Teach English in Thailand

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Thailand varies more than any other place in South East Asia. You could choose to live like a King (or Queen) and spend your whole teaching salary; or you could choose to live like the Thai and spend only $500 per month. To give you an idea of what both budgets will buy you, here are some costs at opposite ends of the spectrum:

Accommodation:
3 bedroomed luxury beach villa in Ko Chang complete with pool for £565/$900 per month
One room in a modern 2 bed apartment in Chiang Mai for around £95/$150.

Food:
5 course dinner in the Michelin starred 'Namh' in Bangkok for £30/$50 per person
Authentic Thai red curry with a side of spring rolls from a Ko Samui street vendor for £1.25/$2

Leisure:
Spa day in the 5 star Chatrium resort, Bangkok = £30/$50
Traditional Thai massage on the beach = £3.15/$5

In i-to-i's experience, most teachers in Thailand tend to fall somewhere in the middle, treating themselves to the high life one day and living like a local the next.

Food and Drink

Thai food is very popular all over the world, but there's no doubt that the best Thai food is of course, found in Thailand!

The food is full of flavour, with an endless supply of condiments to suit your tasting - most popular are ginger, chilli and peanuts. Pad Thai - a mixture of noodles, tofu, bean sprouts, onions and peanuts - is a classic Thai dish; as is Thai Green curry, with coconut milk and shredded lime adding to the final, tangy taste.

For a true taste of Thai food, shun the touristy restaurants for a night market ('talaat yen'). Found in most cities, these are open air gatherings of street kitchens, where you can enjoy multiple savoury dishes, a dessert and a fruit drink for less than £3/$4.50!

Drinks-wise, freshly squeezed juices are very popular to keep you hydrated throughout the day - steer away from the common orange and apple juice, and try a more exotic lime ('nam manao') or mango juice. Be sure to also try traditional Thai coffee by asking for a 'kaafae thung'; its unique taste is credited through its filtering process through a cloth.

If it's something a little stronger you're after, local beers Singha and Chang are extremely popular; and with a prominent drinking culture, there's nothing wrong with a few beers after a hard day at work!

Weather

If you're planning to teach English in Thailand, we hope you like the heat! The weather all year round is very hot and humid - with Bangkok actually having the highest average temperature of any city in the world, at 30 degrees Celsius! May - September is known as the rainy season, and although showers are heavy they are also usually very brief. Even in the winter, Thailand rarely sees temperatures dip below 25 degrees Celsius.

Accommodation

The majority of TEFL jobs in Thailand will provide your accommodation for free, or provide you with a housing allowance. Although accepting the free accommodation is a stress-free way to start your new life in Thailand i-to-i would recommend taking the allowance and finding your own place as you'll tend to get 'more for your money' this way.

Where could I teach English in Thailand?

The cities of Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and the smaller town of Petchabun offer the most opportunities for teaching English in Thailand, due to the large number of schools (both state and private), and the prestigious universities located there.

When it comes to big, brash Asian cities – Bangkok is certainly up there. With a population of 8.5 million and the famous Khao San Road you’ll have no struggle to find a teaching job in Bangkok, but if you do choose to teach here be prepared for a fast-paced life!

If you’d prefer a more traditional Thai experience, then Chiang Mai – based in Northern Thailand – is the best option. Culture is considered very important here, with many historical temples scattered around the city; and surrounded by a ring of mountains means you’re never far from nature.

The small town of Petchabun, 350km north of Bangkok, home to just 24,000 is surrounded by mountains and rivers; and is the perfect place to teach if you like the laid-back lifestyle. There are three national parks here, one of which (Khao Kho National Park) is frequently referred to as ‘Little Switzerland’ due to its breath-taking lakes.

Transportation

In the city

Bangkok is notorious for its gridlocked traffic, but the comprehensive transport system of the underground and sky train means that getting round the city and getting to your TEFL job is quick, easy and very cheap, with a one way ticket costing just 40p/$0.70.

Further afield

Many people teaching English in Thailand will only be contracted to work 15- 25 hours a week, which leaves plenty of time to take on private tuition or to explore the Land of Smiles. For trips in mainland Thailand, the train system is cheap and comfortable, and it’s a great way to see the Thai countryside. An overnight train in a first class sleeping berth from Bangkok to Chang Mai will cost just £24/$40.