Hua Hin prices and rip offs

[crazy88]

Half price beer ! That would be 11bt a chang Count me in next time I go fishing down there

Crazy 88

[buksida]

Half price would be 50 baht for a large bottle in a bar or restaurant there compared to 70 baht for a small one in HH.

Granted there are a few exceptions but from my findings the majority of commodities in Hua Hin are pricier than identical ones elsewhere, the example given in the opening post on this thread.

[fft100]

it is possible to get large LEO for 45 baht in HH overlooking the sea on fairly comfortable seats. i think it was 2 baht for ice.

Conversely, it is possible to pay 100+ baht for a small beer with no sea view. you takes yer pick.

[SuperTonic]

Still disagree, you can get a furnished house less than a kilometer from the beach for 5 grand a month in BS, the same would cost you 20k++ in HH.

In that case I must have a bargain with a 3 bed furnished house less than a kilometer from the beach for 7 grand a month. It's not all expensive, just gotta know where to look and who to talk to.

[crazy88]

Enough internet table tennis on this subject .How about someone puts together a weekly shopping list akin to the shopping basket they used to publish in the papers . Should include general expenses as well as groceries and a few luxuries/activities .We would then all be a little more informed on what we can get for our hard-earned .Just an idea .

Crazy 88

[margaretcarnes]

HHFarang, Sandman, TIGR and maybe others - watch out for Februarys' Observer. I've tried to tackle one of the main HH issues of change in my page. It was submitted before this thread started but there are parallels with what you guys are saying now.
It's good to see people being a bit more realistic about HH all of a sudden. Still a good little town IMO, at least in the original parts, but....

Crazy's idea of a shopping basket comparison site is a good one. Might just make people try the markets and local traders more. They sure need the support right now.

[buksida]

In that case I must have a bargain with a 3 bed furnished house less than a kilometer from the beach for 7 grand a month. It's not all expensive, just gotta know where to look and who to talk to.

Yes, you have a bargain as that certainly isn't the norm. If you'd read what I posted you would find that I said there would be exceptions, you seem to have found one, good for you.

Now Crazy's idea is a good one, how about a shopping list? Can't really use beer or food prices as all restaurants are different, there are cheap and expensive everywhere.

I'll kick it off by reiterating the OP:
Paperback novel, BKK: 250, HH: 650.

And some of my own observations (these are identical items):
Good quality digital camera, Big C Petchaburi: 16,000, HH: 19,500.
Good quality golf putter, Cha-am: 6,800, HH: 8,000
Basic 3 piece suite, Bangsaphan: 5,000, HH: 7,900
Computer mainboard, Bangkok: 2,900, HH: 3,750
Basic mens bicycle, Petchaburi: 3,000, HH: 4,500
Potted plants and garden accessories, Tha Yang: less than 2,000, HH: over 3,500
Car seat for baby, Bangkok: 4,500, HH: 5,900

These are just a couple of examples of where I've found identical items for considerably less elsewhere. I believe this was the thread topic and yes I'm aware that there are the odd exceptions to this but the trend seems to stick. Yes, you can also hunt around in Hua Hin to find something that is priced properly but things should be priced properly anyway (hence the title of the thread). Any more examples of over pricing in Hua Hin?

(For those that insist its the cheapest place in Thailand how about a new thread with your own examples and comparisons to other named places to keep a balance?)

[hhfarang]

HHFarang, Sandman, TIGR and maybe others - watch out for Februarys' Observer. I've tried to tackle one of the main HH issues of change in my page. It was submitted before this thread started but there are parallels with what you guys are saying now.

So you are the famous Mags of "Mags Page"! I was guessing that to be the case but had never confirmed it.

Sorry I didn't meet you when you were recently here. I'll look forward to meeting you next time.

[margaretcarnes]

Wouldn't exactly say famous HHFarang! But it was weird that this thread started to drift into my already submitted Feb page - so wanted to make it clear that I hadn't used HHAD as a source!
Buksi - good start on the list, but I think it needs to be more specific with brands and models of things like cameras and computer goods, bikes etc to give true comparisons. And these aren't the sort of things people buy every day (even so, comparisons can be useful) but I think the idea was really to compare every day costs. Mainly food? And Pampers in some cases! The Brit example cited - as I understand it - is a kind of shopping basket of groceries costed on a weekly basis by some of the newspapers, and using the same goods every week. E.G cornflakes, coffee, butter etc.

