Is retirement age approching? Or are you just ready to do it anyway? Have you considered retiring in Thailand? Perhaps you should! Your pension cheque, or whatever source of income will fund your golden years, will go a lot further, the climate is great all year 'round, there's fresh, healthy, tasty food, cheap beer... and... uh... other benefits...

What will be your standard of living if you retire in your home country? Will you actually enjoy life? Or simply exist? Will you be able to afford to dine out? Will you be able to afford a housekeeper, satellite/cable T.V. or even a decent car if you retire in your home country?

How's the weather in your part of the world today? To the right you can see the current conditions in Chiang Mai, not always perfect but usually pleasant and never miserable. This truely is a tropical paradise!

If you are considering a permanent move to the north of Thailand either retiring or just relocating. Then consider the advantages of having friendly and helpful hosts willing to assist you in any way until you are comfortable in your new surroundings.

• A personal taxi service that is always at hand (that'd be me).
• A Thai-English translator (May) to assist you at the immigration office, bank, or whatever.
• We can help you find your new home, negotiate price, translate contracts etc... Someone on your side.
• Local knowledge and experience.

Meanwhile, you have a clean, comfortable, affordable place to stay (discount rates for longer stays) so much more friendly than a hotel and the opportunity to learn some Thai language and customs.

The following example is fairly typical monthly expenses for a couple with a high standard of living, renting a nice house not too far from the city centre, or a condo in the city, as well as fuel and insurance for a motorcycle and a ute (that's Australian for 'pick-up') and even a live in maid! Extra persons sharing the same home would not significantly effect most of the the costs.
Click the price to convert to your currency.

Many automobile manufacturers have plants in Thailand for both the local and export markets, localy made cars are very affordable. This of course leads to a glut of very good, barely used vehicles. You could find a low Kilometre, Turbo-Diesel, Automatic, Toyota 4x4, 4 door pickup for as little as B500,000 with all the extras! We'll help you as before, with finding a good one, negotiating the best price, and getting legal ownership transfered to your name.
Why am I talking about a 'pick-up'? because in Thailand, the pick-up enjoys a significant tax break, which means you get more car for your money and diesel fuel in Thailand is priced appropriately as the low grade fuel it is, (it always irritated me to pay more for diesel down-under).

Of course, as previously mentioned, the above are the approximate costs associated with a high standard of living, much much cheaper homes and cars are available and I have been quite extravagant with some of the allowances. Heck, you could even cook and clean for yourself if you needed to save money! In short you could cut the above total by quite a lot if necessary, and still be living 'high on the hog'.

So... how does that compare with your current and predicted lifestyle and cost of living? I was paying far more than the total just to rent a crappy house in Australia, a maid? Never even a remote possibility, live-in or otherwise, and I'm too embarrassed to even mention what car I was driving...
I now enjoy a lifestyle many times better than I did, at a fraction of the cost compared to my home country! And I can help you achieve the same.

Why not come and see for yourself? At the very least you'll have a pleasant trip to a tropical paradise. You may then decide that retirement in Thailand is not for you, nothing lost and you'll have some great photos to show the grand-kids!

James, semi-retired in Thailand at age 39.
'I can help you do the same.'

Map of Chiang Mai