Why You Should Retire In Thailand Right Now!

In this article I’ll cover some of the reasons why Thailand is ripe for those who are able to retire there right now. I will also explain why I’m letting the secret out and help you decide whether Thailand is a right-fit for you (or whether you are right for Thailand).

1. Thailand is Full of Wonderful People

Thailand is world-renowned for the warm and welcoming nature of the Thai people. The people and the government actively strive to maintain that status in nearly every aspect of Thai society.

What most people visiting or living in Thailand say when asked what they like most about Thailand is the people. This is evident in the many stories and videos about the kindness and happiness of the Thai people.

Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles for many reasons. First impressions are important in Thailand, as are “saving face”.

Saving Face is not easily described. But I liked this description of “saving face”, “We in the west would call reputation, prestige, honour and social standing. Face is all about being polite, considerate, inoffensive and unobtrusive. There is a saying here in Thailand, actually it’s more than a saying, “kreng Jai” “(sometimes spelt “Greng Jai”) is deeply rooted in Thai culture, being kreng jai is to be polite and respectful and avoid loss of face for oneself or another person.” — Darren, British Expat in Thailand.

But there’s much more to Thai culture that merely smiling or saving face. There are countless examples of how amazing the Thai people are. You can find an endless amount of videos and articles telling the story of western travelers who got lost or stranded only to be saved by a Thai local who went way out of their way to help. By contrast to the Thai culture, many western countries are so hurried and selfish-oriented they put blinders on to avoid helping anyone at all costs.

When deciding to retire to a foreign country, it’s important to find somewhere you will feel welcome. Thailand might be just the place you are looking for if you value people and culture. That means you’ll have to smile and be kind and considerate as well.

2. Thailand is Affordable

One of the most common things westerners comment on regarding Thailand is how affordable it is there. In fact, for uninitiated travelers who happen to visit Thailand from western countries, they experience economic culture shock because it’s so radically different.

For example, for someone who lived most of their life in San Francisco or New York, going out to eat “fast food” in Thailand is a life-changing experience. The price of “street food” in most of Thailand is, by contrast to the US, cheap. In the US, a barely edible fast food burger might set you back $6 with a dollar for a soda ($7 USD). While in Thailand, a plate of Pad Thai (40 THB), a Moo Ping skewer (30 THB), and a Chang beer with ice (30 THB) amounts to a full meal for about $2.70 cents (depending on the exchange rate). At an expensive Thai restaurant that same meal might be twice as much which amounts to just $5.40, which is still amazing! It’s a real shock to Americans from most big cities in the US.

However, as a person living in Thailand, you would not be able to save a bunch of money if you are constantly trying to eat western food. This is why it’s important to integrate as much as possible to take advantage of the savings by eating Thai food.

The affordability of Thailand life doesn’t stop at just the food. Most things westerners are used to paying for are ridiculously more affordable in Thailand. Things like smartphone service, electricity, water, transportation, education and healthcare are all dramatically less expensive than the same quality and quantity in western countries. For example, I recently compared my US phone service plan which is $70/month to the similar Thai phone & data plan which is about $18 per month. That doesn’t seem like much, but my current plan is better than the $200 plan I used to have. And the Thai plan has much more data and faster speed for a fraction of the cost. The Thai plan is even better than the $200 plan I once had.

Accommodations are also more affordable depending on your standards. In Thailand, the longer you stay in one place, the better your rate. For example, reserving a single night in a luxury condo on the beach might cost you $50 a night in some areas. Or it could be $10,000 per night if you’re looking for that level of resort living. However, staying in an apartment in most areas in Thailand for a month or longer can cost as low as 12,000 to 15,000 Thai Baht per month. That’s about $317 US Dollars per month at the time this article was published. There are many rentals in Thailand that are more expensive and many even cheaper, but the average studio or 1-bedroom I have found, that includes a bathroom, bed, window, air conditioning, refrigerator, small kitchen or hot plate, currently at the time of this writing, are between 10,000 THB and 20,000 THB per month ($264 USD to $528 USD /month). Although I have seen a few places for far cheaper (2,000 to 4,000 THB), they are hit and miss or questionable or unreliable (or rare gems).

