There’s no doubt that Thailand is one of the most popular countries to emigrate to – it’s great value, there’s beaches, sun and sand, and perhaps most important of all – the food is to die for!
Whether you dream of spending a few months by the beach in Koh Samui or climbing the career ladder in Bangkok, Thailand is a great country in which to live, which is why so many expats make the move there each year.
As with moving to any country, there are issues you may encounter, but if you’re prepared then you should have no problems. To help you on your way this guide lists some of the things you will need to take into consideration before your move and once you’re a fully fledged Thailander!
Before You Leave…
Make Sure Thailand Is For You
Sure, Thailand is a magical place to visit on a holiday, but is it really for you? Before you start planning your move you might like to speak with someone else who has done it for themselves for some real perspective. While most people love living there, a lot speak of the culture shock that comes with being an expat in Thailand, and missing simple things that were taken for granted at home. It’s just about being honest with yourself and making sure you’re seeing both the pros and cons of your move and being OK with taking the good with the bad.
Save Your Pennies
Even though Thailand is super cheap most of the time, a lot of people forget the cost of setting up in a new country and fail to budget enough for apartment deposits, rent and other expenses. As a general rule, you should have around 2-5,000 USD saved before moving to Thailand – that way you are covered for living expenses for a few months while you travel and job hunt, as well as have enough to find an apartment and start paying rent.
Research Visas
To say that Thailand visas are confusing would be a huge understatement! There are different regulations for different countries, but as a general rule if you are wanting to stay in Thailand long-term and work then you will need to obtain a ‘Non immigrant’ visa and work permit. There are many different conditions within these visas, so in order to find out exactly what you need, check out the Thai Embassy website.
If you are a citizen of countries like Australia and New Zealand you may be eligible for a working holiday visa for Thailand, and people from other countries may also be able to enter the country on a 90 day visa instead of the standard 30 or 15 day visas. You can find out if you are eligible for this by checking out the Go Thailand website, and if you hail from the UK, the UK Thai consulate website.
Research Jobs
While a lot of people move to Thailand to teach English, this is certainly not the only option for an expat, with jobs in all sectors becoming more and more plentiful for foreign nationals. One thing to keep in mind is the salary level in Thailand – this is likely a lot lower than what you are used to if you are in a professional field, and good jobs can be extremely hard to come by.
Don’t be put off though – the jobs are there, so you just have to find them, which means more likely than not you’ll arrive in Thailand ready to pound the pavement and start looking rather than arriving with a job already agreed. If you work for an international company you may like to look into a transfer to Thailand – you may think its a long shot, but if you don’t ask, you don’t get!
A lot of people move to Thailand to start businesses, so this may also be something for you to think about. There are however certain rules and regulations which must be adhered to (as with any country) but a lot of people make a great living this way and get to experience the country in an entirely different way. If this is of interest check out this article on the Doing Business website.
Additionally, here is a list of websites to help you with finding the right job or career in Thailand for you –
Once You Arrive…
Finding An Apartment
Finding a flat in Thailand can be a bit of an art, and many expats recommend getting out and about and meeting Thai people to find the best apartments, as many are not advertised at all! Another creative way to find apartment is by walking into buildings and asking someone in the lobby – I know it sounds strange but I have read about a lot of people finding their dream home this way – Thailand is such a friendly country so don’t be afraid to ask for advice!
If you plan on teaching English in Thailand then you shouldn’t have to worry about finding your own accommodation – often this is included in your salary package, so this is a fantastic perk should you be interested in this as a career path or simply a way to fund your new Thai life.
If you would like to do some research before arriving in Thailand there are a number of sites you can look at to give you an idea of what’s available, these include thaiparatments.com and the Thai visa forum.
Settling In
Moving abroad can be stressful and vastly different, so its only expected that moving to a place that is most likely an entirely different culture than what you are used to is going to be hard, lonely and scary at times. But don’t worry, it’s completely normal to feel homesick sometimes, and trust me, it passes sooner than you think.
Allow yourself the time to settle in, meet new friends and get familiar with your surroundings. Reach out to other expats and travellers, and most importantly, the Thai people! Wander the streets speaking to people as you go, and also link in with people on some of the Thai forums listed above.
Budgeting
If you’re travelling to Thailand as a foreigner then its easy to think that you can live cheaply in the country without too much worry. But if you are earning Baht and paying Baht this can be a different story, as many wages in Thailand are only a fraction of their foreign counterparts.
Therefore, you need to be prepared to budget and potentially watch your money quite carefully. As a general rule, you could survive on around 15,000 Baht per month in Thailand, but most foreigners say allow for 30,000 if you want to live, eat and drink well. Most professional jobs in Thailand should be at around this level, with teaching most likely offering the most efficient way to earn a living – often you can earn up to 35,000 Baht for only 20-25 hours work per week!
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This is a great guide!! Thailand is our next stop, not sure if we’d want to live there but it certainly doesn’t hurt to have your guide (and esp the apartment websites) bookmarked 🙂
Thanks ladies – have a great time in Thailand! : )
Hi.
