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u/sasha_bv

▲ 32 r/RetirementReady+1 crossposts

Is “retiring abroad” actually cheaper once you include healthcare and visas?

I’ve been looking into retirement abroad and realized how quickly the decision gets more complicated than just comparing rent or grocery prices.

For people from the UK, US, Canada or Australia, the real issues seem to be visa eligibility, pension portability, healthcare, tax residency, currency risk, savings buffer and whether the move is full-time or seasonal.

I’ve started building a free assessment tool that compares Thailand, Portugal, Spain and the Philippines based on those factors. Still early, but the idea is to help people structure the decision and spot risks they might miss at first.

Curious for those who have already retired abroad: what turned out to be more important than you expected?

relocomp.com
u/sasha_bv — 2 days ago
▲ 24 r/RetirementReady

I’ve just come back from another trip to Bangkok, and again I was surprised by how many UK and US retirees seem to be living in Thailand.

After speaking with a few people there, I realized the decision is much more complicated than just comparing rent or food costs. Pension treatment, healthcare insurance, visa rules, tax residency, exchange rates and full relocation vs seasonal living all matter a lot, especially later in life.

I started turning my research into a free assessment tool for UK/US citizens considering retirement in Thailand. 300+ people have completed it so far, and the feedback has been encouraging - mainly that it helps structure the decision and highlight risks people may not think about at first.

Still very much a work in progress, but maybe useful for anyone considering this path. I’d also really appreciate feedback from people already living in Thailand.

u/sasha_bv — 23 days ago
▲ 0 r/expats

I’ve been researching Thailand as a place to live and maybe start a small business, and I’m a bit confused by the gap between the official story and what people say on the ground.

On paper, Thailand seems to want foreign talent, digital workers, startups and investment. But when you look closer, starting a local business as a foreigner still seems complicated: ownership rules, work permits, licences, banking, taxes and Thai-language bureaucracy.

For people who have actually tried it, is Thailand becoming more founder-friendly, or is it mainly better for people who just want to live there and work remotely for foreign clients?

reddit.com
u/sasha_bv — 24 days ago