Start with the home and routine you would actually choose, then build a monthly total from current quotes and ordinary spending. Our filmed experiences give you useful examples, but they do not add up to a complete household budget or a reliable minimum for everyone.
This guide separates three things: historical examples from the channel, the monthly costs to verify for yourself, and the cash you need to move in. Keep those separate and the numbers become much easier to compare.
What our filmed examples can tell you
| Example | Amount in the account | What it does and does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| My Resort condo tour, Khao Takiab | 30,000 baht per month | One unit’s advertised rent at the time, not today’s availability or a neighborhood average. |
| TD Gym in Pranburi | About US$20–30 per month in the older notes | A historical membership example. Ask for the current baht price and commitment length. |
| Our Kia Grand Carnival purchase | Delivery included in our agreement | One negotiated purchase arrangement, not an ongoing dealer offer or the monthly cost of running a car. |
A property asking price is not a monthly living expense. A restaurant meal is not a grocery budget. Use each episode for the question it can answer, and obtain fresh evidence for the household total you need.
Build the monthly total one line at a time
For every row below, write your baht amount, the source and the date. Label it quoted, observed or still unknown. An unknown cost should remain a visible question rather than quietly becoming zero.
| Category | What belongs here | Best next check |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | Rent and recurring charges attached to the exact home. | Written quote for your term, furnishings and services. |
| Utilities | Electricity, water and recurring utility service charges. | Billing method, meter details and relevant previous bills. |
| Connection | Home internet and mobile plans not already included. | Current plan quote and what the landlord supplies. |
| Food | Groceries, regular meals out, drinks and delivery fees. | Receipts from an ordinary week, not a holiday splurge. |
| Transport | Paid journeys or the running costs of your chosen vehicle. | A realistic week of routes, including return trips. |
| Health and personal care | Your coverage quotes and expected out-of-pocket expenses. | Individual terms, exclusions and expected recurring needs. |
| Home and leisure | Laundry, household supplies, exercise and regular activities. | The memberships and services you would actually keep. |
| Annual and irregular costs | Flights, renewals, planned replacements and other periodic expenses. | List the annual amounts and divide by 12; note when cash is due. |
| Other commitments | Pets, dependents and obligations in another country. | Your existing bills and the changes caused by the move. |
Monthly planning total = recurring monthly bills + weekly spending × 52 ÷ 12 + annual costs ÷ 12. Keep an additional allowance for uncertainty that suits your circumstances. This is a way to organize spending, not a recommendation about how much savings or insurance you need.
Make the housing comparison fair
Compare homes that meet the same minimum requirements. Add internet, cleaning, facility charges and the transport needed from each address. A lower rent is not automatically a lower total if it adds several paid journeys every day.
Never rent a long-term home sight unseen. View the exact unit and confirm written deposit-return conditions, any permitted deductions and the return deadline. Dave has heard many stories of renters having problems recovering deposits; he and Kim did not have that issue themselves. Keep receipts and an agreed move-in condition record.
Ask the account holder for relevant utility bills rather than relying on a guess about cooling costs. Where PEA supplies the property, its bill-history service (opens in a new tab) provides up to six months of electricity-use statistics. Previous occupants’ usage is evidence to discuss, not a prediction of your bill.
Keep arrival cash outside the monthly average
Make a second list for deposits, rent paid in advance, temporary accommodation, moving, setup purchases and any vehicle purchase. A refundable deposit is money tied up, even if you expect it back. Do not count prepaid rent twice as both a separate expense and another rent payment for the same month.
Write the due date beside every payment. A monthly average can look manageable while the first month requires several larger payments together. Include a plan for an overlap between homes and for receiving a deposit refund after you leave.
Test the budget against an ordinary fortnight
Record cash as well as card spending for two normal weeks. Separate repeatable purchases from sightseeing, guests and one-off setup costs. Check the largest gaps between the estimate and what you actually spent, then change the assumptions that caused them.
Stress-test the uncertain lines individually: more cooling use, extra transport or an annual bill arriving sooner than expected. Decide which assumptions need a better quote before making a commitment. Keep a date on each quote so an old price does not quietly become a current claim.
Convert currencies only after the baht budget is clear
The Bank of Thailand’s exchange-rate information (opens in a new tab) provides a reference. Your payment or transfer provider’s actual rate and fees determine what you receive. Record the date and use the amount delivered after fees; this page does not predict exchange rates.
Your next step is to replace the three largest unknowns with written quotes. The useful result is a budget for your real routine, with the remaining uncertainties visible.
About this update: The video examples come from the original channel notes. The worksheet is additional editorial planning guidance; it is not Dave and Kim’s complete personal spending record.
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