How does Thailand compare to other places you've been an expat?

[Robert24]

Lived in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore before and travelled many other Asian countries. For me Thailand provides still best quality of life. Beautiful country, not overpopulated, nice people, relatively open minded about foreigners, good healthcare, relatively safe. I still travel frequently and happy every time I get back to Thailand.

[blomarel]

That's way too expensive!!!!! get the cultural visa and study kabuki, the tea ceremony or ninjustu.....the ninja skills may come in handy later on in life as you try to become elusive in the matrix.....

Then the other factor that comes into the equation for anyone who's retired, as opposed to working, is the available longer-stay visa status of any of the abovementioned places.

Thailand, despite its many faults, makes it relatively easy and not financially burdensome from a retirement visa perspective, despite the authorities' seemingly constant messing with lots of other Immigration details. The other countries mentioned above, I suspect, not so much.

I get what you are saying but if we use the visa criteria we will end up with another thread about Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines. People are already scraping the barrel with Venezuela in one of the other forum. Let's face it, no matter how the question is asked plate tectonics aren't working quickly enough to form new countries with easy visas, available sex and tolerable weather.

Most of these threads seem to be wishful thinking and end up the same. At least this one has some interesting info about countries we hear about less. I am not really interested in rehashing the easy visa country list for the 30th time. For this reason I didn't bother describing my life in Laos as people are already pretty much aware of what Laos is like. One posters take on KSA was interesting.

You want to spend a few years in Japan and get a visa? Enroll in a language school, same as in Thailand. It is much more expensive but you have to expect that in Japan. The visa is very easy to get if you can prove adequate funds and is valid for two years. Be prepared to spend 4 hours a day 5 times a week in a classroom with mandatory attendance. Also make sure you can pass the test at the end of the term every 3 months. It was around $12,000 a year for language school in Japan. You can even work 20 hours a week legally with a student visa there.

[kerrysum]

Can't really say, I live in the U.S, right now and feel like an expat with all of the illegal immigrants, coming in. Thailand was once my dream, but right now it just doesn't make sense. The

thai wife is pretty happy, but is home sick, at times. Just not willing to pull up roots right now, and sell the home which has just what we need. We can pretty much grow what we need as for Thai vegetables, or such things. Just my thoughts....

[blomarel]

Sorry not buying the bit about Lima.....

Ok, the ceviche and Pisco sours, are ok but that grows old fast.

The pea soup thick fog called the "garua" that blankets the city for months on end in the winter is cold and depressing.

Not believe? read here, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/16/lima-darkness_n_3767119.html, Lima's Sunless Skies Cover Peruvian City In Darkness For Four Months A Year,

The 19th-century writer and seafarer Herman Melville called Lima "the strangest and saddest city thou can'st see."

The miraflores beachfront area is one of the most polluted and unattractive in all of latin America.

The people are great.

The place is politically unstable, kidnappings have taken place in the past, and due to the instability could happen again. remember the "shining path" anyone?

Indo....if you get away from Bali it's a great country. I worked in Sulawesi Province and on Sumatra. Good people, good food, cheap, easy language to learn.

Africa..I have worked in three african country's there and lived in another one. I hate the continent as a whole and would happily never return there. However some of my colleagues love it there.

Philippines..I worked in Manila and it was great, again nice people, cheap and entertaining, though quality accommodation in Manila isn't cheap.

Vietnam...I worked there and found the people and food excellent but communication was difficult outside of the city areas. Maybe that was because I was in the North, but I would work there again. Hotels and food are good value, French style bread is exquisite and they actually have some damn good red wines at reasonable prices.

PNG..I grew up there and then worked there. I loved it as a place to grow up but it isn't cheap or particularly safe, so I wouldn't go back there again.

Peru....I've worked there twice now and I absolutely love the joint..great people and food and cheap. If you like good food and wine it's a great place to be for a while. However it was the capital I loved and I think it would be more challenging to live in the smaller rural areas in the Andes. Accommodation is reasonable, shopping options are good and beer and spirits are cheap.

Thailand I like, but I only live here because my wife is here. Take her out of the equation and I would prefer a coastal area in Indo ( not Bali as I think it's a cesspit)

If I could drag Peru closer to Asia I would choose to live there, but it's so far away and damned expensive to fly too from here.

Edited November 3, 2015 by blomarel

[hugh2121]

Bali was wonderful before all the "Islamic nutters" infiltrated from the rest of Indonesia.

Mauritius too was a super place to live.

Both beat Thailand when I was there.

Saudi was the pits.

[NoshowJones]

I loved England in the late 50s but it's let in too many Islamic Nutters .Still feel more FREE IN USA .

