A wide range of opinions here. There is no doubt that the cost of living has risen in Bangkok this past decade, but claims such as the price of noodles has doubled in the past 5 years are nonsense. Despite inflation, most Thais are able to deal with rising prices. Take renting an apartment, for example. As someone noted, many places can be found for 3,000 per baht, or less, per month. And normally several friends live together in these places, or the young man may still live with family. The fact is that 1,000 baht per day CAN still go a long way. I pay more than I used to do for my regular visitors, but I think it's foolish to determine the price we pay in baht by the raising/falling exchange rate of foreign currencies. Be fair and pay the guy for his services (or lack of), but don't feel like you need to be handing about 2,000 baht everytime someone comes over. Personally, I think the bars have lost the plot and are charging much too much for drinks and off fees. Business is bad, tourism is down (and I think these claims of tourism being this year UP are very dubious) and yet the clueless bar owners keep raising prices. That reminds me: when was the last time I visited a bar in Bangkok?
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