Despite Thailand being amazing, there are downsides to living here. However, when you are planning a move to Thailand, I think it’s important to go in with your eyes open and understand some of the disadvantages of living in Thailand for foreigners as there are some! Although not enough to make me leave yet and I’ve been here for over 8 years!

In all honesty, the disadvantages range from visa challenges to air pollution to living far away from home and I’ve experienced all of them as a teacher in Bangkok. I’ve made suggestions under each con of living in Thailand that should help mitigate it.

If you’re planning to move then it’s important to know what you’re signing up for – the good, the bad and the ugly!

If you’re reading this because you’re seriously considering a move, this is exactly why we created the Thailand Move Reality Check. It helps you look at the practical side — budget, insurance, visa costs, banking, savings, and backup plans — before you spend money on the move. Read the downsides first, then check your plan properly.

1. Far from Home

If you’re an expat thinking of a move to Thailand then you’ve probably already thought about this. However, before I moved to Thailand I’d lived in France which is only an hour from the UK, my home. Moving to Thailand meant being a minimum of 12 hours away from my loved ones. For my American partner, it’s even further for him and long, expensive flights for both of us.

I wouldn’t let this deter you from living in Thailand because there are so many great reasons to live in Thailand but it’s definitely one to factor in. Thinking about how often you plan to visit your home country and if your salary allows for regular visits is something that helps me personally.

I visit home twice a year for extended holidays so I still get lots of time with my loved ones in the UK! When I lived in Thailand the first time (yes I’ve moved here twice!) my salary was a lot lower so I usually just went home at Christmas and the occasional summer visit.

If seeing family regularly matters to you, include flights home in your annual budget — not as an afterthought. Use our calculator to include your annual flights so you don’t get hit with surprise costs.

2. Pollution’s Getting Worse

This is the worst thing about living in Thailand in my opinion. I love fresh air and lately the pollution has been increasing across Thailand, particularly in the north and in Bangkok.

When I first moved here it never used to be as bad as this and it’s not just from the traffic but from agricultural practices of burning fields (apparently it’s faster and cheaper than paying people!).

For me personally, I got bronchitis for the first time last year, very likely due to pollution. It is a serious issue that everyone should consider. To be honest, it could be the reason that I eventually leave Thailand, but I love it so much here and hope it won’t come to that.

While I wouldn’t let this put people off moving to Thailand, it is important to factor this in if you have bad asthma or young children and if you are thinking of being a digital nomad in Thailand like my partner then it’s a good time to bounce down to the islands where the air tends to be way better! If you’re a teacher like me, then we don’t have that option so consider if this is a deal breaker for you.

3. Flooding Nightmares

This one doesn’t tend to affect me too much as a teacher and a Bangkok resident of 8+ years but it is something to be mindful of if you live near a canal or river so it’s worth mentioning. During rainy season, Thailand can get very bad floods – it really affected Chiang Mai last year and Phuket too.

For my daily life as a teacher in Bangkok, it means wading through some flood water every now and then and making sure I have rubber shoes during monsoon season! Tropical storms are no joke and I always have a spare change of clothes in my classroom!

4. Visa Issues

Visa problems in Thailand and are going to affect you differently depending on the type of visa you are on. For me as a teacher I’ve never had visa problems and it is easy for schools to transfer your work visa if you move organisation. For those hoping to arrive in Thailand and figure out the visas once you get there, that is a bad idea and a good way to end up with immigration issues.

The days of ‘residents’ doing multiple visa runs are gone. It is essential to be legit in Thailand and live here on a real visa. I see all sorts of terrible advice online telling people to move to Thailand and ‘wing it’.

No, no , no.

Make a plan and organise a visa ahead of time so you don’t get caught at immigration or worse, deported. Even when you have a plan there is a lot to think about like: where to get your visa, visa costs, associated costs like leaving the country to get the visa, accommodation and extensions if necessary.

Disclaimer: Please note I am not a visa agent. I’m a teacher living in Thailand and helping you decide if Thailand relocation is right for you!

5. Cost of Living in Thailand

So I’ve included this one under cons only because the cost of living is not as cheap as it once was. When I first moved to Thailand about 10 years ago, everything was cheaper – rent, amenities, domestic and international flights.

Various people moan nowadays that the cost of living has gone up a lot…however, it is still an extremely affordable place to live so don’t let that put you off.

If you are comparing with many places in Europe or the UK or the USA or Australia, then you will find Thailand shockingly cheap. If you compare with other areas in the region then the cost of living is going to be slightly more than Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos for example.

The danger is not that Thailand is unaffordable. The danger is assuming Thailand is ‘cheap’ and not checking your budget for your own lifestyle. Your city, rent, insurance, flights home, hobbies, and eating habits all change the number.

We built our Thailand Cost of Living Calculator after seeing how many people underestimate their monthly spend (and end up stressed later). It’s based on what we actually spend living here, and you can customize it to your lifestyle with totals in THB, USD, and GBP.

6. Condo Living

Most foreigners live in condos in Thailand. If you live in a more rural or island area you are likely to have a house (or even a villa!) but the majority of us live in high rise buildings with facilities like pools and gyms. This is definitely not a downside, but the size of most high rise apartments tend to be on the small side.

My first Bangkok condo was just 30m2 (about 322 square foot) which was perfect just for me as my first ever home by myself! However it did make hosting friends and family challenging and they often had to pay for hotels rather than staying with me. Trust me, when you live in Thailand lots of loved ones will want to visit you!

I currently live in an apartment with my partner which is twice the size of my previous one. I love small apartment living but if you do want more space then the condos that tend to be bigger will be older apartments, or you could simply rent a house instead!

