°µÍø½ûÇø

@midge6262 hi there!!!  I’m on FB @ktown1993 if you want to message.  Also Seniors in Samui group on FB.   My name is Adina Douglas. I helped my mom move to Koh samui in December and my husband and I will be her neighbors in 11 days.  If you want to send a private message on Facebook I can give you a few names of people to help you and any advice I have to offer. You were going to love it there!!!

Hello, We are Terry and Midge and are looking forward to retiring to Koh Samui in April 2023. The first sort of things we need is to find a good agent to help us with our initial move, how we go about getting our Visas. Advice  on the different areas to live, we want to be within walking distance to the beach and shops. What sort of insurances will we need, should we rent or buy a vehicle.

We have lots of other questions but hope to initially get some good feedback from other °µÍø½ûÇøs

Look forward to replies

Terry and Midge

- @midge6262

@Leeds forever!  Yes we have been before,

II don't know If you've done any research into the Thai retirement visa, but if you qualify, it is definitely the best avenue for a long-term visa.

If you don't, things are much trickier, especially recently, but not impossible. However, Thailand like most of the world, has a reasonable retirement age. (I am an American and I don't consider 67 or 68 years old to be a reasonable retirement age!). But it sounds like you're from England, so I'm guessing you guys are 55 plus?

I am a lawyer in Bangkok, but I recommend that you look for a lawyer in Koh Samui first. It's not necessary to have an attorney to make a to Thailand for retirement, but it's certainly can be helpful, especially when you start to talk about bringing over your finances to Southeast Asia.

One of the better advantages of being retired in Southeast Asia, is that you can take advantage of retirement plans without capital gains taxes. If you're British, you might have QNUPS or something like that, and you can change to a qualified plan that falls under a jurisdiction with no capital gains tax, legally, and set up your financial situation.

I strongly recommend setting up a bank account with Charles Schwab or vanguard before you move here, get the checking account, the savings account, everything... The international debit card.

Using a commercial bank from back home while you're here is a giant pain in the ass. Using an investment bank that has commercial bank services like Charles Schwab or vanguard will make your life much, much easier!!!

You'll also have to file tie tax returns, even if you're not making money it's a good idea to do so, but they are inexpensive and easy to do. And it's part of the revenue department's checking on maintaining your minimum balance for your retirement visa.

I also recommend a bilingual law firm with both farang and Thai lawyers and an accountant. (It just so happens that I am a partner in one such firm!) And I know you're thinking that you don't need an accountant, but there are services here that are performed by accountants that are usually performed by lawyers, barristers or especially solicitors, back home.

****

Best of luck to you! I'm sure you're going to love it!

- @jmazzola

@Leeds forever!  Yes we have been before,

- @midge626

@Leeds forever! You beat me to it on the bank account comment. I send money to my wife's bank account every month via Wise.com (other money transfer services are available!) and the only banks you can send more than THB 50K to are Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Bank and Siam Commercial Bank. Why only those three banks I have no idea (brown envelopes perhaps?) but there's no point in having an account with anyone else.

@Leeds forever! You beat me to it on the bank account comment. I send money to my wife's bank account every month via Wise.com (other money transfer services are available!) and the only banks you can send more than THB 50K to are Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Bank and Siam Commercial Bank. Why only those three banks I have no idea (brown envelopes perhaps?) but there's no point in having an account with anyone else.

- @Retiree

@Leeds forever! You beat me to it on the bank account comment. I send money to my wife's bank account every month via Wise.com (other money transfer services are available!) and the only banks you can send more than THB 50K to are Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Bank and Siam Commercial Bank. Why only those three banks I have no idea (brown envelopes perhaps?) but there's no point in having an account with anyone else.

- @Retiree

Those 3 banks are Wise's partner banks in Thailand. That's the reason. But you can do more than just one transfer if sending money to other banks, it's just max 50k/transfer which is a ridiculously low sum.

- @Leeds forever!

@Leeds forever! You beat me to it on the bank account comment. I send money to my wife's bank account every month via Wise.com (other money transfer services are available!) and the only banks you can send more than THB 50K to are Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Bank and Siam Commercial Bank. Why only those three banks I have no idea (brown envelopes perhaps?) but there's no point in having an account with anyone else.

