How Much Does it Cost to Live in Thailand?

by Brooke Ferguson on August 26, 2010

Many folks take a glimpse at my lifestyle here and assume I’m swimming in cash.  The truth of it is, it’s cheaper to live abroad than you might imagine!  It is far cheaper to live here than it is to travel, and if you look at rental costs versus the price of hotels, you can see why.

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I realize living abroad is not for everyone, but for those interested, I wanted to share some actual figures and costs that you would experience while living here.

One of the main reasons that I chose Thailand is that I’ve been here before.  I knew that it was cheap, with friendly locals, and easy enough to travel around.

What I didn’t consider and wouldn’t have known until living here…

  • How affordable it is to live here
  • What great food you can have on a regular basis
  • The incredible amount of international friends I would make
  • The valuable experience running a business abroad
  • Other work and volunteer opportunities that would present themselves

As Tim Ferriss denotes in his book The Four Hour Workweek, it is much better to live in a country where you can leverage the dollar.  The simple fact is that my money is worth three times as much here than it is in the U.S. This has enabled me to live a near-luxury lifestyle while working in very small amounts.  You can also add on a job that gives you security, visa, and more cash (and lets you save while experiencing another country).  I’ve been doing this with teaching, and loving it.

Anyway, I’ve been living a pretty kick-ass lifestyle for roughly $800 a month. Here’s a breakdown of my expenses so you can see for yourself how this would work for you…

Budget: One Month

$ 200 USD            Rent

$   30 USD            Utilities and Internet

$ 400 USD           Food & Entertainment

$ 70 USD              Motorbike Rental & Gas

$ 100 USD            Border Runs / Visa / Travel

________________________________________

$ 800 USD            Total

 

Let’s just suffice it to say that never in my life have I had the luxury to spend double my rent on food and entertainment.  For the record, YES, I have Downsized My Life…. But I find it exceedingly worth it.  And, all the while, I’m managing to save money (which, honestly, is something I Really struggled with living in the U.S.)

So, just for fun, let’s take a look at what it would cost to do a two week vacation here….

Budget: Two Week Vacation

$1,300 USD         Roundtrip Airfare

$ 450 USD            Hotel

$ 300 USD            Food

$ 200 USD            Travel / Taxies/ Transport

$ 300 USD            Tours & Entertainment

________________________________________

$2,550 USD         Total

My point is this:  For what it would cost to come here for two weeks, you could live here for THREE Months.  Seriously!  It is something to consider, not just for financial reasons, but more for what you learn by actually Living in a Foreign country.  The life experiences, cultural experiences, and friendships you can make are nothing short of life changing. Here are some photos so you can see what you can get for your money here….

Incredible Views

Most of the views around here are stunning, but I must say that mine is inspiring.  I love just waking up and looking at the huge mountain outside my sliding glass door.

 

View from my balcony - 2 minute drive to the beach!

Amazing Food

Most meals cost between $1-3 USD.  If you go to a very high end restaurant and order wine, expect it to be about $30 USD.  My favorite part about living here is that the food is fresh from the market and made on the spot.  I’m sure my diet is much healthier eating this way!


Green curry served in a coconut!

Fantastic Recreation

What has kept me here is the amazing amount of recreational activities.  Krabi is known for its world-class climbing and diving.  If you are in to either of these sports, you’ll love it here!  You can also go trekking, mountain biking, kayaking, and just about anything else.

Diving in Koh Ha

Diving is cheap here, about $120 US for a day.  The courses are very inexpensive, so if you are looking to do several dives, you are better off adding a certification to your list.

My friend Lucy going for it!

Climbing for a half day is about $20 US.  If you have your own gear, its free, but I’d recommend hiring a guide so you can find the best sites easily.  Railay is pretty much the mecca of climbing and there is enough here for me to do for the rest of my life.

