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Post by zorro1 on Nov 30, 2011 16:02:06 GMT 7
There goes the neighborhood. Was a good little secret while it lasted ;D Consider settling down in Chiang Mai, perhaps the world’s most affordable place to retire comfortably money.usnews.com/money/blogs/On-Retirement/2011/11/29/6-affordable-places-to-retire-abroad-in-2012Consider settling down in Chiang Mai, perhaps the world’s most affordable place to retire comfortably. A retired couple can live here for as little as $1,100 per month, including rent and other basic expenses. A frugal person could live here on much less. I know a single American man living in Chiang Mai on only $200 a month, with half of that going for rent. He makes a sport out of spending as little as possible. Another Thai American woman who bought an apartment in a small town outside Chiang Mai manages on her Social Security income alone, which is $600 a month. These are special cases, but you can live very cheaply in this part of Thailand. House and apartment rentals can vary a great deal. You can rent a small home outside Chiang Mai for $100 to $150 a month. For a house or apartment that most American retirees would be happy living in, figure about $400 a month. |
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Post by Banjo on Nov 30, 2011 16:34:12 GMT 7
Most of the Thai provincial cities would be the same, all depends on what you want with your life.
Once you start racking up a few little luxuries... internet, aircon, satellite TV, a car, companionship... then it begins to add up.
Rent is usually the most expensive though. Someone with unlimited portability or on the OAP could get a decent lease on some land and build a very respectable house for about $25,000.
You could probably buy an apartment for that in the provinces.
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Post by latindancer on Nov 30, 2011 21:00:58 GMT 7
Chiang Mai's a pretty nice place once you get outside the centre. It has a lovely upcountry feel to it and a lot of birds live in the surrounding hills. You can hear them in the city in the mornings. But at certain times of the year, the air pollution is quite extreme because of burning off in the hills all around, including in Myanmar, Laos and even ( I think) Southern China. Just don't stay in the Downtown Inn if you visit.  |
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Post by Banker on Dec 1, 2011 6:09:25 GMT 7
I have been to CM twice and did not like the place, first time in 2002 it rained the entire time i was there, second time in 2005, the pollution was so bad only stayed one night then moved onto Chaing Rai, which is nice.
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Post by Banjo on Dec 1, 2011 7:28:16 GMT 7
Most of the north is covered in a blanket of smoke around February and March, starting to clear when the rain arrives in April/May.
It's a good reason for the travelling pensioner to move around, to head south to the southern islands for a few months.
There's some nice places further south if you don't go too far and get caught up in the trouble down there.
Krabi is nice, on the coast and cheaper than Phuket.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2011 9:10:22 GMT 7
Chiang Mai's a pretty nice place once you get outside the centre. It has a lovely upcountry feel to it and a lot of birds live in the surrounding hills. You can hear them in the city in the mornings. But at certain times of the year, the air pollution is quite extreme because of burning off in the hills all around, including in Myanmar, Laos and even ( I think) Southern China. Just don't stay in the Downtown Inn if you visit. We love to visit Chiang Mai to see friends. We used to stay at the Downtown Inn. We even stayed there when the first person died. Then when we went up to Chiang Rai to see Banjo more people died. The Empress Chain has dissociated itself with the Downtown Inn |
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Post by Banjo on Dec 1, 2011 9:18:00 GMT 7
Then when we went up to Chiang Rai to see Banjo more people died.I hope you're not suggesting some sort of connection here? 
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2011 13:21:28 GMT 7
Then when we went up to Chiang Rai to see Banjo more people died.I hope you're not suggesting some sort of connection here? Of course not. It was just pure coincidence  |
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Post by zorro1 on Dec 1, 2011 14:01:59 GMT 7
Ironically Perth was recently voted most expensive city in the world and sydney melb not far off. So let me think where Is the best place to have some quality of life as an invalid ... OZ or Asia......ermmm But no they want to badger and harass us with the ever looming threat of a tap on the shoulder. When they call they should just tell the truth C/L . You have been holidaying long enough , time to get your ass back home, next flight DSP. I cant work so its not a holiday. Why do I have to leave? C/L. because! ummm to be truthful were all as jealous as hell. Its not fair I cant afford to go to Thailand so neither should you  DSP.  |
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Post by Banjo on Dec 1, 2011 14:51:35 GMT 7
An investigator told me that there is no way I could afford to live overseas, I must have other income.
I think this is a major part of the problem, they are convinced we're all running bars or teaching English or managing guesthouses.
Because they have no way of checking they want us all under their thumb where they can see what's going on.
I suspect someone spent three weeks in a 5 star hotel in Phuket and thinks that is what we're doing.
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Post by rodcourt49 on Dec 1, 2011 15:19:02 GMT 7
Ironically Perth was recently voted most expensive city in the world and sydney melb not far off. So let me think where Is the best place to have some quality of life as an invalid ... OZ or Asia......ermmm But no they want to badger and harass us with the ever looming threat of a tap on the shoulder. When they call they should just tell the truth C/L . You have been holidaying long enough , time to get your ass back home, next flight DSP. I cant work so its not a holiday. Why do I have to leave? C/L. because! ummm to be truthful were all as jealous as hell. Its not fair I cant afford to go to Thailand so neither should you DSP. ..hey 'zorro' sounds like you were listening in to my interview last week! |
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