#1 Retirement Haven Once Again

[L&J]

• MSN has named its top retirement havens for 2013 at #1
  
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• THAILAND
  
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• a consistent high-performer among expats, gets raves from retirees for increasing their standard of living. Respect for the elderly is engrained in Thai culture, so retirees feel welcome; the country also has good, inexpensive medical care. Chiang Mai, in the northern region, is second in size to Bangkok, considerably less expensive and more serene. You can live well there -- surrounded by mountains and Buddhist temples -- on very little. A one-bedroom apartment in the center of town fetches about $325 per month, and an inexpensive restaurant meal costs about $2. The downside: Thailand has been politically unstable in recent years .
  
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• Hopefully the last statement will keep any more people from coming and ruining the "serenity" of Chiang Mai . Probably not.
  

[stoneyboy]

They failed to highlight the ever increasing seasonal air pollution problem I see.

Edited December 28, 2012 by stoneyboy

[bigbamboo]

They failed to highlight the ever increasing seasonal air pollution problem I see.

I've been here ten years and have to admit the expansion and the seasonal polution have been the two negatives. Supposedly the authorities are going to improve the latter but we won't be holding our breath...., so to speak.

CM still has the nicest people (including farangs!) and the best climate in Thailand and has still fared better than most places here in the past decade.

[Jingthing]

The actual list names Thailand the country as a top choice.

http://money.msn.com...tirement-havens

Overall it's a pretty ridiculous list and I wouldn't take it seriously. Singapore? A great little country but as a top retirement haven? Not a chance.

Edited December 28, 2012 by Jingthing

[BookMan]

The actual list names Thailand the country as a top choice, not specifically naming Chiang Mai the city.

Many people feel that wherever you live, that is the centre of the universe

[Ulysses G.]

The actual list names Thailand the country as a top choice.

http://money.msn.com...tirement-havens

Overall it's a pretty ridiculous list and I wouldn't take it seriously. Singapore? A great little country but as a top retirement haven? Not a chance.

Singapore would be a great place to retire with a decent income. Trying to live there on a pittance would be miserable.

[mesquite]

The actual list names Thailand the country as a top choice.

http://money.msn.com...tirement-havens

Overall it's a pretty ridiculous list and I wouldn't take it seriously. Singapore? A great little country but as a top retirement haven? Not a chance.

Agree totally. I just talked to an American living in Singapore and he tells me he hasn't seen ONE retired expat there, for obvious reasons ($$$$$).

[Jingthing]

The actual list names Thailand the country as a top choice.

http://money.msn.com...tirement-havens

Overall it's a pretty ridiculous list and I wouldn't take it seriously. Singapore? A great little country but as a top retirement haven? Not a chance.

Right, and the article leads with that those on the list have "excellent" living costs.

[bigbamboo]

The actual list names Thailand the country as a top choice, not specifically naming Chiang Mai the city.

Many people feel that wherever you live, that is the centre of the universe

CM was actually voted third last year in one of those myriad of polls which admittedly don't mean a lot but it does seem to register quite often.

But as I've never been to the centre of the universe I guess I'll just have to settle for Chiang Mai for now!

[BookMan]

The actual list names Thailand the country as a top choice, not specifically naming Chiang Mai the city.

Many people feel that wherever you live, that is the centre of the universe

CM was actually voted third last year in one of those myriad of polls which admittedly don't mean a lot but it does seem to register quite often.

But as I've never been to the centre of the universe I guess I'll just have to settle for Chiang Mai for now!

There is of course nothing wrong with that thinking at all. It is how most people think.

[Jingthing]

I was just pointing out that the list wasn't based on cities but was naming entire countries. Singapore might be an exception because it's a city-state-country all in one. Anyway, it really is true, on our human level most of us mortals who retire, retire to a specific place rather than an entire country.

[LaoPo]

Actually, it's a FORBES article and that explains a lot:

The Best Foreign Retirement Havens

http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2012/11/21/the-best-foreign-retirement-havens/

[uptheos]

People seem to like these kind of topics.

I guess it helps reinforce that they made the right decision to move here.

I do know one person who didn't like it here, but felt he couldn't move because everyone else thought it was wonderful, kept reading rave reviews and therefore felt that there must be something wrong with his thinking.

He died here 18 months ago, very unhappy.

[rene123]

They didn't factor in the traffic and problems with parking if you want to own a car.

