Dream to Retire in Pattaya

For cost of living try www.numbeo.com 

A Google search will give you an idea of condo costs. Just be aware that the construction is not up to a standard that you would accept in USA.

For $40,000 or less you will only find single room condos 25-40 sq. meters. Check out below link for cost of condos.

http://pattayacondoguide.com/

You can live quite well for $2k a month at current cost of living. Remember your lifestyle will determine your monthly cost.

Keep in mind inflation and currency exchange rate could eat into the amount you have to spend each month.

Please do not move to Pattaya your life is in danger. No joke. I am a Canadian living and working full time in Thailand.

40 years ago  ok  retire in Pattaya.

Go to  thaivisaforum.com

Everyday info on Thailand in English from the Nation Newspaper, read all about the assaults, murders and scams in Pattaya.

it is free  and you can join and post topics and or questions.

good luck Alex

That was my dream also...

A fairly good condo...will cost between 50 - 60 thou USD...

I highly recommend renting a condo for awhile...so you can get a feel for the condo market and decide if condo life is for you...

The View Talay condos in Jomtien (just South of Pattaya) are popular...not terribly expensive...and a short walk to the beach..

Beware...the real estate market is unregulated...has many people who print business cards...print a few pics of condos and houses for sale and setup shop...

I dealt with two different real estate agents...both Thais that lacked integrity...very charming...while plotting to stick it to you...would recommend highly...trying to find a farang (foreigner who speaks English)...at least you will understand the terms of the agreement...just double check all figures...they are very good at making extra money off of playing games with the figures...

Pattaya...has become a place where foreigners are used and abused...many tourist and retires have horror stories...having been criminally abused and relieved of their valuables at either knife point or gun point...some are beaten unmercifully...

If you are looking to marry a Thai woman...especially a bar girl or massage girl...money talks...she will love you until you die...as long as the money keeps coming...

Be also aware that in Thai culture...the family puts pressure on these girls to get all that they can get from a foreigner while they can...that includes a good weekly/monthly income...a new motorcycle...a new truck/car...and by all means a new home...

Foreigners can purchase and sell condos...not so houses...your lady will have to sign for you...and many a lad has found themselves on the street...void of any place to stay...and lose all the money they invested in housing, furniture, vehicles and so on...

There are people...like myself...retired...lured to Thailand by the prospect of connecting with a beautiful Thai woman...and living in peace and luxury the rest of our lives...

Good luck with that...the Thais are clever...charming...and expert at separating you from your hard earned retirement...

I leave in a few days...having experienced first hand the constant lying and Thai corruption...and disrespect for foreigners...do not wish to live in a place like this...

You need to lookup the Thaivisa Forum for Pattaya Thailand...

I am not alone in this assessment of the Thai culture...

Not everyone would agree with my assessment...I have related this to you...as a fellow dreamer...out of compassion for your good health and retirement investment...

Good luck my friend...

I presently live in Chonburi, about an hour's drive North of Pattaya. I lived in Pattaya about 2 years. Decent condos will usually cost at least 2 million baht (around $60k, but if you shop around you should be able to find something reasonable in Jomtien or North Pattaya. It won't be luxury, but it won't be bad. I've read all the horror stories about the women and thieves, but all the women I met there treated me fine, and you'll be hard pressed to find a greater variety of choices. Yes, of course they want to be taken care of, but I recently married a woman I met there 4 years ago, and I've no complaints. As for crime, yes it exists, but nowhere near the level some of these folks claim. I'm 62, played basketball every day with Thais, occasionally went out drinking, and I never had a problem. The crime usually occurs late nights, and to those folks that party too much and leave themselves vulnerable. As one guy suggested, probably it's a good idea to rent an apartment and get the feel of the place. Finally, treat others as you'd like to be treated and you should get along just fine.

Thank you for the insight. I think a person can get in trouble even in Houston, Texas when out alone at night. I appreciate your recommendation about renting and then looking to buy property. I have thought about doing renting and then looking at property in Pattaya and also consider other areas in the country. I also hope to get legal representation for any transactions and will probably have a session with a legal eagle there for due diligence before moving to Thailand. Any additional insight will be appreciated.

As I said, I now live in Chonburi. Pattaya is a great place to get acclimated, but for me, I had more problems with dishonest farangs than I had with the Thais. If you're serious, try to learn at least some of the language. Thais really appreciate it, and once you've made yourself familiar, even if you don't speak the language, they'll usually be helpful. At the local markets, for instance, they may charge you higher prices initially, but if they see you a second and a third time they'll consider you a local. There are also a couple of expat clubs that can be helpful. Eventually, if you do meet a lady you'd like to live with, you're going to want to get out of Pattaya, with the lure of the nightlife, it's really a difficult place to maintain a relationship. Me, I got tired of retirement and got a job teaching in Chonburi, something I've been doing about 4 years now, which leads to another suggestion; try to do something productive. Reinvent yourself. I was a music store owner for 20 years. Now, I teach, I've written a column for an American newspaper (the Waterbury observer) and I've helped edit books on Thai law for a lawyer. Hopefully this helps. Good luck.

Remember the good stories we don´t see post on the forums around.
Only the "bad" once. That don´t mean that there is no one here that not very happy, and have made a good life.

All so remember that many of the Farang coming here and lose money, it is there own fault.
Be real, if  a guy come here found a girl at the go go bar, and want to give her a house after 1-2 week together, it is not because she super good at scamming, It is the guy that Dumb like hell.

