My Dermatology Bill

March 6, 2020. Just back from the hospital, where I was checked for Coronavirus at the curbside, had my vital signs checked by a technician, then examined by my usual dermatologist:

• A dozen ‘rough spots’ on my head and neck, which he removed with CO2, and a worrisome lump on my temple.
• He biopsied the lump and sent the sample to the pathology lab, telling me to expect an email in five days that would give me the results of the biopsy and, based on its malignancy, recommend ways of treating it.
• The entire process took 40 minutes from my car and back, everyone was, of course, totally sweet and the bill, 4,400 Baht, US$140, was even sweeter.

Here’s a tip:

Foreigners treated at government hospitals may pay more than Thai nationals according to a new pricing structure, from 30 September. The pricing structure separates foreign patients into three groups: Foreigners from neighbouring countries (including Laos, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam). Foreigners working or studying in Thailand (Non B, ED, M). Foreign retirees and tourists (Non O, TR, VOA)   Foreigners from ASEAN countries have relative parity with Thai nationals but foreigners who work or study in Thailand will be charged significantly more, while retirees and tourists will be charged more than any other group. Under the new guidelines, a Thai national would pay 160 baht for a HIV test, where as retirees and tourists would be charged 320 baht.

Medical care in Thailand is living up to its reputation. A client recently had a medical emergency and I checked her into Chiang Mai Ram Hospital, which I use and recommend. Tests showed that she was in critical condition so she was hustled off to the Intensive Care Unit, where she spent four days and nights. I’ll have a full report on the quality of care next month but I just saw the bill for the ICU and drugs: US$1,200. Note that this was just for care–she had no surgical procedures but at least it gives you a floor price for IC in a hospital that’s JCI and ISO9000 accredited.

Medical care in Thailand meets Persistent Insect Bite. I’ve always been sensitive to insect bites but for the past six months I’ve had one for six months, above my ankle, that would kept flaring up and itching. After trying every natural and over-the-counter remedy I broke down and went to the dermatology department at Chiangmairam Hospital, close to my home. It’s a world class operation, ISO 9000 and US-certified, where I had my cataract surgery, so I was not surprised by the good treatment I received. Once the receptionist had retrieved my records I was weighed, vital signs – temperature, blood pressure, blood oxygen, pulse – taken and, five minutes later was ushered into the dermatologist’s office.

A young guy (prefect skin, like all dermatologists), he nailed it: “Ah, yes. Persistent insect bite. Nothing to worry about. I’ll just give you a micro-injection of cortisone at the site of the bite, and it’ll disappear by itself”. The bill, as you see above, was under US$30. Since I drove up to the parking area outside the dermatology department, I was back in my car and on the road in forty minutes. That’s what I love about Thai medicine: a lot of value without wasted time, from pleasant, caring people.

Incidentally, the bite did disappear by itself and no longer persists.

More detail on medical care in Thailand here..

The post Medical Care in Thailand appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

The regulations say, “In order to open an ordinary checking or savings account, Bank of Bangkok requires that I get a notarized letter from the US Embassy in Bangkok, stating that I’m a US citizen and that I reside in Thailand at a certain address. The Embassy requires an appointment and a $50.00 document fee, not including the cost of transportation to and from Bangkok, or a hotel and meals. And there’s no guarantee the bank will even accept it.”  R. Butler.

Thailand Retirement Concierge clients, of course, do not have this problem, since we act as your guarantor.

This video shows just how infuriating it can be:

New money-laundering regulations require you to establish and prove permanent residence before you can open a Thai bank account. You can imagine the Catch-22 situation this creates: how can you pay the deposit on your new place if you don’t even have a bank account?, More at paydayloansmonster.

We’ve struggled with this since the regulations came into effect and now, with the help of our angelic bank manager, have created a completely legal process that allows Concierge clients to open their permanent account as soon as they arrive.

We go to the bank together and you’ll have your ATM card and bank book when you leave. Best of all, apart from signing a few more forms, it requires no effort on your part: we’ll be waiting with the completed forms as soon as you step off the plane. Here are some simple steps that will make opening your Thai bank account a breeze:

• Except for businesses, checking accounts are not generally used in Thailand. Thailand Bank Accounts are structured a little differently, like everything in Thailand so, when you ask to open an account the bank will open a savings account without even asking you. The administration of bank accounts and the security procedures are slightly different, too, so here’s a brief primer:

  

• When you go to the bank, take your passport, your permanent Thai address and Thai cellphone number
• Joint accounts are very difficult, so get the account in one name and then get two ATM cards. Trust me, this is the better option.
• You will have to pay for your new (chipped) ATM card. Cost is up to 1,000 baht, depending on the bank.
• Ask for online banking while you’re opening the account. The bank officer will usually not suggest this (don’t ask me why) which means you’ll have to go back again later if you don’t do it on the spot.
• Ask the bank officer to show you how to navigate your Thai online account. They’re set up differently from those at home but work quickly and well once you’ve mastered the interface
• The bank will give you a savings account passbook. Don’t make the mistake I made and throw it away or lose it. Passbooks are extremely important in Thailand and are used for all major withdrawals. So keep it in a safe place.
• Update your passbook regularly. It’s your legal proof of transactions and balances. There are Passbook Update Terminals alongside most ATM transaction machines at all bank branches. When you correctly insert your passbook they will read your account number from the barcode on its cover. Ask your bank officer to show you how to use it before you leave the bank. Then use it at least once a month, and after every significant deposit.
• When you get home, start setting up online bill payment accounts immediately, so you don’t forget how to use the interface. You can pay all your regular bills online. The easiest are your Internet and cable providers, and your cell phone provider. If you haven’t opened those accounts yet, remember to ask for their online billpay account name when you’re setting up the account. Otherwise, you may need to call their customer support line to get that information and enter it into your bill pay account. You’ll only need to do this once.
• I use (and strongly recommend) Bangkok Bank. This is a link to their online banking which, once you learn the interface, is a fast and convenient way to pay all your bills. As with all things to do with banking in Thailand, the trick is choosing a bank manager. My guy works miracles for me and for clients…
• If receiving payments from a US Government Agency: Download the “Direct Deposit Sign-up Form (SF1199A)” from http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online. Complete the form to sign up for Direct Deposit with your relevant US government agency and include information which are your name and physical address in Thailand; your bank account number and the name and address of your Bangkok Bank Branch in Thailand; 9-digit routing number 026008691 of Bangkok Bank New York  Branch. Complete a “Direct Deposit Service Application” form, which you can pick up at any Bangkok Bank branch (except micro branches). You can also choose to fill out an SMS Remittance Alert Service Request Form to receive an SMS notification on your mobile phone when funds have been successfully transferred into your Bangkok Bank account.
  Submit all forms to Bangkok Bank with the following supporting documents:
  Identification Card/Government Official ID Card/Passport together with a customer identification document such as your Social Security Card, Annuitant ID Card etc.
  A document from the relevant agency giving evidence of your right to receive the payments.
  After verifying your documents, Bangkok Bank will submit your application to the government agency, asking them to approve your request to receive the funds via Direct Deposit.
  After the request is approved by the US Government Agency, your payments will be electronically deposited directly into your Bangkok Bank account.
• International Fund Transfers for Americans: Bangkok Bank ACH (Automated Clearing House) transfers from the US via their NY branch will end April 1, 2019 and online US ACH domestic transfers will no longer function after that. Bangkok Bank says this will not affect existing Social Security or other federal government direct deposits. The Bank says that, after April, Americans should use an online banking facility called IAT (International ACH Transfers), though no one seems to know of any U.S. banks that currently provide consumers online access to IAT or any U.S. banks/CUs that have announced plans to support it for consumers. Stay tuned and we will let you know as soon as we know more on this. In the meantime, for transfers of $3K or less, Transferwise puts more baht into your Thai bank account when  both exchange rate and fees are deducted.  For larger amounts use an International Wire/SWIFT. Charles Schwab gives you free transfers of $1000 per day and has modest fees, $25, for wire transfers.
• The Bangkok Bank account must be one that is not accessible by ATM so you have the hassle of going into a Bangkok Bank branch each month (any branch is OK, not just your home branch) and presenting your passport in order to withdraw the funds and move them to another account with ATM/internet access.  But, if you’re suddenly incapacitated, Bangkok Bank will visit your hospital bed and get your thumbprint to release the funds to pay hospital bills. If you’re more conscious, but still can’t make it to the hospital, they’ll give you whatever you request to pay rent, give your GF her allowance, etc. (They won’t do this if you can’t give consent, just pay the hospital bill without consent.) If you have your SS direct deposited to a U.S. account it can be a joint account, with internet access and often it’s very easy to move the money into Bangkok Bank using online ACH transfer. But, if you become incapacitated, no U.S. bank will release your funds unless a court-appointed guardian initiates the request and there is no easy way to set up a guardian for an incapacitated foreigner in Thailand.  So, if you’re using the method of manually transferring money from the U.S. to Thailand, make sure you have the process documented so that someone could do it for you should you become incapacitated.
• If you are living in Thailand, the point of contact for more information or to ask questions about SSA benefits is the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) at the US Embassy in Manila, Philippines. You can contact the SSA through the following channels: Tel: (63 2) 301 2000 ext. 9 Website: http://ph.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen -services/social-security/.  E-mail: FBU.manila@ssa.gov
• If receiving payments from a private organization. Request the “Authorization Agreement for Automatic Deposits (ACH Credits)” form or “Related Direct Deposit” form from the organization or the agency that will be making the payment to you. Complete the form to request the Direct Deposit service.
  Open a savings account at any Bangkok Bank branch in Thailand. If you already have an account with Bangkok Bank, you can use your existing bank account for this service.
  Request your home branch to issue a bank reference letter to certify your bank account details such as account type, account number, date of account opening and current balance to be provided to your agency.
  Include your name and physical address in Thailand;,your bank account number and the name and address of your Bangkok Bank Branch in Thailand;  and the 9-digit routing number 026008691 of Bangkok Bank New York  Branch in your Direct Deposit Signup Form.
  Indicate the Routing Number 026008691 of Bangkok Bank’s branch in New York and your account number with Bangkok Bank in Thailand on your “Authorization Agreement for Automatic Deposits (ACH Credits)” form or “Related Direct Deposit” form.
  Submit the form with the required information such as your Identity Card or Social Security Card, or evidence of your right to receive the payments from the company, together with Bangkok Bank’s Reference Letter. Mail the signed form to the US company asking it to approve the request and initiate direct deposits into your account.
  After the request to receive direct deposits is approved, your payments will be electronically deposited directly into your Bangkok Bank account.You can read it here.

Thailand Bank Accounts for Australians

• Look for a credit card (Mastercard) that doesn’t charge fees for overseas transactions or a percentage of the transaction and visit loans green for monthly deals
• Make sure you pay its balance off every month so you don’t pay interest.
• Only use it in reputable locations.
• You’ll find the exchange rates between Oz & THB comparable to those offered by the major banks in Thailand
• And better than the exchange rates of the banks offered in Oz.
• Incidentally, if your Australian ATM card has a Maestro or Cirrus logo it will work with Thai ATMs.
• But Visa cash advances  attract a 3% surcharge
• For larger amounts T/T (telegraphic transfer bank to bank) is quicker but costs  $35–$100.
• For larger amounts interbank is slower (overnight) but most economical at $20 per transfer, regardless of amount.
• If you instruct your bank to send Aussie dollars (rather than Thai Baht) you’ll get a better exchange rate.
• If you’re sending more than $10,000 you can negotiate a better exchange rate with your local branch manager – if you tell him 24 hours in advance.
• If you withdraw money from an ATM in Thailand, draw at least 25,000 Baht. Your fee ($7-10) remains the same.

The post Thailand Bank Accounts appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

It remains to be seen (a) whether this legislation will actually be passed; (b) whether this legislation will actually be enforced (c) whether this legislation will actually apply to locals, who are currently allowed to drive scooters if, when seated, their feet touch the ground!

Drive Slowly if Drunk 

A Thai road sign that said: Mao Khap Cha-chaa – If you’re drunk, drive slowly. (Japan has very strict drink driving laws while Thailand is sometimes seen as a joke in this regard). The media claimed to have confronted officials in Nakorn Ratchasima about it only to be told that it was impossible to stop DUI – so they were just appealing for drunks to drive slowly at New Year. Sanook reported on the story with part of a headline that stated “Media from the land of sushi absolutely confused”.

