How much money to take on Koh Samui: our spending in the 2nd month + budget for everyone

I've already posted the layout of our spending on Koh Samui, but that month was not very significant, because it was the first on the island. Ideally, the budget will stabilize only for 2-3 months or even later, because this is how long it takes to settle in a new place: you have to buy dishes, cleaning products, sometimes furniture, it takes time to find the nearest shops, cafes and markets. There is also a comparison of prices, where is it more profitable to buy or rent.

Those who live here for a year or more are in the most advantageous position - not only do they know the prices of everything better, but also many of their expenses can be distributed over several months. For example, you can buy a washing machine for 12 thousand baht. And, if you live on Koh Samui for only 2 months, then it turns out 6 thousand costs per month, and if you live for a whole year, then only 1000 baht per month.

The content of the article

Our spending on Koh Samui in the 2nd month

In that first article on spending, I gave some recommendations on how to reduce spending, and in the second month I applied some of them. For example, we chose one budget cafe, in which we mainly bought food, began to buy vegetables and fruits on the market, took less imports in supermarkets, almost did not buy household goods and clothes, did not break the windows in the house 🙂

However, there was also an increase in spending. For example, we rented a car now only for us alone, and last month we rented for two families. Also, spending on housing increased slightly due to the increase in the price of electricity and fees for Wifi..

Lodging

  • House rental: 15,000 baht (our second home on Koh Samui).
  • Electricity: 1800 baht, at the rate of 8 baht / unit, the condo worked 12-14 hours a day.
  • Water: 300 THB, flat fee.
  • Gas: 390 baht, at the entrance the cylinder was empty, refueled at their own expense.
  • Wifi: 1000 baht, in fact it is too expensive and in the next months I would not take wifi here.
  • Cleaning: free.
  • Purchase of household goods: 1070 (of which most are the purchase of a fan and a hair dryer).

If you come to Koh Samui and are looking for accommodation, you can see the personally compiled directory of houses on Koh Samui, where more than 80 houses with a map and a photo. Accommodation for a short period, while you are looking for a house, can and should be booked through RoomGuru. This is just a mega-service, you can immediately see in which booking system (Booking, Agoda, Ostrovok, etc.) the hotel you need is cheaper. I also have a selection best hotels in Koh Samui.

Food

  • Supermarkets: 7400 THB.
  • 7/11 and Family Mart: 1520 baht.
  • Thai cafes and street food: 5200 baht.
  • Market: 4050 baht.

Movements

  • Car rental: 12,000 baht for Honda Jazz.
  • Gasoline: 2500 baht (40 baht / 1L).

Internet and communication

  • 3G internet: 650 baht.
  • Mobile connection: 750 baht.

Other

  • Baby: 2900 baht (diapers, toys, clothes).
  • Daria's clothes: 800 baht (clothes).
  • Attractions: 80 baht (Magic garden).
  • Massage: 600 baht (2 sessions).

Total

We get about 58,000 baht / month, which is less than in the first month of residence. Q.E.D! Spending in the following months always decreases with the right approach. And this despite the fact that our house became much better, and the car had its own personal.

Moreover, some items of expenditure could not have been entered here (in fact, as in first post), because they are purely individual: massage, attractions, clothes, household goods, mobile communications. Someone may not have these articles at all ... I also did not enter here the costs of air tickets to Bangkok (I advise you to buy on Aviasales.ru or Skyscanner.ru, we use them ourselves) and the purchase of a new suitcase in connection with moving to Bangkok.

However, any budget is biased, because normal housing can come out together with a communal apartment at 10-15 thousand baht calmly, and 50-100 thousand baht, depending on the requests of a particular person. This also includes spending on a car - some do not need a means to move at all, the second will have enough rented bike, and still others will buy a bike / car and will not spend a dime on rent.

How much money to take on Koh Samui

How much money to take on Koh Samui

How much money to take on Koh Samui

In addition to our personal spending in the second month, I will give my thoughts on a hypothetical budget so that you can more or less be guided how much money to take on Koh Samui for a family of three.

In an amicable way, the only thing that can be more or less operated to estimate your own spending is the cost of renting housing (you first need to look at which houses people live and for how much) and the cost of renting a vehicle (car, bike, taxi). Nevertheless, let me write an average hypothetical budget for a family of two adults and one child who came from Moscow / St. Petersburg off-season and for 3 months, who spent some time looking for everything and analyzing prices. I take capitals because, there you can do single entry visa no additional travel costs to a neighboring country.

  • Accommodation: 10,000-20,000 baht per month with a communal apartment.
  • Bike for rent + petrol: 3500 baht + 1000 baht.
  • Food in supermarkets, cafes, and markets: 15,000-20,000 baht.
  • Household goods: 1000-3000 baht (we take the average, because the purchase of household appliances, if it happens, then in the first months, and the rest «household goods» is inexpensive)
  • Diapers and baby clothes: 1000-3000 baht (podgazes are bought regularly, and clothes are bought every 1-3 months).

In total, we get a plug of 31500-50500 baht per month. Again, you can argue about this amount for a long time and stubbornly on each item, but for us, something like this, somewhere, and originally counted on, to spend 40-50 thousand baht per month. Only then I did not think at all that we would not be able to ride a bike and that we would need a car. Miscalculated a little ...

This conditional amount is further supplemented by other expenses that depend on the specific family: gadgets, cosmetics, clothes, alcohol, large household appliances, excursions, travel, massage, and so on. I think it is obvious that you can increase the budget indefinitely, but it will be very difficult to reduce it much below 35,000 baht, you need to have a strong desire to save, and be able to do it.

P.S. I would be glad if you would recommend something to others in terms of monthly expenses in the comments below 🙂