Many guys here are not good to the girls here, and really walk over them like they dirt, so sometime that Farang get in problem.
Sure That Farang post on internet about it, but never tell about he part of it.

And i can keep on about in many times it is the Farang fault what going to happened.

I am not dumb, i do know there is a lot of girls only look for money, of cause there is, same in my country so big deal.

About paper work need translate i think you can use a government translate place like we have here in Bangkok Chaengwattana Rd. not sure if have in Pattaya,If is was me, i didn't want to use a cheap option on the street that "might" translate it correct.

As all ways i recommend to rent first, see the area you want to buy a condo it first hand, that way you learn many more things about the neighborhoods. Find out about food shop, if you need someone to clean cloth, if you need *put what you need here* is there and are okay.

Other then that i hope you be happy here and find what you looking for.

Hello everyone,

off topic post has been removed from this thread.
Can you please concentrate on the topic of this discussion > Dream to Retire in Pattaya and pls help "gworsham" with his questions.

If you want to debate of other subject, please start a new topic.

Thank you,
Christine
Expat.com team

Why Pattaya? There are such nicer places in Thailand.

Pattaya because I know a couple of people there and don't know of any play else. I would consider other places in Thailand and open for suggestions.

gworsham wrote:

Pattaya because I know a couple of people there and don't know of any play else. I would consider other places in Thailand and open for suggestions.

Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai in the North

Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan or Chumphon on the Gulf Coast

If you like the hills/mountain Kanchanaburi, Upper Central Thailand-Phetchabun, Phitsanulok or Loei

Personally Pattaya is not for me but each to his own.

I will certainly take a look at the areas you suggest to consider and thank you for replying. I am still gathering information and will visit Thailand a couple of times before moving there. My anticipated move will be summer 2014.

gworsham if you have a few friends in Pattaya and your like it there.
Then start there, but start in a rent place, and see if that the life you want, it is a big different to be here for a short holidays and to live here full time, no matter what city you end up choosing.

We are all different and we all want, need different thing.
I think it is a good idea to start out here and have some friends that can help you in the start, as i can read many have some difficulty to adapt in the start.

Remember it is so cheap to move to other town here in Thailand, it dont matter if you start one place and find out you want to try other city.
It really hard to tell you about other city/town, as one need to know you before that i think.
Some like to party a lot, some like the more relax life away from all that have to do with Tourist life.
Some want to able to travel out of Thailand fast, some NEED a good hospital in the close area, so have problem walking, get out and need to be close to shopping,Immigration and so on,  only you know your needs !!!

People are different, only to show you what i mean, take the good advice from thetefldon about city, I for one don´t like many of them.
So as you can see we people are looking for different things to settle down.

Don´t mean anything bad thetefldon, try to prove my point..


Hope you have good live here, when you come next year..

Sir do you want to own a house in Pattaya? I heard a friend to sell he's house but I want to confront him first its really true!

Apparently East of Sukumvit Road, or 'The Darkside' of Pattaya is a bit cheaper and where you can have a more peaceful everyday life.

I have no understanding of people when they say they want to move somewhere that they have not visited many times to not only get feel for the place but to research - on the ground - where is best to live, it's the only proper way in my opinion. Each to their own though, what do I know?

Good luck.

**

Hi, i recently sold a 41sqm condo in jomtien view talay 2 , just south of pattaya for 30,000 usd,  i had it for 10 years and would recommend there , good security, pool bars and restaurants.  Pattaya can be a crazy place ,  but its whzt you make of it yourself. Check out Hua hin , its good for retirees , slightly more expensive than pattaya.  Ideally i would recommend renting first ,  you can rent a reasonably condo for 200 usd a month, easy to move on from if your not happy there and your cash remains in the bank making you interest.  If you want to go cheaper again try Chaing mai in north Thailand. Also popular with retirees.  Buy the ticket , enjoy the ride .

gworsham wrote:

08 November 2013 15:08:32
My name is George and currently live in Houston, Texas. I have worked in the oil and gas business and feel it is time to retire. I am single and I need a low cost place to live. I want to move there to Pattaya and not compromise security, health and what wealth I've salvaged. I guess the big question for me is the cost of property and cost of living there. I would like to purchase a condo for $40,000 or less and live on $2,000 or less. I do not know if it is better to live in South, West or east Pattaya. I hope to get some answers.

Just wanted everyone to know they are responding to an old posting that started in 2013.  I don't know if this person is even still a member... It would probably be better to start a new posting if you want to share about retiring in Thailand...
Kindly...

I think "babydroll" is a spammer.

George, I think every country in the world has issues, Thailand is no exception. I agree to a certain degree it’s dodgy in Pattaya, I think the road deaths are the worst in the world, but apart from that why not consider Hua Hin, slightly a slower pace than Pattaya but more up market, property is competitive, but not so many tourists, not so many people trying to take your money. I have just moved here from Kanchanaburi with my gf we love it, I would never have even considered going to live in Pattaya.

I suggest you knock around Thailand for a couple of years before you decide anything. Have fun and get over the culture shock and get used to retirement.

PEOPLE... THIS POST is from 2013... Original poster has not responded since Nov 2013... You are responding to air...

kindly...

Hi everyone,

Just to inform you that this thread is very old.
I would invite you to start a new one if you wish on the Thailand forum to interact with other members.

Thank you,

Priscilla
Expat.com team

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