Chris’ update on getting a Chiang Mai Drivers License:

“The Chiang Mai Provincial Land & Transportation office gave me the seal of approval today. Two licenses–one car, one bike–in one hit, within 2 hours, for the grand sum of 310 baht.  I am chuffed. Added bonus: no tests, written or practical. Just get your paperwork in order, look at a board of coloured dots, watch a 60 min. (English) video then pay your money, have the photo op. and you are done. The ladies at the Transport Office are really keen to help and are not there to turn you away ‘cos they don’t like the look of you.  If you don’t approach this bureaucratic hurdle with care and due diligence then it will be your own fault for not getting a licence on the day. Here are the tricks:

• Bring you Certificate of Residency (TM30) and
• Medical Certificate plus
• the photo copies of your passport and visa.
• Download the Licence Application form, [ddownload id=”6004″], fill in the top section and tick ‘bike’ or ‘car’.
• If you want both you must make out separate forms for each.
• Your home licence with a translation of the various categories (car, bike) in Thai attached.
• A photocopy plus
• Your original International Driving licence that MUST carry the date ‘1949’ on the front cover and MUST be stamped to match your licence category (eg car, bike).
• The whole “no test” thing hinges on you having an International Driving Licence marked with the date of 1949 on the front …odd but true.

By the way, I did not go there at 8:30 in the morning – I rolled up after lunch and left two hours later sporting two brand new licenses. Oh, and they are valid for two years, not one.

David’s Excellent License Adventure

David writes: “I got my Thailand drivers license and my Thailand motorcycle license a few days ago and learned that folks from Germany and other non-English-speaking countries must bring a translation from their embassy! You do not needan international drivers license as long as your license from your country is valid. I got my car license and motorcycle license in about three hours. I needed copies of my passport and visa and reentry stamps and copies of my proof of residency, TM-30, form, my Missouri drivers license  and of my health form. And, yes, to get to licenses car/motorcycle I needed double copies. So much information was correct. If you need any further assistance please message David by responding to this newsletter and he’ll be glad to help you out. P.S. Jeejee and I have bought a house in Orinsirn 3 and we have also bought a restaurant Paris Chiangmai in JedYod Neighborhood

New Concierge Service:

We’re constantly dreaming up new ways to take the worry out of moving to Chiang Mai and here’s another: car rentals. We now offer rental cars with daily, weekly, and monthly rates for everything from hatchbacks all the way up to 7-seater SUVs. But why, you ask? Aren’t there already plenty of car rental places in Chiang Mai? Lots. But this is the only one staffed by expats (so everyone speaks perfect English) and that has the correct insurance (most don’t–which you discover after your accident) and a workshop so clean you can eat off the floor.

After having tried scooters for three years, I reached the same conclusions as everyone else (duh!): you’re much too vulnerable in an accident–and accidents are much too frequent. So we asked our car guys (from whom we buy our cars) to offer rentals and, presto! here they are. Hatchbacks from 17,000 Baht/mo with unlimited mileage. Let us know when you make your Concierge reservation and we’ll have one waiting for you.

What you need to know about driving in Thailand:

1. Everyone in Thailand (including me) drives everywhere, just like you.
2. Thailand the most dangerous place in the world to drive. The death toll on the jumped dramatically last year after previously being named as number two in the world for road deaths – now it looks like being number one as road safety campaigns have failed to have any effect on the carnage.
3. The death toll jumped from 19,479 in 2015 to 22,356 in 2016. That’s 61 people killed EVERY DAY (compared to 40,000 in the USA, with five times the population.
4. The most dangerous place to drive in Thailand is in the east of the country. Rayong is the worst province.
5. Three out of four deaths are male and the group most likely to perish on the roads are young men aged 15-29.
6. The safest place to drive is Bangkok where you would have a quarter of the chance of death compared to Rayong.
7. The most dangerous provinces are Rayong 72 deaths per 100,000; Sa Kaew 69; Chonburi 58; Chantaburi 57; Nakorn Nayok 56; and Prachinburi 55.
8. Forty-five percent of deaths involve motorcycles, 5% are pedestrians and 1% cyclists.
9. A million people suffer injuries or handicapped by road accidents and annual damages are a staggering 500 billion baht.

Law breaking and lack of law enforcement is routine on Thailand’s roads. Tens of millions openly flout the law and, when officials propose safety measures–like making riding in the back of pickups illegal–the public resists stubbornly.

Not enough is spent, there are insufficient funds available and there is not enough technology employed to help with the situation, said TNA.

via GIPHY. Source: http://www.tnamcot.com/view/5a092853e3f8e40ae18e55e1

Drivers Licenses

If you have a current drivers license you can get a shiny, new Thai drivers license and you won’t have to take a driving test. Just take your current license, medical certificate, Residency Application Form [ddownload id=”6003″] and License Application Form [ddownload id=”6004″] to the  Land Transport Office and they’ll give you an eyesight test (I flunked it so the examiner simply  moved the test card closer to me), a reaction time test and vision test before issuing your license. If you have to take the test you’ll find that it’s written in Tinglish – a baffling form of English which Thai bureaucrats refuse to correct – and which is the chief obstacle to your success. Happily, 80 percent of regulations are the same world wide, so re-read your native Rules of the Road if you’re rusty. After you pass the written test you’ll take a driving test that’s pretty simple and looks like this:

The written drivers test is computerized, you can take it as often as you wish and you don’t need an appointment. Just show up early, mentally prepared to take the test four times. On your first attempt spend only 10 seconds on each question: there’s a 25% chance you’ll pass and, if you don’t, you’ll know what to expect because the test comes with a review that shows you where you went wrong. After a few attempts you’ll get the hang of it. If you want to limber up, here are some typical test questions to amuse you. Here’s musician Darin Dunn’s self help guide to getting a Thai driver’s license: Getting a Thai drivers license would test the patience of saints. Drivers licenses for cars and motorbikes are separate documents and processes. You will need a stack of forms, tests and fees for each. This is a guide for the perplexed. [Note: you can make life easier for yourself if, before you leave home, you obtain an International Driving Permit ($20 from AAA Travel in the U.S.). Then you will be allowed to opt out of the written test and the safety video]. While the process is pretty much the same throughout Thailand, I’ve localized it to Chiang Mai to make it less generic. So before you head to the drivers license office (Koin-Song  in Thai) you will need six items:

1. An Affidavit of Residence from your Consulate or the Thai Residency Form Office. (1050Bt at the Consulate or 100Bt tip at the Thai Immigration Office) or a Work Permit in your name. If you have a Work Permit you can skip #1 & #2 and proceed to #3]
2. Your Passport with a valid Thai Visa
3. Medical Certificate (physical) no more than a month old. (100 Baht at any hospital)
4. A valid drivers license from your home country
5. An explanation of the class (truck, car, motorcycle) listed on your license
6. Money. The fees for your licenses will be 505 baht for the car and 255 baht for the motorcycle. This brings the totals fees for your License adventure to 1810 baht, or $US60.

Affidavit of Residence: It’s best case to obtain this form from the Thai Residency Office. If you have a one year visa you should be able to obtain this form from that office at no charge, though a 100 Bt tip will be welcomed. [Remember, the office staff live on 15,000 Bt/mo – $500 – yet pay the same for cars and housing as you do].  If your visa is less than one year you will need to go to your Embassy or Consulate. The office is located across from the Promenda Mall here. You will need

1. a copy of your home lease contract or a letter from your landlord stating you live in a certain house,
2. a copy of your landlord’s government ID and
3. two passport sized photos.

Take these documents to the Residency Office. Turn in your paperwork and they’ll give you a reminder slip to come back one week later. You should be in and out quickly as this office only does the residency certificates and you can do this without your spouse being present. Upon your return you will receive the document confirming that you live at your address. The driver’s license Dept will honor this if it is less than one month old. If you cannot obtain this form from the Residency Office you will need to go to your embassy or consulate to obtain a notarized copy of this form.

https://youtu.be/pzD3zlF4Jew

The U.S. consulate in Chiang Mai is now handling U.S. citizen services by appointment only. You will need to visit the following site to make an appointment. The United States Consulate is at 387 Wichayanont Road, T. Changmoi, A. Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand 50300. Tel (053) 252-629, Fax (053) 234-472 or (053) 252-633. The road along the river is a one way street so you will need start north of the consulate and work your way down until you see a large white chedi used as a traffic circle. There on the corner you will see the large, cream-colored, prison-like walls of the consulate. All it lacks is (visible) gun turrets. The fee for the notarized form is 1050 Bt., $US35.

Once you’re out on the road, remember that Thai roads are among the most dangerous on earth, especially for farangs: we’re used to playing by different rules. Don’t believe me? Watch this video:

https://youtu.be/fYYpbProJg8

Here are a few tips that will help you avoid trouble:

1. Breath Tests: A Bangkok court imposed an 8,500 baht fine and a 2 year suspended jail term for refusing a breath test. The court cited the guilty plea of Chutima Kanthang, 28, as ground for leniency. Thai police can prosecute a case as DUI if the driver refuses to the road side breath analyser. The incident happened at a police checkpoint in Bangkok. Police towed the vehicle with the driver inside to the police station. The next morning, Chutima stepped out of the vehicle and acknowledged her test refusal. She appeared before the judge in the afternoon and pleaded guilty. Breath test refusal is punishable by 12 months’ jail and a fine of 10,000 – 20,000 baht. If you plan to drink and drive carry 20,000 Baht cash and, if you fail the test, immediately hand your keys and 20K to the officer and ask politely where you can collect your car in the morning (or carry a get-out-of-jail card like our clients).

Thais have their own road rules, regardless of what the law prescribes. Understand them and you’re more likely to avoid fender-benders:

• Everyone runs red lights. So everyone waits when their light turns green until all the red light runners have cleared the intersection. 
• Everyone knows where everyone else is around them and leaves room for them to do things we would’t do, like scooter drivers who turn inside you when you turn left. Do likewise.
• Most Thai drivers got their automobile licenses in their 30s and may never have driven a car before that. Allow for the fact that they’re unaccustomed to the size, momentum and power of those huge SUVs.

Medical Certificate

You’ll need a medical certificate or physical from any local hospital. These physicals are quick and painless. The doctor listens to your heart and lungs, measures your height and weight, checks your blood pressure and temperature, and tests for color blindness. Any hospital will do your physical for 100 baht. People suffering from 10 medical conditions must bring a medical certificate. Why? If you have a major claim your insurer will demand your entire lifetime medical record in hope of invalidating your claim because you didn’t declare your pre-existing condition when you applied for your license. Here are the 10:

1. Epilepsy,
2. Diabetes,
3. Intermittent loss of consciousness,
4. Heart- and blood-related diseases,
5. Visual impairment,
6. Deafness,
7. Parkinson’s,
8. Mental disorders,
9. Sleep disorders
10. Drug addiction.

Valid License From Your Home Country and Explanation of Class of License

You need a valid drivers license from your home country and to show the Drivers’ License Office what the class listing on your license means. Here are some links that may help you find this information in the USA. It can be tricky. Class A. Class B. Class C. Class D. Print this information out and bring it with you. If you cannot find these items your Embassy/Consulate can issue you a form guaranteeing your license. If your license is not in English you will also need your Embassy/Consulate to translate it and issue you a form with an explanation in Thai script.

The Transportation Office (Koin-Song)

You will need two copies of each of each form, including

• your passport’s main page,
• your visa and
• the immigration stamp you received upon entering the country.

You can make copies at the Chiang Mai Traffic Bureau Office on the first floor all the way to the end. Here’s the checklist again:

1.   An Affidavit of Residence from your Embassy, Consulate or the Immigration Office.
2.   Your Passport with valid visa
3.   Medical Certificate (physical) no more than a month old.
4.   A valid drivers license from your home country
5.   An explanation of the class listed on your license

The Chiang Mai Transportation Office, Koin-Song, is located on Hang Dong Road approximately 3 KM south of airport plaza immediately before you cross under a large overhead arch/pedestrian walk way. It’s a large purple building with purple fences just before Big C. You will want to get started no later than 8:30 am because the various tests and safety classes are tightly scheduled.

Go straight up to the second floor information desk. Smile and hand in your forms to the attendant. After each of your papers is stamped – at least twice – you will be directed to take your documents to window 28. When called you will step across the hall for a series of tests that will involve pulling strings, stepping on pedals and reading charts. It’s lots of fun. If you’re failing a particular test the officer will usually make it easier for you. Thais hate to see others embarrassed.

Next, you will watch a one hour safety video on a computer. It is completely baffling. After that. the written test – equally baffling – will consist of 30 questions. You will be given one hour but you can get through it in 15 mins. They will give you a booklet to study if you request it but you should be able to pass it in one or two tries without studying. They let you take it multiple times. Testing is open 10 –12.

After passing your test proceed to a building in the far north east corner of the property for your motorcycle driving test. It’s invisblle to the naked farang eye, so stand facing the entrance of the building where you just took your tests. The road test area is to your left. Wander over 400 M in that direction and eventually you will run into it. Tests begins at 1pm and end at 3:00pm. You will be required to drive along a narrow 2X4 board for 10 meters which is a bit of a challenge but they will give you a few tries. After that you will be asked to signal, turn right, weave through cones, observe a stop sign and return to base.

