Why trust this assessment

  • Firsthand experience

    Koh Samui, Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Bangkok. Currently living in Phuket.

  • Independent

    No affiliate links, no sponsorships, no commissions.

  • Country-specific guidance

    Guidance for AU, NZ, US, UK, and CA retirees, each with different visa and tax rules.

How it works

  • 1. Tell us about yourself

    Four questions on your citizenship, your budget, what matters most to you, and how much visa experience you have.

    Start the free assessment 

  • 2. Get matched to cities

    See which Thai cities and regions actually fit your budget and situation.

    See the six compared 

  • 3. Do you have any questions?

    Still not sure?

    Ask Me 

Not sure the assessment is where you should begin?

Six steps, from a free reality check through to picking a city and working out the tax. Stop at whichever one sounds like you.

Start Here

City spotlights

  • Fisherman's Village sign at Bophut Beach, Koh Samui, Thailand

    Koh Samui

    Island living with easy access to Koh Tao and the surrounding islands. Direct flights to Singapore make onward connections south straightforward. Traffic builds at peak times and in high season.

    Koh Samui pros and cons 
  • Shops along Boat avenue Phuket

    Phuket

    Thailand's largest island, with the widest choice of international flights and the broadest range of housing. Also the most congested of the six, so allow extra time for airport runs.

    The full Phuket page 
  • Golf course with a limestone island in the sea near Krabi, Thailand

    Krabi

    Coastal, without the congestion of the bigger tourist hubs, and cheaper for it. Easy access to Phi Phi and the surrounding islands. Its own airport has limited international routes, though Phuket International is about a two and a half hour drive away.

    Krabi pros and cons 
  • Canal walkway lined with yellow flowers in Chiang Mai, Thailand

    Chiang Mai

    Mountains rather than coastline, with access to towns like Pai. Thailand's second-largest city, yet without the congestion of the islands and at the cheaper end. Flights home connect via Bangkok.

    Chiang Mai pros and cons 
  • Aerial view of Hua Hin's coastline and beachfront hotels, Thailand

    Hua Hin

    Thailand's original royal seaside town, quieter and more settled than the bigger resort cities, with excellent golf and a mature expat community. No international flights, so getting home means Bangkok first, around three hours by road or rail, then flying.

    Hua Hin pros and cons 
  • Walking Street entrance archway with shops and cafes, Pattaya, Thailand

    Pattaya

    Bigger and livelier than Hua Hin or Krabi, with the largest expat community of the six and the best golf access on this list. Closer to Bangkok than Hua Hin, so its airport and hospitals are within easy reach. Central Pattaya gets crowded; quieter beach areas like Jomtien sit close by.

    Pattaya pros and cons 
See the six side by side

Healthcare across all six

All six cities have solid private healthcare, and Hua Hin and Pattaya sit close enough to Bangkok that its specialist hospitals are within reach if you ever need them. The assessment weighs cost, pace, setting, and how easily you can get home instead.

The three southern cities also sit close together. Phuket and Krabi are about a two and a half hour drive apart.

Who this is for

Retirees and soon-to-be retirees from:

  • Australia
  • New Zealand
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • Canada

Each country has different visa pathways, tax treatment, and pension rules. The assessment accounts for yours.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to speak Thai?

No. English is widely spoken in the main expat hubs, though learning basic Thai helps with daily life outside tourist areas.

What visa options are available for retirees?

Five routes are in normal use: the Non-O, the O-A, the ten-year O-X, the DTV, and the LTR. Which one fits depends on your age, your nationality, and how your money is held. There's a flowchart and a comparison table on the Thailand Retirement Visa Options page.

Will I pay tax in Thailand?

Possibly. Spend 180 days or more here in a calendar year and you are a Thai tax resident, and foreign income earned from 2024 onward is assessable if you bring it into the country. Thailand has a double tax agreement with all five countries, so income already taxed at home is generally not taxed twice, but relief has to be claimed. Full detail on the Tax in Thailand for Retirees page, with a separate page for each nationality.

What happens to my healthcare back home?

It changes, and differently depending on which passport you hold. None of the five systems pay for treatment you receive in Thailand, and some quietly cut you off after a period abroad while others do not. It's covered country by country on the Your Home Country Health System page. Your driving licence changes too, covered separately on the Driving in Thailand page.

Should I visit before I commit?

Yes, if you can. A few days on the ground beats any amount of reading. We've written more on this, plus a few other things worth knowing before you move, on the Visit Before You Commit page.

How much does it cost to retire in Thailand?

It depends on the city and how you live. The free assessment matches you to a city, and how long your savings will last in Thailand sets out the monthly bands and what each one buys. For your own numbers, ask me.

How do the cities actually compare?

Cost, pace, golf, flights home, and the sports and fitness scene, all six side by side in one table, then the detail city by city. It's on the Best Places to Retire in Thailand page.

What about mobile coverage and internet?

Coverage is reliable in the towns and cities themselves. Chiang Mai and Hua Hin are the ones to watch if you plan to explore the surrounding areas regularly, where signal can drop out. The other coastal locations are more self-contained, so you travel shorter distances day to day.

What about Bangkok?

Bangkok isn't scored the same way as the other six. It's not coastal, not quiet, and it's the most congested city in the country, so if you want peace and a slower pace, look at the other six cities instead. If you want energy instead, Bangkok gets its own page.

What else is there to do besides golf?

Plenty, and it goes well past golf. Muay Thai, pickleball, tennis, cycling, rock climbing, it varies by city. Full rundown on the Sport and Activities page.

How far apart are these places?

Closer than most people assume. Phuket and Krabi are about a two and a half hour drive apart, so Phuket International is within reach if you settle in Krabi. Chiang Mai sits in the north and is a flight rather than a drive from the southern cities. Hua Hin and Pattaya both sit within a few hours of Bangkok by road.

Is this assessment really free?

Yes. There's no cost and no obligation to use any partner service afterward.

What happens to the information I enter?

It's not stored or sold. Your responses are used only to generate your assessment and remain anonymous.

Latest guides

1 4

Ready to find out?

Landing somewhere and finding it isn't quite right still tells you something real about what you actually want, and the next move possibly lands better for it.

Get your free, personalized assessment in a few minutes.

Start Your Free Assessment

Your information is never stored or sold. All responses remain anonymous.