Country research
Thailand
Prices overall are about 0.31 of United States prices at market exchange rates, and people living abroad rank Thailand 3rd of 31 countries for ease of settling in. English proficiency is very low (EF 2025: 402, 116th of 123), and remote workers can apply for the five-year Destination Thailand Visa. [C1] [Q1] [F1] [K1]
The Fernshore Index
How it grades, factor by factor.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Cost of living
93 of 100Strong
Price level 0.307 of United States prices (2025).
Source: Price level index (GDP), Thailand. Checked 15 October 2026.
Climate
8 of 100Weak
Chiang Mai, the main city: 2 comfortable months a year (January and December).
Source: Climate normals 1991–2020, Chiang Mai (WMO 48327). Checked 15 October 2026.
Safety
33 of 100Weak
Global Peace Index 2026: 101st of 163.
Source: Global Peace Index 2026, overall rank. Checked 15 October 2026.
Healthcare
73 of 100Strong
WHO UHC service coverage index 82 (2023).
Source: UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1). Checked 15 October 2026.
Schools
Unknown
Our research doesn't cover schools yet.
Community
83 of 100Strong
Expat Insider 2026 Ease of Settling In: 3rd of 31.
Source: Expat Insider 2026: Ease of Settling In. Checked 15 October 2026.
Lifestyle
51 of 100Mixed
Expat Insider 2026 Quality of Life: 21st of 31.
Source: Expat Insider 2026: Quality of Life. Checked 15 October 2026.
Work and career
50 of 100Mixed
Mixed: a residence route for remote workers exists (Destination Thailand Visa), but fixed broadband is 14.9 per 100 people (2024), under the 30 line.
Source: Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): requirements; Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Thailand. Checked 15 October 2026.
Retirement
50 of 100Mixed
Mixed: the Non-Immigrant O-A visa is for people aged 50 and over, valid one year; the embassy page names no path to permanent residence.
Source: Non-Immigrant O-A (long stay) visa. Checked 15 October 2026.
Internet
33 of 100Weak
14.89 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people (2024).
Source: Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Thailand. Checked 15 October 2026.
English
0 of 100Weak
EF EPI 2025 score 402, below the 499 weak line.
Source: EF English Proficiency Index 2025: Thailand. Checked 15 October 2026.
Visa, United States passport
50 of 100Mixed
Mixed: The Destination Thailand Visa asks for no Thai job offer and has no age minimum, and its funds test is about THB 500,000 in the bank (about US$14,900 at the 9 October 2026 Bank of Thailand rate), well under the US$100,000 line. To be safe, have more than THB 510,000. It is valid for 5 years with multiple entries, but each stay is 180 days, extendable once by 180 days (about 360 days), just under the year the strong grade needs. The year-long Non-Immigrant O-A visa is for people aged 50 and over, and the Long-Term Resident visa asks for about US$80,000 a year in income. To be safe, have more than US$81,000 a year. Washington publishes the checklist for US applicants, with no nationality restriction.
Source: Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): requirements; Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): period of stay and extension; Non-Immigrant O-A (long stay) visa; Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa: qualifications and privileges. Checked 15 October 2026.
Visa, Canada passport
50 of 100Mixed
Mixed: The Destination Thailand Visa asks for no Thai job offer and has no age minimum, and its funds test is about THB 500,000 in the bank (about US$14,900 at the 9 October 2026 Bank of Thailand rate), well under the US$100,000 line. To be safe, have more than THB 510,000. It is valid for 5 years with multiple entries, but each stay is 180 days, extendable once by 180 days (about 360 days), just under the year the strong grade needs. The year-long Non-Immigrant O-A visa is for people aged 50 and over, and the Long-Term Resident visa asks for about US$80,000 a year in income. To be safe, have more than US$81,000 a year. The Vancouver consulate lists the same visa for Canadian applicants; it publishes the details as images, so the Washington and Helsinki pages are used for them.
Source: Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): requirements; Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): period of stay and extension; Non-Immigrant O-A (long stay) visa; Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa: qualifications and privileges; Thailand's new visa measures: Destination Thailand Visa (DTV). Checked 15 October 2026.
Visa, Australia passport
50 of 100Mixed
Mixed: The Destination Thailand Visa asks for no Thai job offer and has no age minimum, and its funds test is about THB 500,000 in the bank (about US$14,900 at the 9 October 2026 Bank of Thailand rate), well under the US$100,000 line. To be safe, have more than THB 510,000. It is valid for 5 years with multiple entries, but each stay is 180 days, extendable once by 180 days (about 360 days), just under the year the strong grade needs. The year-long Non-Immigrant O-A visa is for people aged 50 and over, and the Long-Term Resident visa asks for about US$80,000 a year in income. To be safe, have more than US$81,000 a year. Canberra (and Sydney for New South Wales) takes the application through the e-Visa system and publishes no checklist, so the Washington and Helsinki pages are used for the rules.
