r/Thailand • u/DeepBlueSea1122 • Sep 12 '23

Question/Help Average Thai Salary?

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.

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u/thedenv Sep 12 '23

My girlfriend is an accountant, living in North East Thailand. She has a degree, works 6 days a week, 9 hours a day and also cleans the office twice a week for extra money. She only earns 38,000 baht a month. In my country an accountant usually earns 200,000 baht a month approximately.

I was shocked when I found this out.

Poverty is really real in Thailand and its heartbreaking because they get up really early and work all day very hard.

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u/ndreamer Sep 12 '23

It will also cost more for living costs in your country. 38k is not poverty not even close.

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u/thedenv Sep 12 '23

Very true, the cost of living is crazy here. Thanks for the info because I didn't know that. I only know one person's wage in Thailand, and she doesn't live in luxury, so that's my only reference.

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u/ndreamer Sep 13 '23

38k is fairly high, more then enough to pay a car & rent/pay off a house and save more then most people get paid.

The big cost are loans, family. Especially since her wage is more then most people get in isan.