Thailand on $10 a Day

Early backpackers traveled the world in search of pristine beaches, staggering beautiful scenery, ancient temples, good food and decent accommodations. The vast majority were on shoe-string budgets and these globe tramps set up a chain of low-cost ghettoes across Asia. Indonesia, India, Nepal, and Thailand became favorite destinations over the years and a guide book flourished under the title '_____ON $10 A DAY.

On several occasions I attempted to live on that amount in Bali or Chiangmai.

Drinking beer pushed my spending over $10 a day, even with a large bottle of Singha beer costing a little over a dollar.

This task was impossible when the baht was 25 to the dollar throughout the early 90s and now with the price rising to Western levels $10 a day is only for sober people on a starvation diet, yet business leaders and government view the raise as the coming of communism.

$10 a day is not a living, but it's doable, if you're alone or living in the 1950s.

Early backpackers traveled the world in search of pristine beaches, staggering beautiful scenery, ancient temples, good food and decent accommodations. The vast majority were on shoe-string budgets and these globe tramps set up a chain of low-cost ghettos across Asia. Indonesia, India, Nepal, and Thailand became favorite destinations over the years and a guide book flourished under the title '_____ON $10 A DAY.

On several occasions I attempted to live on that amount in Bali or Chiangmai.

Drinking beer pushed my spending over $10 a day, even with a large bottle of Singha beer costing a little over a dollar.

This task was impossible when the baht was 25 to the dollar throughout the early 90s and now with the price rising to Western levels $10 a day is only for sober people on a starvation diet, yet business leaders and government official are arguing over setting the minimum daily wage to 300 baht a day.

Approximately $10, unless the dollar loses more ground against the world currencies.

Manufactures complain that Thailand will lose its international competitiveness with the increase. Free-market economists warn more money in the pockets of the masses could lead to inflation. Large farming concerns worry that the attractiveness of better pay will create a massive exodus from the rice fields for the industries in the cities. The ruling party Pheau Thai has yet to commit to the policy until they've headed from all the special interests..

The present daily wage is 215. Workers are systematically paid less. Slaving 30 days a month means a person comes home with 6000 baht a month or $200. This amount times 12 months means an annual income of $2400. The per capita income of the world's 26th economy is nearly $4000 per annum. This gap is a result of the khon yai taking most of the money out ok'd the system to pay for their luxury condos, expensive cars, and their wives' helmet head coiffures,

The 50,000 Thais constituting the ultra rich are resisting any change in the pay scale. The top 40 dominate the wealth with holdings of $25 billion or 10% of the nation's annual GDP.

300 baht a day is hardly a living wage, but if enough family members work the Thais can thrive on the collective salaries.

It's either that or revolution, for the people have little patience with the upper classes or glòom kon têe râm ruay gwàa kon eun.

Hard work will not make a poor man rich.

Only birth, marriage, or theft can achieve that goal and at 300 baht of month the only people stealing are the rich, but that is because they believe in making money the old-fashioned way.

"By stealing it."

Choke di khon Thai.

The revolution is coming.

Unite.

Tam hâi ruam gan.

Even backpackers are up to $25 a day.


Approximately $10, unless the dollar loses more ground against the world currencies.

Manufactures complain that Thailand will lose its international competitiveness with the increase. Free-market economists warn more money in the pockets of the masses could lead to inflation. Large farming concerns worry that the attractiveness of better pay will create a massive exodus from the rice filelds for the industries in the cities. The ruling party Pheau Thai has yet to commit to the policy until they've headed from all the special interests..

The present daily wage is 215. Workers are systematically paid less. Slaving 30 days a month means a person comes home with 6000 baht a month or $200. This amount times 12 months means an annual income of $2400. The per capita income of the world's 26th economy is nearly $4000 per annum. This gap is a result of the khon yai taking most of the money out ok'd the system to pay for their luxury condos, expensive cars, and their wives' helmet head coiffures,

The 50,000 Thais constituting the ultra rich are resisting any change in the pay scale. The top 40 dominate the wealth with holdings of $25 billion