Hey there & welcome to my channel! ✨
My name is Kat and I'm a Filipina-American who has lived in Chiang Mai since 2019. In this channel, l share my experiences with navigating life in Chiang Mai long-term in hopes that it helps others transition smoothly into their life abroad in Chiang Mai too.
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The other thing is it’s easier to live a minimalist life in Thailand because of the lower cost of living and also because the country produces more natural resources and grows more fruits and vegetables which makes everything within the country cheaper.I wish people would highlight this in there videos because the problem is much bigger than what an individual person choose and decided to do.In America everything cost,there is no savings anymore the dollar didn’t go further in our own country.And it happen conversely the cost of living went down for us in Asia while it went up in the United States,I’m highlighting this because it is beyond an individual persons control that’s why.But what happens on an economical level will effect us on a personal level eventually so it’s best to pay attention to what is going on before when it gets too late.
I’m going to Thailand but I’ll be in the far southern part in the Trang and songklga area.And this area of Thailand you can live off of less than $1,000 usd a month.People need to explore other areas of Thailand because they do have more to offer than the hot spot tourist traps of Bangkok,Pattaya,Phuket,hua hin,koh samui,koh phi phi and krabi.Ill visit the hot spot areas with no problem but staying their long term no thank you.
Wish you happiness in good times in Thailand forever.❤
Chaing Mai is a great place. Visited 1 time to continue learning Buddhist teachings from David Roylance. Beautiful people and culture.
Please, you have a great info, but please do another video and slow down, this isn't a race. It sounds like my wife nagging me, a real turn off. Slow down, take it easy, don't get excited. You ain't going nowheres.
❤❤❤❤❤love thailand .
I would add one more. Be kind to people. Thai people are just more laid back and less judgemental. So much division, anger and hate going on in the west.
Thai people are just as covetous of material possessions as any other nationality. Look at how many poor people here will put themselves into debt that they can never repay just to park a new pickup truck outside their ramshackle houses. Look at how they worship gold. Look at the men carrying boxes of Johnny Walker Black Label into sing-a-song bars to make face. The Buddhist ethic is a thin veneer over the natural greed of human beings. "The biggest crime in Thailand is being poor."
to begin I haven't watched your video--had some sound problems and your voice was so low. All in all, Chiang Mai is one of my favorite cities. I'm 70, my wife and I retired to the Philippines nine years ago and are reasonably content, but still...Chiang Mai pulls to me somehow. I love the cuisine, the sensibilities and I wouldn't mind spending weeks there each year. Sigh.
Five bedroom house!? Hah Hah Ha Ha . . . Who has the energy to clean a 5 bedroom house? Not me. I don't want to be a slave to the house. If it's a husband and a wife with two kids it's not necessary more than three bedrooms two baths house.
Hey, I'm retired in Chiang Mai and couldn't agree more and good on you for working it out at a young age. My fear for you is the "healthier" lifestyle lessons you've learnt in CM might be hard to live if you needed to go back to the West i.e. if everyone around you is in a rate race I'd imagine it might be challenging to eek out an income that affords you the CM mindset. I'm sure there are pockets of like minded people in the West, just have to look harder to find them. Best of luck, you sound like a really nice person.
Thank you! :)
I moved to Thailand 3 years ago. One of the biggest reasons is the culture in America is so toxic. I had just built a 5,600 sq ft retirement home and was miserable. Sold everything including cars. I can pretty much afford anything I want here but live in a tiny luxury condo in Bangkok and my monthly living expenses are about $1200 a month. Honestly it's even less but I don't want to give the impression Thailand is cheap. The ONLY things in Thailand that is cheap is small condos and street food. Everything else is very expensive like cars and clothes etc because of import taxes. There is a new rumor about the change in Thai tax laws for foreigners but I don't think it has any effect on USA retirement money but if I have to fill out tax forms here I will leave unfortunately. Minimalist life is definitely relaxing.
From what I have heard, if your retirement funds have been or will be taxed by the US government, it will not be taxed by the Thai government but it has to be documented on your Thai tax forms. The tax treaty between the US and Thailand prevents double taxation.