Source: Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): requirements; Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): period of stay and extension; Non-Immigrant O-A (long stay) visa; Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa: qualifications and privileges; Announcement: adjustment of supporting documents for Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) applications. Checked 15 October 2026.
Visa, New Zealand passport
50 of 100Mixed
Mixed: The Destination Thailand Visa asks for no Thai job offer and has no age minimum, and its funds test is about THB 500,000 in the bank (about US$14,900 at the 9 October 2026 Bank of Thailand rate), well under the US$100,000 line. To be safe, have more than THB 510,000. It is valid for 5 years with multiple entries, but each stay is 180 days, extendable once by 180 days (about 360 days), just under the year the strong grade needs. The year-long Non-Immigrant O-A visa is for people aged 50 and over, and the Long-Term Resident visa asks for about US$80,000 a year in income. To be safe, have more than US$81,000 a year. Wellington lists the same visa for New Zealand residents (5 years, multiple entry) and publishes no checklist, so the Washington and Helsinki pages are used for the rules.
Source: Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): requirements; Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): period of stay and extension; Non-Immigrant O-A (long stay) visa; Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa: qualifications and privileges; Types of visas (e-Visa applications). Checked 15 October 2026.
Cities
Cities in Thailand.
Each city page shows which figures are its own and which are the country's.
Topics
The detail on Thailand.
Guides
Thailand, by passport.
Each guide is written for citizens of one country.
For your situation
Thailand for different circumstances.
Compare
Side by side with another country.
The same measures for both places, with no ranking.
Questions about Thailand.
How do prices in Thailand compare with the United States?
Prices overall in Thailand are about 0.31 of United States prices at market exchange rates (World Bank price level index, 2025). That is an economy-wide average, not a budget for one household, and it does not show what rent, food or any single item costs.
Can I stay in Thailand for a year or more without a Thai job?
The Destination Thailand Visa lasts five years, but each stay is 180 days plus one 180-day extension, about 360 days at a time. Embassies ask for a set balance; to be safe, hold more than THB 510,000. Fees differ by embassy and rules changed in 2026, so check yours.
How long can I stay in Thailand without a visa?
Since 15 September 2026, visa-free entry is 30 days, for tourism only. Immigration may extend it once, by up to 30 days, at an officer's discretion, and land-border entries on the exemption are limited to two a calendar year. This applies to US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand passports.
Do I pay tax in Thailand if I work remotely from there?
Thailand treats you as a tax resident after about 180 days in a calendar year, and taxes residents on foreign income brought into Thailand if it was earned from 1 January 2024. Rates run from nothing on the first THB 150,000 of net income to 35% above THB 5 million. Your home country's rules are a separate question.
Is there a retirement visa for Thailand?
The Non-Immigrant O-A long-stay visa is for people aged 50 or over, is valid for one year and prohibits employment. The embassy page names no path to permanent residence. The Destination Thailand Visa states no minimum age, but its stays are shorter, about 360 days at a time.
Is healthcare good in Thailand?
The WHO universal health coverage service index for Thailand is 82 out of 100 (2023); it measures access to essential services, not hospital quality. Canada's travel advice says healthcare is excellent in major cities, particularly private hospitals, but varies in rural areas. Private cover prices are unknown.
Is English widely spoken in Thailand?
The EF English Proficiency Index 2025 scores Thailand 402, 116th of 123 countries and regions, in its 'very low' band. EF's index is built from people who chose to take its online test, so it is a national estimate, not a count of everyone, and it does not show how English is used in a given city.
How does Thailand rank for safety and peace?
The Global Peace Index 2026 ranks Thailand 101st of 163 countries. The index scores whole countries on conflict, safety and militarisation, so it says little about one city or neighbourhood. Fernshore grades a rank of 101 or lower as weak.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [C1] Price level index (GDP), Thailand, World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 30.69 (United States = 100), read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
- [Q1] Expat Insider 2026: Ease of Settling In, InterNations (Expat Insider survey, private). Checked 15 October 2026. Thailand ranks 3rd of 31 countries.
- [F1] EF English Proficiency Index 2025: Thailand, EF Education First (private test-taker index). Checked 15 October 2026. Score 402, rank 116 of 123 countries and regions, 'very low' proficiency band; the 2026 edition was not yet published on 15 October 2026.
- [K1] Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): requirements, Royal Thai Embassy, Washington D.C.. Checked 15 October 2026. Page updated 10 September 2026. Lists remote workers, Thai soft-power activities and family members; states no minimum age and no nationality restriction; five-year validity; bank statements ending each of the last three months at THB 500,000 or US$16,000; fee US$400; stay per entry not stated. Written for applicants living in the United States.
- [G1] Phuket travel guide, Visit Thailand Today (private travel directory, not official). Checked 15 October 2026. Listing data updated 9 October 2026.
