Thailand secured its position as the world’s ninth-best retirement spot on International Living Magazine’s 2023 Annual Global Retirement Index. The index ranks countries based on their suitability for retirees, taking into account various factors including cost of living, cost of healthcare, cultural activities, and more.

 

In the 2023 index, Thailand shares the spotlight with other popular retirement destinations such as Portugal, Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Spain, Greece, and France. Notably, Thailand is the only Asian country featured in this esteemed group.

 

International Living acknowledges that the index’s output is not meant to be scientific, however, it is based on the opinions and experiences of hundreds of retirees living in various countries.

 

The magazine acknowledges Thailand’s expat appeal, citing its affordable cost of living combined with an enriched way of life. The country offers excellent opportunities in real estate, particularly for foreigners who can easily purchase condos and find bargains throughout the market. Additionally, Thailand boasts exceptional healthcare facilities, further enhancing its allure as a retirement destination.

 

By Tara Abhasakun

Caption: Photo via iStock

 

Full Story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/magazine-ranks-thailand-9th-best-retirement-spot-on-earth

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-07-17

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

"After living in Chiang Mai, a large city in the north of Thailand, my life could not be better. Over the last seven years, I have not been bored, not even for a minute."

 

Must like temples more than me. I was getting bored after 2 weeks and I like temples.

Oh dear. 

Another distracting tome. 

panama? seriously?

WE'RE NUMBER NINE!

WE'RE NUMBER NINE!

 

Nah, just doesn't sound right when you chant it.

 

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I always got a kick out of restaurants proudly displaying a plaque from their local Camber of Commerce or newspaper, saying "Best Mexican Restaurant of 2019!" -- Reader's Poll.

 

I always wanted to say to them, "That's great mate, but who's the best THIS YEAR? Where are THEY?"

 

(HINT: Any "Best Of" plaque that's older than last year......... take it down! That sad, solitary 2015 "Best Of" plaque just reminds me that you HAVEN'T won it in the last 8 years! ????)

 

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WE'RE NUMBER NINE!

WE'RE NUMBER NINE!

 

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Nope, still not doing it for me!

 

Lol

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

taking into account various factors including cost of living, cost of healthcare, cultural activities,

Well I must say there has been for many years a constant flow of "culture", sorry cultural, exchange going on.....

By the way, who dreams up this rubbish? Are they paid? 

This guy highlights the ability to 

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The country offers excellent opportunities in real estate, particularly for foreigners who can easily purchase condos and find bargains throughout the market

Yep, especially those that fall apart. 

That is, if they're built at all. 

How many times have we seen here the cheating, scamming and downright theft in the property market.

As oft said here....rent don't buy

 

If it is so bad for you... leave.

It depends on the individual. But for living here for three years.  It seemed to be a place that draws many expats that couldn’t afford to live any place else. Either Western or a more upscale Asian Country . And complain about how their home countries caused their issues.  Including their financial issues 

23 minutes ago, harleyclarkey said:

By the way, who dreams up this rubbish? Are they paid? 

This guy highlights the ability to 

Yep, especially those that fall apart. 

That is, if they're built at all. 

How many times have we seen here the cheating, scamming and downright theft in the property market.

As oft said here....rent don't buy

 

Yeah.. and as well all know foreigners can't buy land. I lived in Thailand for 17 years in a nice mooban but the homes there never sold for more than what the owners paid for them when they bought them new. 

 

Maybe condos go up in value, but I can't tell you how many times I've heard about people buying. nice condo and then the owners let the common areas fall into disrepair. 

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

In the 2023 index, Thailand shares the spotlight with other popular retirement destinations such as Portugal, Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Spain, Greece, and France. Notably, Thailand is the only Asian country featured in this esteemed group

Mostly based on cost of living....

scratch the surface and Thailand is no-where near the best countries to retire.

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Mostly based on cost of living....

scratch the surface and Thailand is no-where near the best countries to retire.

Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica... having lived in these 4 countries as well... Thailand beats them hands down... 

How does it rank in the Universe? ????

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Mostly based on cost of living....

scratch the surface and Thailand is no-where near the best countries to retire.

and neither are these: Portugal, Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Spain, Greece, and France

7 minutes ago, h90 said:

and neither are these: Portugal, Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Spain, Greece, and France

I have heard positive wrt Portugal and Costa Rica...  there are large numbers of Europeans retired in Spain too. If it was just about cost of living Cambodia and PI would get a mention...... Thailand just has a good mix of a lot of factors. 

2 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I have heard positive wrt Portugal and Costa Rica...  there are large numbers of Europeans retired in Spain too. If it was just about cost of living Cambodia and PI would get a mention...... Thailand just has a good mix of a lot of factors. 