Peoples ideas on good basic cameras for example vary. Mine would be a Panasonic Lumix. Some would want much more.

One thing mentioned here several times now has been book prices. Yes - 250 for a paperback novel in Bangkok is about right. Which is what I paid last month in Bookazine for a Stephen Leather. But, just checking it's cover, there isn't the usual comparison of price in US dollars, Aus dollars, stirling etc which you get on the cover of books in the UK. So the publisher isn't specifying a retail price in LOS. Elsewhere they would. Why the difference? Just a thought.

[Super Joe]

Agree Mags, but I also think any comparison should be between similar major 'resorts' ie: Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Samui, Krabi etc. Stuff in Pranburi or Petchaburi has always been cheaper than HH prices for most things since I got here 5 years ago, and HH will continue to get more expensive in comparison, but you can't make comparisons to these places as HH is developing into an upmarket resort. Rent for a camera shop in town could be 5 times that of a camera shop in Pranburi.
Thais use these local towns for certain purchases just as some of us do, ie: if we want a cheaper lawn mower, video camera or similar major'ish purchase. Our HH houses we live in are made in Pranburi and Petchaburi and satellite towns are always going to be cheaper than a major resort as it is anywhere in the world IMO. Also I could list 101 things Hua Hin sells that these places do not.

Accomodation is one of the biggest factors in the cost of living but too hard to make a like for like comparison I would think, although HH has cheap rents that would be hard to beat in other resorts.

From what I've observed HH is becoming more expensive and closing gap with other resorts, and will continue to as it develops, but overall cost of living is still cheaper than places I spend time in Bangkok and Phuket.

SJ

[Super Joe]

Hua Hin compared to Bangkok/Phuket, don't really know about other resorts:

Hein/San Mig/Singha in main strip 'beer bar' ..... HH 70B - BKK/PKT 80-120B
Meal in tourist restaurant - BKK/PKT more expensive
Meal in backstreet restaurant - BKK/PKT more expensive
Very basic 2-3* hotel ...... HH 600-800 - BKK/PKT 800-1200B
Clean 3* hotel ..... HH 1200B - BKK/PKT 1800B
Taxis/Tuk-Tuks ..... BKK/PKT more expensive, maybe due to traffic time
Female companion ..... HH 1000 - BKK/PKT 2000
Land/House ...... PKT x2, BKK x 5???
Rents ...... BKK/PKT more expensive
Trip to Bangkok ...... PKT x 5, BKK cheaper
Entrance to nightclub ....... HH free (drink vouchers) - BKK/PKT 0 to 600B
Groceries ...... don't know.

SJ

[T.I.G.R.]

Super Joe -

Please don't be offended but I had to chuckle at your list of expenditures.

Your last item sums it up pretty well.........

For a 65 year old guy with a great life (me), you've reminded me what I used to think was a great life.

Enjoy!

[buksida]

Then it really comes down to two sets of price comparisons, one for tourists and one for residents, as the latter I would only be purchasing 2 out of your list above, its basic commodities and household goods (that tourists don't buy) that are over priced in Hua Hin.

You really do live the good life, as said above!

As Mags said we need a groceries list but I don't know the cost of any of that stuff either, my financial controller manages that department!

[Super Joe]

Yeah apologies but I don't know the prices of household, groceries and the like as only ever visit those places for a short trip.
Come to think of it I haven't got a clue what they cost in HH either as missus gets that sort of stuff

I reckon the increased cost of accomodation (rents or buying) in BKK/PKT would outweigh all the groceries and household items etc anyway!? But that's just a guess.

Cheers,

SJ

[crazy88]

I have no idea on groceries either as we give a list to a motorbike taxi or one of the villa staff and they deliver it to us in the pub

HH is certainly higher for the items that Buksi listed .

Other resorts are certainly higher for the things SJ mentioned .

How about

kilo spuds
kilo pork
kilo chicken
kilo of various veggies
kilo rice
loaf of bread
drinking water
milk
tea and coffee
fruit
eggs
household consumables and toiletries

Are these everyday expenses higher in HH .It is certainly much cheaper than where I lived on Koh Tao which was considered a budget backpackers destination at the time .When making major purchases I call friends in BKK for price comparisons and either pop up for a night or have them buy the items if they are popping down for the weekend .I've lost count of the number of cameras,dvd players,computers peripherals etc. that I have picked up for friends or had picked up for me over the years from Bangkok,Singapore etc.

Crazy 88