Living in Thailand.
Visas, money, housing, healthcare, work and family life.
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Money and TaxThailand's AI export boom is real. So why are 69 companies taking 83% of it?
The Bank of Thailand's latest Monetary Policy Report finds AI-related exports grew 54% in the first eight months of 2026, but about 69 mostly foreign firms shipped 83% of them, with 68% imported content. Here is what the numbers show and why the central bank calls the recovery K-shaped.
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Visas and ImmigrationThailand now gives Britons 30 days visa-free. Vietnam gives 45 and Malaysia 90. Is Thailand now the hardest of the three?
Since 15 September 2026 Thailand gives most visa-exempt visitors 30 days for tourism only. For a British passport, Vietnam now allows 45 days and Malaysia 90. A side-by-side comparison of stay length, purpose, extensions, arrival cards and land-border limits.
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GuidesA data centre on your street? Thailand's new rules set a 70-decibel limit at the fence, but most of the detail is still to come
Thailand's Cabinet approved a data centre policy on 10 November 2026 that sorts sites into seven tiers by power use, keeps the biggest out of commercial zones and, officials say, caps generator noise at 70 decibels at the boundary. Here is what changes for neighbours, what happens to projects already under way and what is still undecided.
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Health and WellnessThe Chiang Mai Muay Thai gym with nearly 4,000 reviews isn't number one. These are the five students rate highest
We ranked Chiang Mai's Muay Thai gyms by Google rating on 11 November 2026, counting only training gyms with at least 300 reviews and no closure notice. Money Muay Thai 2 leads on 5.0, while Dang Muay Thai's 3,916 reviews put it third. Here is the list, the method and what to ask before you pay.
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Money and TaxDelivery apps and online marketplaces may soon have to justify every fee. Will anyone actually pay less?
Thailand's Trade Competition Commission is consulting until 3 December 2026 on draft rules that would force ride-hailing, delivery and large e-commerce platforms to disclose and justify fees, give 90 days' notice of rises and let sellers choose their own courier. Here is what would change for sellers, restaurants and app users, and what would not.
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GuidesStill pointing at the menu? These are the five Thai language schools Bangkok learners rate highest
We ranked Bangkok's Thai language schools by Google rating on 10 November 2026, counting only schools with at least 90 reviews and no closure notice. Speak Thai Easy leads with 5.0, two of the five are on Phaya Thai Road, and Duke has the most reviews. Here is the list, the method and what to ask before you pay.
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GuidesThailand wants foreigners to sit full driving tests, even with a licence from home. Will a one-year visa shut you out?
A Department of Land Transport draft, open for comment until 4 December 2026, would end test exemptions for foreign licence holders, require two years left on a visa for a temporary Thai licence and move foreigners' tests to DLT offices. Here is what would change, who could be affected and how to comment.
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Money and TaxYour Thai bank still texts you a code. The central bank wants that to stop
The Bank of Thailand's draft Digital Channel Security rules would end SMS and email OTPs for transfers and other high-risk moves, with face checks from 50,000 baht. Comment closes 6 November 2026; nothing is in force yet.
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Visas and ImmigrationYour DTV says five years. Immigration says 180 days, then prove 500,000 baht
A DTV gives 180 days per entry and one in-country extension of up to 180 days. Here is what Immigration Division 1 asks remote workers for, including 500,000 baht held for 30 days, the 1,900 baht fee and the TM.30 and TM.47 copies.
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Money and TaxPaying a full year's tax on a sign you only used for three months? Thailand plans to change that
Thailand's Cabinet has approved in principle a draft overhaul of the 1967 Signboard Tax Act: monthly tax for signs not up all year, 30 days to pay, online filing and higher rate ceilings. It is not law yet.
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Health and WellnessGlobal Wellness Summit comes to Phuket from 10 to 13 November: should island residents be paying attention?
The 20th Global Wellness Summit takes place at Angsana Laguna Phuket from 10 to 13 November 2026, with around 600 delegates expected. We set out the dates, the daily programme, who is exhibiting, what it costs to attend and why it matters to people who live and work in Phuket.
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Money and TaxNestlé's 23-billion-baht coffee factory in Samut Prakan, by numbers: what does it mean for jobs and Thai coffee growers?
Nestlé has broken ground on a 23-billion-baht NESCAFÉ factory and distribution centre in Samut Prakan, approved by the Board of Investment in July and due to open in late 2028. We set out the official numbers on capacity, jobs and local sourcing, and what they could mean for people and coffee growers in Thailand.