Making Friends From All Over the World

If you are worried about leaving your home because you are afraid of making new friends, don’t be!!  The best gift so far is the friendships that I’ve made.  Living abroad attracts the fun-loving, adventurous type.  I’ve made a ton of lifelong friends that I will be able to visit all around the world.

Monsoon face painting party - people from Australia, Finland, Sweden, England, Scotland, United Arab Emeriates & USA

The cost of getting your life back?  Priceless.

One thing I hadn’t anticipated was how completely freeing it would be to live here.  I’ve never really felt so relaxed, had this much fun, or enjoyed my time anywhere else as much as I have here.  While I realize that it is just one small place, I wanted to share some of these experiences with you in hopes that no matter where you go or end up, that you can feel the same amount of freedom and joy that I have here.

One of the best sunsets I've ever seen in my life!

Like I said before, living abroad isn’t for everyone.  But for those of you that are interested, I hope this has been  helpful and inspiring for you!!

Questions??  Comments??  Readers, please share your experiences of living abroad!!

Like it Share it Tweet it +1 it or Comment Below :)

Tagged as: Lifestyle Design, Living Abroad, Living in Thailand, Tim Ferriss

  • http://www.thewaythatyouwander.com Nate

    Like I wasn’t obsessed with the idea of moving to Thailand enough… This is such a great and helpful post. Thanks for sharing the money figures as well.

  • Katie

    Great post! I’m actually going to Thailand next week for a little holiday but might extend it for a few months…haha. Any recommendations on places to stay that are not tourist-y? Maybe a beach hut? :)

  • http://www.lifestyleignition.com Mark Lawrence

    AHHH I love Thailand! My trip there was not enough! I love how you compare being able to live for 3 months on a 2 week vacation budget!

  • http://feint.me Anthony Feint

    Im in thailand atm and I could easily see myself staying here for a while. Once you get away from the main tourist spots, the prices drop dramatically – and everything from the food, to the locals seem to improve.

  • http://www.businessbackpacker.com/services Brooke Ferguson

    Hi Nate! Give a shout when you are out here, I’ll be happy to show you around :)

    Katie – What part of Thailand will you be in? Anywhere near Ao Nang? Let me know, if so! Chiang Mai is less touristy than the typical beach scenes, but most of Thailand’s economy is based on tourism, so you kind of come to expect it. If you want something more rustic, Cambodia or Vietnam are good choices, as well. But it is fun and most of the tourists here are great so I’m sure you will have a fantastic time!

    Mark – I know, me too!! I came for three months and its been almost two years! Oops. lol. I’ve spent less here than I ever have anywhere and I’ve had the best time of my life. Thanks for writing!

    Anthony – What part of Thailand are you in now?

  • http:www.thai-faq.com Tony

    Informative article but your readers should be aware that Thailand is a large country and prices will vary significantly. A $200 apartment on one of the southern islands will be very different than a $200 apartment in Bangkok.

  • http://www.businessbackpacker.com/services Brooke Ferguson

    Hi Tony – Yes, I have lived in Bangkok, as well. I used the same budget, although I probably spent more on beer. You can stay in places there for $200 a month, as well, as many of my friends have. Although I do prefer the view of a beach to the freeway, and my toes in the sand to being squeezed into on the BTS or MRT :) .

  • http://miltblog.com Milt

    Excellent Post Brooke,
    I think you are pretty much spot on there,a good guide to the costings. Of course everything can be less expensive or more expensive. How much you party has makes a massive cost difference aswell. I should be hitting the south of Thailand next week, Can’t wait.

  • http://www.cloudnomadic.com Steve Wyman

    Hi Brooke,

    Glad to see your still there and enjoying life. This is a great update and information that should be shared more.

    You’re absolutely correct on the short verse long holiday cost this is equally as true from the Uk as USA. However the longer trip means you need to budget better and can’t go as wild as maybe on short trip.

    By converting to £ and then Baht I estimate your spending around 15,000 baht for your accommodation a month? That’s a good quality of room I would assume. In the same area with out a view what could one comfortable pay 7K? Or would that be a very low quality?

