LOS alternative

[BritManToo]

On 11/17/2018 at 4:51 PM, robsamui said:

In the last 12 years the cost of living, across the board, has doubled in Thailand and I simply can't afford to stay here now. Up until 5 or 6 years ago I was able to save money from my employment, but now I'm spending what I earn every month.

When I came to Thailand 10 years back I was spending 60kBht/month.

Now I spend 45k/month.

 

Bars and hookers may have risen in price, but nothing much else has.

My biggest increase was changing from renting a house (6k/month) to buying a house (11k/month)

But that has been way offset by my lifestyle changing form bars and hookers to drinking at home and looking after my kids.

[marcusarelus]

5 hours ago, cleverman said:

Cost of living in LOS has nothing to do with the OP

Then you need to edit the title. 

[cleverman]

3 hours ago, marcusarelus said:

Then you need to edit the title. 

Ok, try this then. Where would you move to ,owing to the embassy letter matter and what is the cost of living in Thailand?

[bermondburi]

Left Thailand for Saudi six years ago after being there for over a decade. I don't really see what all the fuss is about, and bear in mind I'm married to a Thai with two kids. 

 

I do not miss Thailand at all. After we first came I didn't visit for two and a half years. Didn't bother me in the slightest. 

 

We own two properties there and my wife recently moved back with the kids. These days I enjoy my time in Thailand, but for me, it's not the be all and end all of life. 

 

I will retire there, but can't now see myself living there full time. Six months Thailand and six months uk would be great. 

 

I think too many people put Thailand on a pedestal.

 

I do agree with the posters talking about costs. When I do visit now, I'm constantly amazed by how much general living costs are compared to when I lived there previously. I just don't know how people survive when Thai salaries are so low. I know they do survive obviously, but I think it must be tough. Living costs are cheaper in Saudi in so many ways. And for sure for a big buy, it's cheaper here. 

 

So to me, Thailand is a high cost low income country. The worst combination. 

 

 

[mettech]

Canada for residing first it is a country with  great climat differential from west to east the west especially Vancouver would be mild and rainy most of the year and over the rocky mountain the weather would be from mild to very cold ans rain snow and it is also very expensive to live. 

I know I live there for a good part of my life and moved around to find out SEA is more like liveable.

[melvinmelvin]

1 hour ago, mettech said:

Canada for residing first it is a country with  great climat differential from west to east the west especially Vancouver would be mild and rainy most of the year and over the rocky mountain the weather would be from mild to very cold ans rain snow and it is also very expensive to live. 

I know I live there for a good part of my life and moved around to find out SEA is more like liveable.

 

Vancouver and surroundings - very very beautiful

by and large my fav city in the world, despite the rather wet winters

 

 

[balo]

On 11/16/2018 at 8:50 AM, Cryingdick said:

Viet Nam seems like a very reasonable candidate. You don't have to go through much effort to get there to check it out. VN is seeing a lot of new expats coming in in recent times. If you are under 50 I would give it a good look

 

Why not over 50 ? 

[JimmyJ]

7 hours ago, melvinmelvin said:

 

Vancouver and surroundings - very very beautiful

by and large my fav city in the world, despite the rather wet winters

 

 

 

Rents in Vancouver are insanely high.

[Cryingdick]

23 hours ago, balo said:

 

Why not over 50 ? 

 

Nothing wrong with VN for people over 50. Just they have easy routes for a visa in Thailand so feel Thailand is probably still okay for them.

[balo]

I want to check out Saigon for a few months . Just to compare prices on rent, utility bills , food etc. 

[xylophone]

9 hours ago, balo said:

I want to check out Saigon for a few months . Just to compare prices on rent, utility bills , food etc. 

I would be interested to hear your feedback balo, so please post it if you would be so kind.

[cleverman]

13 hours ago, balo said:

I want to check out Saigon for a few months . Just to compare prices on rent, utility bills , food etc. 