@@kevinp8108 Have you ever filled out tax forms in Thailand? I will leave Thailand I am not getting involved in reporting income here even if it is eventually not taxed.
Your voice is so soft❤. Comforting. We are coming in August for 2 weeks, and we are looking forward to our relocation. We have 136 acres and a huge home, everything is good here, except....the West. USA moral standards are gone. Between crime,divisions, politics cost of living, and the future of America, we are leaving for a better life. The funny thing is we have always been taught that other countries are 3rd world when in fact our country is the 3rd world. Can't wait to leave USA in the dust.
@@ThailandOrBust1111 - I totally agree! I am a Thai-American who has lived in the USA since the age of 2 and I never thought about leaving but unfortunately, American society is in a steady decline. I love my adopted country but it is becoming the DIVIDED STATES OF AMERICA. There is so much tension between different races and opposing political parties. The kinship among Americans is eroding away. I plan to return to the motherland for retirement in a few years. Thai culture possesses that familial "family" culture that I am seeking. The Hawaiian word for this is OHANA. In the Hawaiian culture, there are no strangers, everyone is family. Thai culture is OHANA.
Stop making these. Your neighbours back home spend different and it's no different here or anywhere.
Great video! A lot of accurate points! It’s tiring being in the rat race of the western world! I can’t wait to escape and find this mindset. Thanks for making such great videos!
Thanks so much!
I hate to bring this up but whats going on with the Taxes in Thailand lol
Are you American? You can go to the IRS website or try google to search for the Thai USA agreement on taxation. I saw Chis's video the other day when he interviewed the lawyer. I think the lawyer was fine but he didn't really discuss specific countries agreements with Thailand. What I read and I could be wrong is retirement, annuity and social security checks are not subject to taxation in Thailand only in the USA. I receive all 3(4 total). Civil service retirement, military retirement, annuity checks and very soon social security. If I have to file tax returns in Thailand unfortunately I will leave. I think this is all part of globalization to make everyone poorer and have total control of everyone on the planet. If you discover something different please tell.
Nobody knows including the elected officials 🤷🏻♂️
A one bedroom house is totally fine with me.
We just moved to Chiang Mai from Los Angeles and gave away more than 50% of our stuff. It was liberating, so could not agree more minimalism is a worthy goal. You seem to have figured it out earlier than me, but I’m getting there!
A big reason you feel so relax is because you are not around your American friends. With a fresh start, you can be the real you. No more comparing! Good luck!
You nailed it. If you're coming here and you know it, start living a more minimalist lifestyle *now.* It preps you for a simple, wonderful life in Thailand. I spent more time and money moving things in and out of storage & getting rid of other things than they were worth. 20 trips to Goodwill etc. One suitcase and one duffle bag of things is all you need here. You can replace basics here at half the cost in most cases. And and bring your laptop. Less 'things' to worry about makes it easy to be "here, now."
Get a mic or use your phone as a mic. Thanks me later. Cheers, where r u originally from?
More things = More stress (& waste)
Yes totally agree!
People have garages full to the brim of junk and when you ask them to throw away something they look at you like you are mad.
Success is when you get what you want. Happiness is when you want what you already have. Bravo on taking the road less traveled Kat.
Thanks so much!
@@katherinenicYou’re welcome.
use wise to transfer
Great video! 😊
Thank you! :)
You were surprised about the burning season? Seriously?
I have been coming to Chiang Mai since 2004 for the winter months. I found that the air quality starts getting into the unhealthy zone in December. I'm 73, so perhaps it affects me more than younger people, but i was waking up with my lungs irritated. I'll miss the Chiang Mai lifestyle and my friends there. Going to the beach is fine for a few months. Where do you go and how expensive is it?
Hi Kat, I just discovered you today. Thank you for your sharing about expenses. I’m curious if you could help me understand where you go during the fire-burning season. I’ve heard so much about it regarding smoke and bad air quality. Could you please elaborate on that experience to gain understanding? When is that? How bad is it? Etc. Anything you can share would be appreciated. Thanks!
