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Thailand is Still a Great Place To Live

There has always been talk about leaving Thailand, the forums are full of threads suggesting "escape plans" and history is ridden with well known folk who have just packed up and left. But Thailand is and still remains the jewel of South East Asia where it is still rated as:

THE best place to retire
THE best place to start your English teaching career
The best place for bootstrapping digital nomads
The best place for sex

and the list goes on and on....

Most people don't come here to live forever, living in Thailand for many years you'll meet and farewell many a friend. It's not for everyone, however it is for everyone to try.

Is there another Eutopia around here?

I'm not convinced, not as easy as it is here, people say that immigration here is a hassle yeah maybe it is a bit but it's not that uncomfortable and at max it's only every 3 months you go deal with it anyway. Big deal. It sure beats paying 6months rent in advance in the Philippines, dealing with blackouts and shitty download speeds in Cambo, risk massive fines for banging a local in Loas. Myanmar isn't even close to these places, and Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia? Meh Meh Meh Meh

I think the problem with the people who complain about Thailand and don't leave are the one's that can't. For sure if you hated this place that much you'd just bloody leave. The problem is they can't.

Going back to your own country can be very difficult for someone who's been living on a shoestring in Asia for many years. When you do get back you'll have no job and find it very difficult to rent an apartment. It's really easy to get stuck in Asia especially if you have no one you can rely on if you ever returned.

Does Thailand have it's problems? Yes!!! Customer Service, Infidelity, Corruption, Drugs, Crime, Scams, Political, Driving, Prostitution, you name it, there's a problem with it in Thailand.

It's safe to say that anything you do in Thailand and you have a problem, there's no one really on your side. If you buy something and you don't get what you wanted, tough luck. If you pay for a service and you don't receive the service you expected, tough luck. If you get into a traffic accident then you're at fault, tough luck.

But honestly what place doesn't have it's issues, Thailand still has problems, but it's still the best.


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About Chris

Chris founded LivingThai.org in 2011 and has received over 3 million visitors. He has lived here for over 10 years and speaks reads and writes very good Thai.

19 Responses to Thailand is Still a Great Place To Live

  1. TylerB May 25, 2015 at 12:52 am #

    Good article and spot on except for shitty download speeds in Cambo. Cambodia now has very good internet with fast downloading. Well, Phnom Penh does anyhow. You forgot to mention that Thailand also probably has the best foods in SE Asia.
    Cheers

    • Chris May 25, 2015 at 3:40 am #

      I havnt been to cambo for a 3 years now! Shit where does the time go ey. But my mate was there recently. The brownouts and blackouts he said were often and that would be an issue for me. If things improved thatd be great but to ur point the food here is much better. Thanks for ur comment

  2. Pedro May 25, 2015 at 4:24 pm #

    chris ive been coming to thailand for the last 10 years and spent the last 8 months there. my visa has run out and im in no hurry to get a new one and go back there. the place has changed alot and not for the better.

    p4p is a joke these days and normal girls are not easy language barrier alone makes it hard to pick up. maybe its different for you since you speak fluent thai

    • Chris May 27, 2015 at 5:48 pm #

      Yes the place has changed a lot, in fact the whole world has changed, I don’t agree that the girls aren’t easy though but if you compared your age from 10 years that may be the reason? Who knows dude but compared to my twenties I find it easier to get girls, perhaps cause I have more money to spend now? What’s changed that you don’t like so much?

  3. pedro May 29, 2015 at 5:01 pm #

    mainly the girls have changed for me mate

    even back in 2010 i would get eyefucked in every 7/11; have freelancerd chasing me down sukhumvit and top stunners in gogos would throw thenselves at me.

    none of that is happening anymore.

    ya might be my age but i just turned 30 and can still easily pass for mid twenties. i think it has more to do with the huge influx of young guys and online dating that is making things worse in thailand. if you like it there more power to you! im in no hurry to get back atm but who knows…

  4. Skins June 7, 2015 at 3:02 pm #

    Well said. Thailand certainly is the jewel of south east Asia. I enjoy traveling but it’s always a great feeling when my plane lands in LOS! No place like it.

    I’ve learned to ignore the miserable expats. They’re in every country. They’re miserable wherever they are so fuck ’em!

    • GuidoSexMachine July 4, 2018 at 8:59 am #

      I second that. Thailand is the pearl of SE Asia… But most of those miserable expats seem to be regular commentors on the Thai Visa forum. Lol

  5. Marco June 8, 2015 at 12:45 am #

    the author of this article lacks serious world travel experience, there are definitely much better places in Europe or south America and even Africa who far exceeds the quality of life in Thailand with better infrastructure and faster net connections and even cheaper living cost with easier longer term visas.

    southern Spain is just a little example got a 2 bedroom in downtown Seville for just under
    300$ a can of beer cost 1$ wine 3$ I can get a great meal for less then 8$, clubs don’t close earlier weed is almost legal and cheap, p2p and brothels is way cheaper then Thailand, streets are much cleaner and food and wine is delicious and way far cheaper then Thailand the internet is 100x faster then Thailand.

    Thailand has greatly deteriorated after 2014 I only see Indians or Chinese tour groups who visit the country, I just feel like it got nothing to offer as it was 10 yrs ago.

    • Chris June 8, 2015 at 2:31 am #

      I did kinda allude to the fact that it’s the best place in SEA thought that would come through because I compared Thailand to all the other countries in this area maybe that didn’t come through not sure. But some place in Africa better than Thailand…random.