Really? How many "Islamic Nutters" have you actually met. I worked all over the UK, lived in a pretty multicultural city, worked a fair bit in Bradford and a lot in London and never met one.

It really depends on what you mean by "nutters", change that to how many Islam people can you honestly say have you seen intregating into our society?

Do not count shop keepers and business people into this unless you have met them away from their shops and businesses, as they have to intregate to get our business.

[mantu]

This must be a joke....other than as a stopover point for trekkers, hard to believe that anyone would choose to live there.

Crumbling(literally) infrastructure, polluted, dusty, crap weather no social activities, lousy food.....what exactly is it that you like about the place, other than it reminds you of Brooklyn?

My favorite place to live in Asia, and where I live now is Kathmandu Nepal, despite earthquakes and oil blockades. It's much cheaper to live here than in Thailand, and if you are a retiree on a fixed income, this place is perfect. Food and healthcare are great, a non-intrusive small government is the way to go, and the people are fantastic (disclaimer, I am married to a Nepali). However, I do miss the beach and do spend quite a bit of time in Thailand for that reason, as well as to occasionally work. That's the downside to Nepal, it's not a place where you can both live and work. There is not much money here to go around.

Outside of Nepal or Thailand, there are few other places that I would consider living. Any developed western country is out, and Africa (as noted above) is a bit of a mess. I do however like Brazil and a few other spots in S. America, but in my mind, S. Asia rules.

I once lived in HK, but that was before the Chinese takeover in 1996 or so, and I did really enjoy my flat in Kowloon. That most resembled my childhood environment, growing up in Brooklyn. Which I think is key to me, finding that childhood spot that you can never go home to again. I remember my first visit to BKK, and thinking there were some similarities... but now all most all of the older charms are disappearing fast, and BKK has become too much like every other large city in the industrialized world for me to feel comfortable.

I'll stay where I am now, and perhaps even doubly retire out to a small village in the hills and grow rice, chickens and a few goats during the later years...

[ronwparker]

I have been here 14 years and as usual there are many things I like and many I do not.

If I was to start over I would look more at Northern Panama which is not as expensive as Costa Rica-I also liked Nicaragua.

Edited November 3, 2015 by ronwparker

[realenglish1]

Panama City Panama

Rent is about the same Cars Cheaper You can own real estate Banks will give you loans as expat. The currency is the American Dollar Food is about the same Good medical doctors mostly western trained . Lots of people speak English. Panamanian woman like older guys (good for me).

After 3 years as a retiree you can switch your retirement visa to a Resident visa. No 3 moth reporting.

I find the government respects expats and are truly appreciative of them Not like here in Thailand where they say "give me your money and take a hike"

[xylophone]

Lived and worked in the UK, New Zealand, France, Australia, the Cook Islands, Nigeria, Libya, Malta and now Thailand.

Easy to sort out the worst of the lot, which was Nigeria, IMO a shythole and I would never go back, not for any amount of money. In Libya I always felt I was in danger and a couple of times that proved to be correct and I managed to escape by the skin of my teeth.

I lived in the UK for half my life and I liked that part of it, however as my small town became more crowded and things began to change, I decided to move to NZ, which was a great move for me. Like the UK, it does have some absolutely wonderful scenery although a much better climate.

I would still be in NZ now if it wasn't for the fact that a health problem made me look elsewhere, as to take early retirement and live there in the manner to which I had become accustomed with my former salary, would have been impossible, hence the move to Thailand where my money goes further, the weather is warm all year round and old fogeys like me are not confined to sitting in shopping malls, sipping cups of tea, basically waiting for their lives to end.

I found Australia to be (the Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne) great places to live, however expensive again.

At least in Thailand I can interact with women much younger than me and not get told to "piss off"!

I love France and would happily retire there if circumstances were different.

Malta was nothing like it was when I visited there some 45 years ago and now it is just similar to what the Costa Brava was – – full of Arabs and English folk, with the restaurants ranging from pizzas and hamburgers to hamburgers and pizzas. Considered retiring there, but just couldn't get comfortable with the place.

The Cook Islands are absolutely wonderful if you want to find somewhere to kick back and relax, but after a while that becomes boring and there isn't much in the way of social interaction although there are some expats on the main island who can make life interesting!

Whilst I sometimes get fed up with Thailand, it offers me a good climate, cheap living, the chance to interact with expats from many nations, nice restaurants and there is no social stigma as regards being involved with a younger woman.

Although I absolutely hate the corruption here, the scams and the "two-faced" aspect of Thailand as well as the fact that "the only way is the Thai way and nothing else matters, so we won't listen" mindset, I do have good expat friends here and good Thai friends, so despite my grumbling from time to time, it looks like I am pretty well set here.

