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Forbes
12-05-2025
- Forbes
Live Abroad in 4 Thai Havens From Just $1,200 a Month
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.
Malay Mail
12-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Meatless moves and herbal brews: Thailand's future food industry steps up
CHIANG MAI, May 12 (Bernama) — As one of the world's leading exporters of rice, sugar, chicken, and seafood, Thailand — nicknamed 'the Land of Smiles' and long known as the 'kitchen of the world' — is now striving to become a leader in the production of future food. Future food falls into four categories: functional food and functional ingredients, medical and personalised food, alternative protein, and organic food. Functional foods include products that offer added health benefits such as boosting immunity or increasing energy—like botanical drinks with Thai herbal extracts such as lemongrass or ginger. Alternative protein refers to plant-based burgers, sausages, or meat that mimic the taste and texture of real meat. Future food exports on the rise Thailand's future food exports are growing rapidly, driven by increasing public awareness of health and wellness. This trend is partly influenced by the post-Covid-19 shift, with more individuals opting for healthier, sustainably produced, and eco-friendly food options. According to Smith Taweelerdniti, managing director of Nithi Foods and Vice President of the Thai Future Food Trade Association, future food currently accounts for around nine per cent of Thailand's total food exports. Speaking at the recent Press Meeting & Networking for Fi Asia & Vitafoods Asia 2025 in Chiang Mai, Taweelerdniti revealed that in January this year, the largest export category — functional food and ingredients — was valued at 11.53 billion Thai baht (RM1.5 billion). This was followed by medical and personalised food (THB 629 million), alternative protein (THB 384 million), and organic food (THB 117 million). Thailand's major export markets for this sector include Asean countries (50 per cent), China (21 per cent), the United States (18 per cent), and the European Union (10 per cent). Meatless Wednesdays Despite strong export performance, Taweelerdniti believes Thailand's biggest challenge is the still-low domestic consumption of future food. 'If Thais themselves don't eat what they produce, the country cannot claim to be a leader in the future food industry,' he said. To address this, his organisation collaborated with Informa Markets Thailand in 2023 to launch the 'Wen Day on Wednesday' campaign — 'wen' meaning avoid or skip in Thai. Each Wednesday, Thais are encouraged to avoid animal-based meat and opt instead for alternative proteins such as plant-based food, fermented products, or edible insects. The campaign also promotes the inclusion of future food options in food establishments such as restaurants, canteens, schools, hospitals, and hotels, supporting a sustainable lifestyle. Other initiatives include Space-F, a food tech incubator accelerator supported by the National Innovation Agency, Thai Union, and Mahidol University, which aims to develop and support startups in this field. Thailand's Ministry of Commerce also supports the movement by ensuring that 30 per cent of food served at official functions is plant-based, contributing to the promotion of future food and carbon emissions reduction. 'Our main goal is to position Thailand as a holistic leader in future food — not just through exports, but also in local consumption, national policy, and food technology,' Taweelerdniti said. Showcasing future food in Thailand Since 2005, Thailand has been categorised as an aged society and is on track to become a super-aged society by 2036. This shift stems from a decline in birth rates — from over one million annually between 1963 and 1983 to around 502,000 births in 2022. In 2023, the number of retirees aged 60 to 64 outnumbered youths entering the workforce aged 20 to 24. According to Rungphech Chitanuwat, Regional Portfolio Director for Asean at Informa Markets, nutraceuticals are now a hot topic in Thailand, as the country transitions into a super-aged society. Nutraceuticals — derived from 'nutrition' and 'pharmaceuticals' — refer to health-enhancing functional foods. 'People are increasingly concerned about illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, and other health issues. We're seeing a rise in supplement use in daily life. This illustrates how the food industry is growing — and it's evident here in Thailand,' she said. In response, two major food and beverage exhibitions — Fi Asia Thailand and Vitafoods Asia 2025 — will be held concurrently at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok from September 17 to 19. These events will showcase the full spectrum of innovation in food, drink, and nutraceuticals across the region. Fi Asia focuses on food and drink ingredients, bringing together over 700 manufacturers and suppliers from around the world. Meanwhile, Vitafoods Asia highlights functional foods, ingredients, and nutraceutical products. The exhibitions will also feature innovation zones, international conferences, startup competitions in food and beverage, and programmes on new ingredients and foods. 'We expect over 30,000 visitors and buyers to attend. It's a strong synergy between ingredients, supplements, and finished nutraceutical products,' she said. 'In our conferences, we'll also explore consumer trends in Asia Pacific, reasons behind Thailand's food exports to specific countries, and how the country will enter the super-aged society phase in the coming years. 'We'll also discuss regulatory updates in food export-import laws. This is particularly interesting, as there is still no harmonised regulation in the region. Regulatory authorities will share what needs to be done 'For example, if I want to export to Indonesia, what's the procedure? This kind of knowledge will help participants better understand the food business ecosystem in each country,' she added. Thailand remains one of the largest markets for nutraceuticals in the Asia Pacific. According to Euromonitor International, the country's nutraceutical market was worth THB 190 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach THB 239 billion by 2027. — Bernama
