"This is how nomads feel about CPT": SA man compares cost of living in Thailand to Mzansi

A South African living in Thailand shared a TikTok video breaking down what daily life actually costs in the country
The man revealed prices so low that locals back home struggled to believe them, comparing them to school tuck shop days
South Africans flooded the comments section, with some dreaming of relocating and others choosing to stay put

Local viewers were shocked to see that they could get food for R5 — A local man living in Thailand wowed Mzansi after showing how affordable the cost of living is in Chiang Mai. Image: @imthedrugexpert
Source: TikTok

A South African man based in Thailand left Mzansi stunned after sharing a TikTok video breaking down just how affordable life is in the Southeast Asian country. The clip, posted by TikTok user @imthedrugexpert on 19 October 2026, quickly drew hundreds of reactions from South Africans who could hardly believe what they were hearing.

Thailand's cost of living stuns SA viewers

In the video, the man walks viewers through everyday expenses in Thailand, revealing prices that left many South Africans picking their jaws up off the floor. Meals for as little as the equivalent of a few rand, affordable accommodation, and a generally lower cost of daily living painted a picture that many back home found both inspiring and bittersweet.

For a country where the cost of groceries, electricity, and transport continues to climb, the comparison hit close to home. The clip tapped into a conversation many South Africans are already having privately, weighing up the pull of opportunity abroad against the ties that keep them rooted at home.

Watch the TikTok video below:

Mzansi reacts with humour and curiosity

The video sparked a lively conversation in the comments, with South Africans offering everything from genuine curiosity to dry wit.

@Dhn_Bailey_Author said:

"Five rand? The last time I had something for R5 was the school tuck shop."

@LTD asked:

"So meals are like £2? 🤯 Are hotels also cheap?"

@Carmen noted:

"I think it's cheaper for folks who actually have money."

@Doctor meep kept it practical:

"But how much do you earn?"

@SOUL drew a comparison closer to home:

"This is what all the international visitors say about South Africa when they come to Cape Town."

@Sona Tanda added with a laugh:

"Chomi (friend), this is how the nomads feel about CPT 😂."

"This is how nomads feel about CPT": SA man compares cost of living in Thailand to Mzansi

Thailand's cost of living stuns SA viewers

Mzansi reacts with humour and curiosity

Other articles about Thailand