative for people who want to know costing's, and of course as every where else you can spend overboard if you piss up every night :) Thanks for the info big thumbs up!

Good, honest, down to Earth opinions. Thailand was once famously cheap (although even then people bullshitted about living like a King on a grand for six months. Rubbish!). Most people know that it's become more expensive, mainly because of the exchange rates (I recall 15 years ago getting 73 Baht to the Pound. Now it's 44) although it's still very cheap by European standards. Remember, some folk are careful spending money and others will blow their budget in a week. As Kev say, it's up to you!

Just got back from three months in Pattaya. Stayed in central Pattaya near King Power on Sukhumvit. My intention was not to spend a lot,however between massages, motorbike taxis,western food, trainining etc it was expensive as hell! Walking street is a rip off and everyone has their hand out for a tip or something. Had a freelance chick in 808 tell me it was 2000 baht for her time. I laughed at her and suddenly it was 1000. I decided against it and she tried to get a drink while she had a full drink on her table! Like you said, it's all up to you.Best vid on youtube on the subject by the way.

well done. clear and easy to follow. thanks for your efforts to inform

Perfectly summed up Kev.

good advice kev, i plan to live in pattaya soon, you have the same outlook on it as me, also, i understood everything you said being a east londoner myself. cheers guv.

Loving the vids! Keep up the good work

Excellent. Very informative. cheers Kev

Lovely guy. Met him at the hideaway bar. Always had time to talk. 👍🏻

In Cambodia a draught beer is generally $1 or about 32baht but happy hours can bring this down to 50c. You can buy a 3litre tower of beer for $7-10. Just some perspective for the serious beer drinkers.

A small cheap apartment can be had for 4,000B add utilities for another 1,000B makes it 5,000B,.there are even cheaper places than that. Food can cost as little as 3,000. The moment you walk outside is where all the real expense begins. Kev has some very realistic expenses and good advice for those on a budget. I know some guys here in Pattaya that spend +75% of their money on wine women and song. You want to play you going to pay

Spot on again Kev cheers keep them comeing please !!

I like how you said straight to the pointand the truth.Much better then Sunny did 👍👍😀

I've been living in thai for 6 years. there is a lot of difference in the housing price, compared to area, compared to what it is. country side is usually cheaper. harder to get high end. biggest difference is probably between apartments and condos. where for the same is probably around double price for condos. small rooms around 30sqm is about 4000 if apartments, then power usually is about 6bath/U. I stay in the room a lot so i always look for cheaper power, government power is preferable because it's only about 3.5 bath/U. rest is extra service charge by the apartment manager. food is cheap, if you buy it in the fresh market and live locally. street food or food from the foodcourts are like 30-40 bath/meal and 20-30/juice. cooking yourself is not really worth it compared to buying outside in terms of money. I'm not personally a drinker or party animal but.. alcohol is not cheap. it's double price. company girls are cheap but if you are not careful can be expensive. the service charges are cheap because of the low salary. so going to a bar here and only buying a drink is much cheaper than in the first world west. love is really difficult here, most are money addicts and more desperate than in the west. I know some have been lucky and are able to deal with it. also depends on your contact surface, as in. if you are meeting girls through work/humanitarian work, then it's easier to meet someone who is not just working you. it may still happen though. going to bars to pick up girls is probably not much different than going to red light district in any other country, don't fall in love with a hooker. god bless!

It is what people want to hear... Not Boring!

Gone but not forgotten