Most expats here have had the thought at least once, usually after a frustrating trip to Immigration or visiting a national park, just to see that it costs almost double the price to enter, where you find yourself running the numbers again. Is the deal still good?

For most people, the answer is still yes. But the calculation has shifted. If you've been here five years or more, you've probably noticed that these grievances are shared.

The money isn't going as far

In late 2022, the dollar was sitting above 38 baht. UK expats briefly saw the pound hit nearly 47 in June 2024. Those rates felt like a windfall.

The dollar is now around 32 baht, the sterling around 43. The baht has strengthened considerably, and anyone living on foreign income has felt it. US dollar holders have lost roughly 12% of their baht purchasing power over the past year alone.

Set that against cumulative Thai inflation of around 10 to 12% since 2021, and Bangkok rental rates that have risen 8 to 12% year-on-year through 2024 and 2025, and the picture becomes clearer.

The rules keep changing

No single policy change has been decisive. But the cumulative weight of regulatory shifts adds up.

The most substantive recent change is the foreign remittance tax. From January 2024, foreign income brought into Thailand, whether pension, investments, or remote salary, is potentially subject to Thai personal income tax for anyone spending 180 or more days in the country per year. 

The rules are still being refined; a proposed two-year exemption window has been floated, but isn't yet law. Many long-term residents are in a greyer position than they realise.

Dual pricing is a smaller irritant but a telling one. Financially, it amounts to little, a few hundred baht at national parks and heritage sites. For someone who has been here a decade, though, it registers differently than it does for a first-time visitor.

Alcohol laws are a useful illustration of the broader pattern. Late 2025 saw Thailand lift the 50-year afternoon sales ban, which was most welcomed, while simultaneously making individual drinkers liable for fines for the first time, not just venues. Progress and restriction, often in the same legislative cycle, often without much notice.

None of this is a reason to leave on its own. Cumulatively, though, it adds friction. Has that friction reached a threshold for you?

The visa treadmill

Ninety-day reporting. TM30. Annual renewals. The Immigration queue.

For most long-termers, this is background noise by now. But background noise has a way of becoming more noticeable over time. The DTV offers flexibility, five years and multi-entry, but caps at 180 days per stay. 

The LTR visa provides long-term certainty but carries income requirements that exclude most people. The Non-O retirement path is reliable but demands a level of annual financial administration that sits oddly with the idea of a settled retirement.

For someone who arrived in their 40s and is now approaching their 60s, the question isn't whether the system is manageable. It's whether the overhead is still worth it.

So where would you go?

The honest answer for most people is that there's no obvious destination.

Malaysia is the most credible regional alternative. A comparable one-bedroom in Mont Kiara runs roughly half what you'd pay in central Bangkok. Hospitals are world-class and generally less expensive. English is widely spoken. The 2024 MM2H overhaul has effectively made it a property investment visa, though, and mid-budget retirees are largely priced out unless arriving with significant capital.

Vietnam has lifestyle appeal but a complicated legal picture. No retirement visa, no digital nomad visa as of now. Many utilise the 90-day multiple-entry e-visa, which effectively allows for indefinite 'visa runs' every three months. Expat zones in Ho Chi Minh City have caught up to Bangkok on rent. Healthcare remains a tier below, and extremely serious cases may require you to fly elsewhere. If Vietnam is your Plan B, it may be worth pressure-testing that assumption.

And then there's home. Some people leave not because another country won them over, but because Thailand stopped offering enough of an advantage. That's a valid conclusion too.

Where's your Plan B, if you have one?

What actually keeps (some) people here

For most long-term expats, the decision to stay isn't primarily financial. The weather, the food, the relative ease of daily life, and the community built over the years, these things don't transfer easily.

Thailand's private healthcare system is one of the more underappreciated reasons to stay. Direct billing at hospitals like Bumrungrad, Samitivej, and Bangkok Hospital, at a quality that compares well globally, and it's something many expats only fully appreciate the first time they need it. 

The system is only as good as the coverage behind it, though. A plan with gaps, or one that hasn't been reviewed in a few years, can make a serious health event far more complicated than it needs to be. If that's you, it's worth revisiting. 

Cigna Global provides international health insurance designed for long-term expats in Thailand, with direct billing at major private hospitals. Get a quote here.

When the non-financial reasons start to thin out, the social circle, the sense of ease, the feeling that this is genuinely where you want to be, the financial case rarely holds on its own.

So what would it actually take? A trip to Immigration too many, the baht at 30, something else entirely?

Thailand is xenophobic and somewhat racist . The constitution permits this towards non-thais only.

To make me move away it would have to go the way Germans treated Jews in the run up to WW2.

If we became obviously discriminated against this way, I would leave.

8 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

So what would it actually take? A trip to Immigration too many, the baht at 30, something else entirely?

Death!

Thailand is great apart from work and visas. Easy to skip nat parks as most are crap. Thailand is about food, women, beaches and trains.

