Thailand certainly has it’s benefits when comparing living in Thailand to the US.
Once you always hear of is lower cost, but that is only the case depending where you live and how you live.
If you are trying to replicate your western life in Thailand, it will not be cheap.
Cheap comes from renting a condo and never owning any assets. Rent is cheap and the biggest savings.
Cars are more expensive.
Gas is more expensive.
Health insurance past 65 is very expensive if you can get it at all.
Western food is much higher than US prices.
Annual VISA costs mean leaving money in the bank here.
Kids tuition for international schools is out of reach (US $30,000 per year) for most families. Homeschooling becomes the only option.
Replicating a western US life here is not going to be cheap.
How Thailand can reduce the monthly expenses is through rent. If you can live in a rented condo the rest of your life.
If you like to go to western restaurants, drink wine, socialize and flock to entertainment, it will not be cheap.
When renting, you avoid things the US has like property tax and property insurance.
That will save you right there.
Utilities are much cheaper here, although electric bills can climb with excessive AC use.
When Youtubers talk about living here on US $1,000 a month, they are not living, they are merely surviving.
Realistically, a couple should have US $3,000 a month in guaranteed income, to have any kind of life they are expecting.
I think the good alternative Thailand offers, is outside of the tourist areas, it is extremely safe. All the shootings and things you see in US news do not happen here. It is very safe.
There are ways to save money by buying local food, clothes and other things.
No one cares about brand names here, because everyone is wearing a brand name counterfeit.
A lot of the good comes from where you actually live in Thailand.
If you can manage living like a Thai in rural Isaan, it will be super cheap with NO western luxuries. Lots of space, farms, fresh fruit, nature. But void of expats. You might be the only ones like my husband is.
If you live at the beach, it is going to be more expensive as everything with be geared towards tourist pricing.
Thailand is a good alternative to the US is you have the guaranteed income amount to live the lifestyle you expect.
That is really what it all comes down to.
You need to understand exactly what kind of life you can have with the money each money.
Should be the first thing you try to figure out before ever thinking about moving.
You need to research credible sources and get all the answers to your questions before considering a move here.