About FALANG50

Currently Lives:

Citizen of:

Some Forum Posts:

Laos: Living in Laos:

I am a retired American, living in Chiang Mai, thailand. Cost of living has risen moderately the last few years, and is still very affordable. Medical and/or retirement visas are relatively easy to come by. Medical costs if you use the govt. hospitals is very affordable. Food at the market is inexpensive and Fresh! Chiang Rai, Thailand, is bordering both Laos and Myanmar - perhaps, that location could provide a much better comparative situation. Chiang Khong, Chiang Rai, is a growing area, and if not in the city is very affordable. I suggest you take the opportunity to visit for several months and see what serves you best, assuming this is an option. Education becomes a real consideration, and international schools are expensive, compared to local schools, and some dhurch affiliated schools become very attractive. Best of luck. P.S. If you have a conservative lifestyle, you could get by on $1200-1500 in Chiang Mai, or Chiang Rai.

Thailand: Need Help Finding A Place to Stay in Bangkok:

Go to craigslist.com There are hundreds of apartment/condo ads.

Thailand: Cost of living in Thailand:

IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR AN ALIEN TO GET WORK IN A SPECIFIC FIELD. AND, I READ THE COMMENT CONCERNING HOW MUCH IT REALLY COSTS TO LIVE HERE. I DISAGREE. I, AND SEVERAL FRIENDS, MANAGE TO LIVE COMFORTABLY ON SMALL SSA PENSIONS ($800-1000)/MONTH. IT'S NOT FANCY, BUT WE LIVE HAPPILY, SECURELY, NO REAL PROBLEMS. I AM IN CHIANG MAI, SIGNIFICANTLY LESS EXPENSIVE THAN ALMOST ANYWHERE SOUTH OF HERE. THAI INCOME IS LESS HERE, SO COSTS IN GENERAL ARE LESS. IF YOU WANT TO PLAY WITH THE LADIES A LOT, DRINK A LOT, OR HAVE A FANCY LIFESTYLE, A LITTLE MONEY IS NOT SUFFICIENT. THERE ARE WAYS AROUND HAVING 800,000 BAHT/YEAR INCOME. A COMBINATION OF MONEY IN THE BANK AND AN INCOME WILL DO. ALSO, AS AN AMERICAN, YOU MUST SIMPLY MAKE AN AFFADAVIT, AT THE US EMBASSY/CONSULATE, STATING YOU MEET THE REQUIREMENTS, WITH NO NECESSARY VALIDATION. YOU ARE REALLY BETTER OFF TO COME VISIT FOR 3-6 MONTHS, SEE WHERE YOU LIKE IT, AND DETERMINE IF YOU CAN AFFORD THE LIFESTYLE YOU WANT. LOTS OF LUCK. I HAVE BEEN HERE MOST OF THE TIME FOR THE LAST 7 YEARS.

Thailand: Chaing Mai in May 2013:

RETIRING IN CHIANG MAI IS RELATIVELY EASY, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. I HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR ALMOST SEVEN YEARS, HAVE HAD QUITE A FEW TRIPS BACK TO THE USA, FOR WORK, FAMILY VISITS, ETC. I ONLY GOT MY RETIREMENT VISA ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, AND IT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED EASILY, ASSUMING YOU ARE ALREADY HERE ON A NON-IMMIGRANT VISA. ESTABLISHING A BANK ACCOUNT IS NO PROBLEM WITH A NON-IMMIGRANT VISA, BUT NOT TOURIST VISA. INCOME VERIFICATION /MONEY IN THE BANK CAN BE DONE SIMPLY BY VISITING THE US CONSULATE AND FILLING OUT A FORM, ATTESTING THAT IT'S TRUE, AND PAYING $50 us +/-. TO ME, MORE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS, ARE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AVAILABLE HERE, COST OF LIVING, FACILITIES, ETC. CHIANG MAI IS THE LEAST EXPENSIVE PLACE TO LIVE IN THAILAND - IF YOU EAT NORMAL THAI FOOD, YOU CAN GET BY ON $5-10/ DAY, OR LESS. HOUSING CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM LESS THAN $100/MONTH FOR A ONE ROOM APT WITH BATH, UP TO THOUSANDS. AUTOS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE EXPENSIVE HERE, 2X WHAT THEY ARE IN US, OR MORE, BUT MAINTENANCE IS CHEAP, AND PETROL IS 30-40% MORE, EXCEPT DIESEL IS CHEAPER. LPG AND CNG ARE REALLY CHEAP ALTERNATIVES AS WELL. FEBRUARY AND MARCH THE AIR IS RATHER NASTY, BECAUSE OF CROP BURNING, ETC, AND LACK OF RAIN. ALSO, CM LIES IN A PLATEAU SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS. MARCH-JUNE ARE HOT, JULY - OCT IS RAINY SEASON, THEN DRY SEASON OR WINTER. QUALITY OF FOOD IS FAR BETTER THAN THE US - FRESH VEGES AND FRUITS ARE AVAILABLE YEAR ROUND. MOST PEOPLE ARE FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL, MUCH MORE THAN BANGKOK. IT CERTAINLY IS AN ADVANTAGE TO STUDY THAI AND TO SPEAK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE - ASSIMILATE YOURSELF WITH THE LOCALS. IF YOU LOVE PLANTS, THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO GROW AND CARE FOR PLANTS. LABOR IS PLENTIFUL AND CHEAP. ENUF FOR NOW. GOOD LUCK!

Date Joined:

3/20/2013

Total Posts:

5

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