May07
Good place(s) to retire in Thailand?
Author: thailandretire | Category: retire in thailand, retire to thailand
Skipper asked:
OK, so my plans to retire this coming December have to be put on hold for about 10 months. I’m kewl wit dat…but I’m still coming to Thailand Dec 11, for two or three months, depending on how well I work this visa thing.
So, I’m going to check out Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nong Khai, and Krabi, as potential locations to settle down. I thought about Hua Hin but don’t think I can afford to live there. I’ve also ruled out Bkk and Pattaya.
Are there any other good towns, where an expat living on about $1800 a month, should check out?
Please spare me the “sounds like a dismal life” crap-ola. 
Tags: good places to retire in thailand, retire in thailand
May 10th, 2010 at 12:56 am
You can live just about anywhere on 1800 USD. I recommend you move around until you find the place you like. FYI I have an appartment in Bangkok for $200 /onth. Split my time between Thailand and Philippines
Chookdee
May 10th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Other places you may want to try is Udon Thani, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Si Thammarat and of course my favorite Ratchaburi.
May 10th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
I like the quiet life along the Madame Kong (Mekong) in Nakhorn Phanom Provence. Hitting golf balls off the deck. Now that I know I can get my brother in law to get me cigars in Savanaket Laos, all I need is a fishing boat and I’m golden.
May 10th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Check out :
Prachin Buri -Prachin Buri River,Dong Phaya Yen mountains, Khao Yai , Tab Larn National Park,waterfalls,canals ,trekking, bicycle routes and golf.
Phetchaburi- Cha-am beach cheaper than Hua Hin.
Kanchanaburi- Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai rivers , Mae Klong river,Bridge on the River Kwai ,natural landscape, waterfalls, caves ,national parks, forests,reservoirs. fishing, rafting, canoeing, mountain biking, bird-watching, star-gazing, golfing, elephant and jungle trekking,
Ubon Ratchathani – bordering Laos and Cambodia the area where the borders of the three countries meet .Monsoon forests, temples, 4,000 years old rock formatC000 years old rock formation, prehistoric rock paintings, national parks, waterfalls and river.
Phitsanulok – in the lower part of Northern Thailand.Mountains, plainsm forest,Nan River & country living.
Mae Hong Son -northern province bordering Burma and is one of the remotest provinces in Thailand .Pai district
Koh Phangan -(avoid Hat Rin beach) still has some remote beaches with a laid-back atmosphere in the northern part of the island and some can be reached only by boat or a walk on a dirt road through the jungleKoh Phangan can easily be reached by boat from Koh Samui in 30 minutes.
The smaller out of the way provinces would be much cheaper but it would help if you can speak some Thai.
May 12th, 2010 at 6:24 am
You ruled out Pattaya but there are lots of retirees living there because it is cheaper than many other locations. Why not re-visit Pattaya and talk to some of your fellow countrymen and get their opinions. If you are a woman and afraid of being “tainted” by being in Pattaya don’t worry, there are female retirees living there too, some with husbands and some single living alone.
Pattaya has lots of modern malls, good supermarkets, movie theaters, cheap 10 baht transportation, good dentists, decent hospitals or for something more serious you can hop on a bus or taxi and be in Bangkok in less than a couple hours. You do not have to actually live in the tourist areas if that is a problem, there are many retirees living on the outskirts or in the Jomtien and Naklua area too!
Lots of posts on this Thai Visa Forum are written by retirees and long time Thailand expats.
Up to you!
May 12th, 2010 at 10:58 am
I wish I could join you. hahaha
One place no one has mentioned is Rayong, it’s about another hour south of Pattaya facing south on the Gulf of Thailand. It is a small town, though some industry is starting to locate there.
the above link is to agents and rental portals in Thailand. I use Thaiwebsites.com alot to find things about Thailand.
is a relocation specialist, an american, who made it into business. I have read alot of his info but, not used his services.
Good luck
May 13th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
My vote is for Udon Thani. Second choice would be Chiang Mai.
May 16th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Don’t totally rule out Pattaya. There’s an area near there known as Jomtien Beach that’s really cheap, it has a nicer beach, and is a lot quieter than Pattaya. A lot of condos have been built in that area in the last few years, and the developers are having a hard time selling them in the current financial crisis.
If you’re going to Krabi, however, I’m sure you will fall on love with the place. I thought the Ao Nang beach area was the most beautiful place I’ve been to in Thailand.It has a really relaxed, laid back feel to it. I’m not sure how expensive it is, all I know it is a lot cheaper than Phuket.
Kudos on not chosing Hua Hin. I know that the Thai people really think highly of it, I just don’t understand why.
Oh yeah…..I also wish I could join you
May 18th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
I can only tell you how it is here (Nongkhai), because the other places I only been for a holiday. And you don’t have holiday for 10 month.
Nongkhai is peace-full and a great town to feel the real Thai life. It is ranged #7 of best places in the world to retire (#1 in Thailand). This ranking is done by a American magazine (I forgot the name). They looked at the costs, weather, people, health facilities, shopping, recreation etc.
I’m young (I will not retire for a long long time), but I really like Nongkhai. I like to play sports sometimes and that’s possible here. I play tennis, volleyball and sometimes golf (great places to play golf).
Nightlife is not that busy. There are some bars where you can meet some other foreigners, so you can make some friends. Also there are bars where almost only Thai people go to.
There is a shopping mall with a Tesco and some fast-food restaurants. I prefer the restaurants and the Mekong River. It’s cheap (much cheaper than western-food at the beaches) and delicious. From January till April there is a beach at the Mekong where you can eat and relax. Now it’s only water because of all the rain.
The people here are great. Sometimes it’s difficult when they don’t speak English, but they will do everything to understand you.
For better shopping you can go to Udon Thani, that’s 50 km from Nongkhai and easy by bus or car.
$1800 dollar is a lot when you live here in Nongkhai. I don’t have half the money and I use it for 2 people.
To extend you visa you only have to go to Vientaine (capital of Loas) and that’s only 25 km from Nongkhai. The Thai tourist visa is for free now, but I don’t know how long this will be so. You have to pay 1500 baht to get a visa for Loas because you go inside Laos. At the embassy you can get a double entry and that’s 4 month. After 2 month you only have to go to the border to get a stamp, but also this cost you 1500 baht because you have to go to Laos (for 1 minute). To do this it will take you around 2 hours in total from you house, to the border and back to your house. There are not many places where it is as easy as here.
I don’t know what you really like, but if you have more questions about Nongkhai feel free to contact me. Maybe I know some great places to rent. (maybe my place, I leave next month)
May 19th, 2010 at 8:47 am
if you love beach Hua Hin or Phuket i think will be very nice
May 22nd, 2010 at 7:19 am
Chiang Mai and Kanchanaburi has my vote.
Chiang Mai because the weather is so nice and the durian is so plentiful.
Kanchanaburi because the national parks and less tourists.