Is Thailand still a cheap country to life?

When I came to live here about 13 years ago, I made my money in Euro's and life became very comfortable especially due to the very good exchange rate of the Euro to the Thai baht. Due to the current exchange rate life becomes a bit expensive, especially if you do not live the way a upcountry Thai farmer is living. So I was looking about what my daily costs would while living in my country of origin. I mean like shopping at BigC of Lotus .... my shopping-cart would be about 20 - 40% cheaper in my home country! And then I am not talking about a good bottle of wine or Belgium beers.

Since about a year there is Ikea in Thailand, their product are not made in Europe. But still the price of many of their products are here in Thailand about twice the price as in Europe. Cars made in Thailand are becoming in about the same price-class as in my home country, although I know that road-tax and insurance would kill me in my home country. And imported motorbikes and cars have always been more expensive as in Europe (hahaha to protect the Thai (monopoly) car industry ). And although gasoline is still very cheap in compare to my home country, it is actually expensive for an normal Thai average salary. A small bottle of Seang Som used to be about 70thb and is now about 120thb.

There are some things that are still more or less the same price ... like the taxi-meters but that can not be.  When I started driving a car about 9 years ago diesel was about 15thb/litre .... now it is 30thb! And the price of the taxi-meter is still the same!

To give you the answer .... I think Thailand is not that cheap anymore and I think prices will continue to rise (as will the living standard of Thai people). And in the meanwhile government management will continue to be one big mess of corruption of greedy officials.

Location: Thailand

Popular posts from this blog

A historical coffee shop with art in Lampang

Image
While walking on Thanon Talat Gao in Lampang we had a coffee and snack at this lovely coffee shop in one of the most beautiful Gingerbread houses of Lampang. The house is called Maung Ngae Zin's House. Have a look inside in the coffee-shop. They have a nice overview with photos of more beautiful old houses in Lampang. And there is some beautiful art displayed.



Keep reading

Train stations in Thailand, next station Lampang

Image
I love traveling by train, especially in Thailand where it is like traveling in time. It is like an open-air museum. Not only the trains itself but also the train stations. They look like they have not changed since they build the first railroad lines in Thailand in 1889. I will try to make a serie of train stations under the tag TRAIN STATIONS, before modernisation will make this all history. This is the train station of Lampang or actually Nakhon Lampang Train Station, about 650km north of Bangkok along the train line Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Next major train station is Lamphun, previous major train station is Den Chai. This train station was build in 1915 and used for the first time in 1916. Lampang train station is build in a mix of northern style and European architecture with many beautiful patterns. The 4 curved entrances give Lampang train station a very typical character. In front of the train station is placed an old steam Kisha Seizo locomotive (no. 728) build in 1936.







Keep reading

A boat trip between the Lotus flowers at Nong Khai

Image
About 10 km South-West of Nong Khai is the lake Song Nok Saeo where 6 months per year the lotus flowers blossom. Along the lake are 3 view-points from where you can make a boat trip (in a very small boat). It is beautiful, not only for the flowers but also for the silence, beautiful surroundings and the hundreds of small birds "dancing" above the water. It is a bit difficult to find as the roads to the lake are small, upcountry quality and signs are in Thai (but with photos). This trip should be done between December and April, begin March might be the best time. Another lake with lotus flowers is south-east of Udon Thani at A Sea of Red Flowers.
Keep reading

Walking in Lampang

Image
Lampang town is famous for its old houses and small streets. At Thanon Talat Gao (the old market street) is Lampang's Weekend market when at every Saturday and Sunday the street is closed for traffic from 17:00 to 22:00 and is transformed into a lovely street market. In the old days the street was called Kad Kong Ta (the market on the road by the port) or Talad Chin (the Chinese Market). Nowadays the street is home to many beautiful heritage buildings and Chinese shop houses. The perfect place for a market like this. See also Lampang's Kad Kong Ta Salking Street @ Sanuk. We were a bit early this time, so no market yet but it is still a nice area to walk around.


Keep reading

Visiting Baan Sao Nak in Lampang

Image
Lampang is located about 100km south of Chiang Mai city, along the train line Bangkok to Chiang Mai. And along the Wang River. Lampang became rich because of the teak wood trade in the old days. Today Lampang is famous for beautiful old temples and many old teak wooden houses. One of that houses is Baan Sao Nak, the house of many pillars. Baan Sao Nak was build in 1895 by Mong Chan Ong and Khun Mook Chandraviroj and it was to be their resident. They were Mon ethnics from Burma (Myanmar) and designed the house in a mix of Northern Thai and Burmese architecture. The all house is standing on 116 teak wooden pillars. In 1964 family started to renovate the house, to safe if from collapsing. Most of the teak wooden pillars have been replaced by cement. Baan Sao Nak is open every day from 10:00 - 17:00. Entrance fee is 50 Thai baht (included a fresh fruit drink). See also : Baan Sao Nak.





Keep reading