Cheaper to stay put and google it. Plenty of expat forums there with all the info you need. I'm clever so I did that to get all the info on Malasia. Now I'm an Expert on immigration  to Malasia. 

[BritManToo]

13 hours ago, balo said:

I want to check out Saigon for a few months . Just to compare prices on rent, utility bills , food etc. 

Rent is slightly more, women cost 2x more, beer is half the price.

Crossing the road is truly frightening.

[balo]

17 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Rent is slightly more, women cost 2x more, beer is half the price.

Crossing the road is truly frightening.

I know you can google most stuff today , but I want to have a personal experience. 

 

 

[Jingthing]

4 minutes ago, balo said:

I know you can google most stuff today , but I want to have a personal experience. 

 

 

Balo, aren't you on retirement extensions?

Vietnam has no such thing so long term residence security is probably even worse than Thailand.

I'm prioritizing considering other places that actually offer good residence security for retirees with reasonable financial requirements. The only one I know like that in Asean is the Philippines. I don't like the Philippines so that leaves a number of choices in Latin America.

Edited November 24, 2018 by Jingthing

[BritManToo]

21 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Vietnam has no such thing so long term residence security is probably even worse than Thailand.

Unless you marry or father a local, then it's $40 for a 5 year VISA.

[Jingthing]

4 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Unless you marry or father a local, then it's $40 for a 5 year VISA.

And after the 5 years? Vietnam is a rapidly changing nation. The obvious trend for rising nations is to raise the bar for migrant retirees. The thing about nations that actually offer permanent residence is that would protect against such future changes. With possible exceptions but nothing is 100 percent. For example Colombia actually had the nerve to tell people that had applied for and had LIFETIME visas in their passports, sorry amigos, the stamp is only good for five years now. 

 

BTW, I'm not demanding anything but if you can be so kind, can you kindly post a link about this five year Vietnam deal you speak of? I wasn't aware of that. If not you, if someone else can do so, it's all good. 

Edited November 24, 2018 by Jingthing

[BritManToo]

7 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

And after the 5 years? Vietnam is a rapidly changing nation.

I'm quite old, 5 years is a long time, probably my life time.

Pretty sure I wouldn't need a second five years.

 

https://www.vietnamvisaonline.net/article/vietnam-visa-tips/05-year-vietnam-visa-exemption/

Edited November 24, 2018 by BritManToo

[Jingthing]

I'm quite old, 5 years is a long time, probably my life time.
Pretty sure I wouldn't need a second five years.
 
https://www.vietnamvisaonline.net/article/vietnam-visa-tips/05-year-vietnam-visa-exemption/

You never know. But one thing you can know is that in general the older you get the more challenging it is to suddenly be forced to move to another country.

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[totally thaied up]

On 11/17/2018 at 2:20 PM, Jingthing said:

I think it's obvious that the vast majority of foreigners retiring in Thailand (and abroad in general) are largely motivated by economics. 

I come from a well-heeled family but I am the black sheep. I had to retire at 39 due to illness and due to the fact my family just 'let me go', I was motivated by economics. I was looked after in Australia but I had so many rules to abide by, my life was hell. I am not rich and had the choice of rotting in a room in Australia/Nursing Home funded by my family or going out on my own. So a cheaper place was high on my agenda that had a warm climate that would be better for my illness. My family let me go with very little fanfare or blessing and I have been on my own now for ten years.

 

I looked almost everywhere around the place and spent almost two years on the internet searching out places in Mexico/Spain and the such. I had spent a lot of time in Asia when I was younger and had married a Filipino girl that used me for a Visa. I ended up moving to Thailand understanding it would be around the same cost as Australia for me if the Exchange Rate went to shit but I would have at least a sense of freedom that evaded me in Australia. The other thing was I would be close to home. Eight hours on a plane and I could be back. I over the years spent a lot of time thinking the grass was greener (in other SEA areas) as well and I only had to remember my trips to the Philippines and venturing around other parts of SEA as a young man to just see how far ahead Thailand was in some areas.