[houlicha]

I've lived in Taiwan (both Taipei and Kaohsiung) and it's more expensive than Thailand for just about everything. Not a fun country, especially if you speak no Chinese.

[VIPinthailand]

Europe : can not get a cheap sim card.

USA : can not get a cheap sim card

Thailand : 2$ sim card in 2 minutes and you are good to go.

[ChangMaiSausage]

He's my contribution

Qatar worked and lived here for ten years its not a bad place can be boring its all about getting out there and making the most of what is available. It's not a bad place to bring the family up, schools are okay but expensive. Accommodation prices vary depending on your expat package. Very little crime (apart from the people driving on the roads) Food is okay you can get any type of food (even pork and booze) Downside its bloody hot for six month s of the year (great weather at the moment a steady 30 - 35. Location works for me half way between UK and Thailand.

Taiwan spent eighteen months there and loved every minute of it, can be expensive, seasonal weather (too wet) great food, friendly people, great international schools. We had a great time there and highly recommend the place to anyone interested in visiting (not sure about buying and living there as when retiring.

[uptheos]

Europe : can not get a cheap sim card.

USA : can not get a cheap sim card

Thailand : 2$ sim card in 2 minutes and you are good to go.

Yup, places with easy cheap sim cards are the best places to live.

[ChangMaiSausage]

I've lived in Taiwan (both Taipei and Kaohsiung) and it's more expensive than Thailand for just about everything. Not a fun country, especially if you speak no Chinese.

Interesting I just posted how much we enjoyed the place (Taipei) I had no issues communicating when we were there (taxi's now and then, carried a card in my wallet with my address in Chinese)

[elgordo38]

Costa Rica is expensive

Can you expand on that a little? Costa Rica is my plan B if Thailand goes tits up.

I tried Teneriffe and that was extortionatly expensive and a complete shit hole.

I have lived in CR for about 10 years, but I was happy to move to Colombia 2003 for work. CR is expensive, the TICOS market their country well as a turist destination but it is not a good place for everybody. There are no cutural roots visible, people are small minded, economy is in bad shape, money is always first, if you look for friends you will get them as long as you have money. Be careful with the girls, layers, buyers, sellers, etc.

I agree I spent a month there. Every morning a almost naked drunk lay outside our complex sleeping and peeing on the sidewalk. I felt crime was bad there especially after dark. Medical system is good from what I hear.

[elgordo38]

Spent 10 years in Mexico more expensive than Thailand immigration about the same. Public medical system dirty. Women not as friendly or as nice as Thailand more expensive overall. Lawyers all crooked. Before coming to Thailand I gave Panama some thought.

[chrisandsu]

Born and raised in England absolutely love London and still think it's the best city in the world by a wide margin .

Moved to Thailand ,was great for a while but soon got boring it's somewhere I may live when I get older . I wouldn't actually come back to visit if it wasn't for my wife's family as let's face it if you take the women out of the equation Thailand really loses its appeal.

Cambodia , people are nice but the infrastructure is piss poor .

Holland , was fun and not a bad place to live .

Seattle , beautiful state (Washington) the people are a little run of the mill liberal , but the outdoor lifestyle is quite brilliant .

Canada - British Columbia , I love this place and the people it's like a middle ground of North America and the U.K if you have a family this is where you should raise your kids .

Bearing in mind I'm 35 and may have a very different lifestyle to some of you ,but I do appreciate different strokes for different folks !

[nidieunimaitre]

Have worked in Thailand, China, Cook Islands, and Marshall Islands.

I think it all depends where you are in your personal life at that particular moment. The Marshalls had the best expat community as far as I was concerned.

Rarotonga? Aitutaki?

Now you have me in tears!

I once had the chance to live there, but young as I was, I thought it was too early to settle down.

I lost paradise.

[rott]

I loved England in the late 50s but it's let in too many Islamic Nutters .Still feel more FREE IN USA .

Really? How many "Islamic Nutters" have you actually met. I worked all over the UK, lived in a pretty multicultural city, worked a fair bit in Bradford and a lot in London and never met one.

What? You never met one in London? I worked with loads of the gits and Islam was all they could talk about.

Though if you were there in the fifties I suppose it would have been different.

[nidieunimaitre]

Lived and worked in the UK, New Zealand, France, Australia, the Cook Islands, Nigeria, Libya, Malta and now Thailand.

Easy to sort out the worst of the lot, which was Nigeria, IMO a shythole and I would never go back, not for any amount of money. In Libya I always felt I was in danger and a couple of times that proved to be correct and I managed to escape by the skin of my teeth.