Sure nice there...but many places are nice, being worldwide in the top 10. How is English skills in Portugal (if you can't speak Portuguese)?

Just now, h90 said:

How is English skills in Portugal (if you can't speak Portuguese)?

Probably better than Thailand.... they have been catering to tourists some many yeas. 

Kind of depends WHERE you live in a particular country.

In Thailand:

Chiang Mai: 4 months of cancerous smog.

Bangkok:  immobile traffic.

Phuket:  ruinous prices for everything that a falang needs or wants.

Hua Hin:  Crossing the road is bad for your health.

Pattaya:  Lo-so.

 

Find a nice quiet village in Issan....but then you are bored pretty well to death in less than a week.

 

So, maybe not retire, but just visit for six months or so of every year...

1 minute ago, jacko45k said:

Probably better than Thailand.... they have been catering to tourists some many yeas. 

I do pretty well in Thailand with English....In places where it matters (doctors, pharmacies, etc) it was always excellent. And the young generation is even better.

It is not fantastic but good enough....I recall in Italy, next to the Vatican, so a tourist spot, they pretended to not speak 1 word English...not even understanding Yes and No.

(But Italian is somehow very easy to learn for me....in one week I could understand many things, while Thai seems very hard for me).

this same article is repeated regularly unless I am mistaken

13 hours ago, bignok said:

"After living in Chiang Mai, a large city in the north of Thailand, my life could not be better. Over the last seven years, I have not been bored, not even for a minute."

 

Must like temples more than me. I was getting bored after 2 weeks and I like temples.

Yes PM2.5 is really low????

27 minutes ago, blazes said:

Kind of depends WHERE you live in a particular country.

In Thailand:

Chiang Mai: 4 months of cancerous smog.

Bangkok:  immobile traffic.

Phuket:  ruinous prices for everything that a falang needs or wants.

Hua Hin:  Crossing the road is bad for your health.

Pattaya:  Lo-so.

 

Find a nice quiet village in Issan....but then you are bored pretty well to death in less than a week.

 

So, maybe not retire, but just visit for six months or so of every year...

Good summary

 

Lo so 555

These polls are nonsense. I can pretty much guarantee that if your money could buy you the same amount anywhere else in the world as in Thailand, Thailand would be ranked in the 50's. Thailand is cheap and has lots of cheap totty , that is why it is ranked highly

1 hour ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica... having lived in these 4 countries as well... Thailand beats them hands down... 

Difference of opinion I guess. I love Mexico... Heading to Colombia Wed.. Think I will check out the Philippines when I return from Colombia. IF I make it out alive, ugggg

1 hour ago, h90 said:

Sure nice there...but many places are nice, being worldwide in the top 10. How is English skills in Portugal (if you can't speak Portuguese)?

Don't you mean 'How are English skills in Portugal'?

27 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

These polls are nonsense. I can pretty much guarantee that if your money could buy you the same amount anywhere else in the world as in Thailand, Thailand would be ranked in the 50's. Thailand is cheap and has lots of cheap totty , that is why it is ranked highly

Cheap is great.....you can live one or two steps above the standard that you could in a other country.....so cheap is a quality on itself (modifying a Stalin quote).

If your bones hurt and a massage costs 50 Euro you can't have it every day. If it costs 300 Baht you can. So for someone who needs it Thailand goes up 20 ranks with it.

(and if we do the same example with horny old men and girls it will win if the rest of the country looks like Antarctica) 

2 minutes ago, mrfill said:

Don't you mean 'How are English skills in Portugal'?

yes....but it wasn't my bad English....it was writing faster than thinking ????

Another + for Thailand...no one but Farangs recognize how bad my English is ????

1 hour ago, Skipalongcassidy said:

Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica... having lived in these 4 countries as well... Thailand beats them hands down... 

Shhhhhhsshh...

1 hour ago, blazes said:

Kind of depends WHERE you live in a particular country.

In Thailand:

Chiang Mai: 4 months of cancerous smog.

Bangkok:  immobile traffic.

Phuket:  ruinous prices for everything that a falang needs or wants.

Hua Hin:  Crossing the road is bad for your health.

Pattaya:  Lo-so.

 

Find a nice quiet village in Issan....but then you are bored pretty well to death in less than a week.

 

So, maybe not retire, but just visit for six months or so of every year...

Nong Khai/pkk cool but boring after a while

 

Lets face it nowhere is gold.

Can't really compare the cost of retiring in France with Thailand. What would a nice condo by the beach cost in Cannes or one in the centre of Paris?

 

Edit i just checked 100sqm in Cannes 1 million Euros 36 million baht. Mine same size by the beach in Jomtien cost 3.6 million baht.

Edited July 18, 20232 yr by Henryford