A majority of expats in Thailand share a common sentiment when asked about their quality of life: they enjoy a far better lifestyle than they did in their home countries. Many also mention that they no longer live paycheck to paycheck but instead have more time and savings to truly enjoy life.
An affordable cost of living, pleasant weather, delicious food, excellent facilities, and more are key reasons behind this improved quality of life.
If you’re curious about the kind of quality of life you can expect in Thailand, this article is for you. After talking to many expats in our community, you will get to know what it’s like to live in Thailand based on real people’s experiences.
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Contents
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Lifestyle
Since the cost of living in Thailand is quite low, your money goes further in Thailand. Because of this, many expats have a better lifestyle in Thailand than in their home country.
We’ve asked expats in our community to find out what they like about Thailand. Here’s what we’ve gathered about why living in Thailand can improve their quality of life
- They have more time and money to do things they enjoy.
- They can rent a bigger room with a great view, good facilities, and convenient access to transportation.
- They can eat without worrying much about the price.
- They can order food and have it delivered to their homes anytime.
- They don’t have to do their own laundry or cleaning but can hire a maid to do it.
- They have a better work-life balance.
On the other hand, not everyone can achieve this lifestyle if they have a limited budget. In our opinion, to live in Thailand with a good quality of life, you should have a monthly budget of US$1,500 (THB50,000).
If you have a lower budget, such as US$1,000 (THB35,000), it’s still possible to live here, but you will be limited in the activities you can do with that budget.
Some expats manage to live in Thailand for less than US$700. While it’s possible, it’s not recommended. It might not be the lifestyle you want.
The best scenario is to have a Western income while living in Thailand.
Read our article about the cost of living in Thailand to find out more.
Housing
Housing in Thailand is affordable with good build quality.
To give you an idea, if you have a budget of US$2,000 a month, you would only get a tiny room in New York or London. But with the same budget in Bangkok, you can rent a two-bedroom, fully furnished modern apartment located in the downtown area, within walking distance of shopping malls and all the activities in the area.
In fact, most people we know spend less than US$1,000 (THB35,000) for their accommodation in Thailand, even business owners. In many cases, it’s half of that amount.
The quality of housing in Thailand is also good. If you live in a condo, it’s modern and fully equipped with modern technologies. A keycard security system, a swimming pool, and an in-house gym are common features.
Additionally, there’s usually a convenience store right inside the condo, open 24/7. So, you can find something to eat anytime.
If you live outside of Bangkok, you can find a detached house with three bathrooms and a big yard and garden in the city center for under US$1,000.
However, if you’re a fan of bathtubs, there’s bad news. Bathtubs are considered a luxury item in Thailand. So, you won’t typically find one in a standard apartment or house unless you rent a luxury villa or condo.
Another thing people miss when living in Thailand is a Western kitchen. It’s not commonly available unless you rent a high-end place.
Food
Thailand is a food paradise with plenty of options available, from local Thai food to Western food, Japanese food, Indian food, and much more.
The quality of food overall is good, if you know where to look. In my opinion, while street food in Thailand is popular, its quality isn’t always great. It’s also not the healthiest choice, as a majority of street food is deep-fried.
If you want to eat good food, you should eat at local shops or, at the very least, inside food courts, which are plentiful in Thailand.
Another great thing about Thai food is that it’s often non-processed. So, it can be healthier than Western food. However, depending on where you buy it, it can be oily and contain a lot of sugar. The good news is that Thai cuisine is very flexible, and you can ask the cook to use less oil and sugar.
Seasonal fruits and fresh vegetables are available year-round.
Because of this, many people enjoy eating while in Thailand.
However, Thai food normally has strong flavors and consists of rice, meat, and vegetables seasoned with sugar, oyster sauce, soy sauce, and salt. If you don’t like strongly flavored food, you may face some challenges with food here.
Pork, chicken, fish, and seafood are the main sources of protein. The quality of beef, on the other hand, isn’t as good and is considered expensive.
Food in Thailand is also affordable, as you’ll usually pay less than US$2 (THB70) for a meal at a local shop.
On the other hand, dairy products, including cheese and butter, are expensive and often of lower quality than what you can find back home.
Healthcare
Healthcare in Thailand is excellent. You can expect similar or even better care than in your home country, often at a much lower price. Thailand is, after all, known for medical tourism.
Based on what we’ve gathered, there are three main reasons expats like healthcare in Thailand:
- Price: It’s affordable. You can expect to pay only THB2,000 for a doctor’s visit, even at a private hospital. At public hospitals, it costs significantly less.
- Healthcare Quality: Modern facilities, qualified doctors, English-speaking staff, and more.
- Services: The overall services are excellent, especially at premium hospitals like Bumrungrad Hospital or Bangkok Hospital.
