Guide to Australians Retiring in Thailand

With an ageing population more and more Australians are looking for alternative retirement options. As baby boomers we have worked hard all our life, as retirement age approaches we watch as pension age creeps further and further from our reach.

This leaves us wondering will we ever be able to retire? Will we still be healthy enough to enjoy our retirement? With prices sky rocketing, will there be enough money left in the pot to lead a good quality life in retirement? Some even question “will there still be a pension when I retire in Australia?”

With these questions in mind many Australians are looking further afield for retirement destinations.

Some choose to retire in Asia, an easy choice considering the short distance from Australia and the familiarity of the Asian region. After all Australians are some of the most well-travelled individuals on the planet.

Australians retiring in Thailand
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Introduction to Australians Retiring in Thailand

When researching where to retire in South East Asia, Thailand is often at the top of the list, it’s a well-known destination to Australians and the number of Australians retiring in Thailand is steadily increasing.

Moving to Thailand is popular with Australians because of the good quality healthcare, modern amenities and infrastructure, making it one of the best places for Aussies to retire. The friendliness and graciousness of the Thai people is also a strong draw card when considering the life as an Expat living in Thailand.

Retire in Thailand from Australia

Many people ask, “Can I live in Thailand being an Australian?” the answer is yes, there are many Thai Visa options available to Australians, including a Retirement Visa which allows you to stay in Thailand for a year and is renewed annually. We reside in the northern Thailand city of Chiang Mai for part of each year and you can read more of what to see and do in Chiang Mai here.

Begin by checking Visa requirements by contacting the Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra Australia.

How to retire in Thailand

So, you have made the decision to retire in Thailand! Many Australians retiring overseas ask;

Thailand is one of the best places for Australians to retire overseas and you won’t be alone, there are already a massive number of Australian Expats living in Thailand. You will find many of these Aussies in the Expat enclaves of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Phuket and Koh Samui, to name a few. These Expats have already done most of the groundwork for you, a quick search of the internet will put you on to Expat websites such as the Chiang Mai Expats Club, a site that really gave us a feel for life in Thailand.

Facebook forums are another great way to connect with Expats living in Thailand, forums such as Phuket Living and Chiang Mai Expats Club are just a couple of my favourites.

International Living magazine is a fantastic magazine for anyone thinking of becoming an Expat. The magazine showcases the lives of expats living in retirement destinations around not only Thailand but in destinations across the World.

Researching real estate prices is a must, again the internet comes to the rescue, we were able to get a feel for real estate prices and orientate ourselves to the different areas of our chosen destinations. Two of our favourite real estate sites are Perfect Homes Chiang Mai and Siam Real Estate.

As you can see there is a wealth of information available and with the internet at your fingertips you will have no trouble researching destinations before you go.

Is it hard moving to Thailand from Australia?

No! Most major cities in Thailand have English speaking real estates that will help you find somewhere to live. If you want to bring your belongings and furnishings from Australia there are removal companies that take the stress out your transition to life in Thailand.

Moving to Thailand eBook guide

We have a detailed eBook on the process of moving to Thailand which covers everything you need to consider when making the move.

Will I be living in Thailand permanently or part time?

This is something to think about, we spend a large portion of the year living in Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. We originally came to Chiang Mai with the idea of staying permanently but with the success of our travel website we now share our time throughout other parts of the world.

Since we have been living in Chiang Mai, we have met people who live here full time and others who come to enjoy Chiang Mai’s laid-back lifestyle for a few months of the year. Both styles work, it depends on your budget and choice.

We know many people who live in Thailand permanently, they live in stylish apartments and comfortable houses, in cities that have all the modern amenities you are used to from home.

Some people like idea of keeping their property at home while still saving a large chunk of their hard-earned dollar by living a cheaper lifestyle for a portion of the year. Let’s face it living in Thailand is exciting, it has stunning scenery, culture and who doesn’t like the thought of an extended holiday.

Thailand Wat. Living in Thailand

Should I rent an apartment or buy house in Thailand?

