Moving To Thailand? You Should Know This
Moving to Thailand can be a life-changing experience, but it’s not without its challenges, and prospective expats can make plenty of mistakes before they ever step foot in this country.
Money and Budgeting
Let’s talk about money, because poor budgeting can be one of the biggest mistakes that prospective expats make. The romantic idea of living cheaply in Thailand still lures a lot of people in, and yes, things here can cost far less than in Western countries, but that depends entirely on how you choose to live.
Food can be incredibly cheap if you eat locally, but Western restaurants and imported groceries will push your costs up very quickly. Optional expenses like nightlife and entertainment can blow any budget very quickly. Make sure your budget matches your goals in moving to Thailand.
Health Care and Insurance
Let’s talk about health care. This is a critical consideration, and it’s one many people underestimate. Thailand is famous as a medical tourism hub and has excellent private hospitals, but they aren’t free. Medical bills can be steep, especially for accidents or surgeries, and basic travel insurance won’t cut it for long-term living.
Choosing Where to Live
Another huge factor people overlook is where exactly they want to live in Thailand. Each region has its own rhythm, its own quirks, and its own cost structure.
Northern cities offer a slower pace and cooler climate, but can be challenging during the burning season when the air quality plummets. Rural regions are affordable but can feel isolating if you don’t speak Thai or need certain amenities. Where you choose to live will shape your entire experience of life here.
If possible, spend some time in different areas before committing long-term and try to envision how it would feel to live there on a more permanent basis. The truth is a fantastic holiday destination can be very different when it comes to day-to-day life.
Avoiding Isolation and Permanent Holiday Mode
Typically, there are two pitfalls that you want to avoid, and they are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Some people isolate themselves, maybe living in a condo, working remotely, and not interacting much outside. Often this occurs if an expat chooses a living area that is a little bit too far from the city center or expat-oriented neighborhoods. For newcomers, I generally recommend living in a relatively central and accessible location during the first year in order to avoid this outcome.
On the flip side, others fall into the trap of living in a never-ending vacation. This is the infamous permanent holiday mode, and they fail to establish any positive routines, habits, or purpose. This can be equally dangerous, as it’s normally unsustainable. It can be best to avoid staying in entertainment and nightlife areas, which will only increase the risk of falling into the holiday mode trap.
Try to create a balanced routine. Join a local gym or yoga class, volunteer locally, or take up a hobby like a Thai cooking class or Muay Thai or better yet, focus on learning the Thai language.
Housing and Leases
Speaking of commitment, let’s talk about housing. It’s tempting to jump on a long-term lease the moment you find a shiny condo with a view, but signing a long lease before you’ve lived in the neighborhood is risky. You don’t know what the area is like at night, what traffic is like during rush hour, or if you’ll encounter noise issues. It can be smarter to rent short-term at first and give yourself the flexibility to move once you determine what really matters to you.
One of the things that expats commonly underestimate is access to green space, like right here at Benjakitti Park, or the quality of sidewalks and walkability of a neighborhood. Spending time in a neighborhood will ensure that you choose the right area for you.
Mindset and Cultural Adjustment
We’ve discussed mistakes related to physical environment and planning, but one of the biggest mistakes can come down to mindset and underestimating the cultural adjustments that you’ll face once you move here. Living in Thailand is very different from visiting on a holiday, and underestimating the cultural adjustment can lead to frustration, loneliness, or misunderstandings.
Thai society places a high value on respect, politeness, and the concept of face. The underlying goal is to maintain harmony within the community, but it can also lead to a lack of direct communication and inaction when it comes to addressing problems. This can differ sharply from Western values, which emphasize individualism, direct communication, and critical thinking.
The culture of face permeates pretty much every aspect of Thai society, and it can be paired with overly bureaucratic systems. Just mention Thai immigration to any long-term expat, and you’re likely to get a lengthy rant about all the unnecessary requirements. Whether it’s the immigration office, the bank, or any paperwork process, many new expats get frustrated by the excessive bureaucracy, which can be slow or filled with what feels like redundant paperwork. Patience is an important virtue when it comes to living in Thailand be prepared to test it.
It’s completely normal to experience culture shock. Typically it comes in stages. First, you have the honeymoon phase, when everything is exciting and wonderful. This is often followed by frustration, as differences become annoying and you start to compare irritants with how things are done in your home country. Many expats leave during this phase. Finally, for those who endure the frustration, there is a gradual adaptation and acceptance of the new environment, with a full awareness of the reality of your new home.
Staying Flexible and Testing the Move
Even with the best preparation, life is unpredictable, and that’s why it’s crucial to have a plan for when things don’t go as expected. Don’t overcommit to living in Thailand long-term too quickly. Over the years, I’ve encountered expats who quickly bought a condo and car almost immediately after moving here, only to pack up and leave within a year or two.
Buying property and vehicles in Thailand will only add to the bureaucratic annoyances that you’ll face in your first couple of years here, and it will limit your ability to test out what works for you. Stay flexible for at least the first few years of life here, and better yet, test out living in Thailand for six months before you make a full move.
Shipping Your Belongings
Should you bring your entire life with you from your home country?
always pack light
