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Destination guide

Thailand Expatriation Guide

Thailand, nicknamed the "Land of Smiles", attracts thousands of expats every year. With its very affordable cost of living, exquisite cuisine, paradise beaches and warm Thai hospitality, it's a dream…

Diego Delso (delso.photo) · CC BY-SA 3.0
71.6 M
Inhabitants
Bangkok
Capital
Baht ฿
Currency
Thai · English
Languages

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview

Thailand offers an exceptional quality of life at low cost.

  • Capital: Bangkok (~10 million, 15M metro)
  • Population: 70 million
  • Language: Thai (English in tourist areas)
  • Currency: Baht (THB), 1 EUR ≈ 38 THB
  • Climate: Tropical, hot year-round, monsoon June-October
  • Timezone: UTC+7

Popular destinations for expats

  • Bangkok: Bustling capital, business, nightlife
  • Chiang Mai: Northern mountains, digital nomads, culture
  • Phuket: Paradise island, beaches, tourism
  • Hua Hin: Royal beach resort, retirees
  • Koh Samui: Tropical island, laid-back lifestyle

Healthcare

Thailand is a world-renowned medical tourism destination.

International Private Hospitals

  • Bumrungrad (Bangkok): World reference, JCI accredited
  • Bangkok Hospital: National network, very modern
  • Samitivej: Excellent for families

Costs (without insurance)

CareCost
GP consultation500-1,500 THB (13-40 EUR)
Specialist1,000-3,000 THB (26-80 EUR)
Full check-up10,000-30,000 THB

Taxation

Attractive non-dom status

Thai taxation is moderate with specific rules for expats.

Income Tax

Bracket (THB)Rate
0 - 150,000Exempt
150,001 - 300,0005%
300,001 - 500,00010%
500,001 - 750,00015%
750,001 - 1,000,00020%
1,000,001 - 2,000,00025%
2,000,001 - 5,000,00030%
Over 5,000,00035%

Foreign Income

2024 Change: Foreign income remitted to Thailand is now taxable in the year of transfer.

Education

Bangkok and major cities offer many international schools.

French School

  • Lycee Francais International de Bangkok (LFIB): 1,000 students

Major International Schools

  • Bangkok Patana School: British, very reputed
  • International School Bangkok (ISB): American, oldest
  • NIST: IB curriculum, excellent
  • Shrewsbury: British, new campus

Annual Costs

LevelCost (THB)Cost (EUR)
French school200,000-450,0005,000-12,000
Premium international600,000-900,00016,000-24,000

Visa and Residence

Thailand has diversified its visa options in recent years.

Tourist Visa

  • Exemption: 60 days for most nationalities (2026)
  • Tourist visa: 60 days, extendable 30 days

Non-Immigrant B (Work)

  • Sponsored by Thai employer
  • Requires Work Permit
  • 1 year renewable

Elite Visa

  • 5, 10 or 20 years
  • Cost: 600,000 - 2,000,000 THB
  • No work rights, VIP services

LTR Visa (10 years)

  • Wealthy Global Citizens: 1M USD assets
  • Wealthy Pensioners: 55+, 80,000 USD income
  • Work-from-Thailand: 80,000 USD income
  • Benefit: Reduced 17% tax rate

Retirement Visa (Non-O)

  • 50+ years old
  • 65,000 THB/month OR 800,000 THB in Thai bank

Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)

  • New since mid-2024, for remote workers and digital nomads
  • Duration: 180 days, extendable once
  • Cost: 10,000 THB (~260 EUR)

Cost of Living

Thailand offers a very low cost of living for a high quality of life.

Monthly Budget

ItemBangkokChiang Mai
Studio/1BR Rent12,000-25,000 THB8,000-15,000 THB
Utilities (AC)2,000-5,000 THB1,500-3,000 THB
Food8,000-15,000 THB6,000-12,000 THB
Transport3,000-6,000 THB2,000-4,000 THB
Total30,000-66,000 THB20,500-44,000 THB
In EUR790-1,740 EUR540-1,160 EUR

Sample Prices

  • Street food: 40-80 THB (1-2 EUR)
  • Local restaurant: 100-200 THB
  • Western restaurant: 300-600 THB
  • Thai massage (1h): 250-400 THB

Explore cities in Thailand

1 detailed guides
Bangkok Expatriation Guide

Bangkok is a fascinating megacity where ancient traditions and frenetic modernity blend together. Wi

Read guide

Prepare your move to Thailand

Join the waitlist and we'll email you the moment RelocDesk opens for Thailand.