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Can I retire in Thailand without the required 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank account if I have a monthly income of $2,800?

Mar 21, 2026
a month ago
Jeff ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Planning to retire in Chiang Mai. I'm an American citizen and my wife is a Korean citizen. I don't have the money to deposit 800,000 in a Thai bank account, but I do have regular, guaranteed monthly social security income of $2,800 per month. I have contacted several visa businesses and a few have told me there are ways to retired in Thailand without having to deposit a large amount of money in a Thai bank account. I'm asking anyone who reads this for advice or comments.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The author, an American expat, inquires about retiring in Chiang Mai without the required 800,000 THB deposit in a Thai bank account. Various comments offer advice, emphasizing that while a stable monthly income of $2,800 from social security is beneficial, it may not suffice for living fully without financial savings or insurance. Several users suggest considering alternative countries with less stringent financial requirements, such as the Philippines or Vietnam, while others highlight the necessity of having a financial buffer for emergencies. Some suggest revisiting the visa process to possibly secure a dependent visa for the author's wife. Overall, the consensus steers towards the importance of having adequate savings or financial assurance before making the move.
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Shelly *************
The fact is applying for your first one year extension will require you to have the 800,000 lump sum because you will not have 12 months of the
*****
.k baht to show. Going forward, showing your $2,800 USD per month or more than the 65,000 baht will be fine.
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Denis **********
In my village in Italy we use to say : GOIN TO THAILAND WITH YOUR WIFE IS LIKE GOIN TO A RESTAURANT WITH A SANDWICH IN YOUR POKET
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Phil *********
you are with 2 ,its 2 times that you need the 800.000 bath or 2 times the monthly income from 65.000 bath
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Willem ****************
Go see an visa agent and they will get you sorted.
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Vincent ***********
I have family in Chiang Mai. My wife and I spend 3 months yearly there.

I honestly don’t think your $2800 monthly will suffice in Chiang Mai proper without an emergency backup fund.

Spend time there and other places can in Thailand and shop around for rent, insurance prices etc. and see if you can economize enough to survive.

Good luck in all
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Jason *************
Are you sure you can keep social security payments if you move country.
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Jeff *************
800,000 is not a lot of money, if you don’t have it I would suggest you retire in another country
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Michael **********
I suggest you move to Korea and get spouse visa. No income limit, world class national healthcare that is incredibly cheaper and designed to prevent bankrupting from medical cost. With $2800 a month, you both can live a comfortable life in the rural area with clean air.
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Ron ********
Try Vietnam. Just don't try Saigon in Vietnam.
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ExcitingO*********
If you apply for a non o or non o-a from your home country you can show 3 months of bank statements to start, and once you get to Thailand, transfer the required amount monthly into a Thai account. Just a heads up, if it is a joint account they will only count half of the money as yours. If your wife is also applying you will need to show 2x the required amount.
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Paul *******
You can't do it you need 800K no questions asked.
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JoyfulPer**********
How about medical insurance? At your age it won't be cheap. On top of everything else medical insurance will cost you approximately at a bare minimum of $400.00 per month. Bro, you have lots of saving up to do. If you are an American then why don't you try Mexico or Costa Rica, it's cheaper than Thailand. However, that may sound like a suicide for your wife since they are no Koreans living in those countries, which eventually feel like an indirect Solitary Confinement for her. Wishing the best whatever you are trying to do.
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Michael ***********
I’m in total agreement with what the other has said if you can’t afford ฿800,000 you can’t afford to live in Thailand. Medical insurance is quite expensive. They want you to have a policy and insurance policy on top of that you can get health insurance without it. I just went and renewed my visa. My one suggestion is do not use Bangkok Bank use any other bank I was in the Philippines I hurt my back fairly seriously and I had to have surgery. The surgery was $28,000 thank goodness for my credit cards. They will not let you out of the hospital until you pay and every day that money adds up so it’s a good insurance policy to have money overseas
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J **************
@imtylerdurden321

Go to
@Bluewater *********
and talk with
@Chris *********
who lived on a beautiful boat just as large as Asia's apartments/condos for less money

He can show you how to earn $$ from a boat, don't live on land I'm sure you can live where you want , then go where you want with much less stress and trouble and stress over a countries prerequisites ...