After you complete your driving test gather your results from the test along with your results from the written test and return to the information booth on the 2nd floor of the main building – where your day began – and take a number. Pay the 210 Bt and 150 Bt fees and they will take your photo, process and print your license on the spot. Next, hold your new licenses high above your head and exit the building yelling for joy.

Keep Driving in Thailand: Renewing a Thai Driver’s License

If your current 1 year license is due to expire you will need to renew it within 60 days before its expiration date. After your 1 year license expires you will then be issued 5 year licenses from then on. Go to the office M-F 8:30am-15:30pm. You shouldn’t be required to take any further tests.

If you going from a 1 year to a 5 year license you will need:

1. Your passport and visa
2. Affidavit of Residence Certificate or Work Permit or Residence Book (yellow book).
3. Your current Thai Driver’s License (60 days before expiration date)
4. Medical Certificate no more than 30 days old
5. Money: Car: 505 baht, Motorcycle: 305 baht, Smart Card license: 100 baht. Change of address: 50 baht
6. Copies of each document for each license (car and motorbike) as well as your originals.

If you going from a 5 year to another 5 year license you will need:

1. Passport and visa
2. Affidavit of Residence orr Work Permit or Residence Book (yellow book).
3. Current Thai Driver’s License (90 days before expiration date)
4. Medical Certificate no more than 30 days old
5. Money: Car 505 baht, Motorcycle 305 baht, Smart Card license 100 baht/each
6. Change of address 50 baht
7. Copies of each document for each license (car and motorbike) as well as your originals.

You will be required to take an eye exam, reaction test and watch a 1 hour training video (in English). The eye exam is a color blindness test, the reaction test measures your ability to operate a gas pedal when you see a green light and then hit the brake pedal when you see a red light. The video is shown at 9:30am and 1:00pm.

Now you know how to get a Thai drivers license. Just do it! [© Darin Dunn, Deesquared Productionsdarin@darindunn.com].

Now, because you’ve read all this information, here’s an amusing video of the process of getting a license in Thailand:

Getting a Thai Driver’s License the Hard Way – Taking the Test. by Greg.

• Authorities in Thailand Cracking Down on Drunk Driving – … Fiancee Visa, K1 Visa, K1 Visa Thailand, Thai Drivers License, Thai Driving License, Thai DUI, Thai DWI, Thai Visa, Thailan DWI, Thailand Drivers License, Thailand Driving License, Thailand DUI, Thailand Visa, Visa Thai, …
• Driving from Chiang Mai: where to go if you’re watching the road…

The post Driving in Thailand appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

Medbelle surveyed 50 countries for its 2019 Medicine Price Index, a comparison survey of 13 medications from heart meds to Viagra, Asthma to Anti-depressants and HIV treatments. The average prices of both the brand compound and their generic versions were included in order to have a complete profile of each medication. Lastly, we normalised the dosage size in order to make the price comparable.The results range from a +306.82 % deviation in the United States, to -93.93% in Thailand, highlighting a disparity in what patients pay for the same medicine across the world. Thailand came top with a figure that its medications were 93.93% cheaper than the world average. Kenya, at 93.76% and Malaysia, 90.80%, were also money-savers. The most expensive countries were
1. USA 306.82% more expensive than average
2. Germany 125.64%
3. UAE 122.03%
4. Italy
5. Denmark
6. Qatar
7. Spain
8. Netherlands
9. Israel
10. Iceland 56.01%

First, let’s talk about Importing Personal meds into Thailand: Several months ago I had some medical items sent from my home country. They were held up at customs. On my first visit to the airport customs office I learned that unless I got a note from my doctor, the items would be considered commercial and I would have to pay a very hefty fee. I met with my doctor and went back to customs a couple of days later. I found that my note from him was not valid. It had to be issued by a public hospital doctor, not private. Fortunately, the customs officer took pity on me and let it go without the fee, provided I understood that I would need to present a correct note the next time. I recently ordered another shipment of the same product, and was worrying a bit, so I made an appointment with a doctor I had been to before, to ask for a letter. Since he has privileges at both RAM and a public hospital, and since I was told he would be unavailable for two weeks at the public hospital, I foolishly made the appointment at RAM, thinking he could give me a note from CM. After waiting for an hour I saw him, and learned that I would have to set up another appointment at CM hospital, and be careful to do it in the public section. Three hours after that I had my paper from the doctor. He told me there would be no charge. Lester Johnson, President, Chiang Mai Expats Club

I’m buying cheap meds in Thailand but my needs are pretty lightweight, so I turned to a friend, Greg Miller, who was injured when deep sea diving for the US Navy, and I asked him about his wonderful collection of meds and if they are really as cheap as people claim.  In response, he wrote me this:

When I moved to Thailand from the US I found that buying meds here is much more relaxed. Medicines that are out of the reach of many in America because of price, or not available at all because the FDA restricts their distribution, are readily available to the public in Thailand. It’s not perfect in Thailand, but it’s a lot better than in the States. Here are 16 tips for buying cheap meds in Thailand that will save you time and money:

1. If you’re coming to Thailand from the US you can save a lot of money by stocking up on your meds here. Jjust make sure you have documents when you return. It is also good to have a small supply of the “contingency drugs”, the medicine you are likely to need as things happen in the future. If you can legally buy the meds you need in the US, you can buy them in Thailand easier and much cheaper than back home.
2. You will usually find both the brand name pharmaceuticals you have in the US (running typically about 10% of the cost in the US) and generic brands (could be as low as 1%). That huge price difference can make a major lifestyle difference for many Americans. Some people even save enough to pay for their trip and holiday.
3. If while you are in Thailand you want to meet with a doctor to check out everything and get a legitimate local prescription, it won’t be a major investment as it is back home. I recently met with an excellent English speaking doctor at one of the leading Chiang Mai hospitals for annual heavy-duty check-up, giving me updated prescriptions for my blood pressure and thyroid ailments after giving a whole bunch of tests, and my charge for the doctor was 250Baht ($8.36 USD). And if you have a prescription already written by a US doctor, it becomes extremely simple for a Thai doctor to write a new prescription here.
4. By doing a little internet search on your US medications, you can get the generic or medical name for what you are taking. You should write these down to take to Thailand because they may not be familiar with the brand name used in the US. Often the big pharmas will have a different brand name for the same product for different marketing regions. In the US where they can reap enormous profit margins, they often will have a unique brand name.
5. To repeat: carrying an actual prescription — whether American or Thai — with you prevents a lot of difficulties if the medicines are discovered crossing national borders.
6. Many travelers recommend only buying medicines in the pharmacies in big private hospitals. While this can certainly be a bit assuring, it should be realized that this is the most expensive place to cheap meds in Thailand (the same as in other countries as well). You will save much more if you make your purchase through independent pharmacies. They are all pretty much licensed and have licensed, educated pharmacists who are much more helpful than US pharmacists in their recommendations. Senior Thai pharmacists usually speak ‘medical English’. Most travelers have the wherewithal and savvy not to buy from street sellers, I assume.
7. If you go to a Thai pharmacy and there is no air conditioning and it looks or smells bad, you may want to just make a U turn. Medicines do lose their potency in high heat. Fortunately, poor quality pharmacies are the minority. You have to be a wise consumer in Thailand (in anything you buy). And when you store meds at home, a good place to store them is in the fridge.
8. Birth control pills are available over the counter in Thailand, starting at a cost of a $1 for a month’s supply. You can buy the same brand as back in the US or a generic.
9. Male enhancement drugs can be much less than back home. Cialis Viagra and Levitra are available with no prescription and you will save money. There are also plenty of fakes from China (so examine the package carefully and don’t buy from street merchants or border markets).
10. There are national generics from India and within Thailand. For instance, the Thai equivalent to Viagra, which is called Sidegra, seems to be just as effective (or better) than Viagra and can be purchased in 100mg versions at a fraction of the cost is the US (less than $1 ea.). On a somewhat related note, condoms in Thailand are cheap but most (American) men complain that they tend to be too small.
11. Many anti-depressants, antibiotics, allergy meds, steroids, Valium and other pharmaceuticals that require an expensive doctor appointment back in the US are available over the counter in Thailand (but not always), so don’t be nervous to ask. If a prescription is required, the pharmacists can usually recommend a medical doctor that can take care of this at a minimal cost.
12. Or just pop into a private clinic or hospital. You can have an appointment quickly and cheaply.
13. There are also many medicines not available at all in the US that you can buy in Thailand. This does not mean that these medicines are bad for you. To introduce a new medicine into the US takes many millions of dollars and years of testing, and many companies in the world do not have the resources and inclination to go through the US process Many Chinese herbal medicines fall into this category.
14. Understand that while medicines are easily and cheaply purchased in Thailand, this does not apply to vitamins and supplements. These are generally imported and taxed heavily, so you will find these to be substantially more expensive than in the US. Whenever we go back to the US we stock up on vitamins to bring back to Thailand.
15. Not all meds in Thailand are cheap. There are several OTC meds easily available in the US that are considerably more expensive in Thailand. Simple pain relievers like Aleve and plain aspirin (which legally requires a prescription in Thailand) are expensive. Benadryl seems to be impossible to find in Thailand, and good ol’ Tums are very difficult to find. You also will not find Cortisone cream in Thailand, but Thai pharmacies have a generic brand of hydrocortisone cream that is very expensive. It seems that those medicines in the US that do not have a strong FDA and AMA control, the pricing and availability in the US is much better.
16. Also medicines that in the US might be construed as recreational by some (as in Cannabis) are strictly forbidden in Thailand and have severe penalties in this country and throughout the region. The Drug War was initiated around the world by the US (thanks largely to Dick Nixon), and while sanity is finally starting to be applied in many places in the US, Thailand and other Asian nations have been extremely slow in easing up on this. It is wise to avoid any connection with these drugs in Southeast Asia.

Videos About Thai Pharmacies and Buying Cheap Meds in Thailand

And, just in case you’re actually sick and need to talk to a Thai pharmacist, here’s a video that teaches you the basic phrases for buying cheap meds in Thailand! (Though most Thai pharmacists speak English).

For most ailments, there’s no need to see a doctor in Thailand so long as you know a good pharmacist and a good Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. Here’s the best pharmacy for Buying Cheap Meds in Thailand right in in Chiang Mai, where I live. Its owner, the pharmacist, is Khun Mum, and she really knows her meds! She’s also an excellent diagnostician and her prescriptions almost always fix the problem.

Reading on Buying Cheap Meds in Thailand

• CDC Recommends PrEP for Injection Drug Users – AIDS.gov – The study results were released yesterday by the Thai Ministry of Health and CDC. Based on these findings, CDC recommends that PrEP be considered as one of several prevention options for people in the United States at …
• The EU-Thailand FTA: What Fate For Access To Medicines? – Civil society groups in Thailand and Europe have sounded the alarm over these negotiations in the past months. We fear that access to medicines for people living in Thailand will be one of the things traded away. This will …
• Interim Guidance: Preexposure Prophylaxis for the … – The iPrEx study was conducted in Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Thailand, South Africa, and the United States. Eligible participants were … Participants were seen every 4 weeks for an interview, HIV testing, risk-reduction and PrEP medication adherence counseling, pill count, and dispensing of pills and condoms. Every 3 months, participants …. If HIV positive, order and document results of resistance testing and establish linkage to HIV care. If HIV negative, establish linkage …
• CDC – Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) – Research … – When someone is exposed to HIV through sex or injection drug use, these medicines can work to keep the virus from establishing a permanent infection. When taken consistently, PrEP has been shown to reduce …. Web Site Icon . Antiretroviral prophylaxis for HIV infection in injecting drug users in Bangkok, Thailand (the Bangkok Tenofovir Study): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial · External Web Site Icon . Lancet 2013;381(9883):2083-90.
• The Great Flood of 2011, Thailand: A Firsthand Account – CDC – Blogs – Public Health Matters Blog – The Great Flood of 2011, Thailand: A Firsthand Account – Sharing our stories on preparing for and responding to public health events. … They need to set up their own taskforces and working groups in order to create an effective warning system and coordinate with one another. They should also have their own emergencies supplies on hand. A big thank you to Dr. Wongjindanon for sharing his experience with us and …

If your drugs are from a ‘controlled’ category, then read this post about Bringing Controlled Pharmaceutical Drugs into Thailand VERY carefully!  If you liked ‘Buying Cheap Meds in Thailand’, you’ll like

• Medical Care in Thailand.
• Medical Insurance in Thailand!
• More on health care and medication in Thailand
• More on treating Dengue Fever in Thailand 

The post Buying Cheap Meds In Thailand 16 Tips appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

The US Embassy Bangkok has issued an advisory: Thailand remains one of the most popular retirement destinations in the world. Great culture; great food; great people. And as US citizens age, Thailand also offers access to excellent health care, provided at world-class private hospitals by internationally trained doctors. But you need to be able to afford it. Sadly, we at the Embassy in Bangkok have seen many instances where US citizens discover, too late, that essential, high-quality health care is out of financial reach and their options are limited. As you contemplate your own preparedness, we urge you to plan for a few key expenses: medical treatment, nursing care, and, if necessary, medical evacuation.  

