I Asked My Friend About Retiring in Thailand. Her Answer Surprised Me.
Is grass always greener?
This is how the post goes on Reddit:
A couple of people responded. One Australian shared that he’s now living in Berlin and thinks it suits him better personally, but he also admitted there’s no perfect place. As beautiful as Berlin is, there are still flaws.
If you are interested in this thread, you can check out this link.
But this got me thinking: Is the grass always greener when it comes to retirement?
Medical Costs
I’ve been thinking a lot about retirement lately, especially ever since I read about people losing their jobs in their 50s, unable to get hired again, and forced into early retirement, often without enough money to wait till they can access their super.
I did some research on retirement village living (as I wrote about last week), and my friend Dennis Gorbunov from Stay Invested mentioned retiring in Thailand.
Then this Reddit post popped up on my screen — it must be a sign.
So I called my Thai friend and asked what she thought.
“Oh yes, Thailand is definitely a better place for retirement,” Waan said.
“How so?” I was curious.
“I only paid A$500 for my extensive physical check-up. Hospitals in Thailand are so much better. In Australia, don’t even think about going to aged care — they’ll murder you. Aged care workers hate their jobs.”
That was a bold statement.
But wait — only A$500?
That’s a lot for a check-up.
Just a few months ago, I had a blood test and two ultrasounds done, all for free, thanks to a bulk-billed clinic in Australia. Aussies and Kiwis with Medicare can access bulk-billed medical consults and pathology.
Waan was surprised. She later admitted she was talking about a private hospital.
I dug deeper.
“But if I’m retired, I may not be able to afford $500 for every check-up,” I said.
“True. But if you want to retire comfortably in Thailand, you probably need to make around A$200K a year,” she replied.
What?! That has to be a joke, right?
A$200K a year is considered a high income in Australia, not exactly something most retirees are pulling in.
“For foreigners, you have access to public health with your visa but you may come across issues like limited English, and very long wait. Also, I think it’s mandatory for foreigners to get private health insurance every year, which isn’t that cheap from memory.”
“So if you are retired and want to be comfortable, you should aim for private hospitals.” Waan conclued.
One thing to note is that Waan comes from a wealthy family. She’s the only heir to her father’s company in Thailand, which has a few thousand employees. Her mother never cooked, and gets her hair shampooed at a salon daily.
So the A$200K figure probably reflects the lifestyle Waan is used to.
Still, it made me wonder — do Thailand (or any other seemingly low-cost countries) really offer a paradise when it comes to retirement?
Visa issues
First up, there’s the visa problem.
I found this video on YouTube talking about the dark side of retiring in Thailand. The host shared how many expats were frustrated with the visa situation, and Waan confirmed that too.
“Oh yes, it’s almost impossible to get Thai citizenship. Even my husband, who’s a dual citizen of Australia and New Zealand, couldn’t get it,” she said.
She explained he was only able to get a “Pink ID” (a Thai ID for foreigners) and a “Yellow Book” — basically listing him as a family member in her home. With that, he could get a driver’s licence and open a bank account.
But not everyone can get that. You need to hold a valid long-stay visa, like a retirement visa, marriage visa or permanent residency.
I won’t go too much into the retirement visa requirements, since this post isn’t about retiring in Thailand specifically. But in short, there are financial criteria to meet, and the visa is only valid for a year — although it can be renewed.
Some expats also complained about the renewal cost and the paperwork involved.
Day-to-day cost of living
Aside from visas, housing in Thailand may seem cheaper than in Australia. But if you’re living in major cities like Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai or Pattaya, and you want something similar to what you’re used to, the cost adds up.
Just for curiosity, I looked it up.
A 2-bedroom apartment in Bangkok city centre costs roughly between 30,000 to 60,000 THB per month (around US$920 - $1,850 or A$1,425 - A$2,850).
Compared to where I’m living in Melbourne, the median rental price in the inner Melbourne area is approximately A$600/week, roughly A$2,600/month.
So yes, Thailand can be cheaper — but it depends on where you live and what standard you want. It may not be that much cheaper.
Some expats in the YouTube video also complained that grocery costs in Thailand weren’t as cheap as they expected. And a few other day-to-day costs like going to the gym aren’t that cheap either.
“Oh yes, Pilates classes are expensive.” My friend Waan said. She knew I go to Pilates often.
And this is not limited to Thailand.
There are challenges in retiring in other places considered as low-cost retirement paradises.
My friend Tracy Collins is a good example. She and her husband retired in Mexico at 49, only to "unretire" less than a year later. She wrote about it on Medium, sharing the unexpected costs of living in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Final thoughts
Retiring overseas sounds like a dream — warm weather, cheap living, beautiful beaches. But there are so many hidden challenges people don’t talk about.
When you retire, it’s not just about the postcard life. You need to feel safe, have a support system, and be across your medical, legal, and day-to-day costs.
After hearing what Waan said, I wasn’t sure if it was worth the effort to move to Thailand (or other low-cost countries) for retirement.
Perhaps I’m better off watering my own grass and continuing to build my financial reserves, aiming to live comfortably in Australia.
Because let’s face it — no country, or city, is perfect.
Disclaimer: Information shared in this newsletter is not financial advice. Always do your own research before making any financial decisions.
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Hasta la Vista, alienated.
You're spot on, Sarina. Last time I was in Thailand, I met an American who'd spent there much longer than me. He also mentioned the visa issues and focused on the quality of condos in Thailand. They look great from the outside but on the inside, there could be cracks in the walls, and you're the one to pay for repairs, not the construction company. Long story short, Thailand is another country where your expenses add up. Being a tourist and a resident are two different things. Perhaps Germany where I'm based is a perfect place for retirement? Or should I go back to Russia when I'm old? Time will tell.