Helping people live their best life is what he is.
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Vincent *******
visa service in hua hin puts down the 800k deposit and gets it back from you once visa is done....
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Maya ****
Cambodia
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David ****************
Move to Cambodia! Yearly multi entry visa easy 👍 no silly conditions
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Petr *********************
It is 800,000 baht each, you need 1.6 million baht or 130,000 baht monthly income for 2 of you, they don't recognize married couple, it is 2 separate applications !!
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Kevin *******
Philippines is the better option to live! You can just make little trips to Thailand.
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David ********
No savings and planning to go to Thailand to live!

Best reconsider that idea!
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Pat *******
If you don't have 800,000 baht that will also act as an emergency fund, stay home. You need some kind of back up plan. That's why immigration want to see it.
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Thom **********
I think you are too poor for Thailand. pick a different country
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Peter ********
I don’t really it if you plan to retire but you don’t have 800k baht. But ok, if you don’t you could contact an agent and pay them a fee.
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Cliff *********
There is actually some logic to what immigration requires.

Basically they want to know you have enough funds to support yourself, insurance for health emergencies, a place to stay, a way to get home and quarterly welfare check ins.

Kap.
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Jeffrey *********
Paid
*****
to maneraat s Pattaya non o top service e
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Celer******
If 800,000 Baht is a visa requirement, then you need to have it.
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Ricky *******
Celery_boii not if the visa agent has it....
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Celer******
Ricky Lowry but someone still need to have 800,000 Baht for the visa right?
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Celer******
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Robert *********
Have you considered taking an inflatable boat to GB?

They will provide free accommodation, board and lodgings, a weekly stipend and a phone.

Plus human rights lawyers will call to tell you how to stay - for free - for ever. It’s a win win.
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William ******
Robert McBrain or illegally enter the USA
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Donald ******
William Kane why? They will ship them to El Salvador.
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Donald ******
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Mike *****
Basically, agents can and do promise many options. But the minimum amount for any visa category is to not only prove that you have the funds but also the ability to have a buffer.

A couple of thousand as pension is great. You could probably be pretty comfortable if you are careful. But what happens if that income stream is taken away? Or if you suddenly need cash for something?

So just like some have said here, maybe it is better or safer to at least gather the minimum first so that once you are here, you still have something to fall back 9n.
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Sam ************
Yee an agency can help you with this. There should be visa agent in Chiang Mai. But they will charge you about 20,000 thb up to 50k thai baht.
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Christer ****************
Visa agency can help you
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Culpepper *******
Phillipines is a better choice for you. Not as modern as an infrastructure but when it comes to visa you can literally extend the tourist visa up to 3 years without having to leave the country, basically do the first 30 days, than every 60 days; and every time you leave the country it restarts the 3 year clock. It is easier opening a bank account there. If your wife is Korean there are a lot of Koreans in certain parts of the Philippines too.

If you’re a veteran that did 2+ years the retirement visa in PHI is much more affordable as well.

More people speak English in PHi.

But again, Thailand is more modernized overall.

But with your budget PHI in my opinion when you take into consideration with the visa is a better alternative instead of hoping you find a visa agent that makes their magic work. If you go the route of using an agent in Thailand to fudge your financial records & immigration at some point catches on you have to leave Thailand.

And then there’s Vietnam, you have to leave every 90 days. Also a very good option and more affordable than Thailand. Vietnam may stop their 90 day tourist visa at some point though because these became the new place to be inside Thailand stopped infinite border runs without a long term visa. Vietnam has a pretty modern infrastructure overall closer to Thailand level than Philippines. I think the cell coverage-speed is actually slightly faster now in Vietnam and their internet speed is a little below Thailand. With that being said my internet in Thailand is faster & cheaper than I ever had in the USA.
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David ****************
Culpepper Brian far far better value... double the exchange rate ! For every 1000 GBP you will have 2000 GBP spending in Philippines
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Culpepper *******
David Michael Moore right, I’m moving to PHI in late July but do love Thailand. My reasons are I’m not 50 yet so it’s DTV or Ed visa (currently), and I have friends in PHI already. Plus the visa option and affordability of the retirement visa there vs Thailand is better. I’m going to give it a year in PHI and if I like it I will get the SRRV retirement visa; which you can get before 50 unlike Thailand & still allowed to work and own a business with.