News Flash: The Thai Ministry for Tourism and Sports says plans to make visitors to Thailand take out insurance have been put on the back burner until 2020 or at a “more appropriate time in the future”. Thailand tourism was facing a difficult time at present what with the sluggish world economy, the high value of the baht and the low value of the Yuan. He said that it was better to wait and that changing things now could cause more trouble than it was worth. He said that requiring tourists to have insurance was a “sensitive” matter that could “scare” tourists off at this time. It was clear with Thailand on track to record visitors in excess of 40 million annually this was not a good time to be bringing in new regulations.

Our Concierge service can arrange your insurance for you in advance if you wish. Just email us a copy of the photo page of your passport when you book with us and we’ll send you quotes from every qualified carrier so you can choose the one that best suits you. We can handle pre-existing conditions and you can set your deductible as high as you wish to keep your premiums affordable.

The requirement should not be seen as a “hurdle” to visitors to Thailand, the source said on Monday. Under the proposal, the Office of the Insurance Commission would draft details on insurance policies and insurance distribution channels, including the installation of automatic vending machines at international airports and border checkpoints. The Tourism and Sports Ministry first proposed requiring foreign visitors to have travel insurance last year, explaining it did not have enough staff to supervise the safety and welfare of the growing number of tourists. Hospitals have until now often been left carrying the cost of medical treatment of tourists injured during their stay in Thailand and who have no means to pay their bills. This will actually be a big relief to most people and, if everyone buys it, the price should be only a few dollars. I’ll have more on this as soon as it’s finalized.

If You’re Living Here, Concierge Group Health Insurance in Thailand is probably the best deal around: Providing we can round up enough clients, you’ll get a 20% discount when you join and at each annual renewal. If we get even more members signed up we’ll ask for an even bigger discount and/or request additional benefits. As usual, premiums are calculated by age BUT, providing you join before 75, you’ll be able to keep your coverage indefinitely. You can join at any time of the year because policies are not prorated.

• As with all health insurance policies in Thailand, pre-existing conditions may be excluded, it just depends on your condition, which can easily be determined on a case-by-case basis when you apply.
• There is a medical questionnaire as part of the application where you declare any pre-existing conditions and for this we recommend using our guy to complete the form. Not only does he speak flawless Thai (helpful when your hospital has a question or you’re incapacitated) but he’s a Brit who’s dealt with the British insurer daily since 2006 (helpful if they question your claim!). Drop us a line at the address below and we’ll get you started. Here are details of the coverage of health insurance in Thailand:

Just Need Travel Insurance?

Just click the button and download a complete guide to every insurer! You’ll find one you like! [ddownload id=”6206″ text=”Thailand’s Travel & Medical Insurers”]

Here’s my health insurance in Thailand story

My Thailand medical insurance adventure began when I injured my hand last week doing something stupid. It hurt like crazy and swelled up as though there was a golf ball under my skin.

Hoping that the pain would pass, I prescribed painkillers for myself by going to the nearest pharmacy, pointing to my swollen hand, and miming agony. The pharmacist, like most Thai pharmacists, spoke English and prescribed two medications, one to reduce the swelling and the other to knock out the pain: 12 each of Sumidin and Brustan, for which I paid a total of 120 Bt ($4.00).

They worked well but the hand remained weak and unusable. So I checked in to Chiang Mai University’s Medical Center. The receptionist directed me to the 13th. floor where a charming orthopedic surgeon examined the hand tenderly. “I don’t think it’s broken but let’s take an X-Ray to be certain,” he said and dispatched me with a nurse who took me down 10 floors to Radiology. She chatted charmingly with me all the way down and back. By the time we returned the orthopedic surgeon had my X-Ray up on his monitor (no film). He pointed out some old damage to my cartilage and told me that the wrist would have to be immobilized for 2-4 weeks in a wrist brace. Here’s how it worked out when I went to the desk to pay, 90 minutes after I arrived:

• Drugs 120 Bt. $4.00
3
• Diagnostic X-Rays, 340 Bt. $11.30
• Diagnosis 60 Bt $2.00
• Doctor fee outpatient care 300 Bt. $10.00
• CD-ROM of X-Ray Images No Charge $ 0.00
• TOTAL 820 bt $27.30

Most governments discourage overseas payment of pensions and all refuse to extend medical coverage to their expat citizens. But Thailand’s Swedish expat community is leading the charge to change this. Swedish expats in Hua Hin and Phuket wrote Gabriel Wikström, Swedish Minister for Health, expressing their discontent about Swedish national health insurance not covering health services in Thailand. Svenskar in Udon (Swedes living in Udon) has now followed suit. Udon Thani Swedish expat Sven Arne Hedell said his fellow Swedes are are all retired, all live in Northeast Thailand and have all paid the Swedish SINK-Skatt, a flat 20% income tax (compared to the common 60%) Swedes can apply for if they want to live abroad. It entitles them to Swedish health care – but only in Sweden and only for emergencies. Their idea is to get emergency care coverage extended abroad, on the basis that’s it’s much cheaper for Sweden than, say, a skin cancer patient flying back for treatment in Sweden, as they currently do. The same reasoning goes for expats from the USA, the UK and Australia. Perhaps we should join forces and get our rich country governments to extend their coverage to overseas citizens’ emergencies.? Talk about a win-win.

If you’re interested in the Thailand medical scene and are considering seeking treatment here, watch this (Russian-produced) video about Chiang Mai Ram Hospital. The visuals say it all:

Insurance

Make sure you understand how medical insurance works in the Kingdom by reading this book. In the meantime, if you’re ill or seriously injured and don’t have travel insurance just go to the nearest government hospital. It is the policy of every public hospital to take care of anyone needing medical care – Thais, tourists, expats, migrant workers alike. Public hospitals don’t do house calls, so call 1669 for an ambulance to transport you to hospital. The service is free. If any payment is required for additional services the public hospital staff will inform you. For example, if you call an ambulance and the hospital decides that the call was not an emergency prepare to be charged. Charges are modest and you can pay with a credit card.

Regardless of whether you use a public or private ambulance, provide as much information – your location, address and medical state – as possible so that the staff are ready for you. On our first day with them we take our Concierge clients to their nearest private hospital and get the phone number for their ambulance service, then enter the number in their mobile phone. Then we give them our 24-hour Thai/English emergency service number for good measure.

Accident insurance may be about to become universal – and free – for visitors to Thailand. The Ministry of Public Health has announced that anyone – Thai or foreign – injured in a traffic accident will be afforded medical care in government hospitals henceforth. So far, reports have been mixed: several hospitals have refused to provide care (beyond basic stabilization) to injured farangs because no mechanism has yet been established to reimburse them. The trend is favorable for us expats because the government has made progress towards compulsorily insuring Foreign Visitors to Thailand. This week Thailand’s Minister of Public Health got agreement in principle to require all foreign tourists to buy health insurance before they arrive in the country. As things stand, the Thai government gets stuck with the bill for uninsured visitors who get sick, injured, or die while they’re in the country.

Following the Thai principle of ‘foreigner pays’, this will be addressed by requiring proof of insurance as part of clearing Immigration at all ports of entry. The Thai government, which has a good, free, national insurance program for citizens, will also work with neighboring countries to set up similar schemes. This will allow some form of coverage for migrant workers, too, millions of whom are attracted by Thailand’s booming economy and its 1% unemployment rate. While this development does not immediately affect expatriates, it opens a crack the door to their potential, paid participation in the national insurance program – something that several of us have been advocating for years.

Instant Thailand Travel Insurance Online

You can now buy Thailand Travel Insurance Online. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) worked out a deal with Thailand’s top medical insurers (Muang Thai, Chao Phaya, Siam City and Krungthai Panich Insurance) and now offer “instant travel insurance exclusively for foreign tourists” visiting Thailand. It’s online, convenient, and provides instant coverage. After you make your online payment, the insurance policy arrives in your inbox immediately. Premiums start at 650 Baht and the highest sum insured is 1,000,000 Baht ($33,000 USD). Coverage includes

• accident
• trip cancellation
• loss or damage of baggage/personal belongings
• accommodation fees in case the airport is being closed
• 24-hour emergency assistance by Allianz Global Assistance

Click Here to Buy Thailand Travel Insurance On Line

Click Here to Download the Claim Form

Click Here to Download the Book

Instant Thailand Travel Insurance Coverage

Click here to go to Muang Thai Travel Insurance Site..

Travel Insurance Conditions

• Coverage for each trip shall start when the Insured passes the inbound immigration (ID or Passport check point) and carry on until the Insured leaves the outbound immigration ID or Passport check point) in Thailand.
• 24-hours coverage during the trip
• Person age between 1-70 years is insurable
• No medical examination required
• The choice of individual trip cover plan or annual cover plan is yours.
• Cover up to 60 days any one trip both in individual trip cover plan and annual cover plan.

Medical and Travel Assistance Services

• Pre-trip information such as inoculation, weather, exchange rate.
• Telephone medical advice
• Medical service provider referral
• Emergency medical evacuation/repatriation and/or repatriation of mortal remains
• Guarantee of medical expenses incurred during hospitalization
• Lost of luggage/passport assistance
• Embassy referral

*Service provided by Allianz Global Assistance (AGA) Allianz Global Assistance (Tel. +66 2 342 3255)

Making a Claim

From the policy: A valid insurance policy protects you against a range of possible misfortunes as outlined in your policy wording. If you suffer a claim event during your period of cover, please contact us as soon as possible by calling us on tel:66023423255+66 (0) 2342 3255. If you are hospitalized, please contact us as quickly as possible so that we may approve any medical costs incurred and provide the hospital with a payment guarantee. You must give us any information we ask for to support your claim, such as police reports, valuations, medical reports, original receipts or proof of ownership. We will settle your claims in Thai Baht. The rate of currency exchange that will apply is the rate at the time you incurred the expense. For your convenience and whether possible, we will pay hospital bills directly with the hospital. If you can claim from anyone else, we will only make up the difference. If you can make a claim against someone in relation to a loss or expense covered under your policy and you do not get paid the full amount of your claim, we will make up the difference. You must claim from them first. If you have any queries, please read our Travel Claims FAQs. You may also contact Claims Department at:

• Telephone: +66 (0) 2342 3255
• Facsimile: +66 (0) 2305 8523
• E-mail: claim@allianz-assistance.co.th

Who is Eligible?

You can contact Allianz Insurance  by email: claim@allianz-assistance.co.th or call +66 (0) 2342 3255. They will send you a claim form and advise you of any document required to action your claim and submit it accordingly together with all documents.

What if it’s an emergency?

Contact Allianz Global Assistance and their team will help you with your emergency. These numbers appear on your Certificate of Insurance and also on Allianz’s  Contact Us page.

How do I do if I’m injured overseas and need to evacuate?

You have to notify directly to Allianz Global Assistance, emergency medical assistance service provider, their staff will arrange for emergency medical evacuation or repatriation to your home country.

What kind of documentation is required to process my claim?

You have to notify and send the original documents such as medical receipts, receipts, medical certificate and police’s report. You can find full details in your insurance policy.

Can I buy more than one policy for the same trip?

No, you can only be covered by ONE policy for the same trip.

Video About Medical Insurance in Thailand: The Book

Click Here to Download the Book.

Click here to find out about buying cheap meds in Thailand.

Homeowners’ Insurance in Thailand

Homeowners and renters can purchase this insurance.
Owners will find that a bank only requires them to insure the amount outstanding on the mortgage. Purchasing additional insurance to cover the rest of your house and belongings is worthwhile if you suffer a catastrophic loss.
Even if you rent a house, you are exposing yourself to a risk of loss. If the house is damaged or destroyed. You will have to compensate the owner for his loss.
Fire, windstorm, earthquake, water damage, land slide, bushfire…etc.
Most policies include some burglary cover and additional cover is available.
Electrical injury to appliances.
Personal liability cover against third party claims in your house.

Repairs to burglar’s point of entry.
Allowance for temporary accommodation while your house is being repaired.
Fire insurance alone costs 0.15% premium for the insured value of the house.
Burglary insurance for additional high-value items, costs 1.5% of the sum insured.

Here’s the AXA Insurance site that explains the rates and coverage. And here’s the AIG Insurance site for home coverage..

