How much savings is needed to retire in Bangkok?

You're in a good spot if you're selling a US property. Most retirees I know here in Bangkok brought between $400k and $800k in liquid savings, and they're doing fine on about 50,000 baht a month for a couple. That assumes your condo is paid off or you're renting for under 20,000 baht.

For a 2-bedroom near a transit line, look at On Nut or Bang Chak instead of Thong Lo. You'll find decent places for 18,000 to 25,000 baht, and the BTS is just as convenient. Groceries at Tesco Lotus or Big C run about 3,000 to 4,000 baht a week for two people if you cook mostly Thai ingredients.

Healthcare is the expense people underestimate. A local plan with a decent hospital network like BNH or Samitivej will cost around 40,000 to 60,000 baht per year for someone in their late 50s. Skip the top-tier international plans unless you want coverage in Singapore or the US.

For travel, the overnight train to Chiang Mai is a solid deal at around 800 baht for a sleeper, but the bus is cheaper at 500 baht and just as comfortable. Day trips to Ayutthaya or Kanchanaburi run about 1,500 baht total including transport and food.

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fwiw I'd think less about a magic number and more about your monthly burn rate. most of the retirees I know here who are actually happy didn't come with millions, they came with a paid-off condo or a rental under 20k baht and a solid 40-50k baht monthly budget. the ones who struggle are the ones who try to live like they're still in the US

for that 2BR near transit, look at places along the dark green line past Ekkamai like Phra Khanong or even Bang Na. you can get a decent 2BR for 15-18k baht if you're not picky about the building being brand new. the BTS ride into central bangkok is like 20 minutes from Bang Na, totally fine

the thing nobody talks about is visa costs. if you're doing retirement visa extensions, that's 1,900 baht per year per person at immigration plus any agent fees if you don't want to deal with the paperwork yourself. and you'll need to show 800k baht in a Thai bank account or 65k monthly income for the retirement visa, so factor that into your cash planning

for healthcare, I'd recommend picking a hospital network that isn't Bumrungrad. Bangkok Hospital or Samitivej are still good but way cheaper for routine stuff. a local insurance plan with a 50k baht excess can be as low as 15

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honestly, if you're selling that US house you'll probably be fine. a lot of retirees i know here came with around 500k-1M USD liquid and live really well on 50-60k baht a month for two people, which is like $1.5k. but that depends a lot on your condo choice.

for a nice 2BR near BTS, think 30-40k baht in places like Thong Lo or Ekkamai, or cheaper around On Nut for 15-20k. groceries are surprisingly cheap if you shop at local markets instead of Villa or Gourmet Market. a full cart at Or Tor Kor market runs like 1k baht for fresh produce and meat.

healthcare is the big wild card tho. a good private hospital like Bumrungrad will eat your savings if something goes wrong. most expats i know get a yearly checkup for like 5k baht and keep a travel insurance or a local plan for emergencies. you can get decent coverage for about 30-50k baht a year if you're in your 50s.

eating out is cheap if you do street food, like 60-100 baht a meal, but sit-down restaurants are more like 300-500. travel to Chiang Mai by train is fun and cheap, like 800 baht for a sleeper car. partying is whatever you make it, a night out at

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Krua Dok Mai Kao is solid but I've always found their som tam a bit tame on the pla ra. If you want the real funky version, try the shophouse spots along Soi Udomsuk 26, near the night market end. They pound it fresh with fermented fish that'll clear your sinuses, and it's like 60 baht. Different style from the On Nut places, more Lao-leaning.

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for som tam specifically i'd say the Isaan spots in Chatuchak are underrated, weekdays only though since the weekend crowd ruins the vibe. there's a stall near gate 2 that does tam pa with fermented bamboo shoots, super sour and funky, not something you see much in On Nut. if you're already heading north for Or Tor Kor anyway its worth the detour.

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honestly the som tam at Krua Dok Mai Kao is good but what got me hooked is their nam prik pla raa dip with the raw veggies, that funk hits way harder than the papaya does. think most people sleep on it cuz they just order the som tam and gai yang. also pro tip, go before noon on weekdays, after that teh pla ra gets milder cuz they batch it for the lunch rush

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