Russian Couple's Thai Island Winter Costs Less Than Two Pensions

For Marina and her husband, escaping the Russian winter for the shores of Koh Chang, Thailand, proved more affordable than many might assume. The travel blogger, who writes the 'With a Pension Through Life' journal on the Yandex.Zen platform, recently detailed their monthly expenses, providing a transparent look at the cost of a long-term tropical stay.

Their total for one month came to approximately 58,500 rubles. The largest portion, about 33,000 rubles, went to housing. They spent roughly 22,000 on groceries, emphasizing they did not skimp on food and enjoyed abundant fresh fruit and vegetables. Other costs included a modest 1,000 rubles for mobile service, 2,700 for scooter rental and fuel, and 3,700 for miscellaneous household items.

"We not only stayed within our combined two pensions," Marina noted, "but we had a little left over. We never saved on the air conditioning either."

This financial snapshot offers a compelling data point for Russian retirees considering similar moves. Marina's account follows a previous post where she described a tense passport control encounter in Thailand, stating an officer's scrutiny over her frequent, lengthy visits nearly left them 'sleeping on the street.' Her experiences highlight both the logistical realities and the attainable lifestyle drawing long-term visitors to Southeast Asia.