And if you’d like to read more on the subject (which I strongly recommend) look no further than here:

• THAILAND: Medical travel industry warns of complacency in medical … – Thailand is still the leading global medical tourism destination by numbers but the travel trade is concerned that low prices and high numbers may not be the.
• What is Medical Malpractice | Thailand Law – These are the basic you need to understand about medical malpractice in Thailand. Always speak to a lawyer in Thailand when considering medical malpractice.
• Thailand promote agricultural and medical sector at BIO 2013 … – Thailand has set a target of 3 million medical tourists by the year 2015. Currently, it stands at about 2 million. The annual growth rate of Thailand’s medical sector is 14% with growth in both major surgical procedures and standard medical care.
• Thailand & Medical Tourism | Farang ( ฝรั่ง) In Bangkok – The aforementioned facts can be vividly reflected in the Thailand Medical Hub Export 2012 which recently held in early September. The event depicted the reaffirmation of Thailand and The Ministry of Public Health to show …
• Raising the Standard of Thailand’s Medical Hub | Thailand News – Raising the Standard of Thailand’s Medical Hub. May 11, 2013 · by Areva. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday presided over a meeting to discuss the Medical Hub policy, with an aim to integrate medical services of the Education …
• Thailand Medical Tourism Expects Higher Foreign Patient Turnout … – Thailand medical tourism becomes a choice destination among expats looking to get treatment. It gains a positive impression among foreigners. In addition, the kingdom is said to take advantage of the enforcement come …
• Medical Travel Blog: If You Want to See the Benefits of Medical … – … Sex Reassignment Surgery (1); Singapore Medical Tourism (11); South Korea Medical Tourism (6); Spa Tourism (1); Taiwan Medical Tourism (2); Thailand Medical Tourism (16); Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) (1) …
• LOVELY LITTLE HOSPITAL IN BANGKOK. « Thailand Medical … – About Medical Professional services and standards in Thailand. This is a lovely little hospital and very high standard in Bangkok. Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.
• 12/6/10 Day 1 in Thailand – Road to Nan | CFC Thailand Medical … – This was our first full day in Thailand. 7:00am CFC Team Devotional. We began our day with devotional. 7:30am Breakfast at hotel then check-out. We stayed at Chateau Chiangmae. 8:30am Meet interpreters and board vans …
• Thailand’s Health Care System | Health in Thailand – In our meeting with Dr. Suwat he taught us about Thailand’s health care system. First he went over the structure of the system, specifically the four main levels of care. The bottom level is the primary health care level.

Just need medical care? Click here

The post Health Insurance in Thailand appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

If the cost of owning , insuring cars in Thailand seems steep, then consider a scooter. The cost of a good scooter ($1500) and operating it in Thailand is laughable: the 5,000K service at the dealer costs $7! My scooter days were generally great fun, but much less fun at night, in the rain, or on a freeway: those were white-knuckle times I won’t miss. Then, last year, after cheap thrills and 3 spills, I switched to a car.

I bought my Toyota Yaris, above, with 45,000 km on it, in excellent condition, with a 6-month warranty, from a farang who deals in cars, for 138,000 Baht cash. (Car loans for farangs are possible in Thailand, but require a Thai national co-signer). Since the switch I’ve had no regrets. Here are the pluses:

• It’s made in Thailand so parts and labor are very cheap.
• It’s small enough to fit through the local alleyways without scraping paint.
• A full tank, 11 gal/42l., costs 1,344 baht
• It gets 40 mpg on 91 Octane fuel so a tank lasts 400 miles.
• It’s front seats are big and roomy and the back seats are fine around town.
• It’s air-conditioned. Thailand is hot. Need we say more?
• A killer Alpine stereo (included in the price) starts playing my iTunes collection as soon as I start the car.
• I arrive at my destinations cool and relaxed, regardless of weather or time of day.
• When I have an accident (Thai roads are among the most dangerous on earth) I do not come in contact with the ground!
• It’s easier to get dates. The social cachet alone, in Thai eyes, is worth it.

What do Used Cars Cost in Thailand?

Here’s a 2014 Suzuki Swift, a surprisingly good car, often compared to the Mini (298,000 Thai Baht is about US$8,800:

What are the Operating Costs of Owning a Car in Thailand?

I’ve been taking my Toyota to the dealer for years and being ripped off. Now I’ve found a great alternative, DKT Car Repairs. Phone 053-2022-6970.  205/3 Mahidol Rd, Tambon Pa Daet, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100. Mahidol is a split highway, so plan your approach carefully and be alert especially as traffic moves fast on the highway. It’s down a lane on your left, so slow down as soon as Google Mapssays you’re close. An oil and filter change with 10,000 km oil costs 1,440 Bt. I took my Yaris in at the busiest time of the morning and it was ready in one hour. They did far more than I asked and yet did not charge for it. The front clip of my car (the entire nose section) had gotten torn loose by a low stump as I reversed into a parking spot. I was planning to take it to a body shop after the oil change but, when I returned, they had replaced and refastened the nose clip and the car looked new again!

Another great service and repair shop is PRO-AUTO. Like DKT Car Repairs, above, Pro-Auto is a great place to get your car fixed. My A/C was blowing warm so I pulled into Pro-Auto in Hang Dong, on Highway 108, east of Highway 121. Fifteen minutes later, I pulled out with the air conditioner blowing so cold I had to dial it down to the minimum. The bill was 500 baht. The map is here. The phone is: 089 838 8899. Facebook page here. If you’re traveling south on Hang Dong road, pass BigC and continue south thru the intersection. Take the first U turn just beyond a 7/11, and pull over, you will be almost outside another 7/11 which is adjacent ProAuto.

Fuel costs around 30 baht/litre, or US$5.74/ US gallon based on 91 regular.  A Yaris will travel 400 miles on a single tank, making long trips both convenient and affordable. To put that into Southeast Asian perspective: you can drive from lovely Chiang Mai, Thailand, to exotic Vientiane, capital of Laos, without stopping for gas. Makes you think, donnit?

Auto insurance is affordable. My ‘first class’ (i.e., all risks, no fault) insurance cost 16,000 baht for the first year. It’s included, by law, in the cost of all new cars which is very cool. Friends who’ve made claims on these policies, though they used different insurers, all report exemplary performance from their insurers. Local Rhys Bonney, who is familiar to our Concierge clients, collided with an oncoming u-turning car and spent 3 weeks in hospital repairing the fractures to his feet, ankles and lower legs. His insurer picked up 100% of the bill and paid it immediately. Rhys is fine, now, incidentally.

Four Michelin tires, mounted and balanced, cost 12,000 baht. When I went to my neighborhood Michelin tyre shop last week the lady manager (never ask the male staff anything; men are for decorative purposes only) told me to come back when the rainy season starts because there’s plenty of tread on my tires right now.

“How do you like your car’s handling?” she asked.

“It’s pretty disappointing,” I confessed.

She laughed. “When you come back I’ll put the correct size tires on. Your tires are the wrong size. That’s what’s causing your handling problem”.

So good service is definitely not a problem! If you need a certificate of residence so you can buy a car or get a license, US citizens can download this form and take it to the Consulate to be certified. [ddownload id=”5761″].

Update March 2017: The Yaris headlights were starting to yellow from exposure to the tropical sun and there were scratches and dings on all sides so…off to my car guys to a refresh. I drove it there, they drove me home and dropped it off the next day and it’s looking quite spiffy. Here’s the itemized bill:
Front head light fixtures (L,R) 2×2,400.00 = 4,800 Baht
Labor / service charge = 675 Baht
Buffing and paint touch up the whole car = 1,500  Baht
Vehicle delivery service = 300 Baht.
TOTAL: 7,275 baht, or US $206.

The Cost of Car Insurance in Thailand

My friend Rhys had a very bad car crash last year, on a freeway, when a car attempted a suicidal U-turn at high speed. The other driver ran off and was never found and the car turned out to be unregistered. He was in hospital for weeks and hobbling around for months with lots of metal holding him together. There’s an important element to the story: in order to get his one million baht medical costs covered, Rhys had to go to the police station and admit liability! If he didn’t, then the police would have to investigate the accident, which can take months–or forever. He discovered this because my insurance broker was on top of his situation, calling the hospital, the police, and the insurer (BUPA in this case). BUPA wouldn’t pay until they’d received the completed police report then, even though the police reported that Rhys was to blame, they paid the hospital promptly.

As they were loading Rhys into the ambulance the police administered a breathalyzer test. He was clean, but he learned something valuable: if he’d had passengers at the time the police would have given all of them breathalyzer tests and, if one had tested over the limit, most insurers would have denied his claim. So remember to ask your broker (or mine) for a policy that does not contain that ridiculous stipulation. The other thing he learned was the wisdom of having a perfectly bilingual insurance broker: the guy had to be able to win the cofidence of the police and the hospital and the reluctant insurer… over the phone!

I asked my broker, who has lots of clients, whether he does that for every such accident and he said he does. In the worst year he remembers, he had 48 client accidents (out of thousands of clients) and said he really only spends 2-3 hours on the phone for each accident, so it’s not as big a deal as it sounds. But it was a big deal for Rhys. Remember this about  good brokers: they cost no more than bad brokers or no broker at all. Get a good broker!

Here’s a reminder that driving in Thailand is a unique experience:

The post Owning, Insuring Cars in Thailand appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

Here’s an example of a most recent handyman bill and the story behind it:

The mounting of my sliding carport gate came adrift and needed three welds and my guest bedroom sink was leaking water because its drain and stopper had never been correctly installed and needed replacing.

Our Concierge tech team, two guys, showed up unannounced (everyone in Thailand shows up unannounced) welded the gate and took the sink away. They returned it with a handsome new chrome drain and stopper correctly installed and hooked it up to the plumbing and the problems were solved. Then they handed me the bill, which I read as 7,365 baht (US$225) fair, thought, for such repairs, especially since it included better quality plumbing hardware than the original. I handed the guys 8,000 baht and was about to tell them to keep the change when they burst out laughing and pointed to the numeral I had read was ‘7’. It’s the locals’ way of writing ‘1’.

Typical Expat Monthly Budgets. Our most recent survey shows that twenty-three percent of expats in Thailand have monthly budgets of 25K-45K baht a month. Forty-eight percent have budgets over 65k baht and ten percent with over 145K baht to spend.

When I wanted to create a Budget for Living in Thailand in 2018 I turned to an expert on Thai budgeting, Nancy Lindley. With years of bookkeeping experience, she makes personal budgets and also keeps to them. Better still, she keeps careful note of unexpected expenses and keeps her finger on the pulse of Thailand’s cost of living. Happily, a cost of living budget in Thailand is pretty easy to figure out. It’s been predictable since the Asian Financial Crisis (you’ve probably forgotten; Thais haven’t).

Significantly, Nancy has a second calling: she cares for expatriates who fall on hard times. She visits them in hospital, contacts their relatives, talks to the consulate and spends countless hours repatriating very sick people who cannot afford long-term or major medical care in Thailand and must go home for treatment. She has seen a side of expatriate life that few of us even think about, so my Thai budgeting conversations with her are always sobering.

I asked Nancy to draw up two budgets for living in Thailand , one for the average Thai and one for five times the average Thai’s cost of living budget, and to comment on each. I’ve added my own comments after hers. Both budgets are for living in Chiang Mai (learn more). For Bangkok add 15%; for the countryside subtract 15%. These figures are current as of 2014. E-mail me, godfree@trh.superfasttests.com if you have questions. I lived on this budget for 12 months:

Budget for Average Thai Salary of $500/mo

Nancy’s Comments on the $600 Budget for living in Thailand: “I’ve seen single people lead nice, pleasant lives on this budget. Here’s how they do it”:

• They have a fan (no a/c) room on the lower, east side (cooler) floor in the old city,
• They walk or bicycle just about everywhere,
• They use the AUA library for books,
• They breakfast at the Pub where they watch American, Australian and British sports.
• They take Thai lessons at a wat (temple), etc.
• There’s no room for a steady girlfriend or regular beer-drinking habit.
• You must have savings/insurance for medical costs which are not reflected in this budget.
• I’ve known several guys who have a pension of 30,000 – 40,000 baht/month who live on a 15,000 baht budget and save the rest for medical emergencies and to build a bank account to justify a retirement visa. This takes discipline, which disappears if they acquire a Thai girlfriend who learns about the existence of a savings account!”

