I’m in no position to comment on Orient Thai, but I can on BKK living.
Acceptable apartments (and even houses) can be found for 6k per month providing you don’t mind living off the beaten track. However, unless you speak adequate Thai and have a means of transport then this isn’t really an option, more so if you have a family. However I don’t accept you need to pay 40K. Good accommodation can be readily found for less than half of this amount. Utilities can cost another 7-8K per month.
Additionally, the government recently announced that the current easing of work permit restrictions for foreign pilots would cease in about 1 year.
All foreign nationals working in Thailand pay income tax. (There are some exemptions but aviation isn’t one of them). Personal income tax is as follows based upon annual salary. It is worth noting that the tax is amortised over 12 months, so if employment finishes mid tax year you may have a problem.
In theory overpaid tax is recoverable, in practice it isn’t:-
1-80,000 baht =0
80,001 - 100,000 =5%
100,001 -500,000 =10%
500,001 -1,000,000 =20%
1,000,001 - 4,000,000 =30%
4,000,001 - and up =37%