But I really do like Thailand.

For us US veterans that are service connected disabled PHI and Thailand have medical facilities that direct bill meaning we don’t have to pay out of pocket for military service connected medical needs; for most other countries we have to wait 6+ months to be reimbursed. So that’s another thing I take into consideration. I think it’s wise for anybody with ongoing medical conditions to do some research ahead of time on costs paying out of pocket, insurance, accessibility, etc.
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Culpepper *******
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Peter **********
Culpepper Brian RUBBISH.

First get a Visa Waiver 30 days. Then get a Visa Waiver extension 29 days.

Then get a Tourist Visa 60 days.

Then renew the Tourist Visa 60 days until the summated time is less than 3 years, then leave and start again.

Note there will be a new President in two years plus so the rules may all change at that time.
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Paul_D******
Peter H Bates Master Bates is trolling.
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Culpepper *******
Peter H Bates you also left out the ACR card. But you’re literally splitting semantics and want to keyboard warrior argue with me over the sake of arguing. Your life must be pretty sad.
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Culpepper *******
Peter H Bates what part did I say was rubbish, keyboard warrior?
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Culpepper *******
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Vinson *******
You are trying to do exactly what they are trying to prevent, ans you know it.

They will find a way
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Matthew *********
Vinson Dynes agency are not going anywhere. Don't fool yourself. They are not ever going to prevent this easy income to agency and kickback to immigration.
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Vinson *******
Matthew Plymale do you know anyone who is making this work in their favour! ?
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Ricky *******
Vinson Dynes I'm one of the few people I know who have the 800k deposited. The majority of farang I know, use agent services to get over the problem
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Ricky *******
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Alan ******
Jeff just contact an agent, with the Facebook warrior's there's too much conflict in Idea's it can be done, just remember it will cost you money. 👍
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Peter **********
Alan Wood But that is his conundrum… he does not have the (required) money.
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Alan ******
Peter, Jeffs question can you apply for a long tern visa "O" without 800 thousand in a bank account Yes you can whether he's got enough money to survive in Thai is Jeffs problem although I agree, he should seriously talk to an expert on this subject.
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Alan ******
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Chris ****
You have about 90.000 Baht for living every month, as long as you dont drink in bars always or sponsor a second wife 🙂 its easy going with this. Condo rental between 12.000 and 20.000 Baht , make the O-A in your country and your wife gets the dependent visa.
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Darlene *********
Chris Po Medical Insurance on an O-A visa will be a big slice out of that apple per month
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Chris ****
Darlene D Smit depends on the age and which you choose
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Darlene *********
Chris Po You are right BUT for retirees with no owned home and on a budget, essential medical insurance will greatly affect the budget. Therefore I would suggest coming in on a tourist visa, asking for extended stay at Immigration and apply for NON O visa , where they do not require medical insurance.
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Darlene *********
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Hans *************
I don't have a bank account. The Swiss embassy has confirmed in English for immigration purposes that my monthly income is over 65,000 baht.
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Mike ***********
Cambodia 🇰🇭!😊
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Gina **************
Curious to know what your lifestyle is currently like in the US? If you live an elevated lifestyle in the states (prior to retirement) it would be difficult to live here on such a low budget.

You can certainly find a one or two bedroom condo under $1000 USD, use the a/c very sparingly, shop at local markets for food, walk instead of using Grab (you may find a cheap scooter rental) as well as reduce your entertainment budget. Keep in mind, you both will have to increase your budget for medical coverage. I would suggest increasing your savings (consider selling the things you don't need in the States for a head start). Yes, you can make it work for $2800 but you have to have a really strict budget and have a plan for medical care and other unexpected expenses that come up.
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Jeff ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Gina Vedova Nerahonest question: Why do toy think some people are saying $2,800 USD is enough for a comfortable life in Chiang mai and others are saying it will be very tight?
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Culpepper *******
Jeff Fouble $2800 is enough for a comfortable life in Chiang Mai. But if that’s the income for you And your wife that gets a little tricker, but I could see it still being doable. If you’re not clubbing and paying for bar girls freelancers all the time it’s easily doable in most of Thailand. You can honestly probably live off of $2k in Chiang Mai if you are paying 400-600 a month, actually cook or stick to mostly thai food (western food costs more) I live in Jomtien and most months in within 2500-2700 and pay around $800 for rent. I have maid service once a week and the fastest internet. Chiang Mai is even cheaper. I could get a decent condo for 400-600. In Chiang Mai depending where you live you can get a small house/villa for 400-700.

