What kind of lifestyle can a monger have living on $2000 a month in BKK or PI? How about $5000?

Also, my income derives from several sources (checks) which of course have to be deposited to keep the cash flow going.

Can a non-resident get a bank account and deposit checks from the U.S. without much hassle or should I just keep my account here and have a friend deposit the checks?

Thanks

2k a month net is a decent amount of cash and you should be able to live comfy assuming you don't lead too lavish of a life.

U can open an account in PI as long as your in-country. Don't know about requs in LoS.

For BKK I would suggest the $ 5K income to live a lifestyle comparable to US standards.
Plenty of retired Americans living in BKK that get their SS checks deposited in Thai banks, should be no problem .
I suggest you check out the Thai visa website- an expat website that can answer many of your questions as related to Thailand at least.

URL--http://www.thaivisa.com/

C;mon guys... you can live comfortably on 1000 dollars a month in Thailand..
just have to be carefull how you spend..
these figures of 2000 or 5000 dollars is blow out of proportion.. I agree 2000 a month is nice, but not necessary.
Unless you barfine a girl every day, and pay her top baht, or you have a Thai girlfriend that Paris Hilton, you dont a gazzilion dollars.

I'am not trying to upset my fellow vet-mongers
Khun_mor or Don_Morco, but you guys know, that if you are NOT a big spender and know how to budget accordingly, you can manage with 1000-1500 dollars with no problem.

It's not a matter if I "could" live on 2k, it's a matter of whether or not I "want" to live on 2k. Whoring aside, there is much more to life that I enjoy and it does take some coin to enjoy my hobbies. Ya if someone is eeking by in the US on 50-60k and they are used to that, I'm sure 2k a month in LoS won't be a huge shock. Someone accustomed to living on consiberably more, would find living on a pitance in a 3rd world country a drain IMHO. It also depends on one's age... are they in their prime income earning years or approaching retirement? If the former, they would be foolish to go until they are set in terms of retirement $$$, if they are the later and they are well capitalized, then by all means.

OK, since I'm the guy that started this a few years ago, and have now been living in SEA for about 17 months, here is what I've discovered.

You could probably live in the Phils on $2000 a month, but it would not be living anything close to large. I'm talking Angeles. Forget Makati on 2 grand a month.

As well, you could probably live here in Pattaya on $2000 a month, but like the Phils, not large.

In both cases, if you snagged a steady GF (not for me)and liked $2 meals (also not for me) you could swing it.

Of the 7 months of living in Makati, I spent about $6000 a month living MY lifestyle.

In Pattaya, the same lifestyle averages around $4,500 a month.

MY lifestyle? Very nice condo, go out almost every night, bang who I want when I want. Also, I'm probably too generous (though not a sucker) to people who are truly in need.

Yes, you could "live" in the Phils and here in Pattaya on $2000 a month, but forget the clubs, the many beautiful girls, the bar tabs, cable TV, high speed Internet access, the gym, a clean beautiful place to wake up in the morning, and what passes for steaks in this part of the world.

Plan on at least $3500 a month if you're considering the move I made.

Brianinvegas - 6,000 a month? Wow... I have never stayed in Thailand longer then 60 days but In the Philippines you can live great for $2000 usd (P96,000) I tend to spend more in LOS. How the hell do you spend 300,000 peso a month ??
I stay in Alabang and also have a place( in the province), 2 house keepers and 1 yaya, kids and a bitch on the side I never spend more the 3,000 a month? You must Party like a rock star!!
That amount in the barrio you will have a dozen chicks... If im alone and not in Manila or AC I can live on P60K - P100K a month (Cell, Internet Cable, drinks and hoe's)I never go to the Gym..LOL
I don't even spend 6k in the states.... I need to party with you ! Next trip to LOS & PI June 12 - Aug 1.

Peace

Damn I sure hope your talking about bhat & not dollares cause I live just fine on less then 1000usd per month in the US. Of course I don't have a mortgage (its paid off), I have an expense account for my car & gas, so all I really have to pay for is utilities and food.

There are a lot of guys on THIS board that live in SEA for $2000 or less, so I have got to believe you are in the bars or massage places damn near every night to live on that kind of money.

I see rentals in BKK for $400 a month and I know they are in nice centrally locate areas. Tuk Tuks are not too expensive and I know they have a metro that runs pretty regularly.

So I think you are living a mongerer's lifestyle EVERYDAY, which I would imagine would get tiring.

Dave the Rave should pipe up in this conversation, I think he is probably the resident expert.

I lived in Bangkok for a month, in a hotel, eating out for all meals, with one to two girls every day, and I did not come close to spending 6 grand. You must be living the life to the utmost.

My daily spending in LOS averages around 700b, without pussy. I don't drink, so that keeps the budget down as well.

One preference I developed in SEA is that I want to see the food before I order it, I no longer trust food that magically appears from (presumably) a kitchen somewhere. Street stalls and open-kitchen restaurants are excellent for this, and are also easy on the budget. Notice that this is where most of the locals eat as well. I once worked in the food business, so I have an idea of what can go on behind the scenes, I'll spare the sickening anecdotes. On the other hand, a few months ago I got an acute case of food poisoning that I'm pretty sure was from a bar-b-q chicken I bought in Tesco.

brian-in-vegas... so you spend $6000 a month on a lavish lifestyle filled with fun ! BRAVO glad that you can.
on the other hand, I could easily afford Thailand, Pattaya with about $2500 a month(87500 baht ) and pretty much be out every night with girls. I may not have a 10 like you, but I'll settle for a 7 at any time, with superior attidute, and less costly on my pocket.
on the other hand like I said earlier about 1500 dollars a month(about 52.500 baht) will still do it, if you enjoy a simple lifestyle.

I live in Bangkok and my income can vary radically from month to month. I've got a nice serviced apartment in the middle of Sukhumvit...it has cable, high-speed internet, daily maid service and security. I eat my fair share of Western food. I drink and smoke quite a bit, I go out at least a couple of times (and usually more) every week. When I go out, I'm generally not tight with my money, I buy rounds for my friends and usually hand out a few lady drinks. There are months where I've spent no more than 2000 US. There are probably months where I've spent considerably less than that. In Pattaya, I think you could get by on 80000 baht a month fairly comfortably, considering that I'm able to do it in Bangkok where everything is at least slightly more expensive. Having said that, you wouldn't be able to pay for a girl 5 or 6 times a week. But, I've lived here for about 2 and a half years, and while it's always nice to know you have the option of hooking up, I find that you're not in the same frenzy you are on a short holiday. Also, once you get established, you can get a fair share of free action (depending on your attitude and, to a degree, physical appearance). I also tend to get alot of free drinks. 80000 baht a month is not a luxurious lifestyle, but it is generally a pretty damned nice one. Fortunately, I've been in a position where I often earn more than that, but when I don't, it's not as if I do without.

Manos.

Manos,

How is the non-pro action overall in BKK? I was always under the impression that you needed to go after other westerners when you are there because the locals won't bother with you.