6 ms·

i’m wondering how safe mexico really is once you want to spend some of your money, buy a nice house or car, etc. with thailand i’ve heard stories of “farang pr

by b20000 4y ago

i’m wondering how safe mexico really is once you want to spend some of your money, buy a nice house or car, etc. with thailand i’ve heard stories of “farang prices” where you pay 10x for medical care compared to locals. a friend of mine in laos had to travel to thailand every time he needed care.

ceejayoz 4y ago
> with thailand i’ve heard stories of “farang prices” where you pay 10x for medical care compared to locals. Which is still next to nothing, isn't it?
- jwilber 4y ago
  Depends on your definition of nothing. Cheaper than America, obviously (which country isn’t for medical care?). It’s pricier than Vietnam, where I spent $500 for 2 nights of hospital stay in a private wing for a super bad fever.
- b20000 4y ago
  I don't think that $100 for a tetanus injection is particularly cheap in Thailand.
coffee_beqn 4y ago
Many SEA countries are effectively third world. It’s no wonder they have to go to Thailand for western-ish level medical care. The locals will not have the option at all so it’s not really a fair comparison
distantaidenn 4y ago
Lived in Thailand for a bit. The "foreigner tax" (farang is usually reserved for White foreigners) is usually for untraceable cash payments (i.e. taxis, stalls, etc.) and government ran spaces (national parks, etc). In the case of the latter, usually foreigners pay 5X for entry -- this is government mandated. Now, as for the former, it's more for gullible tourist fresh off the boat. I was drunkenly making my way home one night, and hopped in a taxi. Guy told me something like 1,500 baht ($40 USD). I just laughed at the guy and said "meter", followed by him giving me a knowing look and a laugh as he turned on the meter. It was a 5 minute drive and ended up costing like 50 baht...If you know, then you know. Aside from the constant absurd and abusive racism handed out by Thai police in BKK, the country is an amazing place to live. Safe and friendly. And, I want to make it clear that I only received racist attacks (physical and verbal) from cops in BKK and nowhere else in the country -- but of course, everything became fine once they realized I was an American...
- toolz 4y ago
  wait, which white people would thai people have not liked (since you've implied being white was bad except for being a white american)? My time vacationing in thailand has always been overwhelmingly friendly...like the most friendly locals of any places I've been, but I stayed out of bangkok, which I hear is completely different.
  - distantaidenn 4y ago
    I didn't imply being white was bad -- and not sure how you came to that conclusion. I was referring to OP's usage of "farang tax". I was pointing out farang is usually used for white foreigners. So it's more of a general "foreigner tax" than a "farang (only) tax".
    - toolz 4y ago
      > And, I want to make it clear that I only received racist attacks (physical and verbal) from cops in BKK and one where else in the country -- but of course, everything became fine once they realized I was an American... you said you experienced racism, that's what I meant, which I thought was pretty clear by the context of people were racist against you until they realized you were american, which is the heart of my question - why is being american an acceptable form of whiteness to the people who were racist against you
      - distantaidenn 4y ago
        You're assuming I'm white...think about that for a second. I don't mean to be flippant, I really mean to give it a thought as to why you made the assumption.
        toolz 4y ago
        because the whole context was around a farang tax that you clarified was for white people, not just any foreigners - I see now that you never said you had to pay that tax, but this isn't some "hidden racism" twitter keeps going on about. I would've never put any thought to what you looked like if the whole context wasn't made about something exclusive to white people. I'm curious, when people misunderstand some context on the internet that has to do with race - do you often find yourself thinking it has racist undertones?
onlyrealcuzzo 4y ago
A nice neighborhood in Mexico City is roughly as safe as a nice neighborhood in an average city in the US. Outside of there, it's a crapshoot. Could be very safe, could be VERY unsafe... In a way you don't see in many parts of the US or EU.
- zrules 4y ago
  I’m very interested in moving to Mexico City part time. Can you list some nice neighborhoods and their characteristics? Or point me to somewhere on the web with this information? Thanks in advance!
  - onlyrealcuzzo 4y ago
    Hipodromo, La Condesa, Roma, & Roma Norte are in the center of town and all very nice, tons of places to get food & go out and shop and anything you would want. Most parts are quite pretty by US standards for a city... Coyoacán is VERY beautiful, but there's not as much to do over there for an expat. It's still really nice.
  - Jcampuzano2 4y ago
    Most expats stay in Roma Norte or Condesa. Polanco Is also safe as well a Coyoacán but not many expats stay/live in these areas. Condesa is considered the more Hipstery part of the city, nightlife and everything. Polanco is more of an upscale, very international type of vibe. Roma Norte is more artsy imo but similar to Condesa as well. Plenty of good food as well. Coyoacán is more traditional Mexican.
pratik661 4y ago
As a farang, you SHOULD pay 10x local prices.
- psd1 4y ago
  There's a balance. Let the tourism bring wealth, but let's not get absolutely mugged. A good deal is one where both sides are happy

by b20000 4y ago

ceejayoz 4y ago

> with thailand i’ve heard stories of “farang prices” where you pay 10x for medical care compared to locals. Which is still next to nothing, isn't it?

