I think there are 3 groups of people that move to Thailand.
- Single Men/Women
- Married Couples
- Married Couples with Kids
There is NO singular reason why American’s want to give up their lives in the USA to move to Thailand.
Some are unhappy with the cost of living in the USA.
Some are unhappy with wokeness?
Some are unhappy with the government?
Some may have been swayed that everyday life in Thailand is a holiday? (PS It is not)
Each group has their own reason.
I am not 100% sure if people moving to Thailand from the US are moving to escape the current conditions or are moving for a lifetime?
This is because many American’s visit Thailand one time and get a false impression that Thailand will be a magical holiday destination the rest of their lives.
They have fallen for the false bravado of Facebook posts and flashy Youtube videos.
They really have had no experience with the negative side to living in Thailand, because the negative side doesn’t sell Youtube clicks.
I suspect retired singles and couples might be moving for a lifetime?
Married couples with kids might learn along the way that Thailand does not work out so well for American kids.
Costs of International School Tuition is US $30,000 per student per year.
The other alternative, Thai school with a couple English classes tends to alienate young kids who cannot understand Thai.
This leaves home schooling as the major option for most families. This takes time to do it right and you still have to find a way to integrate your kids with others. Many middle class and above Thai families push their kids beyond comprehension with additional tutoring, lessons, etc., after school every day and on weekends.
American’s need to understand exactly why they are moving to Thailand and to understand their expectations of living in Thailand 1000%.
Lower costs is never a good reason by itself.
Why?
Because daily life still goes on here and now you are having to make a new daily life in a different culture and language.
There is no such thing as a 40 hour work week in Thailand. Better plan on 60. Doesn’t leave you with much free time at all.
Another issue is the hassle of getting to and from work when it is hot/humid as hell, monsoon rains 6 months a year and traffic gridlock.
The daily grind can wear you down.
Not being able to own your own land. This is a big issue as you might be relegated to renting a house the rest of your life. (No equity build up).
Buying a condo is not such a good option with kids.
Money is #1. Will you have enough money to meet your quality of life expectations here? Living on the cheap only goes so far and quite quickly too!
You have to qualify for a legal visa. You have to have money in the bank each year to cover the VISA renewal. Lots of unnecessary paperwork each and every year.
You will get older the more years you live here. Older age brings on more medical issues. Do you have or can you afford family insurance premiums?
I cannot see, if you have to work full-time in Thailand, that your life will be better or easier. Unless you work here on a full-expat salary package which could afford you everything you want and need; including a nanny.
For a family with 2 kids, I personally would want to earn in the US $5,000 a month range.
Married Couple with no kids US $3,500 a month range
Single $2500 a month range.
I won’t even get into the fact you can live cheap, because you are not living, but merely surviving.
Your monthly expenses including rent, utilities and food should be around US $1,000 a month. What you have left over after the basics are paid will determine the quality of life you have here.
If you are forced to work in Thailand, can you earn enough to have the quality of life you are expecting?
You might think differently, but after a couple short weeks you will understand what I said.
Can you save enough money and contribute to social security so that you will have enough more to retire someday?
Can you save enough for your kids college education? A Thai Uni education is basically worthless outside of Thailand and Thai college graduates start out earning only 15,000 thb (US $462) per month. Not enough to live on their own and support themselves here.
Escaping to Thailand for lower costs has it’s own immense costs and those costs can be stressful, depressing and cause a loss of happiness.
You need to understand YOUR expectations and quality of life realistically.
Not just when you move, how about the next 5, 10, 20, 30 years living here?
How many of you have actually made a viable long term plan to stay the rest of your lives?
20 years later, I find myself a dual Thai-US citizen. Graduated from the University of Florida.
I have lived in the US and I have personally seen the increase costs and decline as other American’s have seen.
Just now, we are selling our house in Florida, USA, never to return.
We have no financial issues to stay in the USA.
But like many of you, we are no longer happy to live in the US, to the point that once the house is sold, we will never return. Not even to visit.
We live in rural Thailand. Far, far away from any of the problems of modern day Thailand. Hasn’t changed much in the past 20 years. A simple, stress free life
Phuket being over-run with Russians and prices through the roof.
Pattaya over-run with Indians.
I see lots of families choosing Hua Hin because so many other expat families live there.
You need to understand ALL the issues, and inquire about ALL the negative issues for whatever location you are planning to move to.
Look ahead through the years and see if you can visualize a happy life in Thailand?
Thailand isn’t perfect by any means.
The rest of the civilized world is changing for the worst at an alarming rate.
Make 100% sure if you are going to move to Thailand, you understand exactly what you are getting into.
If you can identify and mitigate all the negatives, you will be way ahead.