- @Retiree

Those 3 banks are Wise's partner banks in Thailand. That's the reason. But you can do more than just one transfer if sending money to other banks, it's just max 50k/transfer which is a ridiculously low sum.

- @Leeds forever!

So 16 transfers if you have to fund your account for an extension of stay based on retirement. Great idea, whoever thought of that one!

- @Retiree

@midge6262

You need to come here on 0 visa for both of you and get an insurance for 12 months , contact me if needed [link under review]

- @Renaud Vertalier

Not correct. If arriving on a 90 days Non-immigrant O Visa (not 0 as you wrote) you just need the insurance to cover 90 days. Not 12 months. That's only mandatory for the O/A Long stay Visa.

I planning to retire in koh samui later this fall, 2023, after my kid gets married this summer in france, as far as my visa and paperwork, banking, I live in Washington, dc, and as a retired journalist,  the folks at the thai embassy here have been a great deal of help, but I'll still will need help when I get there, so expect at least 3 to 4 months find housing,  a new driver's  license,  wifi etc,, I'm 66 years old , I like to play golf and fishing I like living alone but still like having dinner with friends, what's the °µÍø½ûÇø sinor community really like, now I'm a yankee but I've been living out of a suitcase since I was 19 years old,(thank you) tv news, so living there is not my first rodeo, last time I was there it seems to be laid back, no worries,  any advice would be greatly helpful,  also please tell me

the dark side too

OK real question,  I'm retired and I never plan to work again I had a great career that sent me a round the world, but truth be told my °µÍø½ûÇø future friends, without using up my life saving, can I really live well on a budget of 4400 usd or 1500000 baht a month

OK real question, I'm retired and I never plan to work again I had a great career that sent me a round the world, but truth be told my °µÍø½ûÇø future friends, without using up my life saving, can I really live well on a budget of 4400 usd or 1500000 baht a month
-@dpmalkie1

Depends on what "well" is to  you.   it could under, okay, or over. 

OK real question, I'm retired and I never plan to work again I had a great career that sent me a round the world, but truth be told my °µÍø½ûÇø future friends, without using up my life saving, can I really live well on a budget of 4400 usd or 1500000 baht a month
-@dpmalkie1

4,400USD is about 150,000 baht. Have you ever been in Thailand? You don't seem to have a clue how much money that is in Thailand. The financial requirement for a retiree using monthly deposits is 65,000 baht. Before the pandemic that was more than what 83% of the Thai population earned per month. So, what do you think? Is 150,000 enough??

OK real question, I'm retired and I never plan to work again I had a great career that sent me a round the world, but truth be told my °µÍø½ûÇø future friends, without using up my life saving, can I really live well on a budget of 4400 usd or 1500000 baht a month
-@dpmalkie1
Depends on what "well" is to you.  it could under, okay, or over.
-@Bigrad Wolf

That's a ridiculous answer. You don't have a clue how much 150,000 baht/month is.

We cant say if 150k is enough for you to live well, Or you know that.

Wife and I use 55k-60k per month are we are living well, We both think.

Next year when we finish paying the car, we going to use 45k-50k per month.

I have a mate that give his GF more then that per month.

I have 1 friend that use more that we use per month on rent.

And sad to say, Know many people that use more then 150k per month, Mostly to party, drinking, girls. and so on.

I all so know people that have a lot less, But still have a "okay" time here.

Best to come and try it out for your self, And make up you own mind about.

Kindly.

^ Exactly, those with party lifestyles and depending on their level of happiness and wallet, we just do not know what is enough. Only the asker can answer or help us answer that.

We cant say if 150k is enough for you to live well, Or you know that.
Wife and I use 55k-60k per month are we are living well, We both think.
Next year when we finish paying the car, we going to use 45k-50k per month.

I have a mate that give his GF more then that per month.

I have 1 friend that use more that we use per month on rent.

And sad to say, Know many people that use more then 150k per month, Mostly to party, drinking, girls. and so on.

I all so know people that have a lot less, But still have a "okay" time here.

Best to come and try it out for your self, And make up you own mind about.