    And 30K baht for food and entertainment is also healthy (id easily spend that maybe more but could get it down to 20K)

    Are you teaching EFL? (English as a foreign language and also working on internet projects.

    So thanks for the update and all I can suggest is write more often :-)

    Regards

  • http://www.fullsizeplatformbed.net Steve Wyman

    Hi

    My apologise. I was clearly having a bad maths day ! $200 is 6,236 Baht (£130)/ccc (!! which makes that view very cheap :-) I might book a room down you way next time im over in thailand. A room in Pattaya with that kind of view would be 5 times the price :-)

  • Katie

    I think I’m gonna stay in Phi Phi starting Sept 8th – don’t know Thailand very well – is that anywhere near Ao Nang?

  • http://www.fullsizeplatformbed.net Steve Wyman

    Hi Kaite, its about 20 miles by sea between them. on your way in or out of Phi Phi, Krabi(ao nang would not be much of a diversion).

    Google Krabi thailand and go to google maps. Phi is south and a little west zom in and you should be able to get both on the screen together

  • Robbert

    Thank you Brooke. Those are really cheap prices. I will definitely live there for at least half a year, I think it would rock! For now, I am starting to set up a location independent business… but you know, I am still young (Like you are as well ;) )

  • http://www.businessbackpacker.com/services Brooke Ferguson

    Milt – Great to hear you’ll be in the neighborhood. Let me know if you are anywhere near Ao Nang! Thanks so much for the comment, I hope you have a fantastic trip!

    Steve – lol. Yes, it’s far less than Pattaya and I think much more enjoyable. There’s loads of outdoor recreation, which is why I love it and stay!

    Katie – Sorry I missed you while you were here, hopefully when you come back in October we will meet up for sure!! Did you have a nice trip?

    Robbert – Yes, having an extra income helps, for sure. Let me know if you have any questions about living here, I’m happy to help! Thanks for commenting!

  • Hoover

    Hey, awesome post!

    What do you do about Visa’s as you are operating online businesses?

  • Danny

    This sounds incredible and I think it would be an amazing experience, but I don’t how I could ever do it. I’m a musician with a music ed degree. Is there anyway for me to do something with music and live in Thailand?

  • http://www.businessbackpacker.com/services Brooke Ferguson

    Hi Hoover – I am teaching so I have a work visa :)

    Danny – Set yourself up online and you can live anywhere! There are lots of musicians that have created an income online selling music, products, software, and tutorials.

  • Leon

    Is there a radical Muslim problem there? No use living the dream if you have to constantly watch your back so you don’t get kidnapped and end up the star of the latest beheading video…

  • http://www.businessbackpacker.com/services Brooke Ferguson

    Leon- The first place I stayed was a wonderful Muslim family that were amazing. The south of Thailand has a very high population of Muslims– I have had only great experiences, as everyone gets along here regardless of religious beliefs. I think a lot of people don’t travel because they are afraid of what the news tends to exploit- people and religions. The truth is that most places Are safe and most people Are good.

  • http://walkaboutworthington.wordpress.com Callum Worthington

    Nice post!

    I’m heading over to South East Asia in December and was looking at spending a month or two in one place just to get a better feel for the culture. Where you are at the moment sounds like loads of fun and I can’t believe the price! Look forward to reading more from you.

  • Cazzie

    Hi,

    I am thinking of teaching in Thailand. Where would you suggest,Koh Samui, krabi or Phuket.
    I am looking at a place that I can experience the beauty, vibe and be able to meet different people :)

    Btw, I loved your article- I think it is well written and the pictures are great and one really gets a glimpse and feel of what you exeprienced there.

  • http://www.businessbackpacker.com Brooke Ferguson

    Callum – I’m sure you will enjoy it here! Thanks for commenting.

    Cazzie – Krabi is my favorite, but maybe you could travel around and decide for yourself. I’m in Ao Nang which is about 25 minutes from the airport in Krabi Town. Best of luck and maybe see you soon :)

  • http://www.aswetravel.com Nathan

    great info! – will be in Thailand in a few weeks, really looking forward to it and getting away from the cold in Europe :)

  • http://www.twitter.com/breezyskies Brie

    Thanks for all the great info! Do you have any recommendations on finding a villa (on a month-to-month basis) at a good price? Is it best to just hire a driver and look for “for rent” signs?

  • http://budgettravelerssandbox.com Nancie

    I’ve been living, working, and traveling in Asia since late 2000. I earned a higher salary in Canada, but it didn’t go nearly as far as my “smaller” paychecks in Asia. I’ve traveled to places that I had only dreamed about before my move. My next “new home” is Chiang Mai. I’ll be looking for a house there later this month, with a move date of July or August.

  • Elias Glyptis

    Hi Brooke, thanks for the info. its very helpful. I lived in Tulum, Mexico severalo times for aup to 2-3 months and i managed to live off 1000 dollars, i lived descent and i enjoyed. Not sure how Thailand will be, but i am debating to go to thailand On Feb 1st (in a week) to stay ther until March 15th. So, 45 days. I want ot visit a few places but for now i want to explore Krabi and stay there most of the time, also stay in Bangkok for a few days. it’s a short trip, so i just want to stay in one area. So do you think $3,000 UD will be enough? Airfare is cheap from Toronto, i found several flights for $1,050 CAN round trip. What do you think?

  • Phil

    Hi Brooke

    Great lifestyle. I did my TEFL course last year and am seriously contemplating giving up the rat race of London. I love London but I pay council tax of £130 per month and £400 per month for petrol. That’s without even eating. How easy is it to get permanent residence and is it something you’d consider?

    Regards

    Phil

  • http://www.endangeredextinct.blogspot.com Cath

    Hm. I’m a writer with a blog or two and would love to be able to live off the income from that. Living in Thailand just might make that possible. Thank you very much for the clear figures and explanation. Is language a barrier at all or do most Thai speak a bit of English?

  • http://www.businessbackpacker.com/services Brooke Ferguson

    Elias – The great thing about Thailand is that you can go pretty far on a small budget. Thai food is always delicious and cheap so it just depends on how you’re spending your money :)

    Phil – It’s a better idea to rent, in my opinion. When you “own” here, a Thai person has to actually own it because a foreigner can’t buy property. I’ve heard ALL kinds of stories of this going wrong. Also, something to consider is that because you basically live in the jungle here, places deterioriate really quickly. What is new only stays new for about six months and then the bugs, the water, and the problems move in. As a renter this is great, because new places are always popping up and they are nice at first. Also, since you don’t really need to commit to long-term rentals and most things are furnished, you can come and go. I love this. It allows me to not pay rent while I’m traveling.

    Cath – The more touristy the area, the more English you’ll find. I speak enough Thai to cover the basics and get by just fine :)

  • http://www.yTravelBlog.com/ yTravelBlog

    Love this. My husband and I lived in Bangkok in 02. We absolutely loved it and are thinking of returning to live at the end of the year once we have our second child. I am desperate to get back to that luxurious cheap lifestyle. Thanks so much for the updated costs of living. Makes me really exvcited about how doable it is.

    • Anonymous

      Come back! It’s amazing. Though I am partial to southern Thailand. I’m in Railay for a couple of weeks before I head out for some big travel plans. I love the culture, food, and laid back lifestyle here. It’s also great that you can just show up and find furnished places. It makes for a great place between travel, or for longer term.

      The most expensive part is just buying the ticket. Then, everything gets easier :0) Let me know if you make it out here. Cheers :)

  • Jol 08

    Nice site.it’s very helpful.thank you for sharing your adventure.my wife and I went to Bangkok,Sukuthai,Lampang and other places in Thailand for our honeymoon.I would say its an amazing place to be.Food and accommodation is cheap(depending where you go). we would love to go back there.