- Speed: You don’t need to make an appointment in advance. You can simply walk into a hospital and receive treatment within an hour. If you need a specialist or surgery at a private hospital, you can usually get an appointment within a week. In many cases, urgent treatments are done on the same day.
In emergencies, you can call a free ambulance to take you to the nearest hospital. If you can’t make the call yourself (e.g., after a car crash), someone in the area will likely call an ambulance for you.
The cost of healthcare is affordable overall. A visit to a private hospital typically costs less than US$70. Read our guide to the cost of healthcare in Thailand for more details.
However, Thailand’s healthcare system isn’t perfect. There is no comprehensive public insurance system, except for some individuals working in Thailand. This means you’ll need to pay out of pocket or use private insurance.
At public hospitals, waiting times can be very long. For planned treatments, you might need to wait weeks or months, depending on the urgency of your condition.
While healthcare costs are generally affordable in Thailand, they can rise quickly if surgery or hospitalization is involved. We strongly recommend having private insurance when living in Thailand. Read our guide to health insurance in Thailand for more information.
Transportation
Almost every expat who lives in Bangkok loves how efficient public transportation is within the city. It’s extremely easy to get around as the mass transportation system, including the BTS (Skytrain) and MRT (Metro), covers almost the entire city.
It’s fast and can help you get around the city quickly without having to worry about traffic. The price is also reasonable, generally costing less than US$2 (THB70) per trip. As a bonus, it’s very clean too.
Taxis are widely available and rarely cost more than US$6 (THB200) when navigating within the city. While there are still some taxi scams in tourist areas, you can easily avoid them by using ride-hailing apps like Grab or Bolt.
However, if you live outside popular expat areas, having a car becomes essential. Cars in Thailand are slightly more expensive than in the West due to taxes. However, maintenance costs are lower. In most cases, you don’t need to maintain the car yourself. You just need to take it to a garage, where all maintenance will be done for you.
Driving in Thailand is one of the biggest challenges. While road conditions are generally good, traffic regulations are not always respected. As a result, car accident rates in Thailand are quite high. Traffic is also heavy in cities like Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai.
Safety
Thailand is a safe place to live. You rarely hear news about shootings or bombings. The crime rate is quite low. In most cases, crime is limited to red-light districts. If you avoid these areas, especially late at night, your chances of being involved in a crime are minimal.
In some areas, it’s even safe for women to walk alone at night.
Scams and pickpocketing still occur in tourist areas, but they are not very common. However, you should still avoid leaving valuable items unattended.
Many people we’ve spoken to, especially families, say they feel much safer living in Thailand than in the US. They can let their kids walk around freely in Thailand and still feel secure.
Weather
The weather in Thailand has its pros and cons. Thailand has tropical weather that’s warm year-round, with an average temperature of 28°C (82°F). This means there’s no snow or freezing weather to keep you indoors or force you to use a heater all the time.
In fact, heaters are a rare item in Thailand.
Instead, heat can be a challenge, especially during the summer months (March to May), when you might not want to step outside during the daytime. The sunlight is strong, and you will start sweating within minutes of leaving the shade.
Thailand also experiences heavy rainfall, especially in the southern region. Unlike the light drizzles common in places like the UK, the rain here can be torrential, soaking you in seconds. Flash floods can also occur in certain areas.
Therefore, before deciding on a neighborhood, make sure it’s in a high area that isn’t prone to flooding.
Air Pollution
Air pollution is not a major concern in Thailand except for a few months from January to March, commonly known as the burning season. During this time, the average AQI is around 150, which is considered unhealthy. It’s recommended to wear a mask that prevents PM2.5 particles when going outside and to keep your air purifier on at home.
If you live in the North, such as Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai, the AQI on certain days can exceed 300, which is dangerous for health. Fortunately, there’s a new technology called negative pressure housing that can quickly improve the air quality in your home by pushing bad air out and bringing good air in.
If you don’t want to deal with air pollution at all, you should consider living in the South of Thailand—if you don’t mind the rain.
Some people have told us that life in Thailand is perfect with two exceptions:
- Air pollution during the burning season
- Heavy traffic in cities
Work-Life Balance
If you come to Thailand for work, your work-life balance largely depends on the culture of your company. Some companies expect you to work overtime and stay late at the office, while others have a much more relaxed approach.
In general, most expats in Thailand report a better work-life balance than in their home countries for several reasons:
- The lower cost of living, so they don’t need to work excessively just to pay bills.
- Shorter commuting times, often taking the MRT or BTS to work within 30 minutes.
- A more relaxed work environment.
That said, it’s important to find a company with a good work ethic to ensure a healthy balance.
Education and Family Life
When it comes to education and family life, there are pros and cons.