Kindly.
-@Never done that

The question came from a 66 year old retiree who likes golfing (closest golf course is on the mainland in Surat Thani) and fishing,which is almost free. He likes to be alone but enjoy dinners with friends,so, your answer is part irrelevant and part nonsense.

@Leeds forever! Well that was rude, so I you are not invited  to my dinner party, look, after 45 years working in tv news  in over 49 country's, and a ex pat over half my adult life no worries,  I was asking for some advice  in the ex pat retired  community advise like heathcare ,( what is the best heathcan insurancewould you recommend, when I said 4500 usd one month more one month  less, I would like to find a 2 bedroom condo with a western kitchen for around 1000 usd a month give or take, buy a good usd ca where to buy a good cash

@dpmalkie1 How about entertainment? To me, your budget is good enough to live comfortably knowing that the variable is entertainment because it depends per person.  There are many °µÍø½ûÇøs out there who left their home country to be able to find the best bang for their buck, not to cut down on expenses.  They actually want to enjoy and to me, that is why we worked and saved up all those money anyway.

Insurance, there are global insurance out there but I think you have to enroll before you reach 70. It depends per company. They cost around US$3500 annually depending on one's age, condition and choice of coverages (minimum is US$1M up to no limit coverage).

Am I invited to one of your future parties, friend? Never been to Koh Samui.

I know the red tape about moving and being a °µÍø½ûÇø, so I'll will hire a local fixer for help, but I'd like to talk to follow senor that lived in koh samui for a while a few years,  any regrets

@Leeds forever! Well that was rude, so I you are not invited to my dinner party, look, after 45 years working in tv news in over 49 country's, and a ex pat over half my adult life no worries, I was asking for some advice in the ex pat retired community advise like heathcare ,( what is the best heathcan insurancewould you recommend, when I said 4500 usd one month more one month less, I would like to find a 2 bedroom condo with a western kitchen for around 1000 usd a month give or take, buy a good usd ca where to buy a good cash
-@dpmalkie1

That Leeds, We all *** in his mind :-)

Well if you a Golfer like the people i know here in Thailand that play Golf.

That you might at some point find some people you like playing Golf with.

And you might want to go with them to play Golf all over Thailand.

The trips, Staying a good, expensive place to stay together can all run up.

I being told what other use per month on Golf here in Thailand, That why i say, That only you know if you going to live well.

Same go for fishing, Sure it is cheap to go to water and fish, But you might want to go out on boat trip.

And again, Might find people you like to go fishing with, So you want to go on trip around Thailand to relax and do some fishing.

Food is another thing, Can/will you eat local food, Or only Westen style food, As Westen style cost more.

Do you enjoy and super good breakfast, The reason i bring breakfast up, Is on other forum for pattya.

I read the other week, People say the go out many time per week and spend 700-1000 baht per person on breakfast.

This can run up fast the total for food.

Bigrad Wolf all ready talk about entertainment, And again, only you know what you like or not.

I skip out on some part about what going on on the golf tour with the female golf caddy.

Many of the girls pay to get that job to meet foreigner and go out with them, And that can cost some money all so :-)

Have no idea if you every being to Thailand before, But if you have not, Why not come for XX-XXX days and look around, See what you can find.

I am pretty sure you can some other foreigner at/around the Golf Club(s) that can help you out.

All the best for you move to Thailand, It is a great place to live for sure. I think.

Kindly.

@Leeds forever! Well that was rude I've been to thailand vietnam , China, Singapore Indonesia Hong Kong I was on assignment in cambodia for 4 months when Pol pot died, plus as a ex pat lived france the uk, Dubai, doha, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and for 6 months in the USSR way back when, sorry I'm still thing in dollars when I get there I'll start thing in baht, massed up on the exchange rate my bad hit the wrong button on my smart phone, you know all I was asking to the retirement folks in koh samui around my age that have lived there for a few years WHATS THE DOWN SIDE AND REGRETS ANS WHAT THEY LEARNED HELP ME NO TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES my budget is around 4500 usd give or take I'd like to find a 2 bedroom condo for around 1000usd a month, yes thailand is cheap in most ways but, gas for the car, is more flat screen same wifi same price, a good martinis at the 4 seasons same price maybe more, , you what when I lived in doha 4 and half years I found the °µÍø½ûÇø community boring , I'll find my own way, sorry I wasted everybody's time on this blog cheers d, ps***

@Adi

na in Thailand fine me on fb Dennis malkie please

Hello everyone,

Please remain courteous on the forum. New members are here for guidance not for being judged...

