What should I include in a Thailand cost-of-living budget?

Answer

Build the budget in layers. For housing, include rent, deposits and advance rent, building or service charges, furnishings, parking, internet, electricity, water and the cost of reaching work or daily services. Add groceries and eating out separately, then transport, phone service, healthcare or insurance, visa and immigration expenses, leisure and travel. Convert occasional costs—insurance renewals, flights, vehicle servicing, school fees or replacement equipment—into monthly provisions so they are not hidden. Keep emergency savings outside normal spending. Use prices gathered for the same location and period, record the source and date beside each figure, and note whether a quoted price includes tax, service charges or utilities. If you convert income or savings from another currency, test the plan against exchange-rate changes using current Bank of Thailand reference data rather than assuming today's conversion will remain fixed.