Buzz’s Journal---That was Then---Bangkok is no Longer Cheap

Bangkok's skyline rises along with the prices

Bangkok Thailand. June 11, 2011. In his very excellent book, Bangkok Found, part cultural guide and part personal memoir, noted author Alex Kerr correctly states (p. 64) what many expats are embarrassed to admit: “It’s fine to talk about art, culture, and sanuk, but the fact is that the cheapness of Bangkok is key to its appeal for expats.” Unfortunately, future editions of Bangkok Found will most likely want to modify that statement to take into account that things have changed---Bangkok is no longer so cheap. Just ask any of us living here, but if you want some authoritative support for the immense increase in the cost of living for expats in Bangkok, Thursday’s “Bangkok Post” (p. B2) carried this academic backup of our common experience: “Bangkok has the second-highest living costs in Asean, according to the 2011 cost of living survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit.” Alas, as for me, next week I’m going to spend five days in Singapore, the country with the highest living cost in the Asean region. Maybe when I return to Bangkok, it will seem cheap here.