@ dpmalkie1, must be due to some confusion on this thread. It's good that you cleared it now I hope you'll get relevant info.

All the best

Bhavna

@Leeds forever! Well that was rude, so I you are not invited to my dinner party, look, after 45 years working in tv news in over 49 country's, and a ex pat over half my adult life no worries, I was asking for some advice in the ex pat retired community advise like heathcare ,( what is the best heathcan insurancewould you recommend, when I said 4500 usd one month more one month less, I would like to find a 2 bedroom condo with a western kitchen for around 1000 usd a month give or take, buy a good usd ca where to buy a good cash
-@dpmalkie1

You don't seem to understand what anything cost in Thailand or on Koh Samui. I do, I've been living here a long time. Why argue against better knowledge? 1,000USD is about 33,500 baht which is A LOT when it comes to find a 2 bedroom condo. I'm staying in a 76 sqm condo with a western kitchen and the cost is between 10,000 and 15,000/month depending on location in the building and owner.76 sqm is considered big in Thailand when we're talking condos. You asked if 150,000 baht/month is ok, and it's more than ok even if we include the cost for an annual health insurance (you should check your spelling,by the way, it's hard to understand what you're writing) divided by 12. (Check out Pacific Cross,it's a serious insurance company with loads of different insurances and premiums.) You can maybe spend a third of that sum if living a quiet but really good life. The only way to spend a lot of money in Thailand is to buy stuff,but who buys a motorbike,an a/c,a new TV or a new fridge every month?

I skip out on some part about what going on on the golf tour with the female golf caddy.
Many of the girls pay to get that job to meet foreigner and go out with them, And that can cost some money all so :-)



Kindly.
-@Never done that

Because you said this, I may need to take up golfing lessons. 

@Never done that  good advice,  from what the web site claims green fees are a round 4000 baht, in koh samui,  ok in my budget  maybe once a week, I'm sorry I went went on a rant, some folks where sayingyou don't not ex pats problem,s , well I first became a °µÍø½ûÇø in 1986 and later on 5 five continents, I did live in Bangkok  along time ago plus cambodia  vietnam ok so far the best advice  is, put my ducks together before I jump, ithen hire a thai lawyer to hold my hand though the land mines, I was lucky in the past my employers  did all the paperwork this will be the fist time I have to do it on my own some fear, why I like samui , it will be home base, where east meets west yes I love southest Asian culture,  but maybe I my feel like a gray goose  martinis at the 4 seasons,  still 20 bucks usd and that's for the advise,  ps about  my spelling and grammar  my laptop is in the shop so I'm writing you on my cell phone ha ha

$4400 USD is about 152,000 THB. For comparison purposes, many Thai teaching jobs for Thais pay about 20k-25k per month. Foreign teachers will get about 40k-45k per month at universities or Thai government high schools. Some places like Assumption pay over 65k per month. Then you have international schools that can pay over 100k per month. My wife is a middle manager at a US healthcare company here in Bangkok and she makes 55k per month. I make over 100k because I teach at international schools. Together we make about what you are saying. It is more than we spend, but we don't party and eat out at western places every day. We cook and eat in our house. To spend more than 150k per month you would need a very extravagant lifestyle. You can rent nice condos here in Bangkok for about 12k to 16k per month.

@dpmalkie1

That's a lot of money for ANY developing nation popular with °µÍø½ûÇøs.. in addition to Thailand you can live in Panama.. Costz Rica or México... the posh parts.. La Condesa example. In fact 50% of that monry would be plenty! Even most of Europe!

Please... with respect..educate yourself... when you see  a place for rent for example... think like a local. Do NOT think in terms of.. "oh it's so much cheaper than SFO NYC or London. That's happening a lot and screws it up for a °µÍø½ûÇøs and prices local people out... forcing them to leave.