 

I get the Thailand Blues every so often and wish I could just move to another area. I think is that after spending a great deal of time here, we forget how good it is. The only issue I have is health and I wish we had a better form of medical system here. I am afraid when I get older, it will be back to Australia as I will not be able to afford my health premiums and I will have to take my wife back with me. I am only 49 and I have had health issues in the past and every time I get sick, it is a worry. Moving around SEA is very simple for us. If you want Cambodia, a cheap flight your there. You want Vietnam, get a Visa and off you go. For my wife and I, if we wanted to travel around it is very easy. Still, after reading all this stuff about how visas are changing and the end of the world as we know it is coming, the 800/400K problem is not an issue for me as I have money in the bank. For those that do not have money, I do feel for them, yet if they moved that sum up a much higher figure, maybe even I could not stay with a Thai wife. I would be at the mercy of my family.

 

I lived for a long period of time in the Philippines and it is not that nice of a place to live. Short term holidays are fine but to retire, no, it would be too much. I had a friend die out the front of a hospital as his Visa Card could not cover the amount of money needed as a down payment. I had another wifes relative die much the same way as they could not get the funds together. At least here, they will keep you alive in the first 24 hours. The Typhoon Season is terrible and the Philippines is ready for another big shake sooner or later. About every 12-15 years they get one and it is close to that point now. I got mugged in Manila and badly hurt, so safety is a worry. 

 

The grass to me here is still pretty green. Unless the Junta does something stupid, politics are not hurting me. Unless my health premiums are put up too much, at this stage I can afford them. The food is a lot better than elsewhere. I have a loving wife in a small town that is easy to get around in. Those that are affected I feel are those that do not have attachment here because if you do, you will find a way to stay or you will just have to pack your bags and go elsewhere with your wife and for some of us, that is not easy to do. I do agree Thailand has changed but so have I over the years. I just may also not fit into the old Thailand we once knew and the Thailand that we once understood, has also moved on.

Edited November 24, 2018 by totally thaied up

[balo]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Balo, aren't you on retirement extensions?

Vietnam has no such thing so long term residence security is probably even worse than Thailand

 

I am on a retirement extension right now , but not sure if I can continue . I am only in my 50's and still working part time  (digital nomad). 

 

I will always look for other options even if I like Thailand. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jingthing]

 
I am on a retirement extension right now , but not sure if I can continue . I am only in my 50's and still working part time  (digital nomad). 
 
I will always look for other options even if I like Thailand. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Yes I feel I need to know about other options in case things go south for my situation in Thailand. Of course I looked hard at repatriating to the USA and that's always there visawise but I determined my prospects there seem quite grim. So. Habla Español?

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Jingthing]

4 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I'm quite old, 5 years is a long time, probably my life time.

Pretty sure I wouldn't need a second five years.

 

https://www.vietnamvisaonline.net/article/vietnam-visa-tips/05-year-vietnam-visa-exemption/

The 5 year thing doesn't seem that it would apply to most retired migrants!

I thought it sounded too good to be true.

Quote

05 year visa exemption for foreigners to Vietnam is applicable to passengers who are the husbands, the wives, the children of people with Vietnamese nationality and passports, identity cards in Vietnam or to be Vietnamese.

 

[georgegeorgia]

On 11/17/2018 at 1:09 AM, Dazinoz said:

I was stay here (thailand) for the time being. Last visit back to Oz opened my eyes to how exe things have become.

 

Hate to be a party pooper but a lot of stuff in Australia is actually cheaper than Thailand, eg I couldnt believe the price of fruit in the supermarket,i thought 20 baht price was per kilo,no it was per piece !

kilo of tomatoes , apples etc are  cheaper in Australia , cans of tuna etc cheaper.

 

Medical care is free in OZ to a certain point 

 

,seeing a GP most are free, ,emergency services hospital treatment is free, publc hospital care is free 

 

ambulance is free to pensioners unemployed, 

pensioners receive all day transport passes, etc ,

 

The thing which hurts most old  Aussie expats in Thailand is that health insurance they have to take out when in Australia they would get medical care free 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 25, 2018 by georgegeorgia

[georgegeorgia]

Anyone looked at any  African nations???

