I interviewed expats who've lived in Thailand for decades. Here’s what they love (and hate) about life there. (2025)

To understand what really happens after the honeymoon phase of Thai life fades, I spoke with four veterans who’ve racked up a combined 80‑plus years in the Land of Smiles. For privacy, I’m using fake names—but their stories are very real.

• Dave – 68‑year‑old former civil engineer from Australia, based in ChiangMai for 25years.

• Maria – 55‑year‑old Spanish ESL teacher who’s called Bangkok home since the late ’90s.

• Kenji – 60‑year‑old Japanese chef running a ramen shop in Phuket for 22years.

• Lisa – 45‑year‑old American who arrived as a backpacker, married a local, and now runs a café in KhonKaen (18years and counting).

They sat down with me over iced coffees, mango smoothies, and one round of Chang beers to share what keeps them smiling—and what still drives them nuts.

What they absolutely love

1. A lifestyle that’s affordable and comfortable

“My Aussie pension stretches three times further here than back home,” Dave told me, waving at the mountains beyond ChiangMai. “I play golf twice a week and still save money.”

Everyone agreed: everyday costs—rent, food, taxis, even private health care—feel almost “too easy” once you’ve set yourself up. Maria pays less for her one‑bedroom condo on the Skytrain line than her younger sister pays for a studio in Madrid. Kenji swears he spends more on fresh fish for his ramen broth than on his own monthly utilities.

2. Sunshine (almost) all year

Lisa grew up in snowy Michigan. “Waking up to blue skies 300 days a year changed my mood for good,” she said. Even during rainy season, downpours rarely last more than an hour. Dave joked that his joints forgot how to ache the day he landed.

3. A sense of everyday freedom

All four said Thailand still feels “loose” in the best way. There’s less paperwork for the small stuff—want to start a market stall, rent a scooter, or take a day off mid‑week? Go for it. “Back home I needed permits for everything,” Kenji laughed. “Here, they just say, ‘Okay, try it!’”

4. The warmest locals they’ve ever met

“Thai friends don’t need a calendar to help—they just show up,” Maria said, describing how her landlord’s family delivered home‑cooked soup when she caught dengue. Dave echoed that the Thai concept of sanuk (finding fun in everything) has kept him young. “If you’re game to laugh at yourself, doors open.”

5. Food that never gets boring

From 25‑baht bowls of boat noodles to royal‑style curry in five‑star hotels, Thailand keeps taste buds dancing. Kenji still eats Thai for lunch even after a morning spent simmering Japanese broth. “When you can walk out your door and pick between spicy papaya salad, Muslim roti, or vegan khaosoi, why cook?” he shrugged.

And the stuff they still hate

1. Visa hoops that get higher every year

“Immigration is the only place in Thailand where smiles disappear,” Lisa sighed.

Retirement visas demand proof of income or chunky bank deposits. Education visas mean real class hours. Everyone dreads the 90‑day check‑in or any last‑minute rule tweak. Dave once flew to Laos for a one‑day visa run only to learn the rules changed overnight. “I’m too old for that kind of stress,” he admitted.

2. Bangkok traffic and northern smoke

Maria loves Bangkok’s buzz but hates the gridlock. “If it rains at 4p.m., my commute doubles,” she groaned. Up north, Dave battles the annual “burning season” when farmers torch fields and PM2.5 levels skyrocket. He spends March wearing an N95 mask indoors.

3. Dual pricing and the “farang tax”

Kenji still bristles when a national park charges him 200baht while Thai friends pay 40. Lisa says most locals are fair, but some landlords hear her accent and bump the rent. Even after 18 years and fluent Isan‑Thai, she sometimes overhears the word farang (foreigner) tossed around like a price tag.

4. The heat that never quits

Sure, sunshine is great—until April rolls in. Bangkok can feel like living in a hair dryer set to “sauna.” “When highs hit 40°C, even the geckos look exhausted,” Maria joked. Air‑con costs tend to spike right when wallets are cheering that “cheap Thai life.”

5. A slow march of rising prices

Thailand is no longer the ultra‑budget paradise of the ’90s. “Hotel rates in Phuket rival Japan during peak season now,” Kenji noted. Imported wine and cheese are still eye‑wateringly expensive, and even street‑food portions are shrinking. Dave says his favorite khaokhamoo (braised pork leg rice) went from 40 to 60baht in two years. “Not a deal‑breaker,” he shrugged, “but retirees notice.”

Life lessons from the veterans

Embrace the Thai language—at least the basics

All four agreed that a few phrases soften most hassles. “A rough tone‑deaf ‘sà‑wàt‑deekráp’ beats silent pointing,” Dave laughed. Lisa’s café only took off after she learned enough Isan phrases to chat with suppliers.

Respect the local rhythm

“Things get done when they get done,” Maria said. Fighting the maibpenrai (“never mind”) mindset only raises your blood pressure. Learn to carry a book for surprise waits.

Build both expat and Thai circles

Kenji warns newcomers not to hide in foreign bubbles. Thai friends teach you unwritten rules—why you remove shoes inside, how loud is too loud at midnight karaoke, what hand signs mean “check please.”

Plan health care seriously

Private hospitals are excellent but can empty savings if a major accident strikes. Dave keeps international insurance; Maria pays into a local scheme and has a cushion for emergencies.

Would they do it all again?

“In a heartbeat,” Dave said, no hesitation. Maria nodded but added she’d study more Thai from day one. Kenji would open his ramen shop sooner to lock in cheaper rent. Lisa? “I’d pack less and stay longer. My ‘six‑month round‑the‑world trip’ turned into a life. No regrets.”

They all admitted Thailand’s shine dims at times—visa runs, sweaty nights, smoky air—but the balance still tilts to joy. “When I’m riding my scooter at sunrise with coconut palms overhead, I remember why I’m here,” Dave grinned.

Final thoughts

Thailand isn’t a postcard fantasy or a bottomless bowl of padThai. It’s a real country with paperwork, pollution, and price hikes—yet also endless beaches, kindness, and spicy soup at 2a.m. The long‑timers say if you show respect, learn a few words, and keep a sense of humor, the Land of Smiles will keep smiling back.

Thinking of trying it yourself? Book a one‑way ticket, stash a rain jacket for monsoon surprises, and come with an open mind. According to Dave, Maria, Kenji, and Lisa, that’s still the best recipe for turning a short escape into decades of adventure.