  • Pete

    Brooke, How is Krabi vs Phuket, I am planning a trip in October and trying to figure out where I should set up my base. Pete

    • Anonymous

      Hi Pete – for me, there is no comparison. Phuket is crowded and a bit too
      busy for me. I stay in Ao Nang most of the year and go to Railay when I
      can. I’m back in the US now, but will head back in a couple months. My
      advice would be to figure out what you want to be in close proximity to and
      stay there. What’s most important to you in your environment?

      • Peter

        Thanks, I guess I won’t really know where I will want to stay until I get over there. But I would like to stay for 5 or 6 months. Not sure if that is too much. Did you travel to other countries while you were there or just stay in Thailand. I am trying to figure out what type of Visa to get. I live in Los Angeles, where are you in the states.

        • Anonymous

          That’s a great amount of time. I’m in Indiana now, where my family is. Awaiting my passport renewal and then headed to California before I head back to Thailand :) It’s weird to be back!

          You’ll be best to get a tourist visa (30 day upon entry) and then find a border to get a Multiple entry visa good for 60 days and then u can renew locally at a consulate for 2,000 Baht (60 bucks) and that gives u another month. It sounds complicated but it’s not. Just be aware that not all visa runs are the same, check with local expats to determine which ones give you the multiple entry :) Enjoy!

        • Anonymous

          That’s a great amount of time. I’m in Indiana now, where my family is. Awaiting my passport renewal and then headed to California before I head back to Thailand :) It’s weird to be back!

          You’ll be best to get a tourist visa (30 day upon entry) and then find a border to get a Multiple entry visa good for 60 days and then u can renew locally at a consulate for 2,000 Baht (60 bucks) and that gives u another month. It sounds complicated but it’s not. Just be aware that not all visa runs are the same, check with local expats to determine which ones give you the multiple entry :) Enjoy!

    • http://www.businessbackpacker.com Brooke Ferguson

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      How to Enjoy the Process when You are Going Through Difficult Times

      _By Brooke Ferguson on Jan 01, 2012 01:19 am_

      Recently, a friend of mine posted this quote from Buddha on Facebook:

      “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the
      mind on the present moment.”

      And, being the slightly sarcastic friend that I am, I replied, “Ok, how?”

      The truth of it is, being in the moment and enjoying the process are _Really
      Difficult_ things to do!

      Here’s why:

      When we are in the moment, and enjoying the process… We Don’t Even Notice
      IT!

      We don’t stop the process, stop enjoying it, we just go through it, enjoy
      it, and then it is over.

      As much as I am an eternal optimist, I’m not that way all of the time. In
      fact, being the goal-oriented person that I am, I sometimes find myself
      pushing through difficult projects, taking on gigantic goals, and trying to
      do more than humanly possible. I don’t want to just do things, I want to
      get them done, and get them done yesterday.

      This leads me into a pushing forward mindset. Sometimes, I realize I want
      to push past moments, meals, and even months of my life.

      Couple this with an insatiable drive for success; there isn’t a whole lot of
      room for sitting around and letting things sink in. In fact, sitting around
      is rather difficult for me. I am happy sitting and _doing something_, but
      not just sitting around. I crave movement, and sitting makes me restless
      and panicky.

      After reading my friend’s comment on Facebook, and being reminded of the
      fact that I should be enjoying my moments, I did a bit of research on how to
      do that more often. Most of the articles I came across were garbage. They
      said things like “if you like what you are doing, you will enjoy it” – um,
      yeah, duh. Or, that someone told them they should enjoy a moment, and then
      they did.

      But my ultimate question here today is this:

      How can you enjoy the moment when things seem really, really hard?

      After thoughtful consideration, the conclusion I’ve come up with is this:
      We can’t really enjoy _all_ of our moments, sometimes, the best we can do is
      _just get through them_.

