There are many amazing places to retire in Thailand. No matter if you like bustling cities, beautiful beaches, or tranquil mountains – you will surely find a place that suits all your needs. Another great thing about Thailand is that most cities, even the smaller ones, offer a very high standard of living. Even if you are quite deep in the countryside you will find good healthcare and modern grocery stores, but also all the things you like about Thailand.
In the following headers, we will mention some of the best places to retire in Thailand
Pros and cons of retiring in Thailand
There are a few things that hold true no matter if you are retiring in Chiang Mai or Bangkok. For example, the visa process is the same and it is an absolutely crucial part of retiring in Thailand. Before we start break down the different cities you can retire in, we want to give you a general overview of the pros and cons of retiring in the Land of Smiles.
Pros of retiring in Thailand
- World-class healthcare: Thailand is a destination for medical tourism and the quality of healthcare is exceptional in all the major cities. This can be especially important for people deciding to retire to Thailand. Don´t forget to purchase a health insurance, because while healthcare in Thailand is quite affordable, serious problems can easily add up quickly to your hospital bill.
- Weather: If you like winter then retiring in Thailand is not a good choice for you. Thailand gets hot and stays that way for most of the year. If a tropical climate sounds enticing then retiring in Thailand might be a good option for you.
- No natural disasters: Unlike countries like the Philippines, Thailand does not experience major earthquakes or tornados.
- Affordable massages: If you like Thai massage then a massage will seldom set you back more than 200 baht. This is about 5-6 euros or dollars.
- Affordable housing and food: In general Thailand has a low cost of living compared to most western countries. There are a few exceptions and for example Phuket with all its tourists it not necessarily very cheap anymore. The same with some central parts of Bangkok where high rents and a high standard of living is pushing up the prices for housing, drinking, and dining.
Cons of retiring in Thailand
- Cultural differences: Thailand is far away from the west and things over here work quite a bit differently. The country is heavily influenced by Buddhism but it is also a heavily superstitious country. For the newcomer, all this can be confusing but the only thing you can do is observe the traditions and be respectful.
- Language: The Thai language is tonal which can be very challenging for people ot used to tonal languages. It also does not use the Latin alphabet. Moreover, the dialects vary depending on whether you are in central, northern, northeastern, or southern Thailand. For example, the Isaan dialect spoken in the northeast is closely related to the Lao language.
- Visa process: Thailand seems to really enjoy redtape. They have made certain processes easier throughout the years but it can sometimes be a hassle to get all the documents sorted. For a retirement visa you also need to keep 800,000 baht on a Thai bank account or show a monthly income of 65,000 baht.
Retiring in Chiang Mai
Retiring in Chiang Mai is a dream come true for many and for a good reason. This charming city, nestled among forested foothills and surrounded by mountains, offers a unique blend of culture, affordability, and quality of life that makes it an attractive destination for retirees. Here are some compelling reasons why Chiang Mai is an excellent place to retire:
Pros of retiring in Chiang Mai:
- Cozy yet vibrant
- Luxury retirement facilities and affordable care
- Friendly Locals
- Diverse housing options for all budgets
- Cheap Transport
Cons of retiring in Chiang Mai:
- Can get cold during winter
- Bad pollution during burning season
Retiring in Bangkok
For those who want urban life with all modern amenities, retiring in Bangkok is a great option. However, there are some downsides living in a huge city like Bangkok. The traffic can be horrendous but if you are retired you can luckily try to minimize travelling during rush hour. It is also more expensive than most other places in Thailand, apart from maybe Phuket.
However, not all areas of Bangkok are hectic. If you want a little quieter lifestyle you can have that by living further away from the main hotspots Sukhumvit and Sathorn. You can still get into town every now and then and you are never too far away from the two airports Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang. This is why Bangkok might be a perfect hub if you would like to travel Southeast Asia while retired. If money is not an issue Phuket is definitely one of the best retirement places in Thailand.
Pros of retiring in Bangkok:
- International hub: Fly anywhere, often relatively affordably.
- Quality health care: Bangkok is known for its medical tourism and people from all over the world fly in for medical care. Many people choose to retire in Bangkok for this reason. Whereas the healthcare in Thailand in general is good, Bangkok has the best hospitals, followed by Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Pattaya.
- The best food options: In Bangkok you can find world-class food from every part of the world, most likely even your own home country.
- Public transport: Bangkok has an extensive and affordable public transport system. Taxis are also affordable.