[L&J]

I was just pointing out that the list wasn't based on cities but was naming entire countries. Singapore might be an exception because it's a city-state-country all in one. Anyway, it really is true, on our human level most of us mortals who retire, retire to a specific place rather than an entire country.

The article listed Thailand BUT the ONLY place mentioned was Chiang Mai.

[muchogra]

They didn't factor in the traffic and problems with parking if you want to own a car.

I haven't found traffic terrible whilst driving around. I guess I had lived in Bangkok too long!

In Bangkok, I rarely use my horn but this is not the case in CM. I had used my horn in 2 months more than the 20 years or so in Bangkok, and mostly for the motorcyclists. Somehow, the motorcyclists here think life is cheap juding from the way they ride. Often times, it's they drive too slow and never look!

[muchogra]

I like CM. Strangely, I haven't yet seen poor farangs nor very rich farangs. The only time I saw a young "bad" farang was when he told me I shouldn't point at him. I pointed at him to tell the bar girls that he was a handsome man. The bar girls hated his gut; he probably was a long time regular in Loh Kroh. That guy has trouble coming to him for sure!

[jackr]

The downside: Thailand has been politically unstable in recent years

& 50,000 others made it here before you.

[stuartd1]

The actual list names Thailand the country as a top choice.

http://money.msn.com...tirement-havens

Overall it's a pretty ridiculous list and I wouldn't take it seriously. Singapore? A great little country but as a top retirement haven? Not a chance.

I think Singapore almost actively discourages retirees, unless your in the MULTI millionare bracket, and if you were, pleasant though it is, why would you want to live there?

[muchogra]

Singapore is a weird place in that they don't seem to speak any languafe well colloquially but they write good, in par with the natives!

My American friend who runs a factory in Thailand but has a purchasing office in Singapore said he feels like going into a hospitla every time he goes there...it's too clean!

[L&J]

The basic requirements to "retire" to Singapore are:

1. Be in good health

2. Purchase full medical health insurance from Singapore based company

3. Maintain $400,000 SD in a Singapore financial institution or a $7000 SD monthly income

The program is actually called a Long Term Visitor Pass.

[Mekong Bob]

Singapore is a weird place in that they don't seem to speak any languafe well colloquially but they write good, in par with the natives!

My American friend who runs a factory in Thailand but has a purchasing office in Singapore said he feels like going into a hospitla every time he goes there...it's too clean!

Yeah, they write real good.

[isanbirder]

The basic requirements to "retire" to Singapore are:

1. Be in good health

2. Purchase full medical health insurance from Singapore based company

3. Maintain $400,000 SD in a Singapore financial institution or a $7000 SD monthly income

The program is actually called a Long Term Visitor Pass.

I have a close friend who has retired to Singapore, and through him have met a number of other retirees. It has almost everything a retiree might want, and things work perfectly. But, as UG said, you have to be rich to live there as a retiree.

Personally, after a few days there, I feel I want to scream (but wouldn't dare when surrounded by Singapore citizens). Everything is too perfect. One treasured memory of Singapore is an occasion when the Orchard Road/Scotts Road traffic lights failed. The Singaporeans had no idea what to do. Now in Chiangmai we would just take it in our stride.

[barefoot1988]

depending

The actual list names Thailand the country as a top choice.

http://money.msn.com...tirement-havens

Overall it's a pretty ridiculous list and I wouldn't take it seriously. Singapore? A great little country but as a top retirement haven? Not a chance.

I think Singapore almost actively discourages retirees, unless your in the MULTI millionare bracket, and if you were, pleasant though it is, why would you want to live there?

if you are in a upper bracket of millionaire retirees and still receiving your dividends or any sort of investment still going on, a safe and zero capital gain tax giant shopping mall with superb medical care and crude cold laws could be very very attractive.

ironically its the place with highest concentration amount of millionaires

Edited December 29, 2012 by barefoot1988

[rene123]

Personally, after a few days there, I feel I want to scream (but wouldn't dare when surrounded by Singapore citizens). Everything is too perfect. One treasured memory of Singapore is an occasion when the Orchard Road/Scotts Road traffic lights failed. The Singaporeans had no idea what to do. Now in Chiangmai we would just take it in our stride.

