Monthly living costs

[cdnmatt]

I put together a list of approximately what we spend each month living up in Issan in that other finances thread. Revised it though, and since that other thread is about holidays, thought I'd start a new thread for expats who live here. Here's my revised list:

12,000 - Rent
6000 - Electric & water
20,000 - Food
7000 - Once per-month Central shopping trip
3000 - Leo's daily spend at local markets (sticky rice, boo-bing, papaya, snails, etc.)
10,000 - Other market shopping (shrimp, chicken, pork, veggies, rice, sauces,etc.)
9000 - Dogs
2000 - Dry food
4000 - Hot meals (~8 meals/month @ 500/meal)
2000 - Treats
1000 - Shampoo, Frontline
8000 - Alcohol, cigs
12,000 - Leo
4000 - Entertainment (restaurant 2 times/month)
15,000 - Misc

TOTAL: 86,000/month

There, that seems more on point. I'm curious, any other expats willing to share their monthly living costs? I wouldn't mind having something to compare to. I see these videos on Youtube titled with things like, "live for $300/month in Chiang Mai", and I can't even fathom how that's remotely possible. We live comfortably and everything, but we're hardly living the high life here. If I had to categorize our social standing, I would say lower middle class.

I'm thinking of things I could cut, but can't really see anything. Obviously I could quit drinking, but no, I like my alcohol. We could quit using A/C, giving the dogs hot meals, ang give up things like strawberries, peaches, parmesan cheese, shrimp, salmon steak, and so on, but no, I don't want to cut any of that either. I think I just need to start making more money. Hmmm...

Any other expats willing to share their monthly living expenses?

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