Most people coming to Thailand rent for the first 6 months to a year to give them time to get a feel for their chosen destination. It’s super easy to rent an apartment or house and you will be surprised how cheap the rent is compared to Australia.

For those who want to buy property the best solution would be to buy an apartment, buying a house is a lot more complicated as you can own the house but not the land it is built on. There are ways around this, but you would have to go through proper legal channels and it can be tricky.

What is life like for Australians living in Thailand?

Life in Thailand is wonderful, you are living in an exotic land full of beauty with a lifestyle that many people only dream of.

Thai food is world famous and with each turn there is a new taste sensation waiting to try. Exploring the fresh produce markets, you will be amazed at the variety of fruits and vegetables on sale. So many bargains to be had, a large bag of tomato’s costing less than a $1.

Be tempted by the array of delicious market meals that start at a $1 per serve? Eating out becomes an everyday occurrence as restaurant meals cost as little as $3.50 and a beer $3.30.

Electricity and Internet are much cheaper than Australian prices and the internet comes with unlimited download. Going to the movies is a dream, a visit to an ultra-modern cineplex for the latest movie costs less than $5.

It’s not that hard to find many other Australians in Thailand also enjoying what this exotic country has to offer.

Will I get my Australian age pension living overseas?

Although we are not pension age, we have met many pensioners living overseas. These friends are still receiving their pensions and finding a better quality of life than being a pensioner living in Australia.

They are enjoying their retirement, lunch and dinner dates and having fun socialising are everyday occurrences, they are making the most of what life has to offer.

To find out more about Australian age pension overseas contact Centrelink.

Cost of living in Thailand

So, how much does it cost to live in Thailand? Though the cost of living in Thailand is very cheap, the cheapest place to live in Thailand is up to debate.

Each region varies, for example the cost of living in Phuket will be different from the cost of living in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, so this is something to take into consideration when researching your destinations.

We found after living in Thailand for a year that our average monthly spend was a lot lower than living in Australia. Apartments in Thailand are plentiful, and they can be found for $300 per month. However, this price is for a very basic studio type apartment and they wouldn’t suit everyone.

For a 1 bedroom modern apartment suitable for a couple in a city such as Chiang Mai you would expect to pay $600 and up. It’s a personal choice depending on the level of comfort you require. Food, entertainment and transport are much lower than Australia and many expats living in Thailand do so on a monthly budget of around $2500 per month. Some of course spend more again it comes down to what is acceptable in your circumstances.

Chiang Mai Apartments – Condos

For anyone looking for where to live in Chiang Mai, we have a preview of the type of condo’s Chiang Mai has to offer. See our video of our latest Chiang Mai condo. This condo is very modern and located in the Nimman area of Chiang Mai which is a very popular area full of restaurants, bars, shopping and coffee shops. Our condo rent includes one clean a month and fee high speed fibre Internet. The monthly rent is just over $900 per month for a six month lease.

Video 1 Bedroom Thailand Condo

YouTube player

For comparison also check our previous Chiang Mai Apartment / Condo which was in the sub $600 bracket. This condo was located in the night market area which is a very popular location for tourists. It was in an older building and did not include cleaning or Internet in the monthly rent.

For anyone wanting serviced apartments, Chiang Mai has many options. it’s very easy to engage a private cleaner either directly with the condo front desk or by private contractor. The average fee per clean is around $10 per time which usually also includes washing and replacing all linen.

Video Condo in Chiang Mai Thailand

Best Place to Live in Thailand

Like Australia, Thailand has some of the best beaches in the world and many people visiting for first time will stay at one of the many seaside locations such as Phuket, Krabi or the capital Bangkok. When choosing the best place to live in Thailand it comes down to deciding what type of lifestyle you want and your budget.

Do you want to be located close by the ocean or in a major city? Living in Bangkok has some advantages you won’t find in the smaller seaside towns such as access to greater transport options and all the amenities you expect to find in a large modern city.

