I live in Asoke Bangkok – can I afford New York with the same lifestyle – part A
I live in Asoke, Bangkok for quite a few years and, same as many of us, complain that prices in Thailand are getting too high. Many times I hear from Thais and farangs (Western foreigners) that nowadays living in Asoke (or Silom, or Sukhumvit …) is same as staying in Manhattan, New York. Is that really true? Can I afford same lifestyle if move to New York? Yesterday I decided that I need to get to more insights and understand – is that true or simply emotional?
Can I maintain same lifestyle in New York as I do here in Bangkok?
Here is what I found out.
Let’s say I spend 95,000 ฿ a month in Bangkok assuming rent of condo in Asoke. How much will I pay for the same lifestyle if relocating to New York?
Food in Asoke Bangkok
Let’s start with food – that’s what we need every day. Meal in inexpensive restaurant: in Bangkok we all pay around 60฿ (1.70 $ – based on current exchange rate), while in New York it costs around 635 ฿ (18$). This is pretty much about eating Thai food. What about foreigners? OK, an average McMeal at McDonald (or equivalent Combo Meal) in Asoke or other area of Bangkok costs 160.00 ฿ (4.54 $). In New York we will pay more than 280 ฿ (8 $) for the same. And if you aim to have a meal for 2 People in mid-range restaurant (three-course) in Asoke Bangkok, you need to prepare around 800 ฿ (22.70 $). Same mean in New York usually costs no less than 80 $ (or 2,820 ฿). And all this – without beer or other spirits. If compare all food and drinks, then the whole picture looks like this:
Some of you will say: “Common, in Bangkok I buy go to a market and buy staff even cheaper. You are right, still markets exist in New York too, that is why let’s compare market prices as well. In Asoke I buy 12 eggs on market for average of 56 ฿ (1.6 $), while for the same 12 eggs in New York you will need to pay about 3.55 $ (more than 125 ฿). I like tomato and buy a kilogram in market for about 42 ฿ (1.2 $). Same in New York will cost me almost 5 $ (about 175 ฿). If compare market prices in Asoke or other central Bangkok area with New York, then the whole picture looks like this:
Transportation in Asoke Bangkok
Do you think I will talk here about traffic jams in Bangkok and especially in Asoke?
No way – I don’t move my car out of parking slot unless I need to go outside of Bangkok. I use taxi, BTS, MRT – as all of us. Sometimes I use boats and often – motorbike taxi (yes, that’s the most useful vehicle in Bangkok – for those who don’t know). How much it costs here and if we compare with New York (all what we can to compare – not motorbike’s one), how much we will pay if live there. The easiest way to compare is a starting price in taxi. In Bangkok we start from 35 ฿ (1 $), while in New York Normal Tariff starts from 2.50 $ (more than 88 ฿). One kilometer taxi in Bangkok costs 6 ฿ (0.17 $), while in New York we will pay 1.69 $ (59.69 ฿).
What if we buy a car? For Toyota Corolla 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) in Bangkok we need to prepare about 818,500 ฿ (23,220 $), while in New York it costs actually 12% cheaper – 20,290 $ (715,175 ฿). That’s cool! If compare transportation prices in Asoke or other central Bangkok area with New York, then the whole picture looks like this:
I would like to continue this interesting comparison and to bring more numbers to compare Bangkok (especially Asoke where I live) with New York. Let me find more data about cost of utilities, consumer good and certainly about real estate prices. I will publish it soon, Keep watching on our blog – we promise an interesting staff to be published here soon.
Mitja
Hello!
It is different between quality each servis in Bangkok towards in New York.
Remax CondoDee
@Mitja, yes you are right, quality is different. Where do you think quality is higher?
Mitja
Hello!
It is different between quality each servis in Bangkok towards in New York.
Remax CondoDee
@Mitja, yes you are right, quality is different. Where do you think quality is higher?