I lived in the UK for half my life and I liked that part of it, however as my small town became more crowded and things began to change, I decided to move to NZ, which was a great move for me. Like the UK, it does have some absolutely wonderful scenery although a much better climate.

I would still be in NZ now if it wasn't for the fact that a health problem made me look elsewhere, as to take early retirement and live there in the manner to which I had become accustomed with my former salary, would have been impossible, hence the move to Thailand where my money goes further, the weather is warm all year round and old fogeys like me are not confined to sitting in shopping malls, sipping cups of tea, basically waiting for their lives to end.

I found Australia to be (the Gold Coast, Sydney and Melbourne) great places to live, however expensive again.

At least in Thailand I can interact with women much younger than me and not get told to "piss off"!

I love France and would happily retire there if circumstances were different.

Malta was nothing like it was when I visited there some 45 years ago and now it is just similar to what the Costa Brava was full of Arabs and English folk, with the restaurants ranging from pizzas and hamburgers to hamburgers and pizzas. Considered retiring there, but just couldn't get comfortable with the place.

The Cook Islands are absolutely wonderful if you want to find somewhere to kick back and relax, but after a while that becomes boring and there isn't much in the way of social interaction although there are some expats on the main island who can make life interesting!

Whilst I sometimes get fed up with Thailand, it offers me a good climate, cheap living, the chance to interact with expats from many nations, nice restaurants and there is no social stigma as regards being involved with a younger woman.

Although I absolutely hate the corruption here, the scams and the "two-faced" aspect of Thailand as well as the fact that "the only way is the Thai way and nothing else matters, so we won't listen" mindset, I do have good expat friends here and good Thai friends, so despite my grumbling from time to time, it looks like I am pretty well set here.

Huhuhu another one that is not 100% in love with the Cook Islands.

I am speechless.

I first visited paradise in 1978, kept going back until recently, the place was getting better and better every year.

And for "social interaction" as you call it, Apia is only a short flight away.

Just listen to this:

[zzo]

No mentions of quality and cost of healthcare. We have lived in Germany, fabulous healthcare, but expensive and cold. People not very friendly in smaller towns. Very regulated lifestyle. Crime is low, driving is wonderful, everyone follows rules. Rent and

food is expensive. Easy to get a visa, eventually for two then to five, then to life visa. Very organized, nice people. Language is not difficult if you are an English speaker.

Italy has better weather, but there are too many people, traffic is insane. No one follows rules, and every traffic jam is a Roman battle. Of course the food in Italy is so good, it almost makes up for everything. The healthcare is poor unless you go to a private hospital. The language is not difficult. Crime is bad. Lived near Rome, apartments were expensive. People not too friendly, they are busy.

Greece has the most difficult language, by far. Weather is much like California in the South. Rent is very cheap. Groceries , reasonable. We prefer Greece, it's like being on vacation all the time. Not many people, driving is easy within the country.

People are very friendly. Crime outside of Athens not bad. Healthcare is poor in public hospitals. There are good private hospitals in

Athens. Many UK people here, they are friendly, they're here for the weather, and the sea, not to be high so like some in Thailand.

Visas not difficult. Need proof of health insurance and ability to support yourself. People become friends quickly.

Thailand offers good healthcare, you all know the others.....bad and good ....still the best healthcare, cheap living, and pleasant people to be around. The culture does not include expats easily. But smiles and politeness make up for it. If you try to create your past lifestyle, in your home country, it is always expensive, and frustrating.

[TheRascal]

I loved England in the late 50s but it's let in too many Islamic Nutters .Still feel more FREE IN USA .

Really? How many "Islamic Nutters" have you actually met. I worked all over the UK, lived in a pretty multicultural city, worked a fair bit in Bradford and a lot in London and never met one.

It really depends on what you mean by "nutters", change that to how many Islam people can you honestly say have you seen intregating into our society?

Do not count shop keepers and business people into this unless you have met them away from their shops and businesses, as they have to intregate to get our business.

I've got two muslim guys I consider close friends, one I shared a house with for a while, both really nice guys. A couple of others who I used to socialise with and others I've worked with, I don't consider them 'nutters' for being religious.

As far as integration I don't see many people trying that hard anywhere. Muslims in the UK tend to live in muslim areas, have a preference for closer muslim friends and like to do business with other muslims.

I know loads of Jews, they are exactly the same, some so more than the muslims I've met - live in areas with predominantly other Jews, prefer to do business with other Jews and even moderate Jews I know have expressed they don't want their kids to grow up and marry non Jews.