I will leave Thailand if me and wife divorce!

I see no other reason to leave unless Asia becomes impossible to live a decent life safe and sane.

We almost left Thailand, but we made a U-turn now, because I do not see my life will improve in Europe, even with my wife on my side, so it is here we have to best option and best future as it is today. But of course, never say never,

25 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I will leave Thailand if me and wife divorce!

I see no other reason to leave unless Asia becomes impossible to live a decent life safe and sane.

We almost left Thailand, but we made a U-turn now, because I do not see my life will improve in Europe, even with my wife on my side, so it is here we have to best option and best future as it is today. But of course, never say never,

Honestly- even if that happened - I wouldnt I would just relocate within Thailand. 🙂

35 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Honestly- even if that happened - I wouldnt I would just relocate within Thailand. 🙂

Right now Im just a youngster, and honestly, many other places to go, but the older I get I guess it will be settled and just change location as well. Time will show and hopefully, not

As it is now is as good as anything else, and it could had been much worse

Siem Reap makes sense. Cost of living is cheaper than most Thai cities. Only Roi Et comes out cheaper and Roi Et is boring. Kampot another option.

Money not going as far.

... Money is non issue for myself, Actually going further, but that's on a personal level. Always budget 50% - 100% more than you think you need. Sh!t happens.

Rules keep changing

... also not a problem as doesn't affect me, since already bought in. IF, didn't retire early, and retired at say 65, remittance tax wouldn't be an issue, as I wouldn't buy in at that age. Remittance tax is a major issue for many. Dual pricing & alcohol, isn't worth mentioning.

Visa treadmill

... not sure how visa issue are a problem for anyone, as it really is too easy to be here legally.

Where would you go

... haven't a clue. Wouldn't be SEA, 25+ yrs, had enough. Probably back to USA, since 71. If younger, maybe elsewhere.

Have no thoughts or reason to leave, and can't think of one that would make me leave. If single & no daughter, I probably wouldn't be here. No special reason to leave, but also, no reason to stay without them. That answers the last query.

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Death!

You beat me to it.

Me too... death and only death would make me leave this country. I've raised a family and have a good life here.

My own native USA has gone to the dogs in a big way. It left me before I left it.

self euthanization is always an option

I think the loud Motorbikes are the straw that broke the camel's back. It's 24 hours nonstop. Plus the expats behavior is so negative\depressing its not acceptable by any measure.

I just left Jomtien for a 3-week visit to Da Nang. It's definitely much more civilized, very few loud motorbikes. More of a place for younger couples and after 10PM very quiet compared to the 24 hour cacophony of Bangkok/Pattaya/Jomtien. A 90 day border run is approx 150 quid.

Air pollution is bad in both countries so i may even go back to Europe where the air is much much cleaner.

2 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

self euthanization is always an option

Only in extremis.

If you have a modicum of money and health you can make a very good life for yourself here in Thailand.

Just avoid low-life people who see all farangs as ATMs.

Severe health issues would force me to leave.

Sure I think about leaving, but there is nowhere to go

to easily match how I can live here.

My 92 year old mother is blind in one eye and can only get around the house using a zimmerframe. Obviously cant manage on her own for too much longer so I am living here on borrowed time as it is. Wife can't come with me to UK as she is carer for her own mother who is in same condition as mine. So...what you gonna do ? We will be in the same boat one day . That's how it goes. Just try to enjoy each day as it comes. No point over thinking it.

Noise.

Unfortunately many Thai people seem to think everyone within a 10 km radius wants to hear the boom, boom, boom baselines of their music.

Moving is only a temporary solution, as the noisy b@st#rds will find you.

I like Thailand, but inconsiderate noise is the one thing that could drive me to a country with effective enforcement and licensing laws.

7 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

Thailand is about food, women, beaches and trains.

Other than Richard Barrow, very few were drawn to Thailand for it's rolling stock. Did you mean trans?

If mass open borders continues.

I came to embrace thai culture, not surround myself with the worst of the worst trash tourists who move.

5 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

If mass open borders continues.

I came to embrace thai culture, not surround myself with the worst of the worst trash tourists who move.

And guess what.... you are part of that shared heritage in the making

I left because of my age (pension requirement). My Thai wife has been here for years; she will never go back to Thailand. In Thailand, I will be drowning in medical costs, which I have free in my country. Plus, I don't like Thai food. I have a very small rent where we stay, which has only been increased by 10 AUD over 8 years (my wife, who is 56 this year, makes about 65 AUD per hr, I am nearly 80, what else do I need?

39 minutes ago, Celsius said:

And guess what.... you are part of that shared heritage in the making

I've learnt Thai. I embrace local cultures. I don't enforce my own culture and beliefs onto Thai people or the enviroment i am in. I don't act a prat or break laws.

Whilst i have no issue with visitors wanting to come to Thailand, you want quality visitors. You don't want trash, Bendiromy type trash, who come to trash the place, party, do the whole 'look at me' routine, look down on Thais, no respect for the enviromnet they are in.

The Gym bros do my head. Walking around without tops on. The guys from India who hit on any woman that moves asking 'how much?'

Thailand not operating a criminal record check, and very low requriments for visa checks is horrific. It's all designed to prop up the real estate sector, without a care for the culture of the country.

1 minute ago, DonniePeverley said:

I've learnt Thai. I embrace local cultures. I don't enforce my own culture and beliefs onto Thai people or the enviroment i am in. I don't act a prat or break laws.

Whilst i have no issue with visitors wanting to come to Thailand, you want quality visitors. You don't want trash, Bendiromy type trash, who come to trash the place, party, do the whole 'look at me' routine, look down on Thais, no respect for the enviromnet they are in.

Thailand not operating a criminal record check, and very low requriments for visa checks is horrific. It's all designed to prop up the real estate sector, without a care for the culture of the country.

So you are basically saying Thailand became more woke than a wokenstein countries back home. I have been saying this for 2-3 years hence that's why I left.

2 minutes ago, Celsius said:

So you are basically saying Thailand became more woke than a wokenstein countries back home. I have been saying this for 2-3 years hence that's why I left.

There are wokisms around but it's not the main issue.

But it's more of the trashy tourists, the violence, the gym bros, the whole influencers pushing the 'you can live in Bangkok for 40 dollar a year in a luxury condo, michell star food for a dollar' type nonsense. They then come to Thailand influenced and just wreck the place.

There is wokism around too as you say. A young girl on tiktok who claims to live here, stating how dreadful Thais are for using so much plastic, etc

2 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

There are wokisms around but it's not the main issue.

But it's more of the trashy tourists, the violence, the gym bros, the whole influencers pushing the 'you can live in Bangkok for 40 dollar a year in a luxury condo, michell star food for a dollar' type nonsense. They then come to Thailand influenced and just wreck the place.

There is wokism around too as you say. A young girl on tiktok who claims to live here, stating how dreadful Thais are for using so much plastic, etc

Do you see an end to this mass low quality tourists ? Now that they developped and improve they will start to crackdown. And check more and more. Don’t you think so?

2 minutes ago, Maxbkkcm said:

Do you see an end to this mass low quality tourists ? Now that they developped and improve they will start to crackdown. And check more and more. Don’t you think so?

No chance. They double downed and let in Indians visa free. They will never put restrictions back up.

The whole 60 days entry being reduced back to 30 days talk happens every year but they never do anything.

Last few years they are determined to let foreigners move here, motivated in part to fill up condos. How can real estate companies be influecing policy on immigration ?!

2 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

No chance. They double downed and let in Indians visa free. They will never put restrictions back up.

The whole 60 days entry being reduced back to 30 days talk happens every year but they never do anything.

Last few years they are determined to let foreigners move here, motivated in part to fill up condos. How can real estate companies be influecing policy on immigration ?!

Not really because low quality tourists or expats are not buying condos or estate they are broke. So why would they need to allow them?

Also, now they announce many crackdowns for tourists and ED visas. Many says its an end of era. Also they are fed up with bad tourists behaving awfully on social media.

I really see a shift, everything getting harder. Prices, entry. They up their games.

It’s interesting that you don’t see it that way…

3 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

Other than Richard Barrow, very few were drawn to Thailand for it's rolling stock. Did you mean trans?

How could you not like the trains? North, north east, east, south and west. Can see most of the nation and very affordable.

Thailand seems to attract a lot of creeps though. Straight to Pattaya.

2 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

There are wokisms around but it's not the main issue.

But it's more of the trashy tourists, the violence, the gym bros, the whole influencers pushing the 'you can live in Bangkok for 40 dollar a year in a luxury condo, michell star food for a dollar' type nonsense. They then come to Thailand influenced and just wreck the place.

There is wokism around too as you say. A young girl on tiktok who claims to live here, stating how dreadful Thais are for using so much plastic, etc

Most of Bangkok and Thailand doesn't have those people.

I left in 2021 after 22 years in Thailand.

The ex wife getting out of prison after 10 years inside was enough to make me and my son haul axx out of there.

We now have 12 time zones of separation between her and us, which is the correct distance

Plus I'm retired so I wouldn't get the breaks from Thailand that my job provided and I wanted my son to grow up and be educated in the west

6 hours ago, still kicking said:

I left because of my age (pension requirement). My Thai wife has been here for years; she will never go back to Thailand. In Thailand, I will be drowning in medical costs, which I have free in my country. Plus, I don't like Thai food. I have a very small rent where we stay, which has only been increased by 10 AUD over 8 years (my wife, who is 56 this year, makes about 65 AUD per hr, I am nearly 80, what else do I need?

...a coffin, maybe.