Live Abroad in 4 Thai Havens From Just $1,200 a Month

Forbes

12-05-2025

Coral Cove beach, Koh Samui, Thailand.
Thailand is an exotic wonderland blessed with natural beauty and home to a friendly local population as well as a growing number of expats—as many as 4 million people are said to have chosen 'The Land of Smiles' as their new home.
Thailand has world-class health care options, a tropical climate, is generally very safe, and offers a number of visa options, including a retirement visa and a digital nomad visa.
To qualify for the retirement visa, known as the Non-Immigrant O-A Visa, you must be at least 50 years old and make a security deposit of 800,000 baht (about $24k) into a Thai bank or prove a monthly income of 65,000 baht (about $2k), or a combination of the two. This visa is valid for one year and can be renewed indefinitely.
With the digital nomad visa, officially called the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), remote workers may stay in Thailand for up to 180 days. Applicants must be at least 20 years old, be employed remotely outside of Thailand, and be able to show a bank balance of at least 500,000 baht (about $14k).
Thailand is about the same size as France and offers a wealth of lifestyle options for expats, from palm-fringed islands to bustling cities. Here's a quick look at four Thai havens where you can settle in easily and make the most of expat life.
Lying some 21 miles off the east coast of Southern Thailand is the palm-fringed paradise of Koh Samui. The flight here from Bangkok takes around 80 minutes. White and golden sand beaches rim the entire island which is just 15 miles across at its widest point.
Silver Beach, Koh Samui, Thailand
A little over 70,000 people live in Koh Samui, around 8,000 of whom are expats. It's also a popular tourist spot so there's a vast array of entertainment options available including mini-golf, archery, yoga, cooking schools, frisbee golf, tennis, kayaking, and laser tag.
For golfers, Santiburi Samui Country Club is home to a five-star, 18-hole international standard championship golf course (par 72 and 6,930 yards), ranked as one of Asia's best.
Health care facilities in Samui are well equipped and staffed. There are several hospitals on the island offering a wide range of services. Internationally accredited Bangkok Hospital Samui offers a complete slate of health care services and caters primarily to expats and tourists.
You'll find people of all ages living on Koh Samui but it's especially popular with digital nomads.
A couple could live well on Koh Samui on a monthly budget of $1,800. For a single, figure on around $1,500.
The beachside town of Hua Hin lies 124 miles south of Bangkok—the trip takes around 3 hours by road or four-and-a-half by rail.
Hua Hin railway station, Thailand.
Hua Hin is a well-appointed, increasingly cosmopolitan city that offers beautiful beaches, vast open-air markets, modern, air-conditioned malls, and restaurants that run from cheap street eats to fine dining along the waterfront.
Entertainment options include sailboarding, windsurfing, parasailing, kayaking, snorkelling, game fishing, cycling, hiking, Muay Thai boxing, and golf. You'll get by in English here, too.
For health care needs, the JCI-accredited Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin offers excellent standards of care.
Hua Hin stands out for its elegant, refined atmosphere. It's been the preferred retreat for the Thai royal family since the 1920s and this heritage adds a layer of charm and tranquillity. Retirees and those looking for a more relaxed pace of life will find much to like about Hua Hin.
A budget of $1,465 a month will see a couple living comfortably here, around $1,200 will cover a single.
The island of Phuket lies in the Andaman Sea off the west coast of southern Thailand.
Freedom beach, Phuket, Thailand.
The quickest way to get there from the capital, Bangkok, is to fly—it takes around 90 minutes. If you're up for a road trip, Phuket is connected to mainland Thailand by two bridges, so driving or catching a bus are also options.
Phuket is Thailand's biggest island and is home to large expat community of around 100,000. English is widely spoken and you'll also find good infrastructure, and a plenty of entertainment options from water sports, hiking, nightclubs, bars, restaurants, and spas.
Health care on Phuket is excellent, with a range of public and private facilities, many with English speaking staff. Medical fees vary, but you can expect to pay about $30 for a regular visit at a private hospital or $10 for the same visit at a public hospital.
A budget of $1,760 a month will see a couple living comfortably here, around $1,500 will cover a single.
Expat families, singles, retirees, and digital nomads will all find likeminded souls to connect with should they choose to settle in Phuket.
About 435 miles north of Bangkok, the city of Chiang Mai is home to some 1.2 million people.
Known as 'The Rose of the North', Chiang Mai offers a wonderful blend of the charms of the past and conveniences of the modern day. Among more than 300 ancient temples and monuments you'll find museums and universities. There are also impressive national parks, a dozen golf courses, and an international airport.
Wat Phra Singh temple, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai takes around 75 minutes. You can also take the train—it's a scenic, 10-hour trip. Taking a bus or driving the 435-mile route is also an option.
Chiang Mai is not a party town and there's no beach. While it's popular with visitors, it's not teeming with tourists. That said, there's plenty to keep you entertained from vibrant markets and temples, to spas, malls, bars, and a thriving live music scene.
With average temperatures range of 68 to 86 F, Chiang Mai enjoys the mildest climate in Thailand. The rainy season runs from July through September.
The health care options in Chiang Mai are second only to Bangkok. Several private international hospitals offering first-rate health care and English-speaking staff are on hand here.
Chiang Mai is particularly popular with the digital nomad crowd and with retirees who enjoy the more authentic Thai lifestyle on offer here.
A budget of $2,000 a month will see a couple living comfortably here, around $1,800 will cover a single.