1 Year Living in Thailand on $1,400… Was It Worth It? 🇹🇭@JJthelonelybullinasia

The speaker, JJ, has lived in Thailand for a year and five months, initially in the Philippines for three years. He moved to Thailand after his job contract ended, choosing early retirement in Asia over returning to the US to work until age 70. He initially entered Thailand on a tourist visa, then switched to an education visa to study Thai language, and plans to obtain a retirement visa after completing his language classes at the end of 2026. Obtaining the education visa was straightforward, with his school handling most of the paperwork. The cost for the first two levels of Thai language classes was 25,000 baht, plus an initial 2,000 baht for the visa. Every three months, he pays 1,900 baht to extend the visa. The total cost for 14 months of school is approximately 38,000 baht, with extensions being an additional cost. He also has to complete a 90-day check-in with immigration to confirm his continued enrollment. With the education visa, a non-immigrant visa, he was able to open a Thai bank account with assistance from his school. His retirement pension is deposited into his US bank account, and he transfers 65,000 baht monthly to his Thai account for living expenses. The cost of living in Bangkok can vary greatly. JJ previously lived in Samut Prakan, south of Bangkok, in a nice one-bedroom condo with amenities for 12,000 baht (approximately $360-$370 US) per month. He now lives in the Phrom Phong area off Sukhumvit Road, a more expensive tourist area. His current condo, which he secured with a two-year lease, costs 25,000 baht per month, down from the initial asking price of 30,000 baht. He appreciates the security and amenities of condo living, including a gym, rooftop pool, and co-working space. Living a modest lifestyle, JJ spends about 45,000 to 50,000 baht per month, leaving him with about 15,000 baht remaining from his 65,000 baht monthly income. His rent is 25,000 baht. His electricity bill, including air conditioning, is around 2,800 baht ($80-$85 US) per month, and water is only 54 baht per month. He primarily eats inexpensive street food and at night markets, rarely cooking at home. He allocates 1,000 baht per month for his BTS Rabbit card. Other expenses include occasional social outings, like having beers with friends or a Western steak dinner, which can cost around $50, significantly less than in the US. Even medical expenses are considerably cheaper; a recent motorcycle accident resulted in a hospital bill of 8,750 baht (about $260 US) for x-rays, doctor visits, and medication. He uses travel insurance for major medical incidents but paid for the accident out of pocket. JJ has no regrets about moving to Thailand, despite missing aspects of the US like live sports, driving his car, family, and some friends. He had long wanted to move to Asia and seized the opportunity. He considers moving to Asia and then to Thailand as the best decisions he's made, loving Bangkok, the people, the culture, and the food. Bangkok offers a wide variety of cuisines beyond Thai food. He acknowledges that Bangkok is a big city and not for everyone, citing recent pollution issues in January and February that affected his respiratory health, requiring him to temporarily leave the city for Hua Hin. He notes the financial advantage for Westerners retiring in Thailand due to the favorable currency exchange and lower cost of living. His current expenses are about one-third to one-half of what he would pay in the US. For example, his rent in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was $1,500 US (approximately 50,000 baht), which would be a tight budget in Bangkok. He emphasizes that everything in the US—rent, utilities, food, gas—is more expensive. He has not visited the US in about two and a half years due to his education visa requirements and classes. He plans to return after his classes are finished to sell his car and tie up loose ends before coming back to Thailand, which he now considers home. Regarding concerns about living alone in Thailand and potential health issues or aging, JJ is not scared but has a plan. He advises having a plan to return to one's home country if needed. He also notes that many foreigners here have younger partners who can provide care. Thailand also offers affordable senior care facilities, similar to assisted living in the US but much cheaper, offering three meals a day and 24-hour medical assistance. He has a good support system of friends who helped him after his motorcycle accident. Learning Thai is crucial for situations requiring assistance where English is not spoken, though translation apps help. His travel insurance includes emergency travel back home, covering significant costs for major medical issues. He stresses the importance of having a clear plan, a steady monthly income of at least $2,000 US (65,000 baht), and significant savings to cover initial costs and emergencies. Initial moving costs include flights, temporary accommodation, and a two-month deposit plus one month's rent for a permanent place. He will share details about the retirement visa process once he obtains it. He also mentioned that living in Thailand for more than 180 days in a calendar year makes one a taxable resident. He has a tax ID number and was informed that his US social security income is not taxed in Thailand, and he doesn't need to file taxes for his small YouTube income that remains in the US. He also emphasized that he needs a re-entry stamp to leave the country and return without losing his education visa, which costs 1,000 baht. For those considering retirement in Thailand, he advises visiting first for an extended period to ensure it's the right fit, rather than relying solely on online videos. He visited Thailand multiple times a year for extended stays before deciding to move. He also suggests discussing the decision with family and understanding one's motivations for moving to Thailand. Regarding dating in Thailand, he found it easier in the Philippines as an older expat to find younger women. In Thailand, it's a bit harder. He prefers dating women in their 30s or 40s, finding he has little in common with women in their early 20s. He notes that Thai women prefer to date someone living in Thailand, not just visiting. He believes that relationships between much older men and very young women (e.g., 60 and 20) are often more about money than love, whereas a smaller age gap (e.g., 60 and 35) is more conducive to genuine connection. He also highlights that older women, including single or divorced mothers, can be beautiful, smart, and nurturing, and he personally doesn't mind dating a woman with children if the father is not in the picture. He also points out the impracticality of an older man dating a young woman who wants to have children.