No problem! My most recent video titled, "What NO ONE Tells You About Chiang Mai" goes into detail about burning season :)
Great video. I've been living in Bangkok/Pattaya for 16 months straight. Lovin' it. Looking to make the move to Chiang Mai in August with my girlfriend for 6 months. During burning season I'll just come back to my condo in Pattaya. I love the description of your condo. By chance, can you tell me which condo that is, or perhaps the agency you used? Thank you.
I used an agent I've been working with since 2019, if you send me an email at [email protected] I can send over her details so you can contact her directly. There is also Perfect Homes Chiang Mai which might help too! perfecthomes.co.th/
Great videos, Ive watched a few. Chiang Mai is a great place, such a different vibe but I love it. Spending 2 months there in the winter is the best. I will be extending my time there very soon. Thanks for the info.
No problem! Yes, such a special place.. winter season is amazing - sweaters and good weather! :)
Hi, have you experienced any dog attacks or pack of dogs acting aggressive towards you?
Yes, I actually have about 8 or more on my street that don't like motorbikes (especially at night). I don't actually think they're going after me but more so the bike, they usually just bark and chase after the bike briefly. I usually zoom past them or try to avoid that area but definitely something to keep in mind.
@@katherinenic Thanks, im guessing its mostly at night but could happen during the day aswell? Just because ive seen videos and stories of foreigners getting bitten by dogs or getting chased and needing a rabies shot.
@@TrillzMMA Yes, it definitely does happen and could happen in the day as well but I've only had experiences at night. The dogs seem to get more territorial in the evenings. 😔
@@katherinenic thanks nice too know, what time does it normally get dark there?
You were forgiving with the 3 to 4 months. More like 6 months. Head to Portugal Spain or Bali for fresh air. Very few YTers ever discuss the darksides. Viewers like the escape of utopia. Good job.!
Most people complain about how crazy it is to drive in Thailand.The last time I checked in the United States have car accidents literally all day everyday no state in the USA doesn’t go a day without a car accident.The second thing is it’s easy to avoid some of the mayhem in Thailand on the roads just drive in the remote areas where it isn’t a lot of heavy traffic.Out of all the foreigners in Thailand I don’t know why any of them don’t do this I mean seriously 🤔🤣.You purposely choose and decide to drive in the touristy hot spot areas with nothing but constant heavy traffic and then complain about it being too much traffic and motor bikes.
👋🏼 Small struggling Travel Channel here. I love your content, thanks for this great video! You inspire me to keep grinding my channel, maby one day I’ll grow as big as you 🥲
Thanks so much! Keep sharing your content, you got this! :)
That's why it's so stuffy in my home now 😞 thank you
I have been go into Chiang Mai for 20 years for the winters. The air quality index gets into the Unhealthy area for sensitive people beginning in December. I wake up and I can feel that my lungs are irritated so I’m no longer going to Chiang Mai. Too many areas in Mexico and Central and South America with pleasant weather and great air quality with favorable dollar exchange rates. Too bad because I loved my life in Chiang Mai.
Hello Kat. Just found you and subscribed today. I've enjoyed your videos. I'd like to ask how you manage your US phone number while living in Thailand? And do you a VPN? Thank you in advance 🎉
You need to improve your microphone / sound quality.
2 friend's were killed in Hua Hin last winter on motorcycles, that is everything I need to know
Yep stay off the motorcycles
I'm sorry to hear that 😔
At the same time or different, did they know one another? So shocking 😢
2 completely different incidents, it was pretty difficult to go to two different funerals in four months in Hua Hin, both Expats killed on motorcycles, we rented a car for four months, You couldn’t pay me to get on a motorcycle in Southeast Asia
Long term? I have lived in CNX for only 8 years. In terms of air quality you haven't seen nothing until you see Purprle on the AQI readings and feel pollution in yoiur throat. The worst was probably in the spring of 2019. 2024 was relatively mild compared to the past. The bad air in CNX has been present for decades.
There’s a CM Expat Club, great source of info for everything about CM and Tland ! 🙏🏻
where it is ?
