Thailand.

Thailand

Thailand

Thailand

Thailand

At A Glance Population 66.7 million (July 2011 est.) Median Age / life expectancy 34.2 / 73.6 Official Language Thai Currency Thai Baht (THB) GDP per Capita (PPP) $9,221 (2010 est.) Climate tropical; rainy, warm, SW monsoon (May Sept), dry, cool NE monsoon (Nov Mar), isthmus always hot and humid Natural Hazards Drought, tsunami Government Constitutional monarchy

Chiang Rai

What about... Chiang Rai Population 199,699 Small-town feel Great markets and shopping Nearby golf, hot springs, mountains, caves Gateway to the hill tribes & minority areas Foreigner-friendly Good roads Low cost of living Very good, affordable health care Warm summers, cool winters

Cost of Living Chiang Rai Rent Furnished 2-bedroom house US$400 HOA Fees N/A 0 Property Taxes N/A 0 Transportation Tuk-tuks, sorng-taa-ou (bus equivalent), taxis 40 Gas Used for cooking 5 Electricity, water, trash Moderate a/c use 26 Telephone TrueMove prepaid cell phone plan - 30 days 16 Internet Unlimited access 20 Cable TV 69 channels, includes English language stations 17 Household Help Allow $152 if full-time maid is required 0 Food Groceries for two people 200 Entertainment Frequent meals out, miscellaneous expenses 83 TOTAL (At 30 THB to 1 USD) US$807

Property Costs Chiang Rai Rent apartments for US$200 to US$500 per month... Rent houses for US$300 to US$600 per month Foreigners can not purchase land in Thailand, but can get long-term 30-year renewable leases on land (90-years total) and build their own home Leases and real property are inheritable Foreigners can own condominiums but there s a very limited market in Chiang Rai at this time... Financing is generally not possible...

Chiang Mai

What about... Chiang Mai Population 148,477 (2008); (Metro 960,906) Largest city in northern Thailand Very popular with expats (40,000 live here now) Buddhist temples, massage, eating and drinking, golf, Thai boxing, expat activities, cooking schools, festivals Foreigner-friendly, English widely spoken Low cost of living Transportation hub of northern Thailand Many outdoor activities in nearby countryside

Cost of Living Chiang Mai Rent Furnished 2-bedroom house US$500 HOA Fees N/A 0 Property Taxes N/A 0 Transportation Bus, tuk-tuks, taxis 100 Gas Used for cooking 5 Electricity, water, trash Moderate a/c use 50 Telephone TrueMove prepaid cell phone plan - 30 days 16 Internet Unlimited access 20 Cable TV 69 channels, includes English language stations 17 Household Help Allow $167 if full-time maid is required 0 Food Groceries for two people 200 Entertainment Frequent meals out, miscellaneous expenses 150 TOTAL (At 30 THB to 1 USD) US$1,058

Property Costs Chiang Mai Apartments start at under US$300 per month, with luxury condo's available starting at around US$500 per month House rents start at around US$300 per month Foreigners can own condominiums, which in Chiang Mai range from about US$17,000 to over US$150,000. Most luxury condo's range from around US$45,000 to US$90,000 Although foreigners can not own land, you could own a home (with a 30-year renewable lease on the land) for as little as US$30,000

Hua Hin

What about... Hua Hin Population 84,883 (2006) Population of expats 15,000 (2011) 12 golf courses (+ 3 more under construction) Beautiful beaches, horseback riding, hiking, wine tasting, birding, seafood, theater Summer palaces of the King and Queen Internationally accredited hospital Expat clubs, western food, amenities... Relatively low cost of living A true retirement haven

Cost of Living Hua Hin Rent Furnished 2-bedroom house US$600 HOA Fees N/A (Included in rent) 0 Property Taxes N/A 0 Transportation Tuk-tuks, sorng-taa-ou (bus equivalent), taxis 40 Gas Used for cooking 5 Electricity, water, trash Moderate a/c use 29 Telephone TrueMove prepaid cell phone plan - 30 days 16 Internet Free Hua Hin Citywide Avg. $20 with paid ISP 0 Cable TV 69 channels, including English language stations 17 Household Help Allow $250 if full-time maid is required 0 Food Groceries for two people 200 Entertainment Frequent meals out, misc. expenses, 300 TOTAL (At 30 THB to 1 USD) US$1,207

Property Costs Hua Hin Rent a condo for US$300 to US$500 Rent a house for US$500-US$1,500 Buy a condo for under US$85,000 Buy a house (30 year renewable lease on land) for US$100,000 and up Leasing land: The only option for foreigners who want to own a home in Thailand. Lease is for 30 years and can be renewed twice. A lease may include beneficiaries... Return on investment is potentially high in Hua Hin... Financing generally not possible

Thailand Pros Developing Southeast Asian country accustomed to foreigners Pleasant tropical climate Beautiful beaches, exotic hill-tribes, golf, wild mountains, infinite recreational opportunities Low cost of living High-quality and affordable health care Good roads and transportation Bangkok is a major Southeast Asian transport hub Tolerant of alternate lifestyles Beautiful Buddhist-influenced architecture

Thailand Pros

Thailand Cons Heavily touristed Thai language difficult to learn Outside of major urban areas, little English used Air pollution (especially in northern Thailand) Difficult for people <50 to get long-term visa Bugs (this is the tropics!) Foreigners can't purchase land Bargaining often required, overcharging foreigners common, 2-tier pricing at national parks Sex tourism

Thailand Cons

Residency 30-day stamp on arrival for most nationalities 60-day visas easily available 12-month multiple entry visas (any age) must be outside the country to apply. A visa run every 90 days is required Non-immigrant visa O-A (long-stay) available if age 50 or older and can meet the financial requirements - assets of at least 800,000 baht and/or pension or social security of 65,000 baht per month or combination of the two. Visa good for 1 year and can be extended annually. No visa runs required...

Medical Care A top spot for high-quality, affordable medical and dental care Many hospitals are accredited through Joint Commission International (JCI) A medical tourism destination English speaking doctors Some alternative practitioners No prescriptions required for most medications Medications cost much less here than in the west

Taxes No property taxes No sales taxes No inheritance taxes Thailand has a double-taxation treaty with the U.S. Taxes on income earned in Thailand range from 0 to 37% Taxes will be assessed if leasing land (1 baht per 1,000 baht of the rent for entire lease period) or at the time of purchase or sale of property...

Accessibility Bangkok (BKK) is a major Asian transportation hub covered by all major airlines Direct flights from Europe and North America Chiang Mai (CNX) also has direct flights from other Asian countries Several budget carriers serve Thailand (Air Asia, Tiger Airways, several domestic airlines), keeping prices down Good for train travel from Chiang Mai to Malaysia... Good roads, reliable and extensive bus system

Accessibility

Retiree Benefits Although Thailand offers a long-stay visa, it does not come with any specific retiree perks. However, you can get a driver's license, have a bank account and enjoy the same prices that the locals pay at national parks with a long-stay visa...

Recreation Beautiful beaches with full-range of water sports Trekking, wildlife watching, caving, horseback riding Incredible roads for motorcycle touring Golf and Thai boxing Concerts and movies Shopping, restaurants, cooking classes Nightlife and wine tasting Expat clubs and activities Yoga, meditation, spas, massage

Recreation

Is Thailand for you? Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts The second least expensive country in Southeast Asia Excellent medical care Home to many foreigners Good place for seniors, couples with children Very accepting of alternative lifestyles Investment opportunities in real estate Also consider Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Udon Thani...

Is Thailand for you?

Is Thailand for you?