Thailand is known across the globe as an amazing tropical destination, with fantastic weather, exquisite cuisine, and some of the world’s best beaches. Thailand is also a rapidly developing country, and as such, fast and reliable internet access is now available around the country.
Working as a digital nomad in Thailand would be a dream come true for many people, but how practical is it really, and what should you know about the rules and regulations?
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- Living Costs
In most cases, living costs will be a key issue when choosing where to work as a digital nomad. The cost of living in Thailand is much lower than many Western countries, however, costs are rising fairly quickly and the Thai baht seems to be going from strength to strength, and how much you spend will vary wildly depending on where you choose to stay, and the type of life you choose to lead.
If you find yourself drawn to the frenetic hive of activity which is Bangkok, then a small apartment on the outskirts will start from 5000 baht ($155) per month, whilst somewhere within the center close to a BTS station will be 10,000 baht ($310) and up, the sky’s the limit. Touristy locations like Phuket and Koh Samui will be similar in price, Chiang Mai will be considerably less, and a 2 bedroom house in a small village in a rural location can go from 2000 baht ($63) upwards.
Thai food is very cheap, Western food costs a lot more, several times more in fact. You’ll be able to eat out twice a day with 150 baht ($4.73) per day, you’d need to spend several times more if you wanted a pizza, or Burger King meal, for example. Bills will depend on how much you use your air-conditioning, but 2000 baht ($63) a month should be more than enough and leave some money to top up your phone. You’ll need a bit extra for taxis, visa runs, and evening entertainment.
So, approximate basic living costs will be (assuming you spend $200 a month on entertainment and leisure) as follows:
Bangkok/Phuket – from $650 to $1300 per month
Chiang Mai – from $500 to $1000 per month
A small village in Isaan – from $400 to $600 per month.
- Living in Thailand
Thailand is a far-flung location for many, with a unique culture and beautiful scenery which draws millions of visitors every year. Most Thais are Buddhists, and, as such, the country is a very safe destination for the majority of travelers. Be respectful of their culture, religion, and the royal family, and you will be unlikely to have any issues. Also, be aware that Thailand has some of the most draconian drug laws in the world, and you can get into very serious trouble if you’re caught with drugs – in fact they still retain the death penalty for larger quantities or more serious crimes.
Click here for the simple way to learn the Thai alphabet.
Most Western visitors can arrive without a visa and be let into the country for 30 days. This is known as a visa-exemption and can be extended at a local immigration office for an additional 30 days for the cost of 1900 baht ($60). Alternatively, you can obtain a tourist visa from the Thai embassy in your home country which allows you to enter for 60 days, and this can also be extended by another 30 days.
A very key point is that working as a digital nomad in Thailand is still technically illegal. To do any work or even to volunteer in Thailand requires a work-permit, which your Thai employer will have to obtain. Obviously, as a digital nomad, you will not be able to obtain a work permit, so technically you are working illegally in the country. However, you should be aware that as long as it is done discretely, the authorities are currently turning a blind eye to this behavior. Despite this, sometimes co-working spaces can be raided by the police, with anyone caught working illegally removed from the country and barred – best to avoid such places.
Another thing to be aware of, is that the Thai authorities are getting more and more suspicious of visitors spending very long periods of time in the country on tourist visas. Certainly, if you are getting back-to-back tourist visas and extending them, you can expect to be questioned by immigration on arrival, as they will assume that you are not a genuine tourist and that you are working in the country. Therefore you would do well to go to a neighboring country for a few months when your visa expires, rather than trying to stay in Thailand for as long as possible.
- Best Cities for Digital Nomads
Bangkok is a very fast-paced, chaotic and exciting place to live. Indeed, you will be able to find anything there which you can get back home (at a price). Bangkok has a mind-boggling array of shopping malls, selling anything you can think of, thousands of restaurants, bars and nightlife areas (a few red-light areas, too). In short, it’s unlikely that you will ever be bored in the capital, the drawback being that if you want to see all the sights and enjoy yourself in the evening, you could easily spend a lot more than you would imagine.
Chiang Mai has a much more temperate climate than Bangkok, but can still get hot. It is a far more relaxed destination in the north of the country and is generally quite a lot cheaper than the capital for most things. It still has some stunning temples, a vast array of restaurants, and some nightlife, just nowhere near as raucous as Bangkok.
The islands, including Koh Samui and Phuket, are popular with tourists, and as such are expensive by Thai standards. However, you could be living just walking distance from some world-class beaches, and still, enjoy great restaurants and nightlife.
Click here for the simple way to learn the Thai alphabet.
More rural locations, particularly in the Isaan region in the north-east of the country, can be very slow-paced and are much better value than other destinations. Smaller towns and villages will still have places to eat, although very unlikely to serve Western foods, and you should be aware that in the more remote places, very few people will be able to speak passable English. However, like the rest of the country, you should still be able to get a good quality internet connection.
Thanks for reading!
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