Where would you like to stay for a long time in Thailand? Which area or city?

[Boulderman]

Where would you like to stay long-term in Thailand and potentially purchase property? Which area or city do you prefer and why? I'm conducting my own research as I'm considering living there for a while. Thanks in advance!

[KhunLA]

"I'm considering living there for a while" ...

 

... Then don't buy, as you can't anyway, unless a condo, and short term, that's usually at a loss.  Fools folly if never lived here, in TH, already.  So 'RENT'

 

If wanting to avoid smog season, or minimize it, then Chumphon or below.   The rest is personal choice, and doubt if your interest would align with mine.

 

Good luck.

[ChipButty]

Live here for a while, then rent so can up and go whenever it suits you, What seemed a good idea 25 years ago, doesn't look so good now, 

[Harrisfan]

Visit the 10 largest cities and see for yourself

[CharlieH]

DONT Buy- Rent!  and rent for about 3-6 months in different areas until you get a feel for what fits your lifestyle.

 

 

 

[arick]

Yes go gamble buy a condo 

[arick]

My home! Country city 50 mins away

[edwardflory]

"""and potentially purchase property?"""

 

If you are talking about "LAND - tera firma", you can NOT purchase land.

 

Your overall bet is to RENT fot several years. The wife owns a "Thai  condo" in the BKK area ) while you look for a condo or a house - with a 30 year land lease.

 

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION

I am happy renting for the past 12 years, very large room in Pattaya - 2 years, 3 room condo in BKK - 2 years, 4 room condo in Korat 4 years- ( never paid more than 7000bt month rent + utilities ) 

 

LICATION LOCATION LOCATION

NOW, the past 4 years, a 2BR house, indoor kitchen, fencd yard, 3 trees, garden  and etc in a gated community ( 4,500bt a month + utilities ) in Korat. 4 major storesmom & pop stores, NEW strip mall Fishing lake and the IO  within 15 minutes of the house on our electric tricycle.

 

[zepplin]

On 3/27/2025 at 9:54 AM, Boulderman said:

Where would you like to stay long-term in Thailand and potentially purchase property? Which area or city do you prefer and why? I'm conducting my own research as I'm considering living there for a while. Thanks in advance!

I’ve been on koh samui , in Lamai for the last 18 years , love it here still, but there is a lot of building going on , and the traffic on the other side of the island is nuts!

[khunPer]

On 3/27/2025 at 3:54 AM, Boulderman said:

Where would you like to stay long-term in Thailand and potentially purchase property? Which area or city do you prefer and why? I'm conducting my own research as I'm considering living there for a while. Thanks in advance!

It is very individual and depending of numerous factors, like life-style, economy and relationship with a local.

 

So, what others and I might suggest as "paradise", might be completely opposite for you.

 

My advise is always to get around and visit various areas of interest – also if several others have recommended an area that might not be one's first choice – and get your own experience. There are different seasons; up north summer, rain and winter; down south only summer and rain. Preferable visit in each season to get the right impression, if you can live in that area, there can be relative huge difference in an area, depending of the seasons.

 

And for what it might matter for you – and others – here is my own experience. First time I visited Thailand in 1987 I felt when coming to Chiang Mai in April that this was a place I could live, perhaps settle one day.

 

15 years later I began thing about a permanent move to Thailand. I visited several areas, including revisit to Chiang Mai. Today I'm happy that I chose to settle somewhere else in Thailand, but that is only me, many foreigners have chosen to live in Chiang Mai.

 

I found my paradise on an island – be aware that islands can be great for a holiday, but might be too isolated for living permanently – I've been here since 2005 and have been very happy, and still is, and have no intentions at all about moving anywhere else, if I can avoid it. My primary choice was for "all year summer" and "barefoot Xmas"; living costs, party life, ladies and other benefits were just cool extra benefits...😎

[Tom100]

On 3/27/2025 at 4:47 AM, Harrisfan said:

Visit the 10 largest cities and see for yourself

Excellent answer. See and decide based on what feels right for you.

Before I moved to LOS I asked people online where to live -- most said near Asoke in BKK -- biggest mistake was listening to others rather than making my own decision as HarrisDude suggests.

[JJ-Thailand]

Don't buy, rent.

[Stocky]

I wouldn't be in a hurry to do anything, and certainly "living there for a while" is no grounds for a purchase, rent as said numerous times above.  Travel around live a few months each in several cities and resort areas. As the saying goes "act in haste, repent at leisure" there's no rush, Thailand's not going anywhere.

[1FinickyOne]

 

just come over and let it happen... wherever your new found partner is from is a good start. 

[worgeordie]

Chiang Mai for me  when Bangkok floods , there will be a mass

exit North , property will boom , I won't be here to see it, they

say don't buy property ,maybe now ,but i bought several after

the 1997 financial crash , there were bargains to be found ,

 

Bought 4 houses from a Japanese company that was packing

in and going back to Japan , all in the same moo bahn ,managers

houses ,but you have to have a good reliable wife to do that or

you could lose everything 

 

regards worgeordie

[Hellfire]

On 3/27/2025 at 10:31 AM, KhunLA said:

"I'm considering living there for a while" ...