The downside for anyone looking for the best pace to retire in Thailand that want a simpler lifestyle is that Bangkok is very crowded, and the lifestyle is fast paced. Living in Bangkok will also be more expensive than smaller towns. The southern city of Phuket, with it’s crystal clear water and white sandy beaches was one place we considered living in when we first moved to Thailand. Although we loved our time there we found the prices higher than other parts of Thailand and this we believe is due to it being a popular tourist destination.

It’s still much cheaper than Australia and it is home to many expats looking for retirement at the seaside with all modern amenities.

Many people looking for the best place to live in Thailand also look at the northern city of Chiang Mai. As the second largest city in Thailand with a reported expat population in excess of 40000 it’s no wonder many people retire in Chiang Mai.

Expats from the United States, United Kingdom and Australia make up most of the nationalities that call Chiang Mai home. Life in Chiang Mai is laid back and the Thai people are very welcoming to foreigners which makes living in Chiang Mai very easy.

Retiring in Chiang Mai

Thousands of Australians live in Chiang Mai. It’s one of the most popular cities in Thailand for Expats to live and it’s where we spend most of our time when in Thailand. Expat life in Chiang Mai is very easy as most amenities we are familiar with from Australia are readily available. From large shopping Malls with the latest department stores and cinema’s showing the latest movies, to sporting activity clubs frequented by like minded people. You will never be bored discovering what to do in Chiang Mai.

Cost of living in Chiang Mai is cheaper that some of the tourist hotspots such as Phuket and Koh Samui, which is part of the reason it’s become for many Expats the best place to retire in Thailand.

We noticed the price difference of Phuket on our last visit, and although still cheap compared to Australian prices, we paid slightly more for the same items we used in Chiang Mai. Also, much of the produce available in the other large cities of Thailand is sourced from Northern Thailand closer to Chiang Mai. This, together with its slightly cooler climate because of the surrounding mountains makes it an ideal place to live.

Most people when considering Chiang Mai as a potential retirement destination will often plan a short stay to see if it’s a good lifestyle choice, and we would recommend for anyone that hasn’t visited before that they do the same. Plan a stay for a week or two and get a feel for the place before fully committing.

When is the best time to visit Chiang Mai?

Chiang Mai has what is locally called a smoky season. This period from around February to April is when surrounding crops are burned off by locals producing a smoke haze that often drifts over Chiang Mai. This happens because Chiang Mai is surrounded by mountains and the smoke from the burning settles in the valley where Chiang Mai is located. Therefore, February to April is probably not the best time to visit Chiang Mai. Especially for anyone that suffers from respiratory problems.

It’s also the time of year that many expats choose to visit other parts of Thailand or take advantage of the cheap flights to explore neighbouring Asian countries. The smoky season doesn’t affect everyone, but it is a factor. There is currently an education program in place to try and encourage the farmers to look at alternative green methods to replace burning and hopefully this will eventually eradicate the problem.

The end of smoky season usually coincides with the famous Songkran festival with is held in April to mark the Thai New Year. This water festival is great fun and is an unforgettable experience as the city comes alive with 3 days of celebrations. You can read more about the Songkran festival here.

Where to live in Chiang Mai

The best place to live in Chiang Mai really depends on what lifestyle you are looking for. Some prefer the centre of the city with its abundance of Condos from budget to high end and others prefer the suburbs which have mainly houses for rent. The suburbs are generally cheaper, and some great bargains can be had renting large homes, however a vehicle is required, as transport is limited the further out of the main town you go. Whereas the city centre where we choose has plenty of cheap transport, so a vehicle is not required.

For anyone looking to retire in Chiang Mai, your choices are endless, and if you decide to call it home as many have already found out you are certainly in for a treat and can in no time meet many other Expats with similar interests.

Essential reading on retiring in Thailand

How to retire in Thailand First Class

Retire in Thailand Handbook

Retire in Thailand Ultimate Guide

Helpful Tips for Living in Thailand

Using Credit or Debit Cards

Unlike Australia whereby almost any payment can be done via credit or debit card, Thailand is still very much a cash society and you will find when you live in Thailand that many restaurants and most small shops won’t accept cards.