- [G2] Chiang Mai travel guide, Visit Thailand Today (private travel directory, not official). Checked 15 October 2026. Listing data updated 7 October 2026. The Tourism Authority of Thailand site refused automated access.
- [G3] Statistical Yearbook Thailand 2024, Table 1.5: Population from registration record by region, province and sex, 2023, National Statistical Office of Thailand. Checked 15 October 2026. Bangkok, 5,471,588 registered residents in 2023 (the Department of Provincial Administration's registration record, as printed in the yearbook); it shows a city of 500,000 or more.
- [G4] Organization structure: local government organizations, Department of Local Administration, Thailand. Checked 15 October 2026. 2,746 municipalities (35 city, 236 town, 2,475 sub-district) and 5,018 subdistrict administrative organizations; page is undated.
- [G5] Rural population (% of total population), World Bank, World Development Indicators. Checked 15 October 2026. 2025: 37.2% of the population is rural (national definitions).
- [G6] Agricultural land (% of land area), World Bank, World Development Indicators. Checked 15 October 2026. 2024: 43.3% of land area.
- [W1] Climate normals 1991–2020, Chiang Mai (WMO 48327), Thai Meteorological Department (WMO Climate Normals 1991–2020 via NOAA NCEI). Checked 15 October 2026. Chiang Mai, the main city for Thailand's climate grade. Monthly mean daily highs 29.2 to 36.7 °C; only January (30.0 °C, 11.3 mm) and December (29.2 °C, 14.1 mm) have a high of 30 °C or less and under 150 mm of rain.
- [W2] Climate normals 1991–2020, Bangkok Metropolis (WMO 48455), Thai Meteorological Department (WMO Climate Normals 1991–2020 via NOAA NCEI). Checked 15 October 2026. Bangkok: monthly mean daily highs 32.3 to 35.7 °C; coolest month 32.3 °C (used for the warm all year weather type).
- [W3] Climate normals 1991–2020, Phuket (WMO 48564), Thai Meteorological Department (WMO Climate Normals 1991–2020 via NOAA NCEI). Checked 15 October 2026. Phuket: monthly mean daily highs 31.8 to 34.4 °C; coolest month 31.8 °C (used for the warm all year weather type).
- [S1] Global Peace Index 2026, overall rank, Institute for Economics and Peace. Checked 15 October 2026. Thailand ranks 101st of 163 countries.
- [H1] UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1), World Health Organization. Checked 15 October 2026. Thailand: 82 out of 100 (2023).
- [Q2] Expat Insider 2026: Quality of Life, InterNations (Expat Insider survey, private). Checked 15 October 2026. Thailand ranks 21st of 31 countries.
- [K2] Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Thailand, International Telecommunication Union, via the World Bank. Checked 15 October 2026. 2024: 14.89 per 100 people, read from the World Bank API on 15 October 2026.
- [R1] Non-Immigrant O-A (long stay) visa, Royal Thai Embassy, Washington D.C.. Checked 15 October 2026. Page updated 1 September 2026; for people aged 50 and over.
- [V3] Destination Thailand Visa (DTV): period of stay and extension, Royal Thai Embassy, Helsinki. Checked 15 October 2026. Page updated 3 September 2026. Written for applicants in Finland and Estonia (fee in euros); used only for validity (5 years, multiple entries), 180 days per entry and the one 180-day extension, then leave and re-enter, which the Washington page does not state.
- [V4] Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa: qualifications and privileges, Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). Checked 15 October 2026. Work-from-Thailand Professionals: average personal income of US$80,000 a year over the past two years (US$40,000 to 80,000 with a master's degree or higher); 5 years, renewable for 5 more. The page shows no publication date.
- [V5] Thailand's new visa measures: Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), Royal Thai Consulate-General, Vancouver. Checked 15 October 2026. Used for Canadian applicants. The page is images only and opened on 15 October 2026 with a Destination Thailand Visa entry; its infographic (July 2024) gives THB 500,000 financial evidence, 180 days per entry and one 180-day extension. The Washington and Helsinki pages are used to confirm the details.
- [V6] Announcement: adjustment of supporting documents for Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) applications, Royal Thai Embassy, Canberra. Checked 15 October 2026. Used for Australian applicants. Posted 1 September 2026 as an image: it shows the DTV is open through Canberra, with new documents from 31 August 2026. Canberra publishes no text checklist or stay rules, so the Washington and Helsinki pages are used for those.
- [V7] Types of visas (e-Visa applications), Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington. Checked 15 October 2026. Used for New Zealand applicants. Page updated 23 July 2024: the DTV is open to residents of New Zealand, with a period of stay of 5 years with multiple entry. Wellington publishes no DTV checklist, so the Washington and Helsinki pages are used for the funds test and stay rules.