Also remember that most rentals require upfront costs, often including deposit and first month’s rent, so condo living affects your startup budget too.

7. Language Barrier

So in all honesty, I think Thai is one of the hardest languages ever! I actually studied languages at University and I used to think I was quite good at them…until I rocked up in Bangkok. Tonal languages and a totally different script are very different from the French and Spanish that I can speak.

While there are many foreigners living in Thailand who don’t speak Thai, I don’t recommend you become one of them! Thais love when you make the effort to speak their language and I strongly feel it’s an important part of living in a new country. You will make mistakes, confuse a lot of people and feel a bit disheartened at times, but that is all part of exploring a new culture!

I encourage you to enroll in Thai courses and even recommend my private Thai tutor inside the ebook! You might not become fluent (I’m still a long way off) but you will get that amazing feeling of the locals being impressed with you, even when you just stutter out a basic Thai phrase! Plus all the amazing benefits of learning a new language!

Learn numbers, directions, food words, polite phrases, and how to tell a taxi or delivery driver where you are as a starting point.

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8. Cultural Differences

For me, this is not a con of living in Thailand but I know that it must be one of the concerns for people thinking about moving here. I believe most cultural differences are there to be celebrated, from different ways of living, family situations and more.

I love that in Thailand elders are so respected here, that politeness is everywhere and teaching is such a highly respected position! There are some differences that I like less, people moving so slowly when I’m in a rush is my pet peeve! (But maybe I should just learn to slow down and appreciate the calmer side of life here!).

Either way, exploring a new culture is going to be a highlight of your move to Thailand, you’ve just got to remember to have lots of patience! Here’s other things it’s important to know before moving to Thailand.

9. Healthcare

So because I’m British I am used to free, universal healthcare. In the UK we do not pay when we visit a doctor or go to hospital because of the NHS. Coming to Thailand was a bit of a shock to me because the hospitals that you are likely to use will be private and you will need private health insurance – this isn’t something I had ever needed before!

As I’m employed in Thailand as a teacher, my medical insurance is covered by my school. I still pay 10% on top of that whenever I go to the hospital. My boyfriend is an American digital nomad and so he has to buy his own health insurance coverage and this is essential that you do this too! He uses SafetyWing and recommends it.

Private hospitals in Thailand are incredible. They feel like hotels and work smoothly and efficiently and I have always had positive experiences with them, from regular check ups to my bronchitis to rabies jabs and Covid vaccines!

Healthcare is usually a positive thing about living in Thailand, but you will need insurance! Jason learnt this the hard way after an accident in Phuket left him $2000+ out of pocket! Learn from our costly mistakes using our practical workbook and calculator.

10. Income Instability

I’ve included this one for the digital nomads and remote workers thinking of moving to Thailand. It’s vital to make sure you have adequate savings and alternative plans in place in case of losing your remote job. Use our calculator to make sure that you have budgeted for your lifestyle.

My partner learnt this the hard way when he previously lost a remote job. He talks all about his experience on our Youtube channel here.

I think it’s also important to note the time difference for working US hours is quite a headache from Thailand, although I do know some people who do it but it means staying up all night and sleeping in the day!

This is one of the biggest reasons I recommend checking your plan before you move. If your income changes, your visa situation shifts, or your emergency fund is too small, Thailand can become stressful fast. If your income is remote or freelance, I would not move without an emergency fund and a plan for what happens if one client or job disappears.

The Thailand Move Reality Check helps you work through those gaps before you arrive.

11. Lack of Long Term Visas

While there are more visa options for foreigners in Thailand now, getting citizenship or Thai residency is very very challenging and most likely impossible for most of us.

As a teacher my ability to live in Thailand is linked to my job. If I lose my job, I have to leave the country. This will be true for anyone on a work permit like me. Other visas such as the DTV known as the digital nomad visa are valid for 5 years. There are retirement visas which are generally known to be longer term, for more info on that it is best to check the Thai government website.

12. Dating and Relationships

As a woman who was single and living in Bangkok for many years, I have to put this one on the list! Thailand is a great place to meet international friends and to date…if you aren’t looking for anything long term. A lot of expat women in Bangkok complain about the dating scene. It’s very transient, some people just passing through or there for a few months and this can be frustrating if you want a real relationship that lasts.

I’m lucky, I met my American partner in Bangkok but I know first hand that Bangkok is not always the right place to be if you are a single woman and want a relationship! It’s hard and sometimes feels like very slim pickings. I’ve had female friends who left Thailand because they got so fed up with the dating scene!

13. Extreme Heat

I love hot weather but Thailand’s climate is something else. April is the hottest month and usually stays in the 40s, which is too much even for me. Even if you love tropical climates you may struggle in Thailand with the high humidity and scorching heat (seems to feel hotter every year!).

Thailand is not the place for you if you love cool weather. There are less hot parts like in the mountains such as Chiang Mai and Khao Yai area but my best advice is to get out of the country in April!

Cons of living in Thailand

These are the main disadvantages of living in Thailand but for me, the reasons to live here far outweigh the above issues – that’s why I’ve been here for nearly 10 years!

Planning to move to Thailand? Check the expensive gaps before you go.

We lost $4,560 moving to Thailand through mistakes we didn’t see coming — from medical bills and banking problems to savings gaps, visa costs, and underestimating daily life here.

That is why we created the Thailand Move Reality Check: a practical bundle to help future expats spot what they may have missed and work out what their move could actually cost before they commit.

✔️ Spot the expensive gaps in your move plan
✔️ Work out whether Thailand is actually affordable for you
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