Look at a city like Leeds, a lot of people from different backgrounds are put in areas together, in turn that attracts more. You see loads of polish living together, Chapeltown was a Jewish area when a lot of Jews emigrated to the UK and as they became more wealthy and moved further north of the centre it became a predominantly West Indian area. This isn't unique to this city or the UK.

People like to be around people who are similar to them, with common language, religions, culture, cuisine etc. For me that doesn't make them "nutters" it just makes them human.

[NoshowJones]

I loved England in the late 50s but it's let in too many Islamic Nutters .Still feel more FREE IN USA .

Really? How many "Islamic Nutters" have you actually met. I worked all over the UK, lived in a pretty multicultural city, worked a fair bit in Bradford and a lot in London and never met one.

It really depends on what you mean by "nutters", change that to how many Islam people can you honestly say have you seen intregating into our society?

Do not count shop keepers and business people into this unless you have met them away from their shops and businesses, as they have to intregate to get our business.

I've got two muslim guys I consider close friends, one I shared a house with for a while, both really nice guys. A couple of others who I used to socialise with and others I've worked with, I don't consider them 'nutters' for being religious.

As far as integration I don't see many people trying that hard anywhere. Muslims in the UK tend to live in muslim areas, have a preference for closer muslim friends and like to do business with other muslims.

I know loads of Jews, they are exactly the same, some so more than the muslims I've met - live in areas with predominantly other Jews, prefer to do business with other Jews and even moderate Jews I know have expressed they don't want their kids to grow up and marry non Jews.

Look at a city like Leeds, a lot of people from different backgrounds are put in areas together, in turn that attracts more. You see loads of polish living together, Chapeltown was a Jewish area when a lot of Jews emigrated to the UK and as they became more wealthy and moved further north of the centre it became a predominantly West Indian area. This isn't unique to this city or the UK.

People like to be around people who are similar to them, with common language, religions, culture, cuisine etc. For me that doesn't make them "nutters" it just makes them human.

I never said they were nutters, but where the UK is concerned, Muslims do really have to learn to accept that if they make the UK their home, they have to respect our way of life, and not expect us to change our laws, rules or customs to suit them.

[mikiea]

most expats will agree that "home" is for coming from and going to .............

[craigt3365]

So I guess all the countries listed are countries for ex-pats who got no money

and relay on their pension just to scrape by on their monthly payments

Am I right ? What about all the other ones who got some money to spent ?

Would they choose Thailand I guess not they are many beautiful countries

in the world to many to name here, now you can all hate me

Although I love living in Thailand, one of the things that makes it more difficult than other places is the language. (Even in Vietnam & Philippines one can read the written word).

Also, I know what you mean, but there is also the fact that so many retired expats are not nearly as rich as many Thais perceive them to be.

Thailand isn't the comparatively cheap destination that it once was. In lower Sukhumvit where I live, (non happy hour) drink prices are approaching UK levels. I find Robinson's is getting pricey, an Irish friend buys his clothes more cheaply in Dublin than he can get them in Bangkok. He is not poor, but recently, he's been spending more time in Cambodia, to save money.

(I was first in Thailand in 1985, and have lived here since 1998, so I have seen the changes).

Rant/whinge over!!

Agree with what you say, but get out of Bangkok and into rural Thailand, and prices drop substantially. I also can get many things much cheaper back in the US. Clothes included!

[Nemesis7]

After a long time truly enjoyed reading the posts and every post was simply brilliant. Thanks to all really for sharing such great post

[TheRascal]

I never said they were nutters, but where the UK is concerned, Muslims do really have to learn to accept that if they make the UK their home, they have to respect our way of life, and not expect us to change our laws, rules or customs to suit them.

But how many actually want to change laws, rules and customs? Some do sure, but most aren't extreme and don't care. People with an agenda then pick up on these extreme views and try to put it over as the views of the majority which is rubbish.

[brucegoniners]

Oh about the same.

Of course I've never been an expat anywhere else

[NoshowJones]

I never said they were nutters, but where the UK is concerned, Muslims do really have to learn to accept that if they make the UK their home, they have to respect our way of life, and not expect us to change our laws, rules or customs to suit them.

But how many actually want to change laws, rules and customs? Some do sure, but most aren't extreme and don't care. People with an agenda then pick up on these extreme views and try to put it over as the views of the majority which is rubbish.

But how many actually want to change laws, rules and customs? I would say most of them, don't you read the reports over the years?

Scrapping Christmas plays, only allowing certain food in their school canteens etc. They should not even have their own schools, they

should be going to our schools, and learn about the country they are living in. If they are not prepared to respect British customs etc,

then they should go back to the Muslim countries they originally came from.