    • rondamon October 3, 2015 at 8:31 am #

      “Thailand has greatly deteriorated after 2014 I only see Indians or Chinese tour groups who visit the country, I just feel like it got nothing to offer as it was 10 yrs ago.”

      RACIST

    • steve October 14, 2015 at 11:33 pm #

      Agree with you totally Marco I found Europe far better than Thailand , these days Thailand has become the worlds rubbish tip of the $2 beggar desperate ferlangs , that puts me off Thailand far more than any evil a thai could do to me !I have thai wife I must say she’s ok …………..not made me poor , but go out for a meal always a drunken bum ferlang dribbling all over your table or trying to get onto your wife,

      they just trash 80% of the ferlangs all poverty stricken on the bludge. took my wife to Europe she said do we have to go back to Thailand???

      personally I think Thailand went down the drain with the GFC 2008 / 2009 ERA been a dump ever since!

  6. Marco June 8, 2015 at 5:57 pm #

    well if i make a comparison on a city level Manilla and Jakarta and even sihanoukville are way far better then Bkk when it comes to having fun and plus they are at least 30% cheaper unlike bkk non-pro gals are easier to pick up from clubs n no ridiculous restrictions too.

    the quality of clubs and gogos or p4p has rapidly deteriorated over the last years in Thailand just take a look at ratchada road or RCA it s not the way how it used to be, soi cowboy became really overpriced someone must expect to spend at least 5000 baht a night (booze, st) probably Thailand is great for those who wants to spend 10K+ a night but why would I do so if I have other countries who are at least 50% to 70% cheaper.

    as for Africa I found Kenya and Ethiopia are fantastic place for those fond of mixed black gals with great ass who are proficient in English and they are difficulty not as boring as most of Thai gals.

    • Chris June 10, 2015 at 3:45 pm #

      You’re only mentioning girls and p4p scene, not life in general. If you’re living here and speak a bit of Thai there are many places in Bangkok which are 10th of the price of soi cowboy. Quality of life better in Manila or Jakarta, don’t think so. I do agree with the club situation though, especially Bangkok, the clubs are crap, the only decent clubs are the members only clubs which you need 20k just to walk into.

  7. Marc June 11, 2015 at 5:27 am #

    Chris, this is a fantastic article. I fully agree with you. There are always some folk who beg to differ and always talk of the “good ol days’!! That is rubbish.

    As for travelling to some far flung African country where your personal security is at risk, HIV is high, everyone sees you as a potential scam, go ahead and knock yourself out. In Nairobi for example, going out is a nightmare, can’t wear your watch, walk at night, carry minimal money. list is endless……

    BKK will always do it for me. Apart from the P4P, the quality of life is high in Thailand and it is so cheap.

  8. ChiangMaiGuy June 15, 2015 at 7:23 am #

    Mostly due to the infrastructure it is way ahead of the competition. I have to say, though, that if Philippines had the roads, hospitals, shops etc. they have here that’s where I’d probably be.

    Thailand is Waaaaaaaaaay ahead of all other SEA countries but is becoming MORE expensive.

  9. Diogenes June 16, 2015 at 6:29 pm #

    Utopia is a Greek word Chris,

    It means “No Such Place”.

  10. Billbottom June 18, 2015 at 7:42 am #

    I enjoyed staying in Thailand for 6 weeks in 2013, got some dental work done for 1/3 of the cost compared to Los Angeles. The Thai herb was OK and cheap only cuz I knew a local friend. Nothing like stinky Cali herb though. The Thai women weren’t bad or too expensive either, but as others have mentioned they can be boring and it seems about 98% of women speak very little English which really felt lonely after a while. I’m not dedicated enough to pratice learning Thai yet, maybe if I actually live there part time and longer than 6 weeks. My attraction to visit the Philippines is for better English speaking women. If I can find a good cook there then hopefully I can enjoy great food. Or even teach them myself how to cook. The quality of life in Los Angeles is still very good yet pricey, but incomes are also moderately higher here and plenty of hot Asian women that speak English! We have/grow the best organic fruits, nuts, and veggies in the world, at least until we run out of water… I really missed some fresh produce during my stay in Thailand. Sure I bought some avocado’s for higher prices that were imported from Australia but they weren’t the same or as fresh. Girls can only feed a man for so long… Funny I have a Thai girlfriend in LA, paying half my rent now too! She will be very helpful in speaking with Thai girls and making sure we don’t pay too much for anything when we visit Thailand together;)

  11. Rocky June 20, 2015 at 1:29 am #

    Don’t forget, Thailand has a large and prosperous middle class.

    Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Yuunan, China are all MORE EXPENSIVE than Thailand.

    Not only are these countries more expensive, but the people there EARN LESS THAN THAILAND.

    If you want to leave Thailand, spend more money and then be surrounded by people who earn less money, knock yourself out.

    Just be aware of the dangers of more extreme income inequality can bring, in terms of violence and crime inflicted upon people who they think have an unfair advantage.

    Also, don’t get sick. The public healthcare systems in all those countries really suck compared to Thailand…

  12. Dante July 2, 2015 at 4:09 pm #

    You can find condos in Philippines where it’s just 1 month advance, 2 months deposit, same as Thailand. E.g. Gramercy Manila where most expats live, 70 floor high rise with infinity pool, three gyms… you can’t get the same value for money as Thai apartments though, granted. Often they’re twice the price as what you could get in Chiang Mai. But only having to leave the country once every three years helps save some money for that.

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