You should have a look at the world air quality map here: http://waqi.info From there you can make up your own mind. Also, obviously you should take a visit to the places you are interested. From what I can tell, if you can live in LA, you can live in Bangkok, but Manila is worse. In my experience, Hong Kong air is good, Bangkok air is OK, Manila and Ho Chi Minh are worse, and China is off the charts.

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I live in a good sized studio condo on Jomtien Beach Road which is close (but not too close) to Pattaya. Air quality is quite good and my condo is 15,000 baht/month, roughly $450/month, depending on the exchange rate. This condo commands a breathtaking view and is close to all amenities needed. I recently tried moving to Zihuatanejo, Mexico, and now appreciate the comparatively advanced infrastructure Thailand has and will be moving back for good this March.

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I also have asthma my wife and me have a small home near Wang Nam Kiehl about 3 hours N.E. of Bangkok
and one hour south of Korat. If you travel to larger cities your asthma will be an issue for the days you travel. Please make the trip you will love Thailand.
Bud

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@ wealthychef


You should have a look at the world air quality map here: http://waqi.info From there you can make up your own mind

yes seen the map thanks. But locals can be aware of conditions not fully realized on a map.

thanks

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@ hawkesk

I live in a good sized studio condo on Jomtien Beach Road which is close (but not too close) to Pattaya.

Hi,

That area looks nice. Would buildings in the town have short term rentals like 30 days? { Im not sure
how long I can stay on a visa}

Can you get 24 hr cabs to Pattaya and back?

-----------------Zihuatanejo, Mexico,--- that looks nice too. But yeah Mexico sounds really dangerous for one thing.

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@budmor42

thanks for tips. Yeah Im guessing BKK will be a struggle for me. But the beach areas should be good.

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Choosing an expat health insurance provider is an important decision. Get a quote from our trusted expat health insurance partner, CIGNA. With Cigna Global Health Options, you can create an international health insurance plan that's perfectly tailored for the needs of you and your family.

There are baht buses also called "songtows" that will take you anywhere. Typical trip from Jomtien to Pattaya will cost less than a dollar, take between 15 and 30 minutes depending on your final destination, and are quite the experience. You can also hire one for private use, will be about 150 baht for a more direct approach. Late evening or early morning, the prices may go up and availability may become less, but there are also motorbike taxis. I've never NOT been able to get a reasonably priced ride. There are PLENTY of hotels ranging from approximately 200 baht to however much you can afford, from hourly to daily to monthly - EVERYTHING is negotiable.

Zihuatanejo was the biggest mistake I have made in recent years. If you want to do NOTHING except eat and sleep, then it's your cup of tea. It was the most BORING place I've been to, and dangerous to boot. NO health care, HORRIBLE drivers where YOU are the target, the scuba was garbage, NO quality entertainment, just good food but inconsistent service. Just about every meal order was messed up, even places I frequented regularly, ordering the same thing every day! Housing was VERY expensive compared to Thailand, so I'll take Thailand every day and twice on Sundays!!

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At this point, it's all speculation. You might find that some plant near the beaches of Thailand makes you allergic. The only way to know for sure is to go live there. I believe that you can't think and talk your way through this, you have to at least visit for a couple weeks during the worst times and see what happens, or else just take a chance and move. :-)

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Good advice from wealthychef. You might also want to avoid long term accommodation commitments until you are satisfied that the air quality is right for you. If you are not set on the beaches, you might also want to look into the north, like Phayao, for example where the air is pretty good.

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@ hawkesk

"songtows"

.. sounds convenient and fun.

hotels ranging from approximately 200 baht

... $ 6.00 USD a night? in Jomtien Beach?

EVERYTHING is negotiable.

.. Really? One would have to speak Thai to negotiate though, Im guessing?

thanks
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@ wealthychef

, you have to at least visit for a couple weeks during the worst times and see what happens, or else just take a chance and move. :-)

.. Agreed, one must take the plunge at some point

thanks

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Just a comment on speaking Thai -- no, you can quickly learn enough to negotiate prices. And most Thais speak enough English to convey a price to Westerners. :-) As a last ditch, you can write the number on a piece of paper and they will understand that.

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@caughtintheact


avoid long term accommodation commitments until you are satisfied that the air quality is right for you.

.. Good advice.

Buy what about hotels / motels, etc ? What percentage have windows THAT OPEN? { at least partially }.

In the states there is a horrible new trend for SEALED WINDOWS . So you are forced to breathe all manner
of pollutants: toxic VOC's from carpet, furniture, and paints. Years of toxic cleaning fluids build up, cigarette smoke , etc, etc.

Many of these cause cancer and other bad diseases.

=================================


Phayao,

.. is the north good? I once read chang mai could get bad smoky pollution?


thank you

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Percentage of hotels with windows that open == 73.8% based on extensive research across hundreds of hotels. Actually, since Thailand is not a litigious society, they usually allow you to engage in risky behaviors like opening windows. Just don't get a room at the Hilton, and you'll be good. Breathe in the freedom!

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00abuse

Percentage of hotels with windows that open == 73.8%

sounds good , thanks!

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Percentage of hotels with windows that open == 73.8%

sounds good , thanks!

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@wealthychef


you can quickly learn enough to negotiate prices. ---- can write the number on a piece of paper and they will understand that.

.. what level of discount would
one expect to pay for something?

.. what starting offer wouldn't offend?

.. what final offer?

thanks

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Air quality in Cebu is really terrible.
It's also very hot, even in winter and I'm from Miami Florida.
And while we're near the subject, is Thailand as hot as The Philippines?
I wonder if the cost of living in Thailand is cheaper...

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@ Singlelooking

Air quality in Cebu is really terrible.

.. I was afraid of that.. How about near Cebu - like bohol?


It's also very hot, even in winter and I'm from Miami Florida.

.. Really, hotter than Miami?

thanks

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You don't necessarily have to stay in a hotel, as there are places that rent apartments on a monthly basis in many areas.
As far as Chiangmai is concerned I have not been there in a long time, but I have heard that the traffic is pretty bad. Here is a another site with air pollution that that you might be able to use to compare.
http://aqicn.org/city/chiang-mai/

In Thailand the name of the province is also the name of the capital city. The entire province of Phayao only has a population of less than half a million
and you can get more info on any place by visiting Wikipedia, for example, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phayao_Province

There are other places in the North but you might not find other foreigners readily available in some of them.

Have you ever used an air purifier? I use one from a company called Mitsuta http://www.mitsuta.co.th/PD839873-%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%84%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2-%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B7%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%9F%E0%B8%AD%E0 %B8%81%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A8_air_purifier.html which has offices in Bangkok, and they sell through an online retailer called www.lazada.co.th. http://www.lazada.co.th/shop-air-purifiers/

I had a bad case of pneumonia and my lungs are in bad shape, but I can breathe fine with the air purifier. One of my daughters is a nurse and when she comes to visit me, she usually comments on how clean the air in my place is. The purifier I have costs less than $50

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Nobody's going to be offended. Acting offended is part of the game of negotiating. Just laugh and lowball them. Be prepared to walk away.

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