Thinking of leaving your home country for good? Thailand offers many expats a fresh start, if you’re willing to put up with being a foreigner and all. Most expats I know are not eager to return home, but then again, everyone’s experience is different. As a result, you may be wondering whether it’s a good place to live or not, whether it suits your tastes. The answer is complicated, and it depends on which city you end up choosing. In this article, we’ll help you decide whether Thailand as a whole is the right place for you, and take a look at both the good and the bad.
Cost of Living in Thailand
The cost of living, in my opinion, is the most obvious draw for any prospective expat. If you work online, have a lot of savings, or are retired, Thailand’s cost of living is a great deal. Even if you work in Thailand, your pay will likely be far greater than the average salary for locals.
But it isn’t just the purchasing power of your income that makes the cost of living so appealing, it’s also the quality of what you get.
The quality of food and housing, for example, when measured against what you pay, is absurd. As we’ll see, you can rent a luxurious apartment for only a few hundred dollars.
According to Numbeo, the cost of living in Thailand is, on average, about 51.4% lower than in the United States. This is great news if you’re coming from an urban area in the states.
Housing
In Bangkok, expect to pay around 15,000 THB (~$410 USD) per month for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center. Move to the outskirts or smaller cities like Chiang Mai, and that drops to around 10,000 THB (~$273 USD).
These prices are for modern high-rise buildings. If you want to get an even more luxurious place, you can double the costs above.
That being said, there are many great deals in the cities, and if you want to save money, you can rent from places called serviced apartments, which mix elements of both a hotel and an apartment (they may clean your room once a week).
I have stayed in a serviced apartment my entire time in Thailand, and I only pay around 10,000 THB (~$273 USD) per month to live in the city center of Bangkok.
In more rural areas, as you can imagine, prices for housing are even cheaper.
Food
Eating locally is dirt cheap. A meal at a street stall can cost as little as 50 THB (~$1.36 USD). However, imported goods and dining at Western-style restaurants will cost you big time.
If you stay in your room at all times, then expect to pay 200 to 300 THB (~$5–8 USD) per delivered Western meal. Ordering Thai food may be a little cheaper.
Transportation
Public transport is also a steal. Monthly expenses, if you only took mass transit systems and buses, would cost around 1,300 THB (~$35 USD). Taxis are affordable too, but be aware of the occasional “broken meter” scam.
Healthcare
Healthcare is surprisingly good and surprisingly cheap. In fact, there are many people who come to Thailand specifically for medical tourism, especially from the Middle East.
A visit to a doctor at a private hospital might set you back 1,000 THB (~$27 USD), without any tests or medication, of course. Private hospitals are more expensive than public ones, but I wouldn’t recommend going to public hospitals, as many people end up waiting all day there.
I’ve paid out of pocket many times here, and I’ve been surprised at how cheap it can be.
Quality of Life
So, what’s life really like in Thailand?
Climate and Weather
Thailand has a tropical climate. There are essentially three main seasons: hot (March to June), rainy (July to October), and cool (November to February). “Cool” being a relative term. Think 25°C (77°F) instead of 35°C (95°F).
Safety and Crime Rates
Is Thailand safe? Mostly, yes. In fact, I’ve never felt safer in any other country, except maybe South Korea.
Petty crimes like pickpocketing can happen, but violent crime is relatively low. According to Numbeo, Thailand has a crime index of 37.75, indicating a relatively low level of crime (when compared to Western countries like the United States).
Most crime metrics on Numbeo are very low, low, or moderate. The only exception is bribery, which is high. Though I have never seen any bribery myself, I have heard some stories, which I won’t detail here.
Ah, that reminds me. You don’t want to talk about politics in Thailand. Don’t talk about the government, either. It probably doesn’t concern you, anyway.
Infrastructure
Thailand’s infrastructure is a mixed bag. One minute you’re in a world-class mall and the next you are passing shanty towns by the river. There are, however, huge skyscrapers, advanced mass transit systems, and fast internet speeds. And the roads and freeways often look modern as well. But if you visit rural areas, you might find that the infrastructure is underdeveloped.
