What are the typical expenses associated with maintaining a household in Thailand?
For an average home with three bedrooms and a swimming pool, the electricity costs usually range between 3,000-5,000 THB per month (equivalent to $95-$166 USD), assuming moderate usage of AC. Water expenses typically amount to about 800 THB per month (approximately $25 USD), with the possibility of being higher based on the size and frequency of garden watering.
Some households choose to employ live-in maids who work about six days each week earning approximately 400 THB ($12.67/day) per day. For garden and pool services, one can expect to pay approximately 2,500 THB per month (or $79.26 USD), with the workers coming to the house weekly for roughly 5 hours, or until the work is completed. Recently, the minimum wage in Thailand was doubled from 200 THB per day to 400 THB per day, signifying significant improvements in the standard of living and social and economic statuses for Thai citizens.