Larger retailers and chain stores found in the modern shopping malls or the tourist hotspots may accept cards, but many will also charge a fee for accepting them. You will find it much easier and cheaper if you pay with cash. This also includes monthly rent payments to landlords who normally prefer direct deposit into a bank account.

Local Banking Arrangements

For anyone living in Thailand for an extended period access to funds is essential. Withdrawals from ATMs with a card from a bank outside Thailand will attract a fee of around $10 each time plus the conversion fee of foreign currency into the local Thai Baht.

Anyone living in Thailand for a year or more will find it far cheaper to open a Thai Bank Account. Opening a Bank Account is fairly straightforward providing you have a valid Thailand visa and proof of residence such as a lease agreement.

Once you have a Thai Bank Account it becomes much easier to avoid the excessive foreign currency conversion fees as you are then able to electronically transfer money directly from an Australian Bank to your Thai Bank Account.

We have found that the best rate for us when transferring money is via a third party money transfer service rather that any of the major Banks in Australia. We use a company called Wise which enables us to transfer from our Australian Bank to our Thai Bank for a much cheaper fee and better currency conversion rate.

The great thing about Wise is that it can be used worldwide to send and receive money. Opening a free account allows you to create accounts in foreign currency for easy transfer of your money. They also have a free debit card to withdraw from ATM worldwide. Well worth signing up. We use our Wise card everywhere when travelling.

Click here to find out more about Wise and sign up for free

Insurance in Thailand

For anyone living in Thailand long term Insurance should not be overlooked. Australia does not have a reciprocal health agreement with Thailand, so expats need to make their own arrangements to find what cover is suitable for their own circumstances. Health insurance companies in Thailand are available for coverage and some of the Thai Banks also offer health insurance plans for customers.

Private insurance companies and brokers are also available that can help with different types of coverage such as accident, personal and health coverage and most Expat Clubs in the major areas of Thailand popular with expats can offer advise on the services and contact details.

As a new arrival in Thailand a popular choice is to purchase a Travel Insurance plan which will be sufficient for at least the first few months. A company which we have used for Travel Insurance is Cover-More who also cater for people with flexible travel plans.

For instance it would be ideal if you are visiting Thailand and need the flexibility of a policy that you can lock in for a couple of months while you decide if living in Thailand is for you.

On one of our trips we had to make a claim and it was paid out quickly. We will continue to use Cover-More which has also been used by many of our friends.

Travel-Insurance

Internet in Thailand

Internet access is readily available, and many service providers offer great deals on home broadband connections depending on the speed required. Moving into an apartment building with fibre broadband access is common in the major cities and during our time in Thailand we have no problem accessing fibre internet to any on the apartments we have lived in.

Prices vary slightly between Thailand broadband providers, so it pays to shop around but as an example a fibre connection with one of the largest providers with 50 Mbps speed and upload 20 Mbps speed with unlimited download costs approximately $30 per month. Thailand unlike Australia has unlimited data downloads on all home broadband connections.

If fact when we first went to sign up for an Internet connection and asked how much download we would be getting per month on the plan we chose the staff member behind the counter did not understand what we meant. We have since discovered that the concept of paying for data downloaded on home broadband plans is foreign in Thailand.

Mobile broadband and phone access is also readily available throughout Thailand. Unlike home broadband, many mobile plans do have a download cap each month, but these are generous compared to Australian standards. The plan we use is $12 per month for 2.5Gb download with 4G access. Again, it pays to shop around and fortunately there are plenty to choose from.

Summary – Australians retiring in Thailand

If you would like more information on getting a Retirement Visa for Thailand, click here to read more about our first hand experience on how we went about getting a Thailand visa. Australia has many expats living in Thailand enjoying a good quality of life and it’s a destination more and more Australians are calling home.

Hope you have been inspired by retiring in Thailand from Australia. It’s well worth weighing up the pros and cons to see if it’s right for you. If you are considering spending time in Thailand do check our Thailand page for further articles on what to see and do in Thailand and other popular destinations.

Also if you have any specific questions about life in Thailand, or Australian expats in Thailand. Just leave a comment and we will be happy to help.