@@drarunmaurya3127 It’s online, meetings, activities, etc. 🙏🏻
@@drarunmaurya3127 info online about meetings, activities, etc 🙏🏻
I have watched so many videos about figuring out Thailand cost because I want to live there and thank you!! You were short and direct thank you. I am lost on what I do when I go? If I want to go for 30 days to check it out and research, do I need to do a visa tourism or do I just go with the passport for 30 days?
If you are coming on a U.S passport, you can arrive and stay for 30 days with no visa :) You can also apply for a 60 day tourist visa if you want to give yourself more time to check things out at www.thaievisa.go.th/ but you'll need to give yourself more time to get this approved. The processing time can vary so I'd double check in case! There's also a FAQ if you scroll down from the home page (www.thaievisa.go.th/) where you can input how many days you'd like to stay and it will tell you what you need to do
@katherinenic KAT!! you rock. Thank you responding me. I am doing that online today. 😃
@@katherinenic i went online to do a tourist visa and it would not let me go further without a flight ticket and I don’t have it yet. So I can go without the visa for 30 days correct? And then I can try to get all my correct visa forms there why I’m there? I am wanting to live there permentaly.
@@lucianjj You can enter on what they call 'visa-on arrival' (if you're flying with a US passport) which gives you free 30 days and after those initial 30 days are up, you can apply for a 30 day extension at immigration for another 30 days. (Should give you 60 days total this way). However if you are entering on a tourist visa, sometimes (it depends on the immigration officer) they will ask for proof of a return ticket (a flight out of Thailand). Depending on what type of visa you are going to apply for to stay here long-term - some visa agencies and/or schools can convert your tourist visa to an education visa (for example) within the country for an additional fee but you'll need to contact the visa agencies directly. This is the agency I've used in the past - Vera Visa Agency: g.co/kgs/PcKk9Vh You can contact them via a messaging chat application we use here called 'Line' with the phone number listed in the link above or if you can call internationally might be easier! Hope this helps!
I was in Chiang Mai last month (May). I thought, what a decent place to retire to. Thanks for reminding me about the burning season. I'll just visit around those months!
Also which one is better grab or bolt for travelling price and convenience wise.
I actually haven't tried Bolt. There's another one called Maxim but the GPS is terrible and my drivers kept getting lost lol I have the Grab membership so I get points/discounts so I prefer using it :)
We check both apps before we book a taxi, sometimes Bolt is cheaper, and sometimes Grab is cheaper, but generally speaking we find bolt is cheaper
How often do you get stopped because I'm travelling soon and I only got a provisional license and I need a full driving license too apply for the international driving licence.
There are checkpoints more often during high season (more or less around Nov-Jan) typically in Old City and on Huay Kaew Road near Nimman & Maya mall. I haven't seen checkpoints in the past few months :)
Don't blame it on farmers. Look at how industries and vehicle numbers have burgeoned there in the last 30 years. During the dry season, all the pollution from those sources alone are sufficiently responsible for the haze since there's no periodic rain to cleanse the smut from the air like it does during the other nine months. Of course conditions are compounded, made worse by any sort of agrarian burning or forest fires during that time when it's exceedingly dry however farmers aren't the sole culprit. Add into the mix that dry seasons are getting drier/ longer due to global warming and the concomittant climate breakdown caused by rampant consumerism and lust for luxuries and gaudy SUVs, etc., etc., etc., and there you have it. Farmers have been burning their fields for millennia yet the haze has been appearing only for the last 20 or so years. Don't scapegoat farmers.
Great points! Thanks for sharing 👍🏼
Yep its the farmers, many in cambodia, laos, etc. Just take a look at the map during buring season, huge fires in large fields.
It’s literally called burning season…it absolutely is the farmers. Of course there are other minor factors, but the farmers are “burning” which causes smoke AKA smoky season.
Then why the air quality fine 10 months of the year???
@@joeshmooo5327 Because of frequent rainfall.
Good real topics 👍👋
Heard about the burning quite a lot
That's a interesting fact Thanks
No one told me this 😱
Saw you near Thapae gate. You look very pretty in real life.