Cost of Living in Thailand Examples:

Medical: Two farang friends have just delivered babies – girls – in Chiang Mai hospitals. Each had a private room, one for four days. Their total was pre-agreed: 60,000 Bt (US$1700) each. Both were delighted by the care they received which, in one case, included an autographed photo of the entire delivery team gathered around the bed of the exhausted mother holding her baby for the first time. Another friend got bad food poisoning and went to the hospital. She needed intensive care but every bed in the hospital was full, so the doctor, not wanting to put her back in an ambulance, had his desk removed from his office and a bed installed for her. The bill next day was 1400 Bt (US$40). When she protested that this was too low, staff told her it was because she did  not have a ‘proper room’. A nurse called her at home that night to check her progress.
Automotive: I’ve been doing a lot of fast driving through mountainous roads lately and can assure you that even remote roads are well maintained in the Kingdom. But taking thousands of curves stresses wheel bearings, apparently, because one of mine went out. I discovered this when I went to have the Toyota’s front alignment checked after I hit a pothole (in the middle of town!) and the steering went weird. The shop fixed the affected wheel and moved it to the rear, then balanced and aligned the front wheels. They refused payment because I’d bought the Michelins (3000 Bt each) from them and the work was covered by their lifetime warranty – a pleasant  surprise. There was no denying the wheel bearing problem (the grinding noise was obvious once they pointe it out) so the next day they came and picked up the car. It was back a few hours later along with a bill for 2,000 Bt. and the old bearing in the factory box that held the new bearing. Don’t worry too much about the cost of owning a car in Chiang Mai: it’s far less than you’re accustomed to at home.

Rick, Who Lives on $600 Budget in Thailand

Budget for Living in Thailand on Five Times the Average Thai Salary

 Nancy’s Comments on the $2,400 Budget for Thailand

There is much more room to play with this budget. In it I assume:

• The couple is renting a condo in town.
• Housing is cheaper further out but transportation costs are higher–making a car a necessity.
• No sane retiree is going to rely solely on a motor scooter [see the note below].
• The couple is fairly healthy,
• They eat local cuisine. They don’t have to eat expensive imported food for every meal.
• Drinks wine/beer very moderately [wine here is imported and expensive]

My Observations and Nancy’s Responses

• I lived on $1240/mo. during my first year in Thailand. I made lots of mistakes and wasted lots of money but, after 6 months, found I could live quite comfortably on $600. For example,
• I rented a long-term studio in town for $80/mo. [see photo below] Utilities added $10.
• My long-term scooter rental, $100/mo. includes registration and insurance, servicing, new tires as needed, and a new scooter every 12 months. I’ve had no scooter problems. But see Nancy’s observations about scooter danger, below.
• I stay within the $200 food budget and have never eaten a better diet in my life.
• All my regular medical and dental expenses are out-of-pocket because I’m over 70. Thai health care is excellent and cheap. I just paid $600 for a root canal and crown.
• Toiletries are cheap. An organic skin cream costs $4 a good haircut $7.
• ‘Entertainment’ is up to you. I like wandering around observing Thai culture.
• The Internet provides plenty of information and entertainment, and I went to the pub to watch major sporting events since I don’t like having TV at home.
• Cel phones are cheap; overseas calls are not. Skype or use Google Hangouts to call home.
• Nancy is not kidding about Thai girls and savings accounts. They’re not mercenary, it’s just part of Thai culture. You are a rich farang whether you think so or not.
• There are decent restaurants where you can have three bottles of ice-cold beer served at your table for a total of $5.33, and good meals for $3
• You’ll notice the absence of a clothing budget. Clothes are so cheap here and you wear so few of them – shorts, tee-shirt, flip flops – that it’s not an issue.
• So budget! Thailand’s cost of living is still a steal! Work out how you want to live, then just do it!

Budget for Living in Thailand Costs vs. Scooter Danger

When I shared my observations about scooters with Nancy her response was, as usual, grounded in a reality that I’ve never experienced. Here’s what she said: “I stand by my original observation the elderly shouldn’t use motor scooters. It isn’t a matter of “if” they’ll have an accident, but rather “when” and “how bad”. Just come with me to the orthopedic wards at Suan Dok hospital to see what a motor scooter accident can do. These aren’t the guys with the head injuries – they’re in another part of the hospital”. See my web page on scooter dangers in Thailand.

Video: Budget for Living in Thailand

More about Thai Budgets and Cost of Living

• Cost of Living in Chiang Mai, Thailand – A Little Adrift – A full break down of the cost of living in Thailand, specifically as an expat living in Chiang Mai–includes specific food, rents, internet costs and what those expenses buy you on the road. … **Alternatively, before you get too far into what this buys, consider that my friends also living here shared their Chiang Mai cost of living for two people living a bit more luxuriously than my budget. They spent under $1500 per month (jointly) and had a beautiful apartment and full kitchen, and also …
• How To Live Like a VIP in Bangkok for $285.06 Per Month – This budget cost of living in Bangkok, Thailand, is just a taste of living possibilities. I understand that we all have differing priorities, lifestyle comforts, wants and needs – but if you really want to make something happen, …
• Cost of living Thailand: Living in Chiang Mai for $505 a month – Cost of living in Thailand: Living in Chiang Mai for $505 a month. A break down of expenses … I have become accustomed to not eating large amounts of meat, which keeps my food budget low. Still, the steak is cheap if you …
• Thailand Cost of Living | Expats in Thailand | Expats in … – The most wonderful spot on the planet can only be the place to live if you can afford it. The most essential part of a family’s budget is food. We cannot live without it and, in the Western world, the cost of food has skyrocketed …
• If beachside living is your thing, read The Best places in Koh Samui.

So there’s food for thought for your budget for living in Thailand. Do you think you can make it?

Chiang Mai Cost of Living

The post Budget for Living in Thailand appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

Most companies oppose the government’s plan to raise the minimum daily wage nationwide to Bt400, US$13, or $300/month, as it will hurt small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), according to the Thai Chamber of Commerce. Chamber chairman Kalin Sarasin said that from the chamber’s discussions with many business operators, it was found that most of them worry over the impact of a further wage rise. He said that only the major companies could make the adjustments to accommodate higher wages due to their massive capital holdings. Most of the companies canvassed by the chamber would rather see the government focus on upgrading labour skills. Kalin said the government should promote more border trade, which is a key way to boost exports. After the government’s policy announcement, the chamber will talk with Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak to propose its opinions on economic issues. Remember, folks, unemployment among native born Thais is 1%. That’s right: one percent!!

Wages in Thailand seem low to Western visitors, but Thailand’s official unemployment rate, 0.56 percent, is among the lowest in the world, (it’s 9.4 percent in India and 6 percent in the Philippines. for example). The jobless rate in Thailand has been under 1 percent since 2011. How did it get so low?

Bank of Thailand spokesman Chirathep Senivongs Na Ayudhya explains: ”Our unemployment rate has been low not because of a different definition from other countries, but because of structural problems,” said . “The agricultural sector absorbs laborers and those who can’t find work can always look for jobs in the informal sector or do something on their own.”

Thai unemployment benefits are 50% of final salary – for a maximum of 180 days. Thai wages are low (see MDs’ salaries, below) so there’s little incentive to stay jobless. Those who lose their jobs often enter the ‘informal sector’ or seek out a part-time job, and so they’re counted as employed.

And 40 percent of Thais are engaged in agriculture, where there is a high percentage of underemployment and seasonal unemployment. The underemployed – estimated at about 0.5 percent – are counted among the employed. So if you lose your job as a store clerk and return home to help out on your family farm for at one hour a week, you are counted as employed.

Then, too, Thailand’s fertility rate from 2010-2015 is estimated at 1.4 by the United Nations Population Fund compared with 3.4 in the Philippines. Plus, its population aged 60+ rose from under 7 percent in 1994 to 15 percent last year, so more people are retiring and fewer entering the workforce. (in Japan, more than a quarter of the population is over 65, has 3+ percent unemployment. There are thought to be 3 million mostly undocumented migrant workers in Thailand from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. The government is beginning to register foreign workers, but the language barrier and lack of skills is a challenge to increasing their numbers.

And here’s the biggie: the informal sector of the Thai economy – anyone who’s not covered by formal work arrangements – accounted for more than 64 percent of the total workforce. This includes everyone from street vendors to taxi drivers, self-employed: they’re counted as employed.

The government doesn’t plan any major labor-market policy changes this year or next, and the inflation rate is falling (it’s forecast to breach 1 percent) there are no worries about the jobless rate, so expect it to stay very low.

What are Thai doctors’ wages?

Let’s look at the salaries of upper middle-class professionals: physicians, whose salaries vary depending on whether they work in public or private hospitals. Public hospital salaries range is 20,000 – 30,000 Baht/month.

Overtime on 1 or 2 evenings and, say, Saturday, can add another 20,000 to 30,000. Depending on experience or expertise there may be some extra income from pharmaceutical manufacturers for various services which could bring in a further amount of money a possible range 10,000 to 30,000 Baht/month. A private, Bangkok, hospital like Bumrungrad pays 60,000 – 150,000 depending on hours, experience and skills. With some private clinic work on top (most physicians spend time at these), a private sector doctor could earn 2 – 3 million baht a year, or $100,000. Given the purchasing power parity of the Thai baht, that’s an effective income of about $250,000.

Thai Luck,Wages and Dowries

More on Thai Wages

• For more on the state of the Thai economy, look at this sobering article from the Bangkok Post: Household debt keeps Thailand Southeast Asia’s sick man
• For more statistics on the cost of living in Thailand, take a look at this site, Numbeo
• For a video about the cost of living in Thailand, watch this.
• For more reading:
• • Cost of Living in Chiang Mai, Thailand – A Little Adrift – A full breakdown of the cost of living in Thailand as an expat living in Chiang Mai. Includes food, rent, internet costs and what those expenses buy you there.
  • Thailand Cost of Living | Expats in Thailand | Expats in Thailand – Thailand Cost of Living. One of the most important things to take into account when picking a place to live has to be the cost of living. The most wonderful spot on the planet can only be the place to live if you can afford it.
  • Thailand cost of living | Travel via Thailand – CURRENCY. Thailand’s currency is BATH (THB). $1 is about 32.75THB. COSTS. Thailand is one of the countries with the lowest cost of living. The prices depends on where you are. Like a bottle of beer in the Silom or …
  • Cost of Living in Thailand | Chiang Mai Solicitor – Cost of Living in Thailand, 10.0 out of 10 based on 2 ratings. Incoming search terms: chiang mai cost of living · chiang mai thailand cost of living · cost of living in chiang mai thailand. Related Posts. Amphur Offices in Thailand (1.000) …
  • 4 Countries Where Expats Can Live For Cheap – Business Insider – Seventy-four percent of survey respondents consider Thailand’s cost of living to be good or excellent, well above the global average of 35%. Housing is cheap, too: 85% of expats report that they are happy with the affordability …
  • How To Live Like a VIP in Bangkok for $285.06 Per Month – Сейчас […] Reply · Useful links for working & living in Thailand : Thailand Lad says: April 11, 2013 at 6:55 pm. […] http://migrationology.com/2011/07/cost-of-living-in-bangkok-thailand/ – Cost of living in Bangkok, Thailand […].
  • The real cost of living in Thailand – Keyframe5 – Thailand cost of living for a single man. Please note: this post was created on December 2014 with the currency rate at $1 USD = ฿32.9 THB. For the sake of this post and to make it easier to calculate, I’ll covert the currency as …
  • Thailand – Cost of Living – FlippTravel – Price List of the Basic Commodities – Average Costs in $ Milk (regular,1 liter) – 1.41 Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) – 1.13 Rice (white, 1kg) –

Wages in Thailand seem low to Western visitors, but Thailand’s official unemployment rate, 0.56 percent, is among the lowest in the world, (it’s 9.4 percent in India and 6 percent in the Philippines. for example). The jobless rate in Thailand has been under 1 percent since 2011. How did it get so low?

Bank of Thailand spokesman Chirathep Senivongs Na Ayudhya explains: ”Our unemployment rate has been low not because of a different definition from other countries, but because of structural problems,” said . “The agricultural sector absorbs laborers and those who can’t find work can always look for jobs in the informal sector or do something on their own.”

Thai unemployment benefits are 50% of final salary – for a maximum of 180 days. Thai wages are low (see MDs’ salaries, below) so there’s little incentive to stay jobless. Those who lose their jobs often enter the ‘informal sector’ or seek out a part-time job, and so they’re counted as employed.

And 40 percent of Thais are engaged in agriculture, where there is a high percentage of underemployment and seasonal unemployment. The underemployed – estimated at about 0.5 percent – are counted among the employed. So if you lose your job as a store clerk and return home to help out on your family farm for at one hour a week, you are counted as employed.

Then, too, Thailand’s fertility rate from 2010-2015 is estimated at 1.4 by the United Nations Population Fund compared with 3.4 in the Philippines. Plus, its population aged 60+ rose from under 7 percent in 1994 to 15 percent last year, so more people are retiring and fewer entering the workforce. (in Japan, more than a quarter of the population is over 65, has 3+ percent unemployment. There are thought to be 3 million mostly undocumented migrant workers in Thailand from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. The government is beginning to register foreign workers, but the language barrier and lack of skills is a challenge to increasing their numbers.

