A Real Budget for Teaching in Thailand

Thailand is a relatively cheap country to live and work in. Before moving abroad, take a look at the breakdown of my monthly expenses as well as some up front costs you will have to budget for teaching in Thailand.

My One Time Costs

• Program costs: $1,570 – I applied to teach in Thailand through a Chicago based nonprofit called Greenheart Travel, which also works with another program called XploreAsia. They coordinate and help applicants with all of the necessary paperwork, pre-departure support, international medical and accident insurance for 4 months. They also provide a Thailand culture guidebook, and a Greenheart Travel shirt. It is possible to sign up for a month program which includes TESOL training and certification for an additional cost  ($2,350).
• TEFL Certification: $190 – I did my TEFL separate from Greenheart through an online agency called ITTT, International TEFL and TESOL Training. Their programs are internationally accredited. I did the simple 120-hour online course, but it is possible to get the same course with a tutor or apply to do it in-class for additional costs. Since I was already a certified teacher with a few years of teaching experience, I did not think it was necessary to do further training once I got to Thailand.
• Airplane ticket: $568.90 – Luckily, you only have to buy a one-way ticket, which is cheaper than going somewhere roundtrip. My flight was about $570 one way through Travelocity. Depending how far in advance you book it, you can get tickets to Bangkok for between $500 and $600. Websites like Travelocity, Skyscanner, and Expedia are helpful when planning this part of your move.
• Visa: $200 – There are two different visas you can purchase, the Single Entry($80) or multiple entry ($200). With a single entry, you have to pay each time you leave and reenter Thailand. With a multiple entry, you can come and go as much as you please. Both require you to leave every three months to renew the visa unless you have a work permit and work at a certain kind of school.
• Programs costs in Thailand: 2000 baht (~$56) – Once in Thailand, applicants work exclusively with XploreAsia, who coordinate a week of orientation in Hua Hin. They provide airport pickup upon arrival, transportation from Bangkok to Hua Hin, Thai culture classes, Thai language classes and several cultural excursions such as a visit to a pineapple farm, an elephant sanctuary, a Thai artist village, a Thai temple, and Muay Thai Boxing lessons. They also provide accommodation for the week of orientation (or month if taking the TESOL course), and 24-hour in country support for duration of the program,. These costs are all included in the original $1,570 paid to Greenheart Travel. XploreAsia provides applicants with a Thai SIM card and set up a Thai bank account, which cost 700 baht. Applicants are also responsible for paying a housing deposit for accommodation (1,100 baht) and paying their electricity bill for the week (or month if staying for the TESOL course), which can vary (I paid 120 baht for one week). The housing deposit is returned once the week is over minus any cost of electricity. Read more about Moving to Thailand with XploreAsia: a Review for more information about my orientation week and the placement process. 
• Getting to placement: 1,000 baht (~$28) – This number will vary depending on where you get placed and how you get there. XploreAsia booked me a ticket on an overnight bus from Hua Hin to Songkhla that cost 1,000 baht. Some other people in the program had to take a bus to Bangkok and another bus or train to their placement. Others flew to their placements, which is more expensive.
• Apartment deposit: 5,500 baht (~ $154) – Same as one month's rent so depends how much that is. Mine was 5,500 baht.
• First month's rent: 5,500 baht (~$154) – In addition to paying a deposit, I was also expected to pay the first month's rent before moving in to the apartment.
• Apartment supplies: 3,000 baht (~$85) Once you are at your placement, you will have to make a trip to a store to get some basic apartment supplies. The main store here is called Tesco (kind of like the Walmart of Thailand) and there you can find almost everything you need to get set up. Most apartments will come with basic furnishings but be prepared to spend money on bedding, pillows, trashcans, cleaning supplies (toilet brush, cleaner, sponges, broom, mop), a fan (if you don't have AC), hangers, etc.
• Work Permit: 3,100 baht (~$87) – Once you are living and working in Thailand you will be required to apply for a work permit in order to legally work in the country and extend your visa. You must provide passport photos, a copy of your college degree, and a medical exam saying you are in good health from a Thai doctor (see below for costs).
• Passport Photos for work permit: 50 baht (~$1.50) – Before applying for your work permit, you must provide passport photos to your agent to include with your paperwork. If you do not bring any from home, you can easily get them done at any Kodak shop for about 50 baht.
• Medical Exam for work permit: 50 baht (~$1.50) – In addition to getting photos, you must visit a Thai clinic that will provide a paper saying that you are in good health. Simply visit any Thai clinic and tell them you need an exam for a work permit. The clinic I went to did not exam me at all, but told me to have a seat, called me up a few minutes later and had me sign a document. Then I paid and off I went! Make sure to bring your PASSPORT with you to the clinic.