Pace of Life
Life in Thailand can be as fast-paced or as laid-back as you like. Bangkok is a busy place, but other places like Chiang Mai or the islands are more relaxed. No matter where you are, you should be ready for the infamous “Thai time.” In other words, punctuality isn’t a strong suit here.
To live in Thailand, you need to remove any unhealthy expectations that things must always go as planned.
Work Opportunities
Finding a job in Thailand can be challenging unless you have specific skills.
Teaching English is the most obvious choice, and it is a common gig for foreigners.
Finance, real estate, and tourism also have opportunities, but the competition is tough.
You could start a business here, but you’ll have to wade through the bureaucracy. And you will need a Thai partner who owns at least 51% of the company (in most cases).
Working without a permit can land you in jail or deported, so be careful. Thailand has strict visa laws, so make sure your paperwork is in order.
Education System
If you have kids, you’ll want to know about the quality of education in Thailand.
But unfortunately, everyone seems to complain about the public education system, especially locals. A common gripe is that the schools don’t teach creativity, and they make the students learn through repetitive activities, or rote learning.
Most teachers, though, I assume, are good people.
Many expats choose international schools for their kids, and it’s no wonder. These schools teach in English and follow Western curricula. The education is high quality, and I’m always impressed by people who went to an international school. They generally seem well turned out, and of course speak English very well.
The costs can be high, though. Fees can range from 100,000 to 900,000 THB ($2,729 to $24,563) per year.
Culture and Lifestyle
Thai culture is very different from places like the West.
There are still many aspects I don’t fully understand, and it can cause lots of issues if you’re not careful.
For one, Thais are non-confrontational. Saving face is important. You shouldn’t insult people outright (if that wasn’t obvious), and it’s bad manners to fight in public.
Defamation laws are strict in Thailand as well, so be careful what you say online. (Here are a few related laws.)
Regarding the language, speaking Thai isn’t mandatory. Many Thais speak basic English, especially in tourist areas. But learning Thai will go a long way, and locals are usually impressed with only a few phrases. The pronunciation is very difficult, however. It isn’t like high school Spanish class.
Expats often stick together, forming close communities. Kinda. Facebook groups and Meetup groups are a good place to start. I will say though that, as a man, I have found it hard to find local friends of the same sex. The culture is different, and they probably feel a lot of pressure to speak English well, so that’s something to take into account.
Retirement in Thailand
Thailand, as most of you probably know already, is a great place to retire. Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Hua Hin are top spots for retirees.
To get a retirement visa, you have to be over 50 years old and you need to have a monthly income of 65,000 THB per month, or else have a Thai bank account with over 800,000 THB in it.
Travel within Thailand
Getting around Thailand is both cheap and easy.
Major cities are well-connected by air, rail, and road. Domestic flights are cheap, and trains are an adventure (if you hate yourself).
Also, Thailand is smack in the middle of Southeast Asia, which makes it a great “home base,” if you will, for traveling to other places.
Legal Considerations
The legal landscape and bureaucratic challenges in Thailand can be new and hard to understand for newcomers.
For one, the visa system is confusing, which is probably the biggest drawback about Thailand. If you’re staying long term, just make sure you do your research and follow the rules as much as you can.
Additionally, foreigners can’t legally own land, but they can buy condos (if there aren’t too many foreigner-owned spaces in it) or get a thirty-year lease on property.
Also, be aware of the strict lèse-majesté laws (don’t insult the monarchy) and drug laws (penalties are severe). Navigating bureaucracy can be a headache, so patience is important.
So, is Thailand a Good Place to Live?
Well, that depends. If you can be patient enough to deal with the bureaucracy, lateness, and things not going the right way, then you’ll be all right. No place is perfect, so make sure you do deeper research on the specific city you would like to move to. A person who loves Pattaya will not necessarily enjoy Chiang Mai, and vice versa. In any case, Thailand isn’t for everyone, but I can say that the people who do end up staying here have a hard time leaving.
