Comparing Cost of Living in Thailand to that of America
Just for the fun of it, I thought I'd make this ludicrous comparison between Southeast Asia and western nations;
I hear Thailand is by far the most
expensive in the region - other travellers have told me that in Vietnam you can
buy a large house for $400 or shoot a bazooka at a cow for 20 bucks.
Thailand - 1 Month
Locale: Samphran
Subsistence Level:
500 sq. foot apartment with bath: 2000 Baht
Water, electricity (fan, lights, TV): 100 Baht
Food (fresh from the market) : 1200 Baht
Breakfast (Curry or Pork Rice Congee): 10 Baht
Lunch (Curry or PadThai): 10 Baht
Dinner (Curry or PadThai): 10 Baht
Snacks (Fruit or Rice/Coconut based things): 5 Baht each
Transport on foot or borrowed bicycle: Free
Cell Phone with 300 free minutes: 300 Baht
Total: 3600 Baht (US$87)
Extras:
Big, varied meals with desert: +1200 Baht
Travelling to the furthest reaches of the country every weekend: +~10000 Baht
10-hour, 1000km bus ride: 300 Baht
Hotel room with fan: 100 Baht
Motorcycle rental (125CC, 1 day): 110 Baht
Gas per 200km: 100 Baht
National Park entrance fee (student): 100 Baht
Souvenir requiring about 7 hours of experienced craftsman time: 150 Baht
Total: 14500 Baht (US$360)
USA - 1 Month
Locale: Gainesville
Subsistence Level:
400 sq. foot apartment shared with 2-3 other people : $300
Water, electricity: ~$100
Food (out of cans): $60
Breakfast (Oatmeal): 25 cents
Lunch (Baked beans, spinach): 50 cents
Dinner (Spaghetti): 50 cents
Snacks (Oatmeal): 30 cents
Transport: Free buses, bicycle, foot
Prepaid phone with 20 free minutes - $10
Total: $470