And here’s the biggie: the informal sector of the Thai economy – anyone who’s not covered by formal work arrangements – accounted for more than 64 percent of the total workforce. This includes everyone from street vendors to taxi drivers, self-employed: they’re counted as employed.

The government doesn’t plan any major labor-market policy changes this year or next, and the inflation rate is falling (it’s forecast to breach 1 percent) there are no worries about the jobless rate, so expect it to stay very low.

What are Thai doctors’ wages?

Let’s look at the salaries of upper middle-class professionals: physicians, whose salaries vary depending on whether they work in public or private hospitals. Public hospital salaries range is 20,000 – 30,000 Baht/month.

Overtime on 1 or 2 evenings and, say, Saturday, can add another 20,000 to 30,000. Depending on experience or expertise there may be some extra income from pharmaceutical manufacturers for various services which could bring in a further amount of money a possible range 10,000 to 30,000 Baht/month. A private, Bangkok, hospital like Bumrungrad pays 60,000 – 150,000 depending on hours, experience and skills. With some private clinic work on top (most physicians spend time at these), a private sector doctor could earn 2 – 3 million baht a year, or $100,000. Given the purchasing power parity of the Thai baht, that’s an effective income of about $250,000.

Thai Luck,Wages and Dowries

More on Thai Wages

• For more on the state of the Thai economy, look at this sobering article from the Bangkok Post: Household debt keeps Thailand Southeast Asia’s sick man
• For more statistics on the cost of living in Thailand, take a look at this site, Numbeo
• For a video about the cost of living in Thailand, watch this.
• For more reading:
• • Cost of Living in Chiang Mai, Thailand – A Little Adrift – A full breakdown of the cost of living in Thailand as an expat living in Chiang Mai. Includes food, rent, internet costs and what those expenses buy you there.
  • Thailand Cost of Living | Expats in Thailand | Expats in Thailand – Thailand Cost of Living. One of the most important things to take into account when picking a place to live has to be the cost of living. The most wonderful spot on the planet can only be the place to live if you can afford it.
  • Thailand cost of living | Travel via Thailand – CURRENCY. Thailand’s currency is BATH (THB). $1 is about 32.75THB. COSTS. Thailand is one of the countries with the lowest cost of living. The prices depends on where you are. Like a bottle of beer in the Silom or …
  • Cost of Living in Thailand | Chiang Mai Solicitor – Cost of Living in Thailand, 10.0 out of 10 based on 2 ratings. Incoming search terms: chiang mai cost of living · chiang mai thailand cost of living · cost of living in chiang mai thailand. Related Posts. Amphur Offices in Thailand (1.000) …
  • 4 Countries Where Expats Can Live For Cheap – Business Insider – Seventy-four percent of survey respondents consider Thailand’s cost of living to be good or excellent, well above the global average of 35%. Housing is cheap, too: 85% of expats report that they are happy with the affordability …
  • How To Live Like a VIP in Bangkok for $285.06 Per Month – Сейчас […] Reply · Useful links for working & living in Thailand : Thailand Lad says: April 11, 2013 at 6:55 pm. […] http://migrationology.com/2011/07/cost-of-living-in-bangkok-thailand/ – Cost of living in Bangkok, Thailand […].
  • The real cost of living in Thailand – Keyframe5 – Thailand cost of living for a single man. Please note: this post was created on December 2014 with the currency rate at $1 USD = ฿32.9 THB. For the sake of this post and to make it easier to calculate, I’ll covert the currency as …
  • Thailand – Cost of Living – FlippTravel – Price List of the Basic Commodities – Average Costs in $ Milk (regular,1 liter) – 1.41 Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) – 1.13 Rice (white, 1kg) –

Wages in Thailand seem low to Western visitors, but Thailand’s official unemployment rate, 0.56 percent, is among the lowest in the world, (it’s 9.4 percent in India and 6 percent in the Philippines. for example). The jobless rate in Thailand has been under 1 percent since 2011. How did it get so low?

Bank of Thailand spokesman Chirathep Senivongs Na Ayudhya explains: ”Our unemployment rate has been low not because of a different definition from other countries, but because of structural problems,” said . “The agricultural sector absorbs laborers and those who can’t find work can always look for jobs in the informal sector or do something on their own.”

Thai unemployment benefits are 50% of final salary – for a maximum of 180 days. Thai wages are low (see MDs’ salaries, below) so there’s little incentive to stay jobless. Those who lose their jobs often enter the ‘informal sector’ or seek out a part-time job, and so they’re counted as employed.

And 40 percent of Thais are engaged in agriculture, where there is a high percentage of underemployment and seasonal unemployment. The underemployed – estimated at about 0.5 percent – are counted among the employed. So if you lose your job as a store clerk and return home to help out on your family farm for at one hour a week, you are counted as employed.

Then, too, Thailand’s fertility rate from 2010-2015 is estimated at 1.4 by the United Nations Population Fund compared with 3.4 in the Philippines. Plus, its population aged 60+ rose from under 7 percent in 1994 to 15 percent last year, so more people are retiring and fewer entering the workforce. (in Japan, more than a quarter of the population is over 65, has 3+ percent unemployment. There are thought to be 3 million mostly undocumented migrant workers in Thailand from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. The government is beginning to register foreign workers, but the language barrier and lack of skills is a challenge to increasing their numbers.

And here’s the biggie: the informal sector of the Thai economy – anyone who’s not covered by formal work arrangements – accounted for more than 64 percent of the total workforce. This includes everyone from street vendors to taxi drivers, self-employed: they’re counted as employed.

The government doesn’t plan any major labor-market policy changes this year or next, and the inflation rate is falling (it’s forecast to breach 1 percent) there are no worries about the jobless rate, so expect it to stay very low.

What are Thai doctors’ wages?

Let’s look at the salaries of upper middle-class professionals: physicians, whose salaries vary depending on whether they work in public or private hospitals. Public hospital salaries range is 20,000 – 30,000 Baht/month.

Overtime on 1 or 2 evenings and, say, Saturday, can add another 20,000 to 30,000. Depending on experience or expertise there may be some extra income from pharmaceutical manufacturers for various services which could bring in a further amount of money a possible range 10,000 to 30,000 Baht/month. A private, Bangkok, hospital like Bumrungrad pays 60,000 – 150,000 depending on hours, experience and skills. With some private clinic work on top (most physicians spend time at these), a private sector doctor could earn 2 – 3 million baht a year, or $100,000. Given the purchasing power parity of the Thai baht, that’s an effective income of about $250,000.

Thai Luck,Wages and Dowries

More on Thai Wages

• For more on the state of the Thai economy, look at this sobering article from the Bangkok Post: Household debt keeps Thailand Southeast Asia’s sick man
• For more statistics on the cost of living in Thailand, take a look at this site, Numbeo
• For a video about the cost of living in Thailand, watch this.
• For more reading:
• • Cost of Living in Chiang Mai, Thailand – A Little Adrift – A full breakdown of the cost of living in Thailand as an expat living in Chiang Mai. Includes food, rent, internet costs and what those expenses buy you there.
  • Thailand Cost of Living | Expats in Thailand | Expats in Thailand – Thailand Cost of Living. One of the most important things to take into account when picking a place to live has to be the cost of living. The most wonderful spot on the planet can only be the place to live if you can afford it.
  • Thailand cost of living | Travel via Thailand – CURRENCY. Thailand’s currency is BATH (THB). $1 is about 32.75THB. COSTS. Thailand is one of the countries with the lowest cost of living. The prices depends on where you are. Like a bottle of beer in the Silom or …
  • Cost of Living in Thailand | Chiang Mai Solicitor – Cost of Living in Thailand, 10.0 out of 10 based on 2 ratings. Incoming search terms: chiang mai cost of living · chiang mai thailand cost of living · cost of living in chiang mai thailand. Related Posts. Amphur Offices in Thailand (1.000) …
  • 4 Countries Where Expats Can Live For Cheap – Business Insider – Seventy-four percent of survey respondents consider Thailand’s cost of living to be good or excellent, well above the global average of 35%. Housing is cheap, too: 85% of expats report that they are happy with the affordability …
  • How To Live Like a VIP in Bangkok for $285.06 Per Month – Сейчас […] Reply · Useful links for working & living in Thailand : Thailand Lad says: April 11, 2013 at 6:55 pm. […] http://migrationology.com/2011/07/cost-of-living-in-bangkok-thailand/ – Cost of living in Bangkok, Thailand […].
  • The real cost of living in Thailand – Keyframe5 – Thailand cost of living for a single man. Please note: this post was created on December 2014 with the currency rate at $1 USD = ฿32.9 THB. For the sake of this post and to make it easier to calculate, I’ll covert the currency as …
  • Thailand – Cost of Living – FlippTravel – Price List of the Basic Commodities – Average Costs in $ Milk (regular,1 liter) – 1.41 Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) – 1.13 Rice (white, 1kg) –

Thailand’s official unemployment rate, 0.56 percent, is among the lowest in the world, (it’s 9.4 percent in India and 6 percent in the Philippines, for example). Thailand employment is high and doctors’ salaries are low. The jobless rate in Thailand has been under 1 percent since 2011. How did it get so low?

Bank of Thailand spokesman Chirathep Senivongs Na Ayudhya explains: ”Our unemployment rate has been low not because of a different definition from other countries, but because of structural problems,” said . “The agricultural sector absorbs laborers and those who can’t find work can always look for jobs in the informal sector or do something on their own.”

If you’ve been making regular payments into the national unemployment program, Thai unemployment benefits are 50% of your final salary – for a maximum of 180 days. Thai salaries are low (see MDs’ salaries, below) so there’s little incentive to stay jobless. Those who lose their jobs often enter the ‘informal sector’ or seek out a part-time job, and so they’re counted as employed.

And 40 percent of Thais are engaged in agriculture, where there is a high percentage of underemployment and seasonal unemployment. The underemployed – estimated at about 0.5 percent – are counted among the employed. So if you lose your job as a store clerk and return home to help out on your family farm for at one hour a week, you are counted as employed.

Then, too, Thailand’s fertility rate from 2010-2015 is estimated at 1.4 by the United Nations Population Fund compared with 3.4 in the Philippines. Plus, its population aged 60+ rose from under 7 percent in 1994 to 15 percent last year, so more people are retiring and fewer entering the workforce. (in Japan, more than a quarter of the population is over 65, has 3+ percent unemployment.

There are thought to be 3 million mostly undocumented migrant workers in Thailand from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. The government is beginning to register foreign workers, but the language barrier and lack of skills is a challenge to increasing their numbers.

And here’s the biggie: the informal sector of the Thai economy – anyone who’s not covered by formal work arrangements – accounted for more than 64 percent of the total workforce. This includes everyone from street vendors to taxi drivers, self-employed: they’re counted as employed.

The government doesn’t plan any major labor-market policy changes this year or next, and the inflation rate is falling (it’s forecast to breach 1 percent) there are no worries about the jobless rate, so expect it to stay very low.

What are Thai salaries like?

Let’s look at the salaries of upper middle-class professionals: physicians, whose salaries vary depending on whether they work in public or private hospitals.

Public hospital salaries range is 20,000 – 30,000 Baht/month.

Overtime on 1 or 2 evenings and, say, Saturday, can add another 20,000 to 30,000. Depending on experience or expertise there may be some extra income from pharmaceutical manufacturers for various services which could bring in a further amount of money a possible range 10,000 to 30,000 Baht/month.

Doctors’ salaries in Thailand vary greatly. A private, Bangkok, hospital like Bumrungrad pays 60,000 – 150,000 depending on hours, experience and skills. With some private clinic work on top (most physicians spend time at these), a private sector doctor could earn 2 – 3 million baht a year, or $100,000. Given the purchasing power parity of the Thai baht, that’s an effective income of about $250,000.

• For more on the state of the Thai economy, look at this sobering article from the Bangkok Post: Household debt keeps Thailand Southeast Asia’s sick man
• For more statistics on the cost of living in Thailand, take a look at this site, Numbeo
• For a video about the cost of living in Thailand, watch this.

