Living and retiring overseas is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Nest eggs, incomes, and budgets can vary by huge margins. Not everyone has the same lifestyle expectations. And some folks are better prepared for culture shock than others.
Choosing Thailand as your new home or retirement destination is by no means “expat light.” For North Americans, you can’t go any further without starting to come back, and you can’t find a place more alien unless you move to Mars.
But, if you decide to try the Land of Smiles, you’ll need to target a region to acclimate yourself to. Leaning on my 22 years of experience in this wonderful country, I recommend starting on Thailand’s Eastern Seaboard, aka, the Chonburi Coast.