Your issue is going to be more with Visa and medical care. I don’t now how SSDI does, if they direct bill or reimburse like they VA does for veterans that are service connected. If not you’ll have to pay out of pocket which is cheaper than the us but will add up. Next option is paying for private insurance which I do but most insurance won’t cover a chronic condition you’re already diagnosed for or they will charge a high premium to do so. I have private insurance to cover me for emergencies for stuff that I am not covered for by the VA.

I would also recommend checking out Chiang Rai over Chiang Mai.
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Fizul *********
Culpepper Brian Good comment and feedback.
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Fizul *********
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Gina **************
Jeff Fouble I think it's more of a lifestyle preference. Things are less expensive here than back home, but we, as Americans, typically enjoy convenience. We run the a/c almost 24x7, we enjoy western food more often, we like the convenience of a car, we feel more comfortable shopping at a grocery store than the local markets, etc. All those things come with a increased cost.

If you haven't already, I'd suggest staying in Thailand for 2 months and live like a local (not a tourist) to see how feasible your budget would be for you and your wife long term.
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Gina **************
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Vincent ***********
Well said
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Vincent ***********
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Preben *******************
Income of 65.000 Baht per month or a combination of income and money in the bank.
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InspiringA**********
Move to Bangkok or Pattaya and pay an agent a huge fee to convert you tourist visa to non o without funds. But once you go down the agent route you have to do every year with agent. Go to Vietnam for couple of years and save the 800,000 baht.
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Paul ********
InspiringApricot4151 to be fair some agents are reasonable. In terms of price. You’re paying to have them provide the cash. I have 800k bt earning me money and not stuck in Thailand. It works for some people
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Richard ********
InspiringApricot4151 He's retired.

If he hasn't managed to save $26k in his working life, I'm not sure how he's going to achieve it now on social security...
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David ********
Richard Parker

Exactly
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David ********
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Malcolm **********
I think this is a another post by the same person I've already commented on. If you can't afford to meet the conditions of the visa even if you can spend the large fee needed to get 2 visas /retirement extensions I think you really can't afford the potential cost of an emergency so I think you should reconsider moving.
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Todd *********
Malcolm Whitlock because you think it’s cheaper in USA lol?
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Malcolm **********
Todd McGowan No it's not cheaper to live in UK and the USA is even more expensive but if you don't meet the requirements then you can't get the visa and Thailand would be out of the questions so as I said maybe you should reconsider. There might be another country with less financial requirements than Thailand or you might already be settles in USA and the financial requirements might not be as bad, like owning you own home & having sufficient land to be able to grow food etc. The point is if you can't afford the requirements of a long term visa then Thai Immigration will not want to issue it and that's not even thinking about you are going to be in a really bad way if you have a medical emergency. Having said that I am also thinking from the point of view of a normal western country where you don't go bankrupt when you visit a hospital so a medical emergency in Thailand is going to be much cheaper than USA but the cost doesn't really matter if you don't have to money to pay the hospital or the money to get the visa in the first place.
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Malcolm **********
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Bawingski ***********
Go to philippines need only 1000 dollars for retirement
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Mike *******
Bawingski Bawingski Philippines cost more than thailand
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Bill ******
Mike Maday actually it really doesn't, depending on where you live. I lived in both and the Philippines I spent far less. In a lot of areas you can get a 3bed, 2 bath house fully furnished for under 200 per month. Plus in the Philippines you can extend your tourist Visa for up to 3 years
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Mike *******
Bill Wood I guess if you want to go extremely cheap but you get abetter quality of life in Thailand, better healthcare, better infrastructure, better food, etc.
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Bill ******
Mike Maday I've been to both and found the Philippines far more enjoyable and cheaper. And the places in the area where I will be living for the 2nd time has very nice houses and far cheaper than a condo in Pattaya. Thailand a great place to visit, but Philippines a better place to live
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Fizul *********
Bill Wood Maybe enjoyable and cheaper in Pinay lifestyle but Healthcare and infrastructures better in Thailand. You got to live in remote provinces (less infastructue) at those housing prices and also to avoid crimes.
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Bill ******
Fizul Bacchus I've lived where I am going back to. Not a province at all. In fact right down the road from Manny Pacquiao. 3 current malls with a 4th on the way. A newly opened casino, high end hotels, as well as several condo developments going up. I lived in both places and the only upside for Thailand is the medical.
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Peter **********
Bill Wood Wow….not many houses have a bath, most have shower or dipper!
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Bill ******
Peter H Bates has shower and hot water. The condo i stayed at in Pattaya only had shower as well, just one bedroom, and that was 257 a month US
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Bill ******
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CoolBun*******
You’re over 50 and don’t have
*****
0thb 🙄

