Nestled at the heart of Southeast Asia, Thailand offers expats a vibrant and affordable modern lifestyle in a country chock full of mountains and national parks, exotic coastlines and bustling cities.
Previously known as Siam, the country changed its name in 1939, to become Thailand, meaning ‘Land of the Free’. Today Thailand is home to around 41,000 British expats, and more than 2.5 million foreign nationals, who get to take advantage of their freedom in one of the world’s most diverse and luxurious countries. But how much is their new lifestyle really costing them? Let’s take a closer look at the cost of living in Thailand as an expat.
The cost of living in Thailand
As of 2022, the cost of living in Thailand is around 34.2% lower than in the United Kingdom and 43.87% lower than in the United States. This takes into account everything from the average cost of rent in Thailand, to the cost of food and travel, giving expats the chance to live a life of luxury on a low budget.
That said, some areas of Thailand are more affordable than others, with life in the big cities costing far more than life in rural or less populated areas. This is particularly true when it comes to the cost of buying property in Thailand.
To give you an idea, here’s a small snapshot of the cost of living in Thailand’s most popular expat destinations, not including rent:
