What are good non-Western countries to spend half the year in while living in Thailand?

Jun 22, 2024
6 months ago
Eric *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
*Anyone else waiting on the new visa updates for the 5yr DTV? Im 33yrs old coming from USA and with this visa it seems you can only stay 6mo a year so im now thinking to buy a house there thats a little cheaper than I was planning and now thinking I should start looking for another country with a similar easy cheap visa (since im too young for any retirement visa even tho im retired). What other countries that are NOT western that would be good to spend the other 6mo of the year and where cost of living is reasonable and 50-70k usd will get a respectable 60sqm+ condo? Im from miami so im already used to the disgusting 90* 90% humidity everyday, figuring ill spend winters in Pattaya then go to the other country for summer to be a good combo? South of france like Nice-antibes would be great and cost of living is low except purchasing a condo is miami pricing... easy visa tho.... dont want to rent anywhere, so purchasing a property is the critical part of the equation. *

*So what are you guys doing that spend half a year in thailand and the other half somewhere else thats not from the western world?*
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A 33-year-old expat from the USA is seeking information about non-Western countries where one can stay for the remainder of the year after spending half of it in Thailand, particularly under the new visa updates for the proposed 5-year Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) which only allows a stay of 6 months at a time. Suggestions for alternative locations include Cambodia, the Philippines, and Japan, with discussions surrounding visa options and property ownership. The conversation highlights considerations for buying property versus renting, alongside personal experiences and recommendations from other expats.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Rafael *******
Argentina is cheap now, and you'll get the best steaks in the world for almost nothing there.
Rok ********
Italian property is much cheaper than french (even cheaper than in Thailand in some places). I adore Puglia and Sardinia but i do not intend to stay anywhere long enough to become a tax resident. International nomadic living can be very interesting. Japan is now also a very good value for money.
Eric *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rok *******
only thing I know about Japan (besides being a car guy) is high end watches and the cheapest whatever is always listed in Japan right now. The luxury watch market in Japan…. Seems like everyone’s broke there or is about to be based on that
Rok ********
David *******
Best to come and try living here for a little before you all in. A lot of of westerners imagine life being different and end up leaving. Get a nice test run in
Melissa *********
Albania for up to a year if you have a usa passport or you could essentially have automatic pr status in oman if you buy a condo in designated area. Loved living there for 6 years.
Bobby ***********
Georgia is my go-to for ease and simplicity. Lived there when I left Thailand during the big flu19 panic. One year stamp at airport on arrival, no 90 day check ins, great food and friendly people.
Alan ********
It is 180 days factor that in but as mentioned it is still a proposal wait and see.
Tim ****************
Check out International Living.
Jared *********
I'm also from the US. There are other places in SE Asia like the Philippines and Bali that do have visa options and are "cheap". But I'm gonna throw out another option that is unconventional... Japan.

It is inexpensive now with the exchange rates, well developed, great food, easy transportation. Not as cheap as Thailand but affordable. I'm getting a Studio for my daughter in Setagaya (near Shibuya Tokyo) for between $400-600/mth to give you an idea of costs. The hiccup here is no long term visas but can stay up to 90 days each time as long as less than 6 months a year.

Philippines- lots of experience here as well. But the infrastructure and reliability for things is low. Unless you stay in certain areas of Manila like BGC or near Ayala or IT Park in Cebu but then it's fairly expensive when compared to Thailand. Plus the food isn't great. Definitely more expensive than Thailand when comparing similar quality of life. Philippines is great for scuba and stuff but the level of development and infrastructure wore me down. And unless eating Filipino food eating out gets expensive when compared to the other countries (even Japan).

Bali - nice to visit.

