What is the cost of living as a pensioner in Thailand, 2023

Peter was already 63 years old in 2018 when he decided to leave his life in cold Germany behind and move to Thailand. He had worked hard in his life and built up a solid nest egg that enabled him to move abroad. He was ready for a new chapter in his life, but he also knew that it would not be easy to adjust to a foreign country.

His first step was to look for an apartment. He decided on a small but comfortable one-bedroom apartment in a quiet area of Bangkok. The apartment was furnished and cost then 2018, about 10,000 baht (about 250 euros) per month. Peter felt comfortable in his new apartment and enjoyed the peace and quiet of his surroundings.

His daily routine was as follows: Peter got up early and went to the local market to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. He was a good cook and loved to prepare healthy and delicious food. After breakfast, he often went for a walk or a bike ride. He explored his new surroundings and always met new people.

In the afternoon, he returned to his apartment to rest and recover from the heat of the day. He would read a book or watch TV to relax. In the evenings, he often met friends for dinner or drinks. He had quickly met a group of expatriates who had warmly welcomed him. They shared his passion for life in Thailand and were always willing to help and advise him.

Although Peter felt comfortable in Thailand, he also had moments of loneliness. He missed his family and friends in Germany and sometimes he felt isolated and strange in his new environment. But he was determined to adapt and make new friends. He got involved in local clubs and took language courses to improve his Thai language skills.

The cost of daily living in Thailand at that time was much lower than in Germany. A meal in a restaurant cost only a few euros, and food in the market was often much cheaper than in the supermarket. Peter could afford to live comfortably without worrying about his finances. He had saved enough money to afford the occasional trip to other parts of the country or even abroad.

Peter enjoyed living in Thailand. He felt free and independent and felt that he had started a new chapter in his life. He had no plans to return to Germany in the near future, although he knew he would miss his family and friends. But he was ready to take on the challenges that life in Thailand presented him and was looking forward to the adventures that lay ahead.

Living in Thailand had also caused Peter to reflect on his priorities in life. He had realized that spending time with friends and family and enjoying life was more important to him than always working hard and making money. In Thailand, he had learned to appreciate the moment and enjoy life.

However, there were challenges that Peter had to overcome. The heat and humidity in Thailand were sometimes unbearable, especially during the summer months. He also had difficulty adjusting to the traffic conditions in Bangkok. But he accepted these challenges and tried to embrace them as part of his new life in Thailand.

Another aspect Peter had come to appreciate was the friendliness of the Thai people. He was often impressed by their politeness and respect for older people. The Thai people were also very helpful when he had problems or needed help.

One thing Peter missed, however, was German cheese. He had tried to find cheese in Thailand that suited his taste, but had no success. He had, however, discovered many other delicious dishes that he had never eaten before. Cheese is unfortunately 3 times more expensive in Thailand than in Germany.

Peter did not have much trouble finding his way around Thailand. He felt comfortable and safe in his new surroundings and felt that he had made a good decision to immigrate to Thailand. He knew it would not always be easy, but he was ready to take on the challenges and enjoy life in Thailand.

After a year in Thailand, Peter had learned and grown a lot. He had made new friends, adapted to a new culture and a new life, and was confident that he would spend many more years in Thailand. He felt that he had finally arrived and had a life full of adventure and opportunity ahead of him.

Although Peter was very happy with life in Thailand, he had also noticed that the cost of living had increased in recent years. Here are some examples of the increased costs:

Apartment rent: Peter was now paying 14000 baht (about 400 euros) per month for his apartment in Bangkok, unfortunately the rent will soon be increased again to 15000 baht, which will be 420 euros. The pension hardly increases, so that in the end less and less remains.

Food: Food prices have also increased in recent years. However, some staples such as rice and vegetables are still relatively inexpensive, while imported goods such as cheese, ham or wine are very expensive.

Transportation: the cost of public transportation in Thailand has increased over time. Peter noted that the prices of cabs and public transportation such as buses and trains have increased.

Health care costs: Peter had also noticed that the cost of medical treatments and medicines has increased. Although it is still relatively cheap to visit a doctor, specialized treatments and medicines can be very expensive.

Energy costs: Energy costs have also increased in recent years. Electricity and water prices have increased, which has affected Peter's monthly expenses.

However, despite the increased cost of living, Peter still felt that living in Thailand was still relatively cheap compared to many Western countries. He felt that he could still live a good life without spending too much money.

Peter very much hopes that the baht will weaken again soon. Because it is currently the strongest currency in Asia.

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