Thailand tops for low costs

BANGKOK Thailand ranked seventh on a list of top destinations for affordable quality living, according to the HSBC Expat Explorer 2014 survey that monitors destination preferences.
The top 10 destinations for expatriates listed Switzerland in the number one spot, followed by Singapore, China, Germany, Bahrain, New Zealand, Thailand, Taiwan, India and Hong Kong.
Based solely on expenses, Thailand was the top destination for cost-effective quality living, followed by Vietnam, Taiwan, China, Bahrain, India, Turkey, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait.
inside no 3Tourism Authority of Thailand governor, Thawatchai Arunyik said: “This is great news, and it is very encouraging to see that expats have high regard for Thailand, especially in terms of cost-effective quality living. It is also very encouraging that Thailand receives a nod of approval from expats to give it a ranking in the 10 top destinations.”
According to the HSBC Expat Explorer 2014, Thailand emerges as the best destination for expats looking for an improved lifestyle at an affordable cost.
The report said: “This greater level of disposable income can be attributed to the high proportion of expats who say they spend less on utilities (71% compared to a global average of 26%), on accommodation (70% compared to a global average of 23%), on public transport (69% compared to a global average of 35%) and on groceries (66% compared to 22% globally).”
For travelling experiences, over two-thirds of expats said they travelled more since moving to Thailand, taking advantage of destinations across the country and Bangkok’s position as a gateway to the rest of Asia.

sourced:ttrweekly.com