Total for one time costs: $2,941.90 – My grand total for one time costs comes out to almost $3,000 dollars! Make sure before moving to Thailand to have plenty of money saved up. This amount does not include money for food that I had to pay for before receiving my first paycheck. I would recommend at least $3, 500 if not a bit more for one time costs and buying food for the first month of teaching. I started teaching November 2 for the beginning of the second semester, but was not paid until the beginning of December.

My Monthly Costs

• Motorbike rental: 1,500 baht (~ $42) – In a small town or city, it is essential to have a motor bike to get around and explore. Most people in my small town rented theirs for this price, but other parts of Thailand might be more or less expensive.
• Rent: 5,500 baht (~ $154) – This number can vary depending on where in Thailand you are placed and how nice of an apartment you would like to live in. My agent dropped me off at the ‘Luxury Apartments' in Songkhla, so that is where I stay. It is cheaper to live in rural areas as opposed to an urban area, and cheaper in the central part of the country as opposed to a beach town like Phuket.
• Water supply: 300 baht (~$10) – Each month on top of rent, I pay a flat rate for the use of water in my apartment.
• Electricity: 1, 500 baht (~$42) – This number fluctuates based on how often and long I run the AC in my apartment. It usually hovers around 1,500 baht. When I was gone from my apartment for a week on a trip it was 200 baht less, and when I run it more consistently, it can be 200 baht more. The average is 1,500. I could make this number drastically lower by using a fan instead of the AC unit.
• Cell Phone: 236 baht, 59 baht per week x 4 (~$8) – I have a Thai SIM card and top up each week for unlimited data. I rarely use my phone to call anyone, and if I need to I can usually reach them by calling through an app like Facebook, Line, or WhatsApp. If I ever do need to call in an emergency, I can stop at any 7/11 and buy a minutes for a few baht.
• Food: 4,000 baht (~$110) – This number also fluctuates and I do not have a set budget for it. In general, I only pay for dinner since lunch is provided by my school for free and I grab some fruit for breakfast for a few cents. Dinner during the week ranges from 50 – 200 baht based on if I eat street food or go to a restaurant. I typically save western style restaurants to treat myself on the weekend, since they are more expensive. Keep in mind, I do not cook for myself ever since I do not have access to a kitchen so I must eat out every single day.
• Excursions: 5,000 baht (~$137) – Of course I do not just sit around on the weekends but use that time to either travel or explore the surrounding area. If I go on a weekend getaway to an island, for example, I usually bring about 5,000 baht (~$137) with me. This amount includes transportation to my location, lodging, food and activities. I usually can only afford a weekend like that once a month. I more typically go to a nearby waterfall or museum, which is much cheaper. Admission to these places is only around 200 baht (~$5.50).

Total average monthly cost: 18,036 baht (~$500) – My average grand total for a typical month is around $500. I get paid 30,000 baht a month, so this gives me a little extra money to save toward traveling during the summer break (March/April).

For a more detailed breakdown of what monthly expenses can look like for teachers in Thailand, check out the blog post Living on a Thai Budget by Brooke Alexis (a fellow Greenheart Travel teacher) on her blog Modern Day Debutante.