For more reading:

• Cost of Living in Chiang Mai, Thailand – A Little Adrift – A full breakdown of the cost of living in Thailand as an expat living in Chiang Mai. Includes food, rent, internet costs and what those expenses buy you there.
• Thailand Cost of Living | Expats in Thailand | Expats in Thailand – Thailand Cost of Living. One of the most important things to take into account when picking a place to live has to be the cost of living. The most wonderful spot on the planet can only be the place to live if you can afford it.
• Thailand cost of living | Travel via Thailand – CURRENCY. Thailand’s currency is BATH (THB). $1 is about 32.75THB. COSTS. Thailand is one of the countries with the lowest cost of living. The prices depends on where you are. Like a bottle of beer in the Silom or …
• Cost of Living in Thailand | Chiang Mai Solicitor – Cost of Living in Thailand, 10.0 out of 10 based on 2 ratings. Incoming search terms: chiang mai cost of living · chiang mai thailand cost of living · cost of living in chiang mai thailand. Related Posts. Amphur Offices in Thailand (1.000) …
• 4 Countries Where Expats Can Live For Cheap – Business Insider – Seventy-four percent of survey respondents consider Thailand’s cost of living to be good or excellent, well above the global average of 35%. Housing is cheap, too: 85% of expats report that they are happy with the affordability …
• How To Live Like a VIP in Bangkok for $285.06 Per Month – Сейчас […] Reply · Useful links for working & living in Thailand : Thailand Lad says: April 11, 2013 at 6:55 pm. […] http://migrationology.com/2011/07/cost-of-living-in-bangkok-thailand/ – Cost of living in Bangkok, Thailand […].
• The real cost of living in Thailand – Keyframe5 – Thailand cost of living for a single man. Please note: this post was created on December 2014 with the currency rate at $1 USD = ฿32.9 THB. For the sake of this post and to make it easier to calculate, I’ll covert the currency as …
• Thailand – Cost of Living – FlippTravel – Price List of the Basic Commodities – Average Costs in $ Milk (regular,1 liter) – 1.41 Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) – 1.13 Rice (white, 1kg) –

The post Thailand Employment Salaries appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

The average quantity of pure alcohol consumed by each Thai adult, 15+ years, increased from 6.8 to 7.1 liters between 2008 and 2010. The global average is 6.21 litres, but for Southeast Asia it’s 3.4 litres – less than half of Thailand’s. Thailand is now #4 in the world for alcohol consumption.

This is startling considering that 70% per cent of Thais are recorded as abstainers. The remaining 30 per cent more than make up for those who don’t drink. The total alcohol consumption for Thai male drinkers (those who DO drink) was 30.3 litres of pure alcohol. For women (who have to do all the work in Thailand), it’s only 5.2 litres.

Thailand alsos received the highest rating – 5 – for the number of “Years of Life Lost”. Deaths from cirrhosis of the liver were 28.2 per 100,000 citizens for men, 8.7 for women. Interestingly, the death rate for road accidents using the same criteria was 70.3 for men and 18.5 for women.

In Thailand, 73 per cent of alcohol consumed is spirits, 27 per cent is beer, while wine is less than 1 per cent. Neighboring Myanmar’s alcohol-use profile resembles that of Western countries: 6 per cent wine, 12 per cent spirits and 82 per cent beer. For the United States it’s 12 per cent spirits, 40 per cent wine and 48 per cent beer.

At me neighborhood liquor store Hong Thong Whisky (35% alcohol) Thailand’s top-selling whisky is 239 Baht for a 700 ml bottle. 40% proof Song Sam Whisky goes for 271 Bt ($9)! Rongkaw white spirits (known locally as lao khao), the world’s second largest spirits brand, is just 99 Bt ($3.30) for 40%. Yikes!

In the tiny wine section I found Siam White Blend 2012, 750ml, 12.5% alcohol for 299 Bt, or $10. That’s a no-brainer.

Alas, in the notoriously corrupt Thai Government the Thai Public Health Ministry has no input on excise tax policy. Then-Finance Minister Kittirong na Ranong said excise taxes are set “according to ministerial regulation”; i.e., behind closed doors.

Health groups helped push through some regulations, the most ridiculous of which is the ban on the sale in stores of alcohol from 2 – 5pm. The concept behind this move was that it would prevent “schoolboys” from obtaining alcohol. It has been a complete failure. The notion of using excise taxes to move drinkers towards beverages with lower alcohol content (as practiced in the UK) has not yet made it onto the Thai government’s agenda, apparently. The WHO report can be viewed here. 

The post Cheap Alcohol in Thailand appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

An Aussie, Michelle Hammond, writes that living in Chiang Mai saves her $23,994 a year:

Medical: Dermatologist visit without an appointment: vital signs, 10-minute wait, evaluation, CO2 removal of two pre-cancerous lesions: 996 Baht. (You didn’t think Chiang Mai’s cost of living was so low, did you?)

Two farang friends have just delivered baby girls in Chiang Mai hospitals. Each had a private room, one for four days. Their total was pre-agreed: 60,000 Bt (US$1700) each. Both were delighted by the care they received which, in one case, included an autographed photo of the entire delivery team gathered around the bed of the exhausted mother holding her baby for the first time. Another friend got bad food poisoning and went to the hospital in early July. She needed intensive care but every bed in the hospital was full so the doctor, not wanting to put her back in an ambulance, had his desk removed from his office and a bed installed for her. The bill next day was 1400 Bt (US$40). When she protested that this was too low, staff told her it was because she did  not have a ‘proper room’. A nurse called her at home that night to check her progress.

Automotive: I’ve been doing a lot of fast driving through mountainous roads lately and can assure you that even remote roads are well maintained in the Kingdom. But taking thousands of curves stresses wheel bearings, apparently, because one of mine went out. I discovered this when I went to have the Toyota’s front alignment checked after I hit a pothole (in the middle of town!) and the steering went weird. The shop fixed the affected wheel and moved it to the rear, then balanced and aligned the front wheels. They refused payment because I’d bought the Michelins (3,000 Bt each) from them and the work was covered by their lifetime warranty – a pleasant  surprise. There was no denying the wheel bearing problem (the grinding noise was obvious once they pointe it out) so the next day they came and picked up the car. It was back a few hours later along with a bill for 2,000 Bt. and the old bearing in the factory box that held the new bearing. Don’t worry too much about the cost of owning a car in Chiang Mai: it’s far less than you’re accustomed to at home.

Bathroom Installer: I consider Thai bathrooms more dangerous than Thai roads so decided to install three grab bars in case I slip. Home Pro, the hardware store that sold the bars quoted me 1,100 baht (Aimie was shocked at the price but this was too important to haggle) and sent around a man with the experience and equipment to drill tiles (a tricky business) and I showed him where and at what height I wanted each bar to go then left him to get on with his work.  Thais don’t give up any freedom just because you’re paying them and one of those freedoms is deciding how things should be done. This means you don’t always get what you expect – or want. He installed the bars neatly and professionally in 30 minutes but so far up the wall that I have little chance of grabbing them if I slip, as you can see from the height the door handle.

The garden installer came to put in some shrubs outside my front fence. All my neighbors have hedges and my fence looked naked without one. I told the crew where to break up the thin concrete outside the fence and left them to it. They had other ideas, as it turns out. Their idea is what you see in the photograph: a raised garden surrounded by bricks. It doesn’t match the rest of the street and, worse still, it gets 12 hours of direct sun in summer and the soil gets so hot that it broils the roots of anything but the hardiest weeds.

My hairdresser is an artist. He finds my ultra-short hair style an affront to his aesthetic sensibility. Every time I go for a cut – 220 Baht – he gives me the style that pleases him. Then follows a ‘yes but’ discussion during which I make excuses for the hairstyle I need (“I go swimming every day and cannot spend time drying it”, etc.). He shakes his head in disbelief and, eventually, complies.

I mention these three people not in any negative way, but to contrast Thai culture with our own: Thais feel freer to be themselves, express their own opinions, and ignore the master-slave relationship that Western employees are encouraged to embrace. And now to a different adventure:

The Plumber: I heard water running outside the house day and night for weeks, then came home to find a a water bill pinned to my gate for 9,761 baht – 30x times normal. A water inspector then showed up and located the leak in a water junction box (no the West does not have such things, and I’m not sure why Thailand does) in the yard behind the house. It was clear that someone in the past had attempted to repair it with what looked like black electrical tape, which had finally given way. The inspector sent a repairman who quickly set things right, but I was now in a tricky position: under Thai law I am responsible for everything in and around the house, but this strange box had water pipes entering it from other properties and the damage was done before I signed the lease. “Did you take a photograph of the old repair?” was Aimie’s first question. Damn! It hadn’t occurred to me that I’d need evidence. However, after some back and forth, the owner offered to split the bill.

Picked up cushions for the two Yang chairs (like the one in the picture). Total for two big cushions, cover and zipped outer covers was 3,180 baht. When I tried to pay, the lady behind the counter became concerned and explained that I had paid when I ordered the cushions. I find this kind of honesty typical in Chiang Mai. Cheating is quite rare.

Internet Bills: I dumped my unreliable Internet carrier, 3BB, and put in a direct fiber connection from AIS, whose equipment is much newer and more reliable. I’m paying 1300 Bhat per month for 30Mb fiber. Twice the speed for little more money and less down time. When you’re figuring your Thailand cost of living, you can usually get Internt free via WiFi in condos and apartments – so that’s a potential savings.

More Chiang Mai Cost of Living

Town gas is unknown in this part of the world, as is cooking with gas indoors. Most domestic kitchens are outdoors, with charcoal braziers. My house has a small Western kitchen with a two-burner stovetop with a small (15 kg) tank underneath. When it ran out last week I took it down to the local gas merchant and swapped it for a full one – enough to last me 6 months using it once a day.

Reading Glasses. After cataract surgery (below) I need reading glasses and, since I only use them at home, did not want fancy (2,000 baht) frames. Bought four pairs of reading glasses for 100 baht each and had the prescription lenses made up and inserted into them for 2,100 baht. Total for four pairs of prescription readers: 2,500 baht ($85).

Furniture: Took delivery of two yang chairs to match the big yang chair/bed/lounge (4,000 Baht each, above) I bought last month (12,000 Baht, below). These are popular locally since the sofa-style yangs double as occasional beds for unexpected guests – and unexpected guests are the most common kind here. They’re (very) solid teak and weigh a ton. I’m planning to upholster them with some fabulous silk from our local silk merchants, Shinawatra, who make beautiful stuff. Very expensive, though.

Refrigerators: This month’s shopping has been educational and fun, as usual. When we’re shopping together sales staff assume Aimie and I are married. She cracks up and tells me, “They call me ‘madam’ instead of ‘sister’ and congratulate me on having such a rich husband”. Their congratulations came when I went to buy a good quality(!) $200 mattress for the guest room (visitors have been lining up since friends learned about the spare bedroom). I was tired of defrosting the Panasonic refrigerator that came with the house and I fell for a tall silver Samsung with a separate freezer on sale at HomePro for 9,999 Baht, $330. Two guys delivered and installed it that afternoon and stayed to explain the controls – which was rather sweet.

Utility Bills: One advantage of condos is that the landlord pays the utility bills. The disadvantage is that she then charges you double what she paid. I was looking forward to saving a few bucks when my first round of bills arrived for the house but I discovered that, like so many aspects of Thai life, bill-paying is more complicated than it appears. For one thing, the bills are in Thai. For another, most companies – including the biggest – have hit-or-miss billing software. Why? I suspect it’s a combination of the facts that

1. Thais hate being told how to do things (especially by farangs)
2. They always assume that the Thai way is best, and
3. They can figure it out themselves.

One result is that my cellular carrier, True, does not bill me at all. Despite my pleas (and complaints, when my service is discontinued for non-payment) they simply tell me that their billing department is ‘having problems” and that I should ‘just remember next time’. The lady says it with the sweetest smile so I apologize and pay meekly. The water bill comes monthly on a cash-register printout slip. It’s about $5 a month and I can pay it – like most bills in Thailand – at any 7-11 store. Reassured by this knowledge, I waited a few weeks before paying the first bill  because there’s no convenient 7-11 near my house. Then I found to my dismay that I was ‘too late’ and would have to visit the Water Department on the other side of town. Bummer. The Water Department building is clearly signed – in Thai – so it took me a while to find it. I finally figured out that the building with the huge, shiny blue pipe and valve in front of it must be the right place. (Pipes and valves are beautiful, from the Water Department’s point of view, of course). Living in Thailand teaches you to look for contextual clues, that’s for sure!

Trash Bills: The trash bill is a bit of a mystery. There’s no regular trash pickup so, if I want it picked up, I must leave the bin outside the gate, in the narrow laneway, permanently. The big yellow truck roars by several times a week, but I’ve taken to carrying my trash to a local drop-off bin (a recycled blue plastic barrel) when I go out for my early morning walk. The standard trash bag in Thailand is a recycled plastic shopping bag, so that’s what I use, too. And since I started hauling  my own garbage, the bills (30 Baht/mo) have stopped. Trash collection is not going to figure heavily in your Thailand cost of living – as you see!

Rent: The least problematic aspect of Thailand’s cost of living is my rent (10,000 Bt/mo): I just transfer it from my online bank account directly to my landlady’s account with a few mouse clicks). On line bank payments are as easy here as they are there, thank God! More here..

So there you have it: bill paying is a curse that we must all endure since Adam and Eve made their rash decision to leave Paradise, and in Thailand it’s a mixed curse. But Chiang Mai’s cost of living is pretty hard to beat!

The post Chiang Mai Cost of Living appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.