We are a family of 3, EU citizens, living in Hua Hin (a resort town 200 km from Bangkok). The city is popular with upper class Thais who own a lot of holiday homes here and visit occasionally as well as with foreign families and pensioners. Plus, the king of Thailand lives here. So, no bustling sex industry or crazy night life here.
We spend around 2000 USD per month:
- 500 USD for 50 sqm, 1 bedroom apartment in a secure complex with olympic size swimming pool, fitness and community office. - 400 USD for a very good international kindergarten, nursery level (3 yr. old) - 100 USD for a driver who drives us to my son's kindergarten. - 600 USD for groceries we buy in the supermarket. It would be cheaper to eat in local restaurants but we like to cook at home. - 200 USD for education visas (1000 USD per person per year, kids don't need visas). - 200 USD for travel health insurance (don't go without it), occasional vine, massage, public transport...
Of course, there is no upper limit of how much you can spend, if you want to. It is easy to find 1 MM USD+ homes and spend 100 USD for a meal. I guess young single people would find it boring here, but for us it is the perfect combination of quality family life, good working conditions without much distractions and healthy lifestyle.
EDIT: here is the view from our apartment: https://www.dropbox.com/s/llqf4uw1nxjq8pj/Pogled__balkona.JP...