Below is a comparison of GDP and Minimum Wages from our main countries of recruitment.These figures have been taken from a Google search of the official organisations that publish these figures.The calculations are very simplistic and are intended only to give an indication of the spending power of your salary.

USA, UK, AUSTRALIA & CANADA have been compared  by    Purchasing Power Parity

Thailand

U.S.A.

U.K.

Australia

Canada

Minimum wage per hour

 (US) $ 3.30

 (US) $ 5.15

 (US) $ 9.60

 (US) $ 9.00

 (US) $ 6.00

GDP

 (US)  $ 7,450.00

 (US) $ 38,600

 (US) $ 28,760

 (US) $ 22,570

 (US) $ 32,570

Indication of monthly Salary in Baht

Minimum wage per month based on a 40 hr week.

     6,000

39,800

64,900

60,800

40,600

GDP        (monthly)

24,200

125,500

93,470

73,352

105,900

Top Teachers, Dialogue Tutor School & Associate Schools: Salary is in the range of  22,000 - 38,000 Baht per month.

The Thai GDP has not been compared by Purchasing Power Parity.  I have calculated that if you live as a normal Thai Teacher, then your salary could be 5-6 times the value if you lived in the west. This is a very simplistic calculation. What I am saying is, that on a salary of 22,000 - 38,000 Baht you can live a whole lot better than you could in the west. We are not a "sweat shop school", so the holidays and breaks you get amount to far more leisure and holiday time than you would ever have in the west with a similar salary.

I made a "Google Search" and thought you might like to listen to a few teachers talking about the cost of living in Thailand. These links below are not associated with my school.  Their views and opinions may not represent the views of  TESOL -ASIA.

Living as a teacher in Thailand and what you spend     Living in Bangkok   Teaching English in Thailand

Teaching English in Chiang Mai      Teaching English ESL TEFL overseas in Asia - ....Thailand...