If you're looking to live or retire in a new country then Thailand
must be a place that you consider, because it has so much to offer.
But there are also a few reasons why Thailand might not be right for you.
We'll talk about the pros cons and reasons why Thailand could be your perfect destination.
My name is Ryan my wife Emily and I are the Snail Travelers.
What do I mean by geographical options?
Well what I mean is that in Thailand, if you are a beach person
then you can live near one of the many many stunning beaches.
If you like the mountains then you'll want to head up north to the area around Chiang Mai
which has great access to some breathtaking scenery.
But if you like a metropolitan big city and urban
vibe then of course Bangkok is where you'll want to go.
You can live in the jungle if you really want that.
And who knows you might even have an elephant for your next door neighbor.
Or do you want to live on an island? Well there are more than 1000 to choose from.
So there you go pick the type of geographical environment that
you want to live in and bang Thailand's got it,
and it's one of the best things about living or retiring in Thailand.
Okay so let's say you've decided to move to another country for whatever reason.
One of the most difficult and most intimidating things about making this type of move
is the adjustment to a whole new way of life.
So if you think you might want a little help with this adjustment Thailand is a great choice.
There are so many expats here and they have already gone through
this transition that you're about to go through
and they are ready to help.
There is a downside. With so many expats sometimes
it feels like genuine Thai culture is a bit diluted.
But overall we think the expat community is one of
the biggest pros to choosing Thailand for your new home.
How do I even begin to describe the Thai people?
They are so friendly, so courteous, so gentle.
Seriously I was just telling you that there are so many expats here in Thailand,
and when we foreigners interact with the Thai people they are so patient with us
even though we don't always deserve it.
On one trip to Bangkok we checked into our apartment and the next thing you know
we were invited to a party by some of our neighbors.
There is absolutely no hesitation in me saying that the kindness of the Thai people
is what makes this country so magnificent,
and Thailand is truly truly deserving of being called the land of smiles.
There's a good reason why you can find Thai cuisine all over the world.
It is fabulous.
The Thai people have completely mastered the art of combining spices and seasonings
to make some of the world's best tasting food.
And if you're nervous about the food because you're not a fan of spicy ingredients,
well you can put those worries aside.
When you get food from a restaurant or from a street food cart
just tell them to make it less spicy and it's no problem.
Or just let your taste buds adapt, they will probably adapt over time,
and that will allow you to truly enjoy the best of Thailand's magnificent cuisine.
The climate could be either a pro or a con.
It's going to depend on your personal preference.
For us it's kind of a con.
It's just too hot and humid for us here.
Bangkok can be especially sweltering.
But if you're the kind of person who will not miss winter this might be the perfect place for you,
and Chiang Mai in the north does get a break for a few months.
But for most of the year the heat is a bit intense.
Before moving to Thailand or anywhere for that matter you'll
first want to check it out on a short-term stay.
If coming for 45 days or less no problem.
Citizens from most countries can just get on a plane and come
and then you can extend for an additional 30 days once you get here.
For a one-year stay you could get an education
visa by going to a language school or by taking some other type of class.
And if you're over 50 you'll want to check out one of the retirement visas.
The simplest requires either a deposit into a Thai bank account of about US$21,000
or a monthly income of about US$1700.
All of these visa rules can change so double check for the latest information.
Last time we were in Thailand we tried to learn some of the Thai language,
and apart from basic phrases it's a pretty difficult language to learn.
But communicating here in Thailand in English isn't too much of a problem.
One of the advantages to living somewhere with a lot of foreign expats and foreign visitors
is that many of the Thai people here speak decent English.
Almost everyone we interact with, even away from the touristy areas,
at the markets, at the restaurants, and the laundromats speak some basic English
So one of the main reasons people come to live or
retire in Thailand is the lower cost of living. You know that.
If you're renting an apartment on a one-year lease
you can get a small studio in a modern high-rise building
with 24-hour security, a fitness center, and a swimming pool for as low as US$300 per month.
Add another 100 or so for a one bedroom, then another 100 or 200 for a two bedroom.
And of course location is going to impact the price.
An apartment in central Bangkok is going to cost more than in a smaller city.
If you want to buy instead of rent you'll be limited to buying a condo unit.
Foreigners can't directly buy houses or land in Thailand.
But a basic 90 square meter or one thousand square foot apartment in the outskirts of Bangkok
will be maybe around US$100,000.
Cheaper prices for smaller or older units are available and of course
you can go much higher if you want more luxury.
Food prices for Thai food are dirt cheap, believe me don't worry about this.
If you eat street food or at the night markets you can get a meal for under $US2.
But if you're planning to eat Western food the whole time
well first please don't do that I'm begging you,
but if you do it will cost you. A meal at a western restaurant can easily hit US$10.
Transportation costs are fairly reasonable,
usually around US$1 to catch a ride on the songthaew,
which is a shared taxi where you sit in the back of a truck.
In general we estimate expenses in Thailand to be about 45% of what it
costs to live a similar standard of living in the United States.
So for example if you spend about US$4000 a month in the U.S.,
think around US$1800 a month in Thailand.
Now that's a very rough estimate just an educated guess.
The only way to know for sure what the cost
of living will be for you is to come to Thailand yourself
and live the lifestyle that you want to have.
And when you do this I wouldn't be surprised
if you never want to leave Thailand again, believe me.
We like to go back and visit family in the United States and
Thailand is literally halfway around the world,
and that makes the trip home grueling.
There are no direct flights between Thailand and the US
so there's at least one connection sometimes even two or three,
and since I can't sleep on a plane it is not a pleasant trip for me.
We love the trains in Thailand.
The schedules are generally convenient and on time.
We took an overnight train from southern Thailand to Bangkok .
We had our own compartment with beds
and the ride was so smooth there were times when I thought the train wasn't even moving,
then I would look out the window and see that we were moving.
We also took a day train from Bangkok to Chiang
Mai and it was a fabulous way to see the beautiful countryside.
The healthcare in Thailand is fabulous.
No long wait periods to get a treatment.
No surprise medical bills that will force you into bankruptcy.
We got a full health screening and checkup for under US$100 each,
and no appointment necessary, we just walked in and waited about 20 minutes.
Most of the doctors and nurses speak English.
And it's not just the price it's the quality.
The medical care is modern, it's efficient, and it's some of the best in the world.
Before I go let me quickly mention that air pollution
can be bad in certain parts of the country.
If that's a concern then you want to be careful about choosing Bangkok,
and Northern Thailand would be a no-go during the smoky
season which is the first few months of the year.
And then safety is a definite pro to living in Thailand.
The crime rate is very low compared to most of the rest of the world which makes it a great option.
So there you have it, we think Thailand is overall
a wonderful country to consider if you want to live or retire abroad.
And we think you'll like it here,
if you're like us, and this might just be the paradise that you're looking for.
Hey before you go why don't you tap on the playlist that you see on the screen there
to check out some of the other videos we've made around the world.
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Thanks for traveling with us!