Moving to Thailand requires getting health insurance. For retirees, in most situations, Medicare won’t pay for health care outside the US.

Healthcare is a critical part of the cost of living in Thailand for any expat or retiree. Health Insurance in Thailand compared to western countries is very affordable. Last time I checked the cheapest price of health insurance in the United States, depending on the plan and age group of the insured, is between $450 and $1,100 per month. In Thailand, similar plans would be between $70 and $200 USD per month for high quality private insurance.

Thailand has both public and private hospitals and healthcare programs. Public facilities are comparable to private facilities, but many people report that the service at private hospitals and clinics is faster and more ‘luxurious’ or more ‘attentive service’ by comparison.

Same with dental services in Thailand. Both dental and healthcare costs are much more affordable in Thailand. So much so that many expats and retirees can afford to pay cash for most services.

A friend of mine, for example, just got a bunch of dental work done in Bangkok that would have cost thousands in the US, but he paid out of pocket only $200 USD. Stories like this are quite common. Surgeries that might cost $100,000 in the US generally cost 10–15% of that in Thailand.

Right now the US Dollar is extraordinarily high in value, and the Thai Baht is uniquely low in value. So to stretch your dollar further, now is the perfect time.

To take advantage of the lower costs of things in Thailand, you should be careful and make informed decisions — just like anywhere. But, for the most part, Thailand is a great place to stretch your dollar further and upgrade your lifestyle at the same time.

3. Thailand Tastes Delicious

Thailand is well-known as one of the worlds top foodie destinations.

I’m totally biased because Thai food is by far my favorite food on the planet. I could eat Laab Moo Isan or Khao Soi every day. For me, exploring the hundreds of Thai dishes from the different provinces of Thailand would be the adventure of a lifetime.

One of the great things about Thailand is the influence of many cultures into amazingly tasty and distinctly unique versions of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavor combinations. All of which are slightly different in each province of the country. Influences like Burma (Myanmar), Vietnam, Laos, China, India, Japan, Portugal, Malaysia, and Cambodia can be found all over Thailand.

If you’re not already hooked on Thai food… you will! When you visit Thailand you’ll be able to afford to try everything, which is what I recommend doing.

4. Thailand is Safe

This is one of those categories that’s difficult to explain to westerners because most westerners have been culturally conditioned to accept the current level of safety and security they live in as “normal”. And in some places in western countries there are pockets of relative safety and security. But most people in western countries are unaware of just how unsafe their community is.

Thailand, by contrast, is very safe compared to, say, Los Angeles or Chicago. Just like western countries, Thailand has some unsafe areas, but overall Thailand is a safer country for westerners than their home country. I know that’s an amazing claim, but if you do the research you’ll agree.

There are three areas I think Thailand suffers from in this category; air quality in certain areas during certain times of the year, high volume of traffic accidents in cities, and a lack of potable drinking water.

Specific examples include the “burning season” in northern Thailand which is unhealthy because of lingering smoke from farmers burning their fields to prepare their land for the new season and to get rid of biowaste. Another example is the data on traffic accidents in Thailand show a very high number of traffic collisions per capita compared to the rest of the world. Lastly, as in many countries, the tap water isn’t safe to drink for most sensitive westerners.

Suffice it to say that, in Thailand, you’re more likely to stand out as a potential target for people who might take advantage of you as a westerner because you come from an affluent country, but less likely to actually become a victim of a crime. Before moving to Thailand, do your homework.

Most importantly, in Thailand, if you’re lost you can ask for directions without fear or shame — and you’ll be overwhelmed with help. If you’re lucky, you might get food, a drink, a ride, a guide, and/or you might even make a friend for life.

5. Thailand is Accessible

Let’s face it — westerners are inundated with the concept of nationalism and borders, but for the wrong reasons. Fortunately, most people who have a overly prideful opinion of their western homeland don’t travel much and rarely decide to relocate to another country.

