What is the lifestyle like as a tefl teacher in thailand?

The lifestlye is actually quite nice. Your pay should be roughly a touch over 1000 USD/ month. You will make considerably more money than the other teachers in the school. You will be able to afford to live in a nice apartment (or house if you live up-country) and have cable and internet (cable TV is a bit dicey once you get outside of Bangkok). You will have enough money to have a few meals out, and pay for your vices if you have any. Just do not do anything silly or illegal. On the whole, it is a lot of fun to live and teach here. There is a bit of an adjustment culturally when you get here, and you will have to recalibrate your expectations when you do get here. Overall, though, the lifestyle is good. You will be earning substantially more than the vast majority of the Thais, so while you can afford more luxuries be mindful that you are in a very fortunate situation. Modesty and graciousness both are appreciated by the Thais.

Depending on where you live, your lifestyle will vary accordingly. For example, 30,000 baht in a place like Lop Buri, Sara Buri, or Ratcha Buri will go farther than 35,000 baht will in Bangkok. Bangkok does offer more nightlife options than other places around Thailand.

The best advice I can give you is for the length of your first contract, live Thai style. Meaning, get one of those one bedroom apartments with no western toilet, no air, and no hot water. Your spending will be curbed considerably. It might sound silly, but when I moved here, I took a stranger's advice and did that, and I have been apprecitive of it ever since.

When you get ready to sign your second contract, move into a nice place. Do not be afraid of the street food, it is good and it is cheap.

Enjoy your stay!

My colleague and best mate here is an aussie chef. Small world, eh? Report It

I could make some rude comments about foreign teachers who've recently been arrested in Thailand but I won't!

Check out Dave's ESL Cafe. This website is frequented by current/former ESL teachers working all over the world.

Check out http://www.ajarn.com it will give you a lot of good information about teaching in Thailand. This website is for teachers by teachers who work or have worked here in Thailand. Just don't listen to a lot of hear say your hear from some people in this forum.

Fun, the wages are great usually a minimum of 500 pounds up to 2000 pounds in a good international school. Extra hours are usually 20 pounds and hour approx. It may not be as high as Japan but the cost of living is way lower and there is just so much to do without spending a lot of money - you will love it!