Australians relocating to Thailand

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21 thoughts on “Guide to Australians Retiring in Thailand”

  1. Thank you Tony and Fi. Glad you liked the guide. Hope we have answered some of the questions you raised.

    Cheers
    Alan & Ros

  2. I don’t think the Thai end is that difficult. What makes me hesitate is the uncertainty of potential changes to Australian tax laws for main residence. If I retire in Thailand and become a non resident for Tax purposes in Australia, but want to maintain my home in Australia it seems I may in future be up for considerable CGT charges as it looks like the new proposed laws will remove the the main residence exemption for non residents. I assume however this would only apply when a CGT event takes place i.e. if I sell my home? It is clear that the CGT would apply if I was still a non resident at the time of sale, but what if I returned to Australia and became a permanent resident again and then sold my home? Would the ATO calculate CGT for the years I was a non resident? Any one thinking of retiring overseas would be well advised to consult a financial advisor and tax specialist if they want to retain their Australian main residence.

  3. Alan Cuthbertson

    Hi Steve thanks for your comment. You make a valid point and we are aware of the new proposed changes regarding CGT. As everyone’s personal circumstances are different our advice would also be to seek professional advice.

  4. Hi guys
    Its saturday afternoon and another busy day house hunting on the tweed coast.
    After 5 years of property increases we are drained and confused.
    We have been told our rental lease is up in February and so its time to make some big decisions.
    We r 53 and 54 …im a retired ling haul qantas flight attendant and dale is a 30yr telstra veteran starring down the barrell of redundancy.
    I would love to leave australia.
    We currently own no property in oz but have a hefty savings in excess of 900k .
    I would love to move to india but hubby not keen .
    Thailand next best thing .
    We also have staff travel for mext 20yrs enabling us to travel back to oz at 90% discount.
    Why are we hesitant? ??
    Please help …i guesd at 54yrs old we still need to be active as in work in Thailand ect …is it possible.
    Help ….im throwing this out to tge universe for answers.
    Thx so much xxxxx

  5. Alan Cuthbertson

    Hi Karen

    Thanks for your comment. Thailand is certainly a great place to live and you will find most of what you have in Australia is also available in Thailand. The cost of living is very cheap compared to many other places.

    It can often be a hard decision to take the plunge and relocate and that’s something only you can decide. I remember agonising for months before we made the decision but it was the best thing we ever did, it was a stepping stone that changed our life.

    We now spend part of the year in Thailand and travel the world house sitting for the rest of the year, we have other stories about house sitting on our website if you are interested in that kind of lifestyle. We also have our travel blog that keeps us out of mischief.

    Our time in Thailand is spent in Chiang Mai, where there is a thriving expat community, internet has unlimited download and is cheap, it’s cheaper to eat out than cook at home, we are immersed in an exotic culture which is fascinating and you have the whole of Asia on your doorstep. There are a range of Thai Visa’a available just choose the one that suits you.

    I certainly envy your 90% staff travel discount how wonderful for you. 🙂 I hope this helps you, take care and good luck with your decision making.

    Ros

  6. Hi Karen
    Saw that you have been looking to buy property in the Tweed Coast. I am doing something similar. Looking at the market there and where I currently live in the Central Coast it has now peaked. Government changes and more conservative lending by banks have driven investors out of the market and anyone who cannot pay on the principal (interest only repayments have pretty much been stopped by banks). Where you looking at houses or units? Have you looked at Pottsville? Seems to be more affordable.
    You could consider teaching English in Thailand but would help salary wise if you had some qualifications e.g TESOL. I have heard though that these type of jobs favour younger people in their 20s to 30s.
    Thailand is a great place and definitely cheaper. Personally I would try to have property still in Australia as a backup plan even if small.
    Recommend going there for 3 to 6 months to Thailand first to see if you would like it.
    You would be eligible for a retirement visa but would not be allowed to work. You need to do more research on what visas are required if you want to work.
    Good luck

  7. G’day all. If I’m married to a Thai lady, do I still need a retirement visa, $800,000 BAHT in a Thai bank and a monthly Income/Pension of $3,000 Australian dollars? Thx Mark