- Culture and events: As Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, it is the cultural hot spot of the country. On a regular basis it is visited by international artists, but there are also many local arts events, music festivals, and exhibitions.
Cons of retiring in Bangkok:
- Air pollution: Air pollution in Bangkok can at times be very bad.
- Traffic: Bangkok is very large and very crowded. Especially during rush hour it can take a long time to get from one place to another. This is less of a problem for retired people than those who have to commute to work every day.
- No beaches: If you are a beach person you will have to drive at least two hours to the closest beach.
Retiring in Phuket
Living in Phuket is like living in a big city, but on an island. You have all the amenities of a big city but you are never far away from the beach. If you are planning to retire in Phuket you can be sure you can find almost everything on this island. The island might be famous for Patong which is the busiest area of the island, and also boasts a pretty impressive, and sometimes rowdy, nightlife. However, the island also has more secluded spots which you will have plenty of time to explore when you live there.
One of the negatives of living in Phuket is that it can be quite expensive. In many ways, it is even more expensive than Bangkok but if you live there for a while you will learn to save a few baht here and there. Especially getting your own transportation is going to save you money as the taxi mafia has a strong grip over the island.
Pros of retiring in Phuket:
- Convenience: Phuket is like Bangkok in the sense that you can find everything
- Great nightlife: In Phuket you can find a large number of clubs, pubs, and bars. Together with Bangkok and Pattaya it has the best nightlife in Thailand.
- International food scene: Being one of the most popular tourism destinations in Thailand you can expect to find food from all over the world.
Cons of retiring in Phuket:
- Cost of living: Phuket is quite pricey compared to other parts of Thailand. Expect to pay at least 20,000 baht for accommodation. You can however reduce your costs by driving your own motorbike and cook your own food most of the time.
Retiring in Pattaya
Living in Pattaya is in some way similar Phuket. You have the city and then you have the beach. However, the city is rowdier and the beaches are not as nice in Phuket. One of the positives is, however, that Pattaya is only a couple of hours away from Bangkok. If you would like to be close to Bangkok and its airports, but still have a beach, Pattaya is one of the best places to retire in Thailand.
Pros of retiring in Pattaya:
- World-famous nightlife
- More affordable than Phuket
Cons of retiring in Pattaya:
- Not the most beautiful beaches in Thailand
Retiring in Hua Hin
Hua Hin is known as the town where the Thai royalty prefers to go for a beach getaway. If you like Pattaya but you are not too fuzzed about the nightlife, Hua Hin might be a great option to retire in. It is still not without its nightlife and you there are definitely some nice places to have some beers at. Hua Hin is also just a 3-4 hour drive away from Bangkok and thanks to the new highway you can even get to the airport in about the same time. Worth mentioning is that there are also almost a dozen golf courses within a 30-minutes drive from Hua Hin.
Pros of retiring in Hua Hin:
- Just 3-4 hours to Bangkok
- Decent beaches
- More than 10 golf courses
- Offers a very relaxed lifestyle
Pros of retiring in Pattaya:
- Quiet nightlife
Retiring in Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai is a bit like Chiang Mai´s younger brother. You are close to the mountains and you have the lovely Lanna (northern Thai) people around your. It is in Chiang Rai province I have made some of my most memorable trips in Thailand, including going to picturesque Doi Mae Salong and the coffee mecca Doi Chang.
The city of Chiang Rai is quite small but there is still more than 70,000 people living in the city. If you want shopping there is Central Chiang Rai on Phahon Yothin Road which offers restaurants, cinemas, clothes, electronics, and entertainment. There is also the famous Chiang Rai Night Bazaar which is always a blast with its delicious Northern Thai delicacies.
Pros of retiring in Chiang Rai:
- Close to mountains so it is perfect for mountain lovers
- Quieter than Chiang Mai
- High-quality healthcare with Bangkok Hospital, among others
Cons of retiring in Chiang Rai:
- Can be quite cool during the winter months with temperatures going down to 10 degrees Celsius
Retiring in Udon Thani
Udon Thani is another place I have visited several times and each time I have been surprised how nice the city is. It is the biggest city in Isan so if retiring to Isan is your goal, Udon Thani is a great option. In the central parts it has everything you need and it is quite busy but you don´t need to drive far out of the city to get to the countryside. Udon Thani is actually the third largest city in Thailand so if you are looking for nightlife you will not be disappointed.
Pros of retiring in Udon Thani:
- The most developed city in Isan
- Decent domestic flight connections
- Cheap rent
Cons of retiring in Udon Thani:
- Not the prettiest region in Thailand