Questions about Thailand?

Question

I'd like to visit Thailand and probably live there for a long time. I'd like to know if it's possible to live there speaking English only. I do not know any Thai word for now. So, the only way for me to communicate with Thai people is English. I heard Bangkok is an international and cosmopolitan city so there are a lot of English universities, institutes, etc and so I thought it could be possible to live there and communicate with people in English. It was my first question and my second question is how much the rent - apartment - usually cost in Bangkok. I heard the other expenses are relatively cheaper than US, so my only concern is the accommodation. Please someone answer my question. Thank you!

Answer 1

Poster Slowhand is correct - your problem will in securing a visa that will allow you to stay for a "long time" whatever that time period is??

You will not have a big problem communicating, there almost always seems to be someone that knows enough English to understand what you want.  You can always pick up a Thai English dictionary and simply point to the word in English and the Thai person can read what you want written in Thai.  Like any foreign country, it helps to pick up some general phrases and words - like hello, thank you and some numbers.  

There are some special allowances for slightly older retirees with fixed pensions that allow you to stay in Thailand for longer periods.  You would have to show proof of sufficient income.  

You can find housing in different price ranges.   I have Farang friends who have lived in Thailand for years with incomes of under $1000 per month in Pattaya. But, that was when you could make endless amounts of border runs and the US dollar was stronger.  Smaller cities and towns have cheaper accommodations.  Fit the housing to your available monthly income and see what comes up.

Visit Thailand first, talk to some expats and check out some of the housing.  There are some loopholes that allow you to stay longer than than the free 30 days you get.  ThaiVisa Forum has lots of information on Thai visas.   http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thai-visas...

You don't mention what a "long time" means.  Do you mean for years or just under 90 days?

Good luck.

Answer 2

Lets assume that you are retired and have an efficient monthly income. Or you have enough saved up.

Yes, you will survive in Bangkok speaking English only. Just be patient with some subtle pronunciation differences.

Cost of moderate living is nowhere near the expenses of any major American metropolitan.

Answer 3

My family is in the northeast near Laos and some of the semi western style houses (concrete with tile floors and separate bedrooms) there can rent for as little as 500 baht a month.

I speak very little Thai and there are few English speakers (in the N.E.) but I have always been able to get around.  Many of the signs are in English and the money is easy to figure out.  Lots of times I have to go search out what I want because I can't tell someone what I need or use sign language but most of the time we figure it out.

Bangkok is much more westernized and you would have even less trouble there.  After you learn the parts of the city Sukhumvit, Silom, Bang Na, Khao San etc... and travel on the BTS or the MTS you'll figure out where things are.  The BTS or the MTS are great because their fixed.  So if you get on at Phloen Chit and go to some place you haven't been like Ekkamai and walk around and get lost you can away get a tuk tuk or cab to the BTS and ride back to Phloen Chit.

Rents in Bangkok vary from several thousand baht a month to hundreds of thousands and anywhere in between depending on where you live.  A 20K Baht apartment ($600 per month) would be a very nice place, but 10-12k would be nice.  Again depend on the part of the city.

Answer 4

There are many English speaking people in Thailand. You shouldn't have a problem getting along without being able to speak Thai. I would advise trying to learn Thai as soon as possible as it will help you immensely in socializing. Getting a visa that will allow you to stay for a longer period of time might not be so easy. You can get student and tourist visas, but they are not long term visas. Cost of living is relatively cheap but the cost of In downtown Bangkok you can expect to pay as much as you would in San Francisco, London or New York. Going to the outskirts can drop the price of housing to a couple of hundred dollars a month.