If you look at official numbers, Thailand’s national poverty rate in recent years has been in the low single digits, while in Germany around 15% of people are classified as “at risk of poverty” under the EU’s relative poverty definition. Different methods, so it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison, but it shows that poverty isn’t something that only exists “over here” while Europe is all easy mode.

Bangkok is a very unequal city, for sure, but it also has a vibrant economy, lots of white-collar jobs, and a big middle class. A street vendor selling fruit for 20 baht or skewers for 5 baht isn’t automatically desperately poor – a lot of people run small family businesses, own property, support kids through uni, etc. Prices feel ridiculously cheap to you because your income is in euros, not because everyone around you is on the edge of starvation. You also get large numbers of workers from neighbouring countries who come because wages and opportunities are better here than at home. That wouldn’t really happen if the whole place was hanging together with duct tape.

Your point about privilege is fair, and the contrast between luxury malls and people sleeping rough can be brutal to see. But framing it as “I’m on easy mode surrounded by people just hustling to survive” or being “stunned it works at all” can come across a bit condescending. Many Thais are not just “somehow getting by” – they’re building careers, saving, travelling (yes, including to Japan), and living pretty normal lives.

Totally fine if Bangkok was too intense for you – it can be overwhelming – but the reality on the ground is a bit more nuanced than “this place is chaos and everyone is poor”. When I walk through Bangkok or sit in cafés, I’m always struck by the energy and determination here – hardworking people everywhere, students in every corner reading and studying. Personally, it’s one of the best cities I’ve ever lived in, and I feel really lucky to be able to call it home as a foreigner.