  8. Hi Alan .I’m thinking of retiring to chiang mai . the only thing I can not find is health insurance . They all stop at 70 years of age so next year I will be 85 .Is there any way I can get health insurance or not .What do you advise .
    Yours faithfully
    Norman turner

  9. Hi Alan and Ross

    I am planning to move to BBK from Melbourne towards the end of 2022. I have 3 kids aged 17,13 and 10 yrs and am looking to connect to someone who is in BKK and has been through a similar situation. Need advice regarding International schools and suburb options etc. Thanks heaps

    Tee

  10. Alan Cuthbertson

    Hello Tee,

    Thanks for contacting us. Our advice in light of the current climate in Thailand would be to make contact with some of the Bangkok expats Facebook groups for current information. We are sure they would be able to help you talk with expats that are currently living in Bangkok.

  11. If you are 50 years old or more you can obtain a renewable yearly retirement visa to live full-time in Thailand where I understand you’ll pay ZERO personal tax to the Thai tax office for income produced outside of Thailand. Let’s say your Australian broker continues to buy and sell Australian stocks on your behalf and you also have, say, 4 rental properties in Queensland and what was your primary dwelling in Sydney is now rented out also. Because you are “living full-time” in Thailand you no longer pay personal tax to the Australian tax office either:
    1. Is that right?
    If you continue to live in Thailand but ‘visit’ Australia to see friends and family:
    2. How long can you stay in Australia each year and still be considered a resident in Thailand for tax purposes?

  12. Alan Cuthbertson

    Hi Freddo, Thank you for your question, unfortunately we are unable to offer any financial advice regarding taxation as every situation is different.

  13. I’ve been a couple of times to Thailand and I love it.
    However, now I’m looking at it as a my retirement country but there is the financial aspect to deal with.
    Unfortunately Australia don’t have a social security agreement with Thailand so once I start getting the Australian age pension and I leave the country for more than 8 weeks, I’ll lose some pension benefits.
    If I stay away for more than 8 weeks most probably I’ll loose the pension all together or in the best scenario I’ll lose 40-50% of it.
    So I read often that Thailand is one of the preferred Australian pensioners retirement place but for sure they don’t get the Centrelink pension.

  14. Alan Cuthbertson

    Hello Antony, Thank you for your comment. There are many Australian expats living in Thailand long term on a Centrelink pension. Naturally everyone’s individual circumstances differ so you would need to confirm with Centrelink your options.

  15. Hi Alan, I have been to Chang Mai many times over 25 years and have lived there for up to 6 month periods but now I want to retire there with my daughter who has a mental health condition (on the spectrum). Though her condition is easily manageable, at 70 years of age I can get a retirement visa, but my daughter at 39 (who has “portability” and is able to receive her disability pension while permanently overseas) is I believe at an age that excludes her from a retirement visa. Any ideas on how we can get around this? Thanks… Jon

  16. I have recently returned from a two week holiday in Thailand and I loved it.
    I am seriously thinking of moving to Thailand. I am planning my next trip of up to 6 months to Thailand in May/June 2024. I am on Centrelink Age Pension. I did enquire with Centrelink as to how long I can remain outside of Australia and still avail my pension.If I remember correctly, I was told that outside of Australia for up to 6 months and it wouldn’t affect my pension. Again if I am correct, I was told I could return and travel again( I do not need to live in Australia for 6 months before my next trip).
    I traveled to Malaysia March to June 2023 for 10 weeks and my Age Pension was not affected.
    Anthony please contact Centrelink to confirm the facts.

  17. Hello we unable to advise specifically what is best for you as everyone’s circumstances are different. Our advice is to contact Services Australia directly who should be able to advice what is best for you. Having said that we do know many Australians on the age pension living full time in Thailand.

  18. Hi Jon,

    There are many types of visas available in Thailand. Given your specific circumstances our advice would be to reach out to a Thailand visa consulting company who may be able to assist. Here is a link to a well respected company in Thailand.
    https://www.siam-legal.com/

    Kind regards
    Alan

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