      While I’ve had a great year of adventures and travel, it has by far been one
      of the most challenging years of my life. I’ve faced a multitude of
      difficult travel situations staying in 6 different countries for 6 months of
      the year – language barriers, metros, maps, museums, hotels, hostels,
      exchange rates, etc.; a fallout with a past business partner – meaning I had
      to revamp my business while on the road, completely redo my video course
      (via Starbucks internet); and then upon returning to Thailand, I decided to
      complete my Dive Master course (for fun) which has deemed itself to be about
      1000 times harder than I could have ever imagined.

      I’ve hit a lot of bumps along the way, and I’ve found it really helpful to
      take time to feel refreshed. Here is a list of my personal uppers:

      _Sleep… a lot_. When you are taking on a lot, it is important to get the
      rest you need, and when you are under stress, you need more sleep than
      ordinary. Give yourself the time you need to sleep and rejuvenate.

      _Give in to some of your vices_. While I am a proponent of healthy living,
      when you are going through tough times, I think it is OK to let yourself be
      a little more unhealthy than usual.

      _Watch funny movies_. Sometimes comedy is what you need in order to gain
      perspective and stop taking things so seriously. I’ve been downloading lots
      of things that make me laugh or bring a smile to my face. You can see these
      on my [1]YouTube favorites, or here are some of my top picks for movies I’ve
      seen this year: [2]Arthur, [3]The Princess Bride, [4]Paul, [5]Amelie,
      and [6]Kung Fu Panda 2.
      Links:
      1. http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=FLqDDwgypE0wrAhAT6iLH5Zw&feature=mh_lolz
      2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtTVquZ2TFk
      3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Princess_Bride_(film)
      4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DybE_cNHJP8
      5. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0211915
      6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=7GHT-TSiZio

      _Listen to music_. Having awesome tunage takes the edge off. Explore new
      music interests and keep your mood elevated in the process.

      _Let yourself daydream_. Fantasizing about the future is a healthy way of
      projecting. Focusing on what you really want will help you see that you are
      getting closer to your goals, even if you are going through a rough patch.

      _Eat cookies_. Because they are yummy.

      _Talk about it_. Find friends that understand you are going through a
      difficult time and let yourself go through the emotions that you feel. Try
      to avoid the urge to be “fake happy” and pretend that everything is alright
      when it isn’t. Let yourself be humanized by your experience and maybe it
      will make you more compassionate when others need your support.

      _Find constructive outlets_. It is important for you to feel like you are
      achieving things, even when you are in a rut. Make small attainable goals
      that will help you see progress in some areas of your life and keep you
      motivated.

      _Take on less. _ It is easy to feel the need to Push Forward, or Do More,
      but this will quickly lead to frustration and emotional burn out. Try doing
      less and letting yourself build back up.

      _Remember that all things pass_. Once you are through the tough times, you
      will be able to enjoy your moments again, and feel the happiness that you
      desire now.

      Hopefully this list has helped, and even if we can’t enjoy all of our
      moments, we can at least enjoy them a little bit more. Because, as they
      don’t say, “Life is a Journey… enjoy most of the process, and just try to
      get through the rest of it!”

      What are some of the things you do to get through challenging times? Share
      your uppers!!

      Wishing you a very happy and successful New Year!
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      Experiencing the Best of Chicago with my Besties!Catch the Megabus for Mega-Deals!Got a 1000 Islands? New York Does!Coming Home & What Really MattersFREE
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    • http://www.businessbackpacker.com Brooke Ferguson

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      Thanks for reading! Here is my latest post, I hope you enjoy it…
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      Go Bouldering, Drink Wine, Take a Hike, Shoot a Shotgun, Run a 5K, Take Photos, Drink Beer & Watch the Sunset

      _By Brooke Ferguson on Feb 27, 2012 02:47 am_

      There are very few places as near and dear to me as the backroads of
      California. My favorite part about California is that you can drive 45
      minutes in any direction and the landscape changes dramatically. It is home
      to many outdoor activities, and when I visited, I had the pleasure of
      bouldering, going for long hikes and taking loads of photos, running an
      impromptu 5K race, wine tasting, shooting shotguns, and taking in the
      amazing sunsets on the beach. If you get a chance to visit the Bay Area, I
      highly recommend checking out the beauty it has to offer.

