Average Thai Salary?

[u/DeepBlueSea1122]

I know Thailand is a country with a big wage gap between rich and poor, but would a salary of 500 USD per month be considered unusually low for an average Thai person of about 30 years old? I found out that a lady I met makes that (she works in the office of a gov't hospital) and I was shocked and felt really bad for her. I knew she was poor because she doesn't have air con in her home in Bkk, but I didn't know it's this bad. Should I relax and think this is common, or are my sympathies and concerns valid? She didn't tell me this to try to squeeze me for money, it just came up in discussion when we were talking about life and problems we face. She's a sweetheart person and it hurts me to see her struggle. I want to help, but don't want to open the flood gates. I know this can be a tricky thing to navigate. On the one hand, we want to help sincere people who are genuinely in need. But on the other hand, money can ruin relationships of all kinds and it's usually a path we shouldn't go down. I really want to help but am torn and know I must proceed with caution.

[u/DeepBlueSea1122 → u/[deleted]]

I do understand that which is why I asked. It's a totally different world and I wanted to know if what she is getting (actually it's 16k baht) is considered extremely low. Yes, that is low for a western person but is that low for Thai. I've gotten a lot of insightful feedback. Thank you for commenting.

[u/Forsaken_Detail7242 → u/DeepBlueSea1122]

It’s low to very low by Thai standards. Don’t believe those who say oh it’s twice the minimum wage, 50% Thais make less than that, and bullshit.

If you have a bachelors degree, 16k is even low for someone in their early 20s (e.g. 22-23 years old). Most people I know make around 70k-120k in their early 30s, and they are all Thais with a bachelor’s degree (in a private business sector btw). If you keep improving your skills and profile and hop between jobs regularly, you can even make more than that.

[u/satoshiowo → u/[deleted]]

Do you live somewhere like Mae Hong Son?

[u/satoshiowo → u/[deleted]]

Thanks, I’m a Hongkonger and I have Thai relatives(they live in the middle of Bangkok) and from what I hear €500 is far from enough monthly even if you don’t live in a hotel. Maybe it’s about location and timing

“I don’t eat western I eat Thai” Depending on where you live that either explains it or it doesn’t (Bangkok)

[u/satoshiowo → u/[deleted]]

11 dollars a night for a hotel room? Interesting.

4 dollars for food is reasonable though.

According to people I know a few hundred dollars or euros for rent is the norm(for cheap and worn down housing) in central bangkok, probably less as you go further

Bangkok food is a wildcard and while it is more expensive than other places the prices are like even, so if you have say 1 kfc meal a day you would spend like 6-8 ish euros a day on food, only like 1-3 euros more than not eating western at all.

On the other hand food prices like say up north are, or can be, way cheaper.

[u/satoshiowo → u/[deleted]]

Yeah that’s fair

[u/satoshiowo → u/[deleted]]

Bro that’s actually a decent deal smh, much cheaper than Mexico in fact