Here are three major advantages:
- You can find plenty of recreational activities or summer camps for kids in Thailand at affordable prices. For example, you can send your kids to a summer camp at a Montessori school in Sri Racha for less than US$200 per week or to a swimming school for less than US$20 per hour. We’ve even met families who come to Thailand primarily to enroll their kids in these programs.
- Thais are generally very friendly toward children. Even if your kids run around in public, many Thais will simply say, “That’s how healthy kids are.”
- It’s easy to find family-friendly activities in Thailand, from indoor playgrounds and summer camps to zoo tours, even in Bangkok’s suburbs.
And here are the main disadvantages:
- The quality of education in Thailand isn’t on par with many other countries. Many wealthy Thai families prefer to send their children abroad for better schooling.
- International school fees can be expensive.
For more details, read our guide on international schools in Thailand.
Quality of Life for Retirees
Retirees generally enjoy a higher quality of life in Thailand compared to their home countries. They can live a more relaxed lifestyle with warm weather year-round.
Thanks to the lower cost of living, it’s possible to rent a house for under US$500, eat good food, and hire a maid to handle cleaning, laundry, and other housework. It’s also easy to find retirement communities, especially in popular areas like Hua Hin.
When I visited Hua Hin in 2024, I saw many retirees chatting in coffee shops during the morning. In the evenings, they were enjoying meals at restaurants and seemed to be having a great time.
When it comes to healthcare, retirees benefit from affordable and efficient services. However, hospitalization can still be expensive, and public insurance is unavailable for retirees unless they previously worked in Thailand and have social security.
If you require assisted living, Thailand is an excellent option. There are many high-quality elderly homes with full-time English-speaking nurses, often costing less than US$2,000 per month.
Quality of Life in Thailand Compared to Nearby Countries
If you want to know how the quality of life in Thailand compares to nearby countries, here’s a quick overview
Thailand vs Cambodia
While Cambodia is much more affordable than Thailand, its infrastructure is not as developed.
In my opinion, unless you have a specific reason to be in Cambodia, it’s better to live in Thailand. Thailand excels in many areas, including food choices, quality of life, healthcare, transportation, and much more.
Thailand vs Malaysia
Thailand and Malaysia share many similarities, such as the cost of living, infrastructure, and food options. However, the quality of life in each country can vary due to some key differences:
- Weather: Malaysia tends to be rainier and more humid than Thailand.
- Beach Cities: Beach cities in Thailand are more developed, making them easier for expats to adapt to and live in.
- Food: Malaysian food often features more spices than Thai cuisine. Additionally, as Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country, pork is harder to find.
- Culture: Thailand’s culture is more diverse and is renowned for its exceptional hospitality.
If you’re considering living in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Malacca are excellent choices. Kuala Lumpur offers a similar vibe to Bangkok, with big-city conveniences, good healthcare, and strong infrastructure. On the other hand, Penang and Malacca provide a more relaxed lifestyle.
Thailand vs Vietnam
Vietnam is becoming increasingly popular, especially among digital nomads. The country is not only known for its coffee culture but also for the abundance of cozy cafes. Over the years, Vietnam has significantly developed, offering modern facilities that make it easy and convenient to live there.
The cost of living in Vietnam is slightly cheaper than in Thailand, and getting around is easy with Grab widely available at very affordable rates.
However, there are two main challenges to living in Vietnam:
- Constant sounds of honking, no matter where you are.
- Difficulty in obtaining a visa that allows you to stay in Vietnam for more than a year.
Thailand vs Singapore
Singapore is a well-developed country, and the overall quality of life is better than Thailand in many aspects—if you can afford it. The cost of living in Singapore is 2-3 times higher than in Thailand. Job opportunities in Singapore are also more plentiful, with significantly higher salaries.
Education in Singapore is of a much higher quality than in Thailand. However, it’s also known for its demanding study schedules. If you have a family and secure a job in Singapore, your overall family life may be better than in Thailand.
That said, Singapore is quite small—about half the size of Bangkok—with fewer activities to do. It’s possible to get bored more quickly.
Now, on to You
In general, the quality of life in Thailand is excellent. The country has an affordable cost of living, good infrastructure, and a variety of conveniences, making it a great place to live.
If you’re planning to live abroad in Asia, Thailand should be one of the first countries you consider. It’s one of the best options available—not because I’m Thai, but because of feedback from other expats and my own experiences traveling abroad.
Thailand offers an ideal combination of affordable living, quality of life, diverse food options, activities, and places to live.
Of course, opinions may vary. Everyone has a unique lifestyle and preferences. If you’re unsure about living in Thailand, I suggest you come and experience it for a few months to see if it’s the right fit for you.
Good luck!