Not sure what your Mrs would need on top.
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Nick *******
If you want answers on here then tell us your amount in Thai Baht NOT Dollars. 🤔🤔
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Kim ******
If u don't qualify, asking us isn't going to change it. Move on to a more affordable choice.
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Kim ******
Nick Green not fair.figure it out..
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Frank *******
Nick Green why you can't convert?
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Frankie **********
Frank Bowen and why can't the person asking the question convert?
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Nick *******
Frank Bowen why should I or anybody else have to convert? This is bloody Thailand.

The World doesn't revolve around USA.
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Frank *******
Nick Green it is easier for you to understand dollars than a US guy to understand tens of thousands of baht, but u carry on being a twat
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Peter **********
Nick Green Only when tangerines or turnips are in season.
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Peter **********
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Lawrence *******
Nick Green Would you have given the same answer to a Brit? Doubt it.
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Cary *******
OMG!
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Nick *******
Lawrence Glynn well a Brit wouldn't give it in Dollars. Why would we?
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Nick *******
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Kevin ********
No can do. And 800,000 THB is only like $26,000. You should try to scrape that together first. Plus, since your wife is not Thai, she would have to do the same. So you will need 1.6 million THB between you.
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Ricky *******
Kevin Rosser 24.5k
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Kevin ********
Ricky Lowry 🤔🤷‍♂️
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Kevin ********
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Pim ***********
Kevin Rosser If he makes an retirement visum, his wife can get a depended visum. No extra cost, only the garantie 800.000 in the bank. They need to be officially married.
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Kevin ********
Pim Hoogeveen, are you sure? I’ve heard that only applies if the spouse is Thai. 🤔
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Pim ***********
Kevin Rosser I'm Dutch and my wife is Dutch. She had the retirement visum already for several years. When I finished working my restaurant and sold the company, we changed my visum in an depended visum on her retirement visum. We married officially here in Thailand several yeard before.
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Kevin ********
Pim Hoogeveen, OK, good to hear.
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Pim ***********
Kevin Rosser the visum cost around 1900 baht...
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Pim ***********
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imtylerd********
It’s good you have a stable monthly income but it’s scary you don’t have $22k in savings or emergency fund. Maybe try to save up some rainy day fund before moving?
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Petr *********************
imtylerdurden321 it is $44 K for 2 people or 130,000 baht monthly, obviously they don't qualify
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imtylerd********
Petr S. Van Valkenburg I am sure his korean wife has the money. He just doesn’t know it 🫢
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imtylerd********
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John **********
If you go down the Non-O route both you and your wife would need to get your own retirement visa, your income is enough for you to get a 90 day Non-O based on being over 50 but does your wife also have income? You might want to look at an alternative retirement visa, the Non-OA which is a 12 month visa in which case your wife could potentially get a Non-O visa as your dependant at the same time at no additional cost. The Non-OA requires the same financials as the Non-O but also requires, insurance, police check etc
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John **********
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