jwilber 4y ago
Depends on your definition of nothing. Cheaper than America, obviously (which country isn’t for medical care?). It’s pricier than Vietnam, where I spent $500 for 2 nights of hospital stay in a private wing for a super bad fever.
b20000 4y ago
I don't think that $100 for a tetanus injection is particularly cheap in Thailand.

coffee_beqn 4y ago

Many SEA countries are effectively third world. It’s no wonder they have to go to Thailand for western-ish level medical care. The locals will not have the option at all so it’s not really a fair comparison

distantaidenn 4y ago

Lived in Thailand for a bit. The "foreigner tax" (farang is usually reserved for White foreigners) is usually for untraceable cash payments (i.e. taxis, stalls, etc.) and government ran spaces (national parks, etc). In the case of the latter, usually foreigners pay 5X for entry -- this is government mandated. Now, as for the former, it's more for gullible tourist fresh off the boat. I was drunkenly making my way home one night, and hopped in a taxi. Guy told me something like 1,500 baht ($40 USD). I just laughed at the guy and said "meter", followed by him giving me a knowing look and a laugh as he turned on the meter. It was a 5 minute drive and ended up costing like 50 baht...If you know, then you know. Aside from the constant absurd and abusive racism handed out by Thai police in BKK, the country is an amazing place to live. Safe and friendly. And, I want to make it clear that I only received racist attacks (physical and verbal) from cops in BKK and nowhere else in the country -- but of course, everything became fine once they realized I was an American...

toolz 4y ago
wait, which white people would thai people have not liked (since you've implied being white was bad except for being a white american)? My time vacationing in thailand has always been overwhelmingly friendly...like the most friendly locals of any places I've been, but I stayed out of bangkok, which I hear is completely different.
- distantaidenn 4y ago
  I didn't imply being white was bad -- and not sure how you came to that conclusion. I was referring to OP's usage of "farang tax". I was pointing out farang is usually used for white foreigners. So it's more of a general "foreigner tax" than a "farang (only) tax".
  - toolz 4y ago
    > And, I want to make it clear that I only received racist attacks (physical and verbal) from cops in BKK and one where else in the country -- but of course, everything became fine once they realized I was an American... you said you experienced racism, that's what I meant, which I thought was pretty clear by the context of people were racist against you until they realized you were american, which is the heart of my question - why is being american an acceptable form of whiteness to the people who were racist against you
    - distantaidenn 4y ago
      You're assuming I'm white...think about that for a second. I don't mean to be flippant, I really mean to give it a thought as to why you made the assumption.
      - toolz 4y ago
        because the whole context was around a farang tax that you clarified was for white people, not just any foreigners - I see now that you never said you had to pay that tax, but this isn't some "hidden racism" twitter keeps going on about. I would've never put any thought to what you looked like if the whole context wasn't made about something exclusive to white people. I'm curious, when people misunderstand some context on the internet that has to do with race - do you often find yourself thinking it has racist undertones?

onlyrealcuzzo 4y ago

A nice neighborhood in Mexico City is roughly as safe as a nice neighborhood in an average city in the US. Outside of there, it's a crapshoot. Could be very safe, could be VERY unsafe... In a way you don't see in many parts of the US or EU.

zrules 4y ago
I’m very interested in moving to Mexico City part time. Can you list some nice neighborhoods and their characteristics? Or point me to somewhere on the web with this information? Thanks in advance!
- onlyrealcuzzo 4y ago
  Hipodromo, La Condesa, Roma, & Roma Norte are in the center of town and all very nice, tons of places to get food & go out and shop and anything you would want. Most parts are quite pretty by US standards for a city... Coyoacán is VERY beautiful, but there's not as much to do over there for an expat. It's still really nice.
- Jcampuzano2 4y ago
  Most expats stay in Roma Norte or Condesa. Polanco Is also safe as well a Coyoacán but not many expats stay/live in these areas. Condesa is considered the more Hipstery part of the city, nightlife and everything. Polanco is more of an upscale, very international type of vibe. Roma Norte is more artsy imo but similar to Condesa as well. Plenty of good food as well. Coyoacán is more traditional Mexican.

pratik661 4y ago

As a farang, you SHOULD pay 10x local prices.

psd1 4y ago
There's a balance. Let the tourism bring wealth, but let's not get absolutely mugged. A good deal is one where both sides are happy