Some good advice here. I live in Thailand and you’d be surprised at the amount of people who forget they will need money for apartment deposits and rent and general living costs. You need enough for a couple of months to be sure you have enough time to find a good job etc.
Nice article.
If anybody who’s visiting Thailand would like to try something different and get off the beaten track, you can check out my articles http://www.infobarrel.com/Off_the_Beaten_Track_fun_and_unusual_things_to_do_in_Ubon_Ratchathani_Thailand
and
http://www.infobarrel.com/Eco_Friendly_Buildings_The_Temple_of_A_Million_Bottles
Thanks for putting this together, you did a fantastic job and I’m sure lots of people appreciate this. However, I would like to point out that 10,000 USD sounds very daunting. I think for your readers’ sake I’d like to point out that 10,000 isn’t necessary, and quite frankly I disagree 98% with the monetary figures used here. I moved here with less than 2,000 USD and have many friends that moved here with around 1,000 USD. Another minor point of contention, 40,000 baht is a high number, not as out of proportion as 10,000, but still quite high in my opinion.
For both of these numbers, I think this reflects a fraction of expats, not the majority. In your last paragraph, you mention that English teachers make 30-35,000 baht, but to live comfortably you should have 40,000. I lived in Bangkok for a year and rarely spent more than 15,000/month, but I watched my pennies and didn’t go to the pub except on weekends. If you’re spending 40k/month, I’d venture to say that you’re enjoying much more costly forms of “entertainment”, living in western standard housing, and eating western food regularly. As an English teacher making 30 in Chiang Mai, I have a great standard of living, treat myself occasionally to western food, and travel every other weekend. In Greater Bangkok I was making 36 and traveled every weekend and still rarely spent more than 15k/month.
As for 10,000 USD in savings to move here, I would say for a single person, 3,000 USD is plenty. If you’re really hurting, you can live on an austere budget of 10,000 month and still be able to afford beers from 7-11, all the 30 baht Thai dishes you can eat, transportation, Thai style accommodation, and still have a bit left for emergencies. I calculated that I could live over 2 and a half years in Thailand for 10,000 USD spending only 10k baht/month.
The main point of my post is that I don’t want readers to be intimidated by an impossible budget target. If you have 2,000 USD after buying your one-way ticket, you’ll be ok. Just don’t expect to be buying $10 cocktails at a swanky bar or staying in fancy digs. Until you get off your feet you may be living in a Thai-style box apartment, eating delicious cheap food, drinking cheaply, and your travel might be limited. Basically, you’ll be living like a Thai! Once you get employment, then you’re free to move to a more expensive apartment where you won’t get the toilet paper wet when you shower. Again, great information otherwise! I’ll forward this along to anyone looking to move to LOS. Fantastic research and links, you’ve clearly done your research and know what you’re talking about. Listen up would-be expats, the author is on point!
Hi Will – thanks for these points, I will add some of this info to be slightly more detailed for people who wont have this kind of money saved.
thanks i am retired and get about $2500 a month after taxes from my pension…would i need much more than that to Live in Thailand for a 4 to 6 month period or longer if i like it there ?
Hi Frank, I think you would be able to live quite comfortably in Thailand on that amount for sure! All the best!
That is a princely sum in Thailand, even in expensive Bangkok. For example, a 2 bedroom furnished apartment in a stylish part of town will cost you $500/month. Hi-rise living, pool, exercise room, service, close to transportation options. An expensive dinner out for 2 will cost maybe $50. A cheap rice dish on the street will cost $1-3. Good luck!
Thailand for most is a very inexpensive place to live, but for some people it can cost as much or more than a western country. The main variable is the extent to which you are willing to (& able to) live a Thai lifestyle, including eating Thai food. If you do all your shopping at expat-oriented supermarkets buying western products, have kids in an international school, buy a nice car, and need all the gadgets … then you may be in for a big shock.
Also be very careful when signing contracts, for example when buying or leasing or spending significant amounts of money. You need to be more careful here, whereas many expats function in ‘holiday mode’, make too many assumptions (e.g. that things/people in Thailand work/act just like back home) and/or simply don’t think things through. Those who do their homework before committing should have no problems.
Thanks Bruce, very helpful info!
Thank you so much for your insight. I will b moving to Thailand in February to teach English. I am extremely nervous becasue I do not have a network of friends and family there. Do you have any advice for when I first arrive on where to stay at or things I should accomplish soon I get there, such as bank account, cell phone information? Please feel free to reply directly back to my email address at Jacksotn01@gmail.com
THANK YOU!
im willing to relocate to thailand. single woman without strings attached. can somebody provide me with the useful info bout getting jobs in thailand.
Looking for a moving buddy, plan to move to Thailand.
I think that it’s a good idea to save up more than you think you’ll need before moving abroad. If not, and something comes up where you have to spend more than you planned, you might find yourself resorting to living off cash advances on credit cards and find yourself stuck with a pile of debt.