 

What about Spain nowadays?

 

 

 

[cleverman]

4 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Hate to be a party pooper but a lot of stuff in Australia is actually cheaper than Thailand, eg I couldnt believe the price of fruit in the supermarket,i thought 20 baht price was per kilo,no it was per piece !

kilo of tomatoes , apples etc are  cheaper in Australia , cans of tuna etc cheaper.

 

Medical care is free in OZ to a certain point 

 

,seeing a GP most are free, ,emergency services hospital treatment is free, publc hospital care is free 

 

ambulance is free to pensioners unemployed, 

pensioners receive all day transport passes, etc ,

 

The thing which hurts most old  Aussie expats in Thailand is that health insurance they have to take out when in Australia they would get medical care free 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Need an operation in Oz, on Medicare, over 2 year waiting period.

[georgegeorgia]

12 minutes ago, cleverman said:

Need an operation in Oz, on Medicare, over 2 year waiting period.

Yes it’s possible if its not urgent eg knee replacement,hip replacement etc 

 

My late father had Cancer he was operated on within a few days on being diagnosed, (not that it did much good)

[Dazinoz]

5 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Hate to be a party pooper but a lot of stuff in Australia is actually cheaper than Thailand, eg I couldnt believe the price of fruit in the supermarket,i thought 20 baht price was per kilo,no it was per piece !

kilo of tomatoes , apples etc are  cheaper in Australia , cans of tuna etc cheaper.

 

Medical care is free in OZ to a certain point 

 

,seeing a GP most are free, ,emergency services hospital treatment is free, publc hospital care is free 

 

ambulance is free to pensioners unemployed, 

pensioners receive all day transport passes, etc ,

 

The thing which hurts most old  Aussie expats in Thailand is that health insurance they have to take out when in Australia they would get medical care free 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Admittedly when I was back there I did not buy groceries so can't comment on the prices.

 

Yes you are right about the medical but, on the other hand, I can get into a specialist here (in Chiang Mai) without having to goto a GP and getting a referral and most times only cost 500B. I find medicines to be very expensive here.

 

Now I have been here over 5 years I have been "kicked out" or Medicare and have to re-apply when I go back and have to prove I have left Thailand and back in Australia permanently.

 

I am not a pensioner yet so those benefits are not available to me. I still have 3 1/2 years to go to be eligible and will be returning to Australia before that time.

 

So at the present time a lot things that I need are cheaper here. House rent, water, electricity, car rego, eating out.

[nausea]

Can one live in Cambodia and like live 3 months of the year in Thailand. I have committments here and very welcome they are, enhances my life no end, but to be honest I'm feeling a bit trapped. This might be the push I need. My ideal lifestyle would involve London, but until I get my old age state pension that's just a fantasy. Thailand, Cambodia, UK - ooee, that would be good. I'm past the stage of exploring, I've found what I like and just want to exploit it, in my halycon days, my green old age, before the Alzheimers kicks in. When, no doubt, I'll return to the UK, and throw myself on the mercies of the UK NHS, and the vast extended family I'm part of. 

[cleverman]

38 minutes ago, nausea said:

Can one live in Cambodia and like live 3 months of the year in Thailand. I have committments here and very welcome they are, enhances my life no end, but to be honest I'm feeling a bit trapped. This might be the push I need. My ideal lifestyle would involve London, but until I get my old age state pension that's just a fantasy. Thailand, Cambodia, UK - ooee, that would be good. I'm past the stage of exploring, I've found what I like and just want to exploit it, in my halycon days, my green old age, before the Alzheimers kicks in. When, no doubt, I'll return to the UK, and throw myself on the mercies of the UK NHS, and the vast extended family I'm part of. 

Why rot away in pain in old age, if I get notice of a few months of life left, I will head to an opium den and die high.