Living in rural Isaan, this is how much we are spending, while building a house at the same time.
Rent 2 bedroom with air-con – US $150 a month
Internet – fiber optic $25 a month
Electric – 2 AC’s running 24/7 $100 a month
Gas – Prices here just doubled, Gas is sold by the liter here and diesel hit 50 thb per liter. That works out to about $6.13 A GALLON! x 15 gallons = $90 a tank (normally gas is only 31 thb a liter) so the gas cost will do down when the situation in Iran normalizes.
Food eating out in local shops all meals is averaging $5 per person per day. So, with 3 of us, $15 a day or $450 a month.
Water bill – $3
Mobile phones (3) unlimited plans $10 a month each or $30 a month total
So right now our total monthly output is $728 a month plus gas which is $90 a fill up.
Grand total is $818 per month.
No skimping, pretty much eating anything as ALL restaurants here are Mom and Pop, open air.
It is very easy to live in rural Isaan with US $1,000, however you will be living a Thai lifestyle with very few, if any, other expats around.
The majority will not speak any English.
There is no public transportation.
You will need a car/truck to get around.
A motorbike will only work local, but to get to stores like Makro or Lotus’s, you will need a car.
An excellent used car can be purchased for US $10,000.