 

... Then don't buy, as you can't anyway, unless a condo, and short term, that's usually at a loss.  Fools folly if never lived here, in TH, already.  So 'RENT'

 

If wanting to avoid smog season, or minimize it, then Chumphon or below.   The rest is personal choice, and doubt if your interest would align with mine.

 

Good luck.

 

When I read your post, I imagine a big mouse—maybe even a rat—checking the latest air quality on its mobile phone.

[ChipButty]

After yesterdays drama buying might be a bad idea, 

[GammaGlobulin]

If you graduated from Boulder, or live in Colorado:

 

I would try to find some place high up.

The mountains here are more beautiful than those in Colorado, and far less snow.

 

Also, the mountain here are covered with tea, at least the ones in Chiang Rai.

 

Therefore, if you are used to heights, and enjoy tea drinking, and love beautiful mountains, then this is a no-brainer.

 

CHIANG RAI in the Chiang Mai Province, is the only place for you.

 

In fact, I think that Chiang Rai is so good that I would really like to move there.

 

(Or, what I might like to do is keep my house in Chiang Mai, and then have some sort of quiet place in Chiang Rai where I could escape to, when needed.)

 

I might even try to find someone with a big house that has an outbuilding that I could rent for a pittance, in Chiang Rai. Some place small would do...

 

But, when I say an outbuilding, I do NOT mean an outhouse.

 

I think the terms are confused in American English and UK English.

 

In conclusion:  Chiang Rai might be best for you.

 

 

[newnative]

Pattaya--see other threads as to why it is a good place to live long-term.

[Ralf001]

Nungprue, Chonburi.

 

20+ yrs so far and no desire to move elsewhere.

 

The Ralf.

[Boulderman]

On 3/26/2025 at 8:50 PM, CharlieH said:

DONT Buy- Rent!  and rent for about 3-6 months in different areas until you get a feel for what fits your lifestyle.

 

Best answer yet! Thanks!

 

 

[Boulderman]

On 3/29/2025 at 6:47 AM, GammaGlobulin said:

If you graduated from Boulder, or live in Colorado:

 

I would try to find some place high up.

The mountains here are more beautiful than those in Colorado, and far less snow.

 

Also, the mountain here are covered with tea, at least the ones in Chiang Rai.

 

Therefore, if you are used to heights, and enjoy tea drinking, and love beautiful mountains, then this is a no-brainer.

 

CHIANG RAI in the Chiang Mai Province, is the only place for you.

 

In fact, I think that Chiang Rai is so good that I would really like to move there.

 

(Or, what I might like to do is keep my house in Chiang Mai, and then have some sort of quiet place in Chiang Rai where I could escape to, when needed.)

 

I might even try to find someone with a big house that has an outbuilding that I could rent for a pittance, in Chiang Rai. Some place small would do...

 

But, when I say an outbuilding, I do NOT mean an outhouse.

 

I think the terms are confused in American English and UK English.

 

In conclusion:  Chiang Rai might be best for you.

 

 

Thanks Man! I really appreciate this info!

[Boulderman]

On 3/28/2025 at 7:09 AM, 1FinickyOne said:

 

just come over and let it happen... wherever your new found partner is from is a good start. 

My kind of advice. Thank you!

[Boulderman]

On 3/28/2025 at 6:53 AM, Stocky said:

I wouldn't be in a hurry to do anything, and certainly "living there for a while" is no grounds for a purchase, rent as said numerous times above.  Travel around live a few months each in several cities and resort areas. As the saying goes "act in haste, repent at leisure" there's no rush, Thailand's not going anywhere.

Good advice! Thank you!

[Boulderman]

On 3/28/2025 at 2:41 AM, khunPer said:

It is very individual and depending of numerous factors, like life-style, economy and relationship with a local.

 

So, what others and I might suggest as "paradise", might be completely opposite for you.

 

My advise is always to get around and visit various areas of interest – also if several others have recommended an area that might not be one's first choice – and get your own experience. There are different seasons; up north summer, rain and winter; down south only summer and rain. Preferable visit in each season to get the right impression, if you can live in that area, there can be relative huge difference in an area, depending of the seasons.

 

And for what it might matter for you – and others – here is my own experience. First time I visited Thailand in 1987 I felt when coming to Chiang Mai in April that this was a place I could live, perhaps settle one day.

 

15 years later I began thing about a permanent move to Thailand. I visited several areas, including revisit to Chiang Mai. Today I'm happy that I chose to settle somewhere else in Thailand, but that is only me, many foreigners have chosen to live in Chiang Mai.

 

I found my paradise on an island – be aware that islands can be great for a holiday, but might be too isolated for living permanently – I've been here since 2005 and have been very happy, and still is, and have no intentions at all about moving anywhere else, if I can avoid it. My primary choice was for "all year summer" and "barefoot Xmas"; living costs, party life, ladies and other benefits were just cool extra benefits...😎

Sounds great! I wish I was already there. 

[MalcolmB]

It has to be the south.

Air pollution will poison you for months on end anywhere else.

Unless you are Muslim I wouldn’t recommend and area with a majority Muslim population.

if you are old being close to an International hospital would also be a factor.