Isaan is Thailand’s largest region, consisting of 20 provinces. Despite having 30% of Thailand’s population, this region receives less than 3% of Thailand’s tourist dollars.
The population of Isaan encompasses 20,800,000 people; 1/3 of all of Thailand.
The average per capita income is only US $2,000 per year.
Isaan can be broken down into 2 categories.
The booming cities such as Udon Thani and Khon Kaen.
The 1,000’s of rural villages.
Viilagers survive planting sugar cane and rice.
There are literally millions of acres of these 2 crops grown everywhere.
Many locals in rural Isaan survive by manually cutting these 2 crops when in season. The rest of the year they may be unemployed.
You won’t find many villages where expats live in rural Isaan.
In fact, if you move to rural Isaan, you may be the only foreigner locals have ever seen in person, and that is a very good thing!
Rural Isaan life is for those expats that married a lady from this region or expats that can embrace the Thai way or living, not needed other expats or tourist things.
You won’t find anything in the nature of tourist attractions or comforts to attract foreigners to settle in this region.
To live in rural Isaan, you have to be able to adopt to living the same as the local Thai people live.
This may include (depending on your budget and location), no air conditioning, no running water, maybe even no electricity.
In my case, I do have all of these comforts, although many around me do not.
Meals are purchased daily in makeshift outdoor markets. Sometimes the villages rotate which day they can host the market, so you may have to visit different markets during the week to buy your food.
Food prices for Thai food meals are still the cheapest in all of Thailand.
An Iced Latte at a shop near my house is only 20 thb (US $0.66) for a large size.
Meals still average 40 thb per dish.
There are NO taxis or Grab in rural Isaan.
You will need preferably a truck and a motorbike, although many families get by with just a motorbike.
Cost is the number one benefit to living in rural Isaan.
If you want to live a Thai lifestyle, this is an excellent option.