      Bouldering

      Climbing is definitely one of my favorite parts of visiting California.
      There are endless options for climbing in the Bay Area, especially if you
      head up towards the Tahoe area. On my visit back home, I was lucky enough
      to meet up with some of my climber friends and check out some of the local
      bouldering. It was great to be back on granite, get on some volcanic rock,
      and end the trip attempting some of the traverses in San Francisco on the
      beach. If you have plans to visit the area for some bouldering, here are
      some pictures to check out:

      Hiking & Photography

      There’s loads of opportunities for exploring the outdoors, and taking
      awesome photographs in California. I spent a few days with friend Marie
      (from [1]Marie Hardy Photography- who has done most of the portraits you’ve
      seen of me on my site here) hiking, exploring, and taking awesome photos all
      around Echo Lake, in the Tahoe area. Here’s a [2]list of awesome hikes you
      can do around Tahoe.
      Links:
      1. http://www.mariehardyphotography.com
      2. http://www.tahoevacationguide.com/Activities/hiking.html

      Running 5K

      Once I got back to the Sacramento area, I was spontaneously invited to run a
      5K race with my friend Teressa and her pals. Without any training, I signed
      up for the [3]Urban Cow Marathon and hoofed it on through to the finish
      line. It was amazing to be a part of such a large event. I’ve never done a
      race, and the sense of camaraderie and accomplishment from everyone there
      was nothing short of amazing.
      Links:
      3. http://urbancowhalfmarathon.com

      Shooting Shotguns

      Being back in America, one suddenly has the urge to shoot large guns. So, I
      went out to the [4]Auburn Trap Shooting Club, and learned how to get my
      shotgun on. Here’s a picture of me and Sharelle trying to look super
      gangster…
      Links:
      4. http://www.yelp.com/biz/auburn-trap-shooting-club-auburn

      Wine / Beer / Music

      California is full of opportunities to enjoy great wine selections. I went
      to a wine tasting event and had amazing wine and food with friends. Be sure
      to check out local wine tasting events, or go to the wineries in Napa,
      Loomis, or Sonoma.

      If you are more in to beer, there are a couple of places you need to check
      out. One is [5]Swabbies on the River in Sacramento. You can sip on your
      favorite cold beverage here (mine was the apricot hefeweizen), eat amazing
      tacos, and listen to live blues music. The restaurant is on the water, so
      it has a fatastic view to take in while the afternoon slips into evening.
      Another awesome place is the [6]Yard House. The Yard House has hundreds of
      beers on tap, select from a wide variety of ales around the country while
      you munch on delicious food.
      Links:
      5. http://swabbies.com
      6. http://www.yardhouse.com/locations

      Beaches

      And, of course, you must check out the beaches. My favorite beaches in the
      Bay Area are: [7]Fort Funston, [8]Baker Beach, and [9]Ocean Beach. Here’s
      some photos from my last day in California before I flew out to go back to
      Thailand.
      Links:
      7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Funston
      8. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker_Beach
      9. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_Beach,_San_Francisco,_California

      Thanks, California! It’s always a pleasure to visit :)
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      More to read:

      Nomadic LivingWhat To Do In IndianaHow to Enjoy the Process when You are Going Through Difficult TimesExperiencing the Best of Chicago with my Besties!Catch the Megabus for Mega-Deals!
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  • Carolin

    thank you brooke, for your inspiring blog. my business partner and I are currently planning on going location independent for a while, and asia, especially thailand is top of our destinations list. all the best, carolin :)

    • http://www.businessbackpacker.com Brooke Ferguson

      That’s great news, Carolin.  Where are you headed, and when do you plan on leaving?

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