Relocating to Thailand via FIRE | 4 Recommended Thai Cities for Early Retirement | Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Sriracha
"Relocating abroad" is one of the options after achieving FIRE.
When people think of moving abroad, many imagine a carefree life in a warm land or a luxurious lifestyle in a country with a low cost of living.
Southeast Asian countries are often mentioned as candidate destinations or recommended countries, but personally, I recommend Thailand, where I moved.
Thailand has various cities such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Pattaya, each with its own personality and charm.
In this article, from my perspective as a long-term resident of Thailand, I will introduce four Thai cities I recommend as destinations for relocating abroad after early retirement.
What Are the Long-Term Stay Visas Required for Relocating to Thailand?
Before introducing the cities, let me briefly introduce the types of visas required for a long-term stay in Thailand.
There are various types, but the visas that can be obtained without working are as follows.
- Thailand Privilege
- Retirement Visa
There are other visas for digital nomads or for study purposes, but this time I will stick to the two above and would like to introduce them in detail again in the future.
Thailand Privilege
The Thailand Privilege (formerly Thailand Elite) is a long-term stay program for foreigners living in Thailand.
This program, also known as the "Elite Visa," allows you to reside in Thailand for five years or more by acquiring membership.
Since there are no requirements other than obtaining the membership, it is a residency status that anyone can obtain as long as they have the funds.
Retirement Visa
The Retirement Visa is a long-term stay visa that can be obtained by people aged 50 or older who are not working.
In addition to age, conditions such as the amount of deposit in Thailand or the amount of pension received are included in the acquisition requirements, but if each condition is cleared, it is possible to obtain a visa more cheaply than the aforementioned Thailand Privilege.
The renewal period is 90 days for a single entry and one year for multiple entries.
4 Thai Cities Recommended for Early Retirement
The following four Thai cities are recommended as destinations for relocating abroad after early retirement.
- Bangkok
- Pattaya
- Chiang Mai
- Sriracha
The key point is that they are "easy for Japanese people to live in."
Since each city has its own unique charm, I will introduce them in detail below.
Bangkok
It is said that about 50,000 Japanese people live in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.
Therefore, there are many shops and companies providing services for Japanese people, and the charm is that the environment is set up so that you can live even if you don't understand English or Thai.
The choice of Japanese restaurants is also abundant, and competition among competitors is fierce, so the quality is steadily improving.
Facilities and companies you will surely need when moving, such as hospitals, banks, and real estate agents, can be handled entirely in Japanese, so it is especially recommended for those who have concerns about language.
While it has a comfortable and convenient environment that is easy to live in, there are disadvantages such as higher prices than other areas and heavy traffic congestion.
Pattaya
Pattaya is an area located along the coast in Chonburi Province.
It is about an hour and a half drive from Bangkok, making it the closest beach resort to the city.
As a coastal town, its charm is that you can enjoy a tropical feeling more than in urban areas like Bangkok.
Since it is a city with many Westerners living a relaxed life on retirement visas, you will be able to meet people who spend time with similar values and life rhythms.
The proximity that allows you to go to Bangkok immediately if something happens is also one of its charms, but on the other hand, it also has a side of being overflowing with foreign tourists during the high season.
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, said to be Thailand's second-largest city, is located in the northern part of Thailand.
The city area of the ancient capital Chiang Mai, where the Lanna Kingdom once existed, has many temples and is enveloped in a unique, relaxed atmosphere.
It is one of the regions where many Japanese people have been living on retirement visas for a long time, and the number of Japanese residents ranks third after Bangkok and Chonburi (approx. 2,500 people).
Therefore, there are many choices for Japanese-speaking hospitals and facilities.
There is also a creative side, with many artists and buyers staying long-term, fascinated by its atmosphere.
While the moderate rural feel is charming, it also has a side of being slightly inconvenient in terms of transportation without a car or motorcycle.
Sriracha
Sriracha, a town also in Chonburi Province like Pattaya, is a town where most Japanese people working in industrial parks in eastern Thailand live.
Since it is said that 3,000 to 4,000 Japanese people live in a small area, the charm is the abundant choice of services for Japanese people.
Because it becomes a smaller community compared to Bangkok, it is easy to make Japanese acquaintances and friends.
For better or worse, there is a sense of an "active neighborhood rural village," so it is extremely comfortable if you can fit in, but it is very uncomfortable once you become isolated.
Summary
In this article, I introduced four Thai cities recommended as destinations for relocation after early retirement.
Every city has an environment that is relatively easy for Japanese people to live in and can embody the "overseas relocation" that exists in many people's images.
Many people may have visited Bangkok, but if you are considering moving to Thailand after FIRE, please visit other cities as well to experience their atmosphere and charm.
Author: Yuki Ishida
Writer based in Thailand
In 2017, I fulfilled my long-cherished desire to move to Thailand and have been working as a sales and career consultant at a Japanese staffing company there.
I began my activities as a writer in 2019 and mainly share information useful for living in Thailand and moving abroad through both domestic and international media. Based on my own experience of relocating overseas, I strive to provide realistic information to help those planning to move abroad avoid regrets, and I write with this motto every day.
The media I have contributed to so far are not limited to Thailand-related topics, but also cover a wide range including domestic and international travel, local governments, food manufacturers, and educational institutions.