While Thailand is very serious about protecting it’s sovereignty, it has many programs that allow foreigners to enter and stay in the country long term. Most of those programs involve some kind of educational, entrepreneurial or economic commitment on the part of the visa seeker, but several programs exist for those who just want to retire there.

Over the last couple of years Thailand has taken the pandemic very seriously. As of October 1, 2022, however, all Covid protocols have been lifted completely. Thailand is open for all without Covid restrictions.

Thailand used to be a place known for backpackers extending their monthly visas perpetually forever. But the government has been tightening it’s visa programs for years now.

In the meantime, the country has implemented many legal ways for westerners to enter the country to retire or stay long term.

The most feature-rich visas available are called “Elite” visas but they are ridiculously expensive for most people. They range from $13,000 USD to $52,000 USD per person and last from 5 years to 20 years. There are more affordable ways to stay long term in Thailand. So unless you’re rich, I would avoid the elite visas.

The more popular visas for those who want to stay for longer than 30–45 days, are Education, Business/Investment, or Long-stay Retirement visas.

Retirement visas come in two flavors; one that you apply for in Thailand that’s called a “non-immigrant O visa”, and one you apply for in your country at a Thai embassy called a “non-immigrant O-A visa” (which you can apply for by mail). The costs for each are minimal.

Each of the long-stay visas have specific requirements that are different. But basically, you’ll need to be over 50, be able to prove you can afford to stay in Thailand for the duration of your visa which is typically 1-year, have a valid passport, not a criminal evading police, and a doctors note saying you don’t have a communicable disease on their prohibited list. It’s way more detailed than I have described, so you’ll need to do your due diligence before applying to retire in Thailand.

It’s important to add that a person who receives only Social Security income from the US and has about $24,000 in savings probably meets the requirements for a retirement visa. The sad truth is that same person may not be able to retire in the US with that same amount of money.

If you don’t meet the requirements for a retirement visa, also known as a “long stay” visa, then you might be eligible for an education visa, smart visa, or a business/investor visa if you can find a sponsoring organization, invest or create a business to apply for a smart visa.

• Non-Immigrant OA Visa
• Non-Immigrant O Visa
• Education Visa
• Business/Investor Visa
• Smart Visa
• Long -Term Resident Visa (LTR)
• All Visa Types

You can always get the standard tourist visa and do “visa runs”, but that seems to be a big hassle and might interrupt your enjoyment of the country. As you can see there are a lot of options to legally stay in Thailand which makes the country very accessible.

6. Thailand is Awesome

Thailand sparks joy. Ok, there. I said it. Thailand is an incredibly enchanting country filled with endless adventure and an environment teeming with life.

There’s no escaping the magic of Thailand. The opportunities to explore nature abound. Westerners who enjoy the outdoors will find an abundance of exotic plants, wildlife, powder-soft white sand beaches, mighty rivers, waterfalls, limestone cliffs, immense caves, and incredible vistas.

Thailand has more than it’s fair share of amazing culture, stunning temples, and unique festivals steeped in history.

I already mentioned the extraordinarily good food-culture in Thailand. The food is so good it’s worth mentioning twice! Experiencing Thai food in Thailand is a well-rounded experience that includes hints of history, elements of culture and language, and flavors from exotic lands that have influenced Thai culture. It’ also brings home the farm-to-table realization that in Thailand, it’s not all frozen-forever foods thawing before being microwaved for you. It’s all fresh, handmade goodness and you usually get to meet the chef first hand as they take your order and prepare it right in front of you.

Beautiful people and all — Thailand is easy to fall in love with.

Why Let The Secret Out?

I’ve written about Thailand before. When I have I occasionally got a gentle nudge from those in-the-know who have expressed concern about over-tourism. What they really meant most of the time is, well, they wanted to preserve Thailand for themselves, or to protect it from ugly Americans.

I fully understand those perspectives. But, there are two solid reasons why I’m sharing this article and “letting the secret out”.

The first reason is because it’s not really a secret. Most people who are inclined to travel and have a remote source of income, like digital nomads, pensioners, or passive investments already know about the various countries that are open to longer stays or retirement.

