While many retirees choose to go to the capital Bangkok, we\u2019ve omitted the megacity from our list due to its congestion and cost of living<\/a>. After all, there\u2019s no reason why you need to be in the heart of the city or near the central business district. That being said, the places we\u2019ve compiled below are far from the cheapest places to live in Thailand as they\u2019re all popular with expats. But at least this means you\u2019ll face less of a language barrier, have plenty of amenities, and even an expat retiree community.<\/p>\n Here are our 5 best places for retirement in Thailand:<\/p>\n Located around 150 km away from the Big Mango, Pattaya is merely a 2-hour drive from the big city life. You can visit Bangkok whenever your heart desires, while having the beach at your doorstep and benefiting from a more affordable cost of living. That\u2019s what we call the best of both worlds! Of course, Pattaya is also notorious for its bar scene and nightlife. But if that doesn\u2019t take your fancy, there are also street vendors, shopping malls, golf courses, and scenic islands around. Case in point: It\u2019s only a 30-minute boat ride to the breathtaking Koh Larn.<\/p>\n For a bit of a breeze, why not head up to the mountainous regions of Thailand? The weather here is generally cooler than in the rest of the country. Chiang Mai, the north\u2019s largest city, will welcome you with open arms. You\u2019ll find the city to be rich in culture and heritage, as well as provide for plenty of nature-filled adventures. You can also take a leisurely stroll and visit the city\u2019s night markets. The final cherry on top is that the cost of living here is relatively inexpensive – especially when you compare it to living on the islands down south.<\/p>\n Note:<\/strong> It\u2019s not all peaches and roses in Chiang Mai. The northern region\u2019s \u201csmoky season\u201d means poor air quality, so you\u2019ll need to invest in a good N95 mask to protect yourself. Make sure you also familiarize yourself with the differences between N95 and surgical masks<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re after a tropical paradise, then Phuket is a good bet. The island boasts magnificent beaches and crystalline depths that are sure to leave you mesmerized. Between swimming and sunbathing, you\u2019ll also find no shortages of things to do. There are bars and restaurants dotted all over Phuket and, while transportation may be a bit of a problem, you can always get a rentable scooter or taxi to move about. The only downside is that the cost of living here is on the higher side.<\/p>\n Retire in Hua Hin and you might think you\u2019ve ended up in a Scandinavian town! Plenty of expat retirees from the northern European region flock here for its laid-back vibes, so you\u2019ll have a thriving expat community to be a part of. But it\u2019s not just retirees – Hua Hin is also popular with Thai tourists looking for a relaxing weekend break. Enjoy beautiful coastal views, relish in the seclusion that Hua Hin affords, and spend your time shopping and eating great food. And if you\u2019re ever missing the big city life, Bangkok is only a 3-hour drive away by car or bus.<\/p>\n With only Bangkok Airways touching down on Koh Samui, this island is rather exclusive and it\u2019ll cost you a bit to get here – unless of course, you travel the long-winded route by getting a ferry across from Surat Thani. But beyond price and accessibility, Koh Samui is far less touristy than Phuket and offers some jaw-dropping views that rival none other. There\u2019s plenty of modern condos and facilities, including those that offer luxury living. It\u2019s also got some nice places to eat out and is sure to keep you occupied. What more could a retiree want?<\/p>\n You\u2019ll need to get a non-immigrant O-A visa or a non-immigrant O-X visa to retire in Thailand. For both visas, you need to be above the age of 50, pass certain health checks, secure health insurance, and have adequate finances (higher for non-immigrant O-X visas due to the longer period of stay awarded). While the non-immigrant O-A visa is for citizens of any country, the non-immigrant O-X visa is restricted to a handful of countries. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the exact visa requirements in the Thai visa guide 2021<\/a>.<\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: Traveling to Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic? Don\u2019t forget to look into the latest entry requirements<\/a> such as getting a COVID-19 test, securing COVID-19 insurance, and agreeing to a mandatory hotel quarantine.<\/p>\n Retirees in Thailand want to know about the country\u2019s healthcare landscape. While the cost of healthcare in the country<\/a> is on the affordable side, they certainly do add up – especially if you head to private hospitals. Despite this, private hospitals are the preferred choice for many expats. Not only do public hospitals in the country have long wait times, but they also adopt a \u2018dual pricing system<\/a>\u2019 for expats. On the other hand, private hospitals offer world-class medical services and amenities.<\/p>\n While you need to get health insurance as a retiree<\/a> on a non-immigrant O-A or non-immigrant O-X visa, it\u2019s thus important to secure the right plan that suits your healthcare and lifestyle needs. That\u2019s why you should take some time to speak with a reputable broker like Pacific Prime Thailand<\/a> before securing a plan. As a health insurance brokerage with over two decades of experience working with expats (including retirees), our highly trained advisors<\/a> will be able to give you solid, personalized advice.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re looking for retirement health insurance<\/a>, family health insurance<\/a>, or any number of health insurance plans for expats in Thailand<\/a>, we bring to you vetted plans from top insurers<\/a> in the region. What\u2019s more, we also provide a whole host of value-added services completely free of charge versus going to the insurer directly. This includes administration assistance, insurer liaison, hospital recommendation, claims and renewal support, and more! Get started today by reaching out to us<\/a>!<\/p>\n![\"Individual](\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.co.th\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/WP-Banner-revamp-final-20221207_1.-Single-final.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n5 best places for retirement in Thailand<\/h2>\n
1. Get the best of both worlds in Pattaya<\/h2>\n
2. Escape the heat and head up to Chiang Mai<\/h2>\n
3. Call a tropical paradise your home in Phuket<\/h2>\n
4. Take things slow in Hua Hin<\/h2>\n
5. Live it up in Koh Samui<\/h2>\n
A word about visas for retirees in Thailand<\/h2>\n
Get in touch with Pacific Prime Thailand today!<\/h2>\n
![\"Get](\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.co.th\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PPTH_Gen_01.jpg\")
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