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Money and TaxCan expats claim Thailand's 200,000-baht solar rooftop tax break? The rules, step by step
Thai taxpayers can deduct up to 200,000 baht for a home rooftop solar system bought and submitted for grid connection by 31 December 2028. Here is who qualifies, the e-Tax invoice rule that applies from 30 September 2026, and how to time the claim.
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Health and WellnessTop 5 Google-rated massage and spa venues in Phuket (October 2026)
We searched Google Maps across six areas of Phuket on 28 October 2026 and kept only venues with at least 200 reviews. Five scored a perfect 5.0, led by The Baray Spa in Kata with 968 reviews.
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Health and WellnessGenki vs SafetyWing in Thailand (2026): Prices & Cover
The old Genki Resident comparison is out of date. This is the current version: Genki Native, SafetyWing and a local Thai policy, with October 2026 prices, limits, scooter rules and the catches hiding behind the tidy sales pages.
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Health and WellnessHealth Insurance for Expats in Thailand (2026): How to Choose
Phuket has excellent private hospitals, and that is exactly why insurance matters. Here's how to think about Thailand cover in 2026: real costs, visa rules, better plans and how not to end up under-insured.
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Visas and ImmigrationThailand DTV Step-by-Step Application Guide (2026)
The DTV is the clearest long-stay route for most remote workers in Thailand. This is the practical application order, not the Reddit version written by someone halfway through a panic.
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Visas and ImmigrationThailand Visa Options Explained for Phuket (2026): DTV, Retirement & More
Visas are the part of moving to Phuket or Thailand people worry about most, and the part that's changed the most lately. Here's a plain-English look at your options in 2026.
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GuidesBest Places to Live in Bali for Singles, Couples and Families (2026)
Canggu is not the automatic answer. The best Bali base depends on whether you need people, peace, schools, surf, walkability or a Tuesday that does not disappear in traffic.
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GuidesBest Places to Live in Da Nang for Singles, Couples and Families (2026)
An Thuong is the easy landing, Hai Chau is the real city, Son Tra gives you space and Ngu Hanh Son works when the beach matters more than being in the cafe grid.
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GuidesYour First 30 Days in Portugal: What to Sort First
Portugal is easy to romanticise and surprisingly admin-heavy once you arrive. Use the first month to get your identity, banking, healthcare, housing and everyday systems into a sensible order.
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Visas and ImmigrationBali Digital Nomad Visa and Remote Work Rules in 2026
The visa answer is not a single magic digital nomad stamp. Bali has several routes, and the details matter once you stop being a holiday visitor.
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Money and TaxCost of Living in Bali in 2026: Real Monthly Budgets
Bali can still be good value, but the old fantasy of a cheap villa, unlimited brunch and no traffic belongs in the archive.
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Money and TaxCost of Living in Thailand by City (2026)
Thailand is not one budget. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Samui all sell a different version of the country, and the rent line tells you which one you actually bought.
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Money and TaxDa Nang Cost of Living in 2026: What Expats Actually Spend
Da Nang is popular because the numbers still work: a proper beach city, excellent food and a comfortable monthly budget that does not require a financial séance.
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GuidesSchools & Schooling in Chiang Mai for Expat Families (2026 Guide)
Chiang Mai can be excellent for families, but school is the boss of the whole move. Pick the school first, then let the map tell you where your life should happen.
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Health and WellnessHealthcare in Chiang Mai: Where to Go When You're Sick (2026)
Chiang Mai is a very good place to get help, as long as you know which door to walk through before your stomach, scooter ankle or mystery fever starts making decisions for you.
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Health and WellnessChiang Mai Burning Season Guide for Expats and Digital Nomads (2026)
Chiang Mai is brilliant for most of the year. Then the smoke arrives, and suddenly your charming mountain city starts behaving like a sealed room with bad decisions in it.
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GuidesRenting in Chiang Mai in 2026: Deposits, Agents, Contracts and Mistakes
A practical 2026 guide to Chiang Mai deposits, contracts, utility charges and the current consumer protections to check before transferring money.
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GuidesBest Places to Live in Chiang Mai for Singles, Couples and Families (2026)
Chiang Mai is not one lifestyle. Nimman, Santitham, Old City, Hang Dong, Mae Rim and San Sai all solve different problems, and picking the wrong one is how a cheap city starts feeling irritatingly expensive.
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Money and TaxCost of Living in Chiang Mai (2026): Real Monthly Budgets
Chiang Mai is still one of Thailand's best-value expat bases, but the cheap-city fantasy gets very wobbly once you add Nimman rent, Western brunches, school fees and air purifiers.
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Money and TaxHow to Open a Thai Bank Account as a Foreigner (2026)
This is one of those topics where confident expat hearsay is everywhere and clean answers are not. The short version is simple: you apply in person in Thailand, branