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American offered position in Bangkok. Is 230k THB enough to live on?
I'm being offered a position in Thailand that pays about 230k THB per month. It's hard for me to imagine taking this kind of pay cut. But I do recognize there is a stark difference in cost of living. As an American I will still have tax liability regardless of working in Thailand. And it's been explained I'd have a 15% tax rate there on top of US.
I now live in a luxury high rise studio along the water in a safe neighborhood. Door man, rooftop, laundry etc etc. I've been in my apartment for some time and even with rent increases over the years I'm at $2500 USD/ month (where I live this is considered a steal)
I would like to maintain a similar quality of life. One where I can afford to travel often, go out for fine dining on occasion, and not feel like I have to turn down outings with friends due to cost.
Additional info. I have recently been accepted into a grad program at Edinburgh. (It's mainly online so I could work and study at the same time) So I'll need to be able to cover the cost.
I can see a lot of upside to making the move, but as someone that has never actually been to Thailand, I have to make this decision a bit in the dark. Any assistance would be much appreciated !
tbh 230k is doable but you're going to feel that income drop way more than you think. the thing with bangkok is the trap of "it's cheap here" then you realize you're spending 800 baht on a nice cocktail bar and suddenly that's $23 for two drinks and you start doing the math in your head
if you're used to waterfront luxury, sukhumvit high rises are gonna feel different. the riverfront condos along charoen krung or in khlong san are more comparable to what you have now, think icon siam area with actual water views. you can get a 1 bed at something like the river or magnolias waterfront for 45-55k which is still way less than your current $2500 but you get the doorman and pool thing
the grad school thing is the real killer here ngl. 20k gbp is like 900k baht and you're gonna be paying that while also covering us taxes on top of thai taxes. the foreign earned income exclusion only covers up to like 126k usd so your 230k thb monthly is roughly 78k usd annually, under that cap, but any us side income or investment gains still get taxed. plus you still file and might owe self employment tax depending on your setup
one thing nobody's mentioned is the social aspect. at 28 you'll prob make friends with other expats or thai
honestly 230k is comfortable but you're gonna feel the difference coming from 150k usd. the thing nobody mentions is how fast little things add up here when you're used to american convenience. imported cheese, decent wine, western skincare, that stuff costs the same or more than in the states.
for a luxury high rise comparable to what you have now, look at the newer towers along sukhumvit between phrom phong and thong lo. think 38th floor with infinity pool and direct bts access. you'll pay 35-50k for a one bed which is like $1000-1400. way less than your current place but still feels premium.
the real shocker will be travel. you can fly to vietnam or cambodia for cheap but if you're going back to the states even twice a year that's like 60k baht per round trip. and grad school tuition will hurt. edinburgh online programs are around 20k gbp for the full degree which is like 900k baht. that's almost 4 months of your salary gone.
one thing i'd consider is negotiating for housing allowance or relocation package. thai companies often offer that for expat hires and it would make a huge difference to your effective income. if they cover your rent you'd be living pretty well on 230k.
You're going to want to negotiate a housing allowance or relocation package before you accept. Most international companies hiring expats here will cover rent up to 50-60k and that changes the math completely. Without it, your 230k becomes about 180k after the 15% Thai tax, then you're looking at 40-50k for a nice one bed in a building like Ideo Q or The Room along Sukhumvit 39 area.
The fine dining and travel part is actually fine on that budget. A four course meal at Sushi Masato runs about 4k baht and it's as good as anything in New York. Regional flights to places like Luang Prabang or Chiang Rai are 2-3k round trip if you book with Air Asia or Nok Air. The real expense will be the Edinburgh program. Twenty thousand pounds is roughly 900k baht and spreading that over two years means setting aside almost 40k a month just for tuition.
I'd also think about the FEIE math more carefully. Your 230k baht is about 78k USD annually which sits under the 126k exclusion threshold, so you likely won't owe US income tax on that part. But you still have to file and the 15% Thai tax is a flat withholding you won't get back. That makes your effective take home around 195k baht monthly.
best som tam in Bangkok? Krua Dok Mai Kao 2026
yeah Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but if you're up for a detour, try Som Tum Nua near Siam Square. their som tam pu pla ra is insane if you like the fermented fish sauce kick. way more pungent than the On Nut spot, just less grilled chicken options