4 Key Essentials to Living the Dream in Thailand

Moving to Thailand as an expat might sound exciting, but turning that dream into reality takes real planning. Many people come here unprepared and face serious problems because they didn’t think through the basics first.

You need to get four key areas of your life sorted out before you make the move. Money, health, and family obligations are the main things that can make or break your experience here. Getting these right from the start will help you actually live your dream instead of just thinking about it.

Key Takeaways

• You need either a lump sum of money or steady income to cover living costs in Thailand
• Good health and a plan for medical expenses are essential since healthcare isn’t free
• Family relationships and timing your move around children’s ages matter for long-term success

Turning Dreams Into Achievable Goals

Making Your Vision Come to Life

You need to stop dreaming and start doing. Dreams don’t get you anywhere if you just keep them in your head. They waste your time.

You have to turn your dream into a real goal. You need to take action on it. If you want to move to Thailand and become an expat, you must think seriously about four key areas of your life.

You need to sort these areas out before you make the move. Some people come unprepared and fail badly. They didn’t get their important things organized first.

The Four Essential Areas:

1. Money and income
2. Health considerations
3. Family obligations
4. Timing factors

Planning Your Move Abroad

Money Requirements

Your financial needs depend on how long you plan to stay. The requirements are very different for short visits versus permanent moves.

For a one-year stay, you need a lump sum of money ready. You should have at least $1,500 per month available. That means $18,000 for the year, plus extra money for deposits and other costs.

Stay LengthMonthly BudgetTotal Needed1 Year$1,500$20,000+PermanentRegular incomeOngoing

If you have a large amount saved, you can figure out $1,500 per month and see how long your money will last. But this is risky and not the best way to do it.

For permanent living, you need regular income. Most expats are retirees with pensions. Some are young ex-military people with good pensions.

Your income options include:

• Pension payments
• Online business you set up first
• Remote work for companies
• Business partnership with local partners

You cannot just arrive and expect to find work. Teaching English pays very little money. You must set up your income source while you’re still in your home country. Make sure it works and makes enough money before you move.

Health Planning

You need to think carefully about your health before moving. Are you healthy or do you need hospital visits often?

Consider these health factors:

• Do you have diabetes?
• Do you need regular treatments?
• Do you visit doctors frequently?

Healthcare quality is excellent, especially in areas with good hospitals and clinics. But you have to pay for it. It’s not free like some countries offer.

Health insurance gets expensive as you age:

• After 60: Prices go up quickly
• After 70: Costs become very high
• Some companies will refuse coverage

Many people self-insure instead. They keep a large sum of money in the bank for medical emergencies. You can use the same money required for visa purposes as your health fund.

Pharmacies are well-stocked and helpful. You can buy most medications without prescriptions. They have almost everything and will order items they don’t have.

Regular health checkups cost about $60 per month. This includes blood tests and doctor visits to check sugar levels and other important health markers.

Financial Readiness for Living in Thailand

Understanding Living Expenses

You need to think about money first before moving to Thailand. The amount depends on how long you plan to stay.

For a one-year stay, you need at least $1,500 per month. This means $18,000 for the year. Add extra costs like condo deposits, motorbike rental, and other expenses. You should have around $20,000 total for a basic one-year stay.

If you have saved more money, you can figure out how long it will last using the $1,500 monthly minimum.

Managing Budgets for Short-Term and Permanent Stays

Short-term stays work with a lump sum of money. You can bring saved money and spend it during your time in Thailand. This works for one year or temporary visits.

Permanent living is completely different. You cannot rely on savings alone. You must have money coming in regularly to support yourself long-term.

Using savings for permanent living is risky. Your money will run out eventually.

Establishing Reliable Income Sources

Most expats who live in Thailand permanently are retirees with pensions. Some are young ex-military people with good pensions.

You have several income options:

• Pension payments from retirement
• Online business you built in your home country
• Remote work for companies that let you work from anywhere

The key is setting up income before you move to Thailand. You must get your online business working and making money while still in your home country.

Challenges of Working and Earning in Thailand

Finding work in Thailand is very difficult. You cannot just arrive and expect to find a job.

Teaching English pays very little. China’s new rules have made this work even harder to find.

Starting a business requires a Thai partner. You must set up the business properly to make good money.

Working online is possible but challenging. You need the right setup and reliable internet.

You cannot depend on finding local employment once you arrive.