So for me, I'll visit the US a couple months a year and split the rest of my time in Thailand and Japan with visits to the other countries.
Daniel *****
@Jared ********
I agree with Japan, Thailand and Philippines which is what I have done myself. I am going to try Turkey and Argentina next to see if they might fit into the mix.
Susan *****************
So many other beautiful cities in the south of France and absolutely incredible deals (for North Americans anyway).
Sharon *******
Sorry did I read that right? South of France or anywhere else not from western world?
Eric *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sharon ******
yeah id love to go to the riviera but cant afford what I consider a worthwhile property. Were in thailand you can get a legitimate dream house or condo for 150grand usd and france its a 25sqm apartment thats 70years old. Cant afford it so stopped looking there after talking with the consulate and starting visa application. when I say western world I really mean no western hemisphere rather than "westernized"
Christopher *************
Philippines
Angelo ***********
As far as we know, the new visa is 6 month per entry and not 6 month per year. But I second suggestions like Cambodia, a one year business visa is about $50. But then: you have no real use for a Thailand visa :P
Rafael *******
@Angelo **********
A year visa for Cambodia isn't $50, but multiple of it, and a letter from an employer or a business registration as well. And an additional work permit for $180 is necessary as well, without that you won't get a yearly extension.
Angelo ***********
@Rafael ******
You can work self employed without a letter of any employer. And my knowledge is that it is $50, and the yearly extension is in that range, too. And work permit is since a few years included in the visa. But: I might be wrong. Just random internet knowledge :D
Rafael *******
@Angelo **********
Yes, you are wrong. The extension is $ 290+WP$180+Docs$20. All together around $500/year.

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Angelo ***********
@Rafael ******
Perhaps you should read the links you post.
Rafael *******
@Angelo **********
I don't need to. There will be no yearly extension for $50 listed in it anyway. I guess you should read and work on your comprehension, before spreading misinformation. I have 6 yearly extensions from the Cambodian immigration in my passport, I very much know the process here.
Jim ********
@Angelo **********
Unlikely it will be 180 days per entry, as nobody would ever buy the elite visa. I read it as 180.days per year over five years and can then be extended one time at the end of the five years for a further 180 days
Angelo ***********
@Jim *******
The texts I saw do not indicate that. Elite Visa are completely different beasts: no work permit. So only useful a small group of people. The only good thing is that many things that once were considered work are now no longer work . So if you do not get paid you NOW can give martial arts classes or yoga with an elite Visa.
Jim ********
@Angelo **********
A friend of mine sought information from the Elite Visa management and they informed him their advice is it will only be 180 days in any calendar year.
Angelo ***********
@Jim *******
Yeah, and the papers posted all around on the internet say: it is 180 days per entry. So instead of arguing, lets see how it pans out. Point is: on an elite visa I can not work or earn money.
Jim ********
@Angelo **********
Yeah. Good idea. You actually believe that a 10,000 baht visa will be better than the 900,000 baht visa offered by elite visa? Excuse me whilst I ROFL!
Eric *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Angelo **********
so your saying it’s 6mo then catch a flight get passport stamped somewhere then return flight and it’s new 6mo again? So could be like 350 days per year this way? I read it all as 180days per yr maximum.
Angelo ***********
@Eric ******
Likely yes, but the topic is under debate ... some people interpret it different.
Kace *******
cambodia
Steve ***************
I split my time
*****
, half the year in Thailand and the other half (European spring and summer) in Aveyron, South West France. I rent condos in Thailand but own the farmhouse in France. It is a compromise that works well for me.
Jan ******************
If you’re willing to pay, you could look into Thai Privilege Visa as well. Diamond gives you 15 years at 2,5 million baht. Then you would be close to Non O retirement visa and further stay.
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Eric *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jan *****************
yeah I missed the 20yr visa last year when it was 30k. I would have gone for it then but wasn't ready to leave until the same month when they jacked up the price unfortunately.
Jan ******************
@Eric ******
True, sad 😢
Brandon ************
Don't make any plans based on a proposal. If the DTV even happens, no one knows what the details will be. It may not be suitable for living in Thailand at all.

I've seen many people say that the Philippines and Cambodia have easy visas for living there. Maybe Laos too? But not sure.

Also, foreigners cannot own land in Thailand. You can buy a condo but cannot buy a house. Or you can buy a house but you will not own the land it is built on.
Eric *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
yeah looks like everyones doing 3yrs in philippines on tourist and getting a new one after long term on repeat.
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