The world is no longer hidden away. Exotic and affordable countries are not solely for the rugged backpacker or adventurer to explore any more. Most are open to anybody who can Google their way (which isn’t necessarily a good thing). Anything you can Google isn’t really a secret.

Besides, there are hundreds, no thousands, of videos on YouTube talking about moving to Thailand or retiring there. There are many websites dedicated to the subject of retiring or moving to Thailand. Even the Thai government has websites discussing retirement, special long term visas for business or investment, and how to obtain long-stay visas for education or volunteering.

The benefits associated with relocating or retiring in Thailand are no longer secrets.

Reason number two is more nuanced. The reasons why people don’t relocate or retire to Southeast Asia (or anywhere) are many. Most westerners can’t manage living in a culture that’s completely different the way Thailand is from Western countries.

Everything is so different that many find a short trip intense and filled with unique experiences of a lifetime, but they can’t see themselves living there for a myriad of reasons. The language barrier alone holds many back from envisioning themselves assimilating into Thai society.

But there’s far more keeping westerners from moving abroad. The biggest is their notion of money and work. Most westerners can’t find a way to earn enough passive income or a way to earn money remotely.

Thailand has strict laws preventing foreigners, even retired visa holders from working. Although some visas do allow foreigners to be employed in Thailand, those are much more difficult to obtain and maintain. This makes relocating to Thailand without some kind of massive savings, investment or a pension difficult to imagine for most westerners.

For many years the term “Expat”, short for “expatriate”, has been the preferred term for someone who chooses to live in a different country then the one they were born in. Today, many call this “geoarbitrage” — the art of going where you’re money stretches further and your lifestyle improves.

To accomplish effective relocation using geoarbitrage, you first need to understand what your needs and assets are, and what type of lifestyle you want. A lot goes into this aspect of becoming an expat. Most people can’t afford to relocate, and most countries have complex requirements before a non-citizen can enter and stay for long periods.

This is why this article isn’t going to let the secret out and flood a pristine and fragile environment with a bunch of “ugly Americans”. Simply put, most who would on a whim move to Thailand and try to recreate America there, won’t be coming anyway. Sure, some visit now and then, but they aren’t able to cope with the lifestyle one must have to live in Thailand. And most can’t find a way to afford it either.

That means Thailand is mostly safe from a flood of westerners invading the country long term.

Is Thailand Right For You?

You need to understand yourself before relocating to Thailand. Are you hot-tempered, quick to judge, slightly Karen-ish? If so, you’re probably better off staying where you are. Thailand is no place for impatience, weak stomachs or delicate egos.

Mindset is part of who you are. It travels with you wherever you go.

What I mean by “mindset” is part attitude and part behavior. I’m not suggesting you need to conform your thinking, but to curb your attitude and relax your reaction to circumstances you’re not familiar with.

Your beliefs shape how you make sense of your environment and yourself. This mindset influences how you think, feel, behave and treat others in any given situation. So if you are the type of person that adapts to new environments well, and respects whatever culture you’re living in, then Thailand might be a right-fit for you.

Moving to any country you are unfamiliar with is going to be challenging. Without the proper mindset you’ll be doing yourself and others a great disservice.

Please heed this advice: don’t go to Thailand unless you are very open and accepting of other cultures, languages, and ways of doing things. If everything to you needs to meet the standards of where you came from, then Thailand is not for you.

If you’re homophobic, racist, or you find other religions unacceptable, then Thailand isn’t right for you.

If you think your country’s type of government, it’s economics, or it’s politics are better than Thailand's, don’t go there.

If you get upset waiting in lines, or when the power goes out, or you’d be upset if you had to wade in knee-deep water to go to the store, then Thailand is not the place for you to retire.

If you see a guy riding a scooter down a flooded street overloaded with bags of aluminum cans, and you laugh thinking back home they’d do it better, instead of seeing an entrepreneur working hard to earn a living—then Thailand is not for you.

In my opinion, the question is not, “is Thailand right for you?” but “are you right for Thailand”. If you are willing to work at being the very best guest a country could every have, then I think you just might be.