Preparing Finances Before Moving

You must sort out your money situation completely before moving to Thailand.

Set up online income while you are still in your home country. Make sure it works and pays enough to live on.

Find remote work with companies that do not care where you live. They only care that you do the work online.

Get your pension ready if you are retiring. Make sure payments will reach you in Thailand.

Do not move to Thailand thinking you will figure out money later. This approach leads to failure. Many people crash and burn because they did not prepare their finances properly.

Your income source must be working and reliable before you make the move.

Checking and Keeping Your Health Before and After Moving

Current Health Condition and Medical Requirements

You need to sit down and think hard about your health before moving to Thailand. Ask yourself if you are a healthy person or if you need hospital visits often.

Do you have diabetes? Do you need dialysis? Do you have other health problems that need treatment? These will cost money in Thailand.

You can get treatment for anything because the healthcare is excellent. But it will cost you money. Healthcare is not free like it is in some countries.

Getting Healthcare Services and Insurance Coverage in Thailand

Healthcare quality is really excellent in Thailand. Pattaya has five excellent hospitals and many clinics. So getting healthcare is not a problem as long as you can pay for it.

You can get health insurance in Thailand but it works best for younger people. Here’s what happens with insurance costs:

• Past age 60: Insurance prices start to go up fast
• Past age 70: Insurance becomes very expensive or companies refuse you

The insurance gets so expensive that you really wouldn’t want to pay it. Some companies will just say no to older people.

Self-Insurance Methods

When regular insurance becomes too expensive, some people self-insure. This means you keep a large amount of money in the bank for health emergencies.

For a retirement visa, you need 800,000 Thai baht (about $25,000) in a Thai bank. This money can work double duty as your health insurance fund.

You have a lump sum sitting there for an emergency. If there’s a health problem, you have money in the bank to pay for it.

Finding Pharmacies and Getting Medications

The pharmacists in Pattaya are really good and very well stocked. Something that might surprise you is that pharmacists never ask to see a prescription.

You can walk into any pharmacy and buy almost anything legal over the counter. They will sell you any drug without a prescription.

What pharmacies offer:

• Just about everything for every health problem you can think of
• Very few medications that they don’t have
• They will order medications they don’t stock
• No prescription needed for most drugs

Healthcare Habits and Regular Health Checks

You need to keep a proper check on your health as you get older. Things can go slightly wrong and you don’t know why you’re feeling tired or having other problems.

Monthly health check example:

• Go to a hospital once a month
• Get a blood test to check blood sugar and cholesterol
• See the doctor for analysis of the blood
• Cost: about 2,000 baht ($60 US) per month

If something needs adjusting, like high blood sugar, they can give you tablets to bring it down. Some people get statins to lower cholesterol.

This is something you need to do as you get older. You don’t realize things can go out of balance in your body.

Family Obligations and Personal Relationships

Talking to Your Family About Your Plans

When you decide to move to Thailand, your family’s reaction matters. You need to think about what your family will say before you make this big change.

Some family members might make negative comments. They could label you unfairly or say hurtful things about your choice to live in Thailand. This happens to many people who move abroad.

Common family reactions include:

• Jealous comments from relatives
• Unfair labels about your reasons for moving
• Criticism of your life choices
• Concerns about distance and safety

You should prepare for these reactions. Not everyone will understand or support your decision.

Effects on Kids and When to Move

Your children’s ages will control when you can move. You cannot ignore this important factor.

The timing depends on your kids’ needs. Young children need stability and education. Teenagers have different concerns than small kids.

Age Group Key Concerns Young children School stability, social connections Teenagers Friends, activities, college prepYoung adultsIndependence, career starts

One approach is waiting until your youngest child reaches adulthood. Some parents wait until their youngest turns 19 before making the move.

This timing gives your children the chance to finish school and start their own lives. It also reduces guilt about leaving them behind.

**Managing Public Opinion and Family Judgment

You will face judgment from others about your move to Thailand. This comes with the territory when you make big life changes.

Some people will make assumptions about your reasons for moving. They might not understand your real motivations. These reactions often come from people who are jealous or closed-minded.

Ways to handle negative reactions:

• Stay confident in your decision
• Explain your real reasons clearly
• Don’t let others’ opinions control your choices
• Focus on supportive friends and family

Remember that nasty comments usually say more about the person making them than about you. You cannot control what others think, but you can control how you respond.