Exactly. There is a traffic light near Chang Klan road that has been burned out for at least a week or more. I'm not sure when it will get replaced. Besides, do ANY of the locals pay attention to traffic lights? It sure didn't seem so when I was out riding yesterday. I couldn't count the number of vehicles I saw driving through red lights and then getting stuck in intersections when the traffic backed up. I'll be happy when all the driving tourists from Bangkok go back home.

[trainman34014]

The basic requirements to "retire" to Singapore are:

1. Be in good health

2. Purchase full medical health insurance from Singapore based company

3. Maintain $400,000 SD in a Singapore financial institution or a $7000 SD monthly income

The program is actually called a Long Term Visitor Pass.

I have a close friend who has retired to Singapore, and through him have met a number of other retirees. It has almost everything a retiree might want, and things work perfectly. But, as UG said, you have to be rich to live there as a retiree.

Personally, after a few days there, I feel I want to scream (but wouldn't dare when surrounded by Singapore citizens). Everything is too perfect. One treasured memory of Singapore is an occasion when the Orchard Road/Scotts Road traffic lights failed. The Singaporeans had no idea what to do. Now in Chiangmai we would just take it in our stride.

As Traffic Lights don't exist for Thai's....and a good few Farang's... they may as well turn them all off in Chiang Mai !

[LawrenceChee]

I lived in Singapore for a while and enjoy it for its various mods and the fact that nothing ever breaks down ( hahah well the trasnport system has been cranky of late and giving them much grief in a country of perfectionists)

I agree with all the posts on Singapore, too clean, too efficient, too expensive and if you have loads of money, it's a great place to live in....lots of millionaires in the swanky malls and casino resort areas

I do however have fond memories of the hawker food centres...there you find the Real singaporeans eating in their version of a street stalls with very good food for the price ! and if you go there, you meet your middle class chap that spits in the floor, where rats can still be seen (gasp) and people are still good humoured and life is slower...I enjoy that when I visit the places about 10-15 days in a year to get my street food fix

I like CM as my retirement home........for all its bad smog, traffic at times at the moat it's still charming and it feels real for me. Not surprised to see it in the list. The people are in general really nice.

[circusman]

They didn't factor in the traffic and problems with parking if you want to own a car.

I haven't found traffic terrible whilst driving around. I guess I had lived in Bangkok too long!

In Bangkok, I rarely use my horn but this is not the case in CM. I had used my horn in 2 months more than the 20 years or so in Bangkok, and mostly for the motorcyclists. Somehow, the motorcyclists here think life is cheap juding from the way they ride. Often times, it's they drive too slow and never look!

Here in CM my friend does all the driving in my car. He is excellent, because I was his teacher. I have encouraged him to blast the car horn when someone darts in front of us or stradles two lanes while near us. He seldom uses the horn. I found out it is because he is afraid the other driver will do something we both will regret.

[rene123]

They didn't factor in the traffic and problems with parking if you want to own a car.

I haven't found traffic terrible whilst driving around. I guess I had lived in Bangkok too long!

In Bangkok, I rarely use my horn but this is not the case in CM. I had used my horn in 2 months more than the 20 years or so in Bangkok, and mostly for the motorcyclists. Somehow, the motorcyclists here think life is cheap juding from the way they ride. Often times, it's they drive too slow and never look!

Here in CM my friend does all the driving in my car. He is excellent, because I was his teacher. I have encouraged him to blast the car horn when someone darts in front of us or stradles two lanes while near us. He seldom uses the horn. I found out it is because he is afraid the other driver will do something we both will regret.

I would never use a horn. It might startle someone and they might do something foolish. The only time I use my horn on my motorbike is when I see a dog in front of me that might decide to walk across the road in my path. I don't think anyone pays attention to horns anyway. They certainly don't pay any attention to traffic lights... red or green.

[isanbirder]

I do however have fond memories of the hawker food centres...there you find the Real singaporeans eating in their version of a street stalls with very good food for the price ! and if you go there, you meet your middle class chap that spits in the floor, where rats can still be seen (gasp) and people are still good humoured and life is slower...I enjoy that when I visit the places about 10-15 days in a year to get my street food fix

Thanks for adding that, Lawrence. The last remnant of the Singapore I knew and loved when I lived there from 1961 to 1964.... when you could smell the opium fumes in Hokien Street any day of the week, and South Bridge Road (and probably North Bridge Road as well) became a battleground for firecrackers at Lunar New Year. The Singapore of 2012 may be more efficient, but it has lost its soul.... the hawker food centres being a last pale remnant.