There’s not one day that goes by that where I’m not grateful to be living in Thailand.
And even after years living here, and seeing the good and the bad sides of it, if I had to move to Thailand again I would do it without hesitation.
Because Thailand is amazing for so many reasons.
Let me give you 11 of them.
Contents
1. Thai People
Welcome to the Land of Smile.
The main reason why Thailand is such an amazing country is without a doubt Thai people.
Where it feels like everybody is stressed and depressed in the West, that’s quite the opposite here.
Most people in Thailand live a really modest life, don’t own much, but they always greet you with the biggest smile you’ve ever seen.
In Thailand in general and even in Bangkok, people smile, they’re respectful, they’re discrete, they don’t push, nothing stresses them…
When you’re living in Thailand that certainly pushes you to take a step back and reflect on your own attitude.
Because you’re not gonna change the way Thai people are or get them to hurry or stress about anything.
And that’s so refreshing. 😇
2. Thai Food and more
For me there’s one word that describes Thailand really well : “Abundance”.
And that’s especially true when it comes to food.
Thai food is amazing, relatively cheap and you can find it anywhere, anytime.
But it’s not only about Thai food, it’s about food in general.
There’s always something cooking in Thailand.
Thais love to eat, Thai food of course, but any kind of cuisine really and there’s always new flavors and concepts popping up everywhere.
If you’re a foodie, Thailand is without a doubt one of the best places on earth.
3. The Weather
Don’t like cold weather? So welcome to heaven.
Today is gonna be sunny and over 30 degrees (Celsius). Like yesterday, and like tomorrow.
Thailand is on average 30 degrees celsius all year, with only 3 seasons: hot, really hot and really really hot.
Ok, that’s not 100% accurate but that’s how locals describe it and how you feel when you live here.
Even during the rainy season, most days it’s only raining a few hours. The rest of the day the weather is, you guessed it, hot, sunny, and humid.
Forget about sweaters, jumpers, jackets… a short and a t-shirt and you’re set, for the year!
4. The convenience
Need toothpaste at 4 am? Go to one of the 12,000 7-Eleven in the country open 24/7.
Hungry at 3 pm? Get any type of food delivered to your door.
Need a taxi a 2 am? just go on Grab to find a ride.
Labor is really cheap in Thailand and so are services.
There’s a ton of things that you would do yourself in other countries that you just pay someone to do here. Without breaking the bank.
And the country never stops, there’s always something open or someone to help you any time of the day or night.
5. The Quality of Life
Just being in Thailand feels amazing.
Great people, great food, great lifestyle, everything is easy and convenient, and on top of that your money goes a long way in Thailand.
Especially when you’ve been there for a while and you know how much things really cost.
The value for money in Thailand is incredible and it gives the expression “affordable luxury” a whole new dimension.
A condo with a pool and gym is common here, and really affordable.
So are massages, taxis, restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels… no matter how much you make, your quality of life is gonna be way better in Thailand.
To give you an idea, check how much I spend every month in Thailand.
6. Parties Everywhere
Thailand is the perfect destination for anyone who loves to party.
Of course, Thailand is famous for its party islands like Phi Phi and Koh Samui or the world-famous Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan.
But there’s a lot more than that.
Huge clubs that bring international DJs, massive music festivals year-round, boat parties, beach clubs, pool parties, party-friendly hotels and villas to host parties, gogo bars if that’s what you’re into…
I mean, if you love to party, Thailand is the best place to be in South East Asia.
7. Thai Girls
Let’s be honest, I don’t know a guy that doesn’t fall under the charm of Thai Girls.
They’re beautiful, crazy, charming, and often have all this little attention toward guys that make you feel like a king.
I would be a hypocrite to say Thai girls weren’t one of the reasons that made me move to Thailand in the first place.
If you’re single, it’s the right place to work on your dating game and have some fun!
You don’t need to take my word for it, just sign up on a dating app and see by yourself.
8. Opportunities
There’s a lot of money flowing into Thailand all the time.
Thailand has a strategic location in Asia and the World, dynamic industries, a young population, and an attractive fiscal policy, just to name a few reasons it attracts capital.
And there’s tourism.
Thailand is the destination of choice for many countries, including China and India, the 2 most populated countries in the world.
So I don’t see Thailand going out of style anytime soon, and it’s gonna keep bringing opportunities to the land of smile.
9. A Perfect Base to Travel
First, there’s a lot to explore in Thailand.
Islands, mountains, waterfalls, national parks, temples… there are enough gorgeous places to visit in Thailand to keep you busy for a lifetime.
On top of that, Thailand is one of the biggest travel hubs in the world and is perfectly located to explore Asia and even reach Oceania, the Middle East, or even Europe.
With tons of flights coming in and out of the country all the time, you can find a lot of cheap flights from Thailand to almost any destination in the world.
10. It pushes you to stay Humble
Think you had a rough day? Think again.
When you remember that most employees at 7-Eleven are paid about 350$ a month or when you see people in their late 70s pushing their food cart at 1 am… it puts you back in your place.
Thailand is not perfect, there’s a lot of people who live under the poverty line and who work in difficult conditions.
And even then, most of them sill smile at you even if they have way less than you do.
That seriously helps you stay down to earth and to remember how fortunate you are.
If that doesn’t push you to stay humble and grateful for what you have, I don’t know what will.
11. It’s Challenging
How is that a good thing? Because challenges make you grow.
It’s not so much about life in Thailand as it is about living as an expat anywhere.
In France, the government helps a lot of people with modest incomes, there’s social security, cheap education…
As an expat in Thailand, we don’t have any help from the government, we’re just hoping it doesn’t make our life harder with more complicated visa requirements or new rules.
This, and the fact that’s it’s more difficult to do things in a country where you don’t fully speak the language or understand the culture.
Being an expat is challenging, and so is living in Thailand.
But at the end, that’s what makes it even more rewarding and beautiful.
I’ve now been living in Bangkok, Thailand, for over 6 years and I still see way more positive than negative about living here. (more about the expat life here)
If you’re considering moving to Thailand, do your research and come equipped (with money), but do not hesitate.
That’s a move that will only make your life better.
That’s it for my 11 best things about living in Thailand.
What’s your opinion on it? Do you agree or not?
What would you add or remove?
Let me know in the comments below.