Free cost-of-living tool · Thailand
Can you afford to live in Thailand?
Pick a place, enter your income, and see the apartment and neighbourhood you can afford, a full monthly budget, and the Thai visas you qualify for.
Popular places
Eight of the most popular spots
From the big city to quiet islands. The calculator works out your budget and the apartment you can afford in any of them.
Bangkok
ModerateThe capital. Best transit, most choice, full big-city life and amenities.
From ฿15,000 / mo rent
Pattaya
AffordableGulf-coast beach city with affordable condos and a large, established expat scene.
From ฿13,000 / mo rent
Hua Hin
AffordableCalm royal beach town on the Gulf, long a favourite with retirees.
From ฿12,000 / mo rent
Phuket
HigherThailand's largest island — beaches, an airport and full international amenities.
From ฿16,500 / mo rent
Krabi
AffordableAndaman coast of beaches and limestone cliffs — quieter than neighbouring Phuket.
From ฿12,000 / mo rent
Chiang Mai
LowestLaid-back northern city. Mountains, cafés and the lowest cost of living of the eight.
From ฿9,300 / mo rent
Koh Samui
HigherAn established resort island — beautiful beaches with proper comforts and services.
From ฿15,800 / mo rent
Koh Phangan
ModerateA quieter island known for wellness, nature and a slower pace of life.
From ฿12,800 / mo rent
How it works
Three simple questions
A clear, honest answer in about half a minute.
Choose a place & income
Pick a city or island, then your income, savings, household size, age and nationality.
See what it buys
The neighbourhood and apartment you can afford there, a clear monthly budget, and money left over.
Find your visa
The Thai visas you actually qualify for — checked against current rules, not guesswork.
Visas
Which Thai visa is right for you?
Thailand has a lot of visa types — here's the full picture. The good news: you only need one, and the calculator shows the few you actually qualify for.
Short stays & visits
- Visa exemption Visa-free entry for many nationalities, up to 60 days
- Tourist Visa (TR) Single-entry, extendable +30 days
- METV Multiple-entry tourist visa, valid 6 months
Living here long-term
- Retirement (Non-O / O-A) Age 50+, income or savings
- Retirement (O-X) 10-year retirement, age 50+
- Marriage (Non-O) Married to a Thai national
- DTV — Destination Thailand Remote workers & long-stayers, any age
- Education (ED) Study Thai, Muay Thai, cooking, diving…
- Business (Non-B) Run or work for a Thai company
- SMART Visa Investors, experts & startups
- LTR — Long-Term Resident Four categories, 10-year stay
- Thailand Privilege (Elite) Pay-to-stay, from ฿650k
Feeling overwhelmed? Most people qualify for just two or three of these. The calculator narrows the whole list down to yours in about 30 seconds.
Find my visas →FAQ
Living in Thailand — common questions
Quick, honest answers for expats and retirees weighing up the move.
How much does it cost to live in Thailand per month?
One person can live comfortably on roughly ฿35,000–60,000 (about $1,050–1,800) a month across most of Thailand — less in Chiang Mai, more in Bangkok, Phuket or on the islands. thaibound breaks this down by city and lifestyle, from a lean studio to a premium condo.
Can I retire in Thailand on $2,000 a month?
Yes. About $2,000 a month (≈฿66,000) comfortably covers a one-bedroom apartment, food, transport and private health insurance for one person in most Thai cities, usually with money left over. It also meets the ฿65,000/month income test for the Non-O / O-A retirement visa.
What visa do I need to retire or live long-term in Thailand?
Common routes are the Non-O / O-A retirement visa (age 50+, ฿65,000/month income or ฿800,000 in a Thai bank), the DTV for remote workers under 50, the LTR Wealthy Pensioner visa for higher pension income, Thailand Privilege (pay-to-stay), and education or business visas. thaibound shows which ones you qualify for based on your age, income and savings.
Where is the cheapest place to live in Thailand?
Of the popular expat destinations, Chiang Mai is the most affordable. Pattaya, Hua Hin and Krabi are mid-range, while Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui are the most expensive.
Do I need to speak Thai to live in Thailand?
No. English is widely used in expat areas, private healthcare and tourist services. Learning basic Thai helps with daily life, and an education (ED) visa even lets you study the language long-term.
What does international or private school cost in Thailand?
As a rough monthly guide per child: public school is very cheap, private/bilingual school is around ฿13,000, and international school is around ฿35,000 (higher for secondary). thaibound lets families enter the number and ages of children to estimate schooling.
Ready to find out?
It takes about 30 seconds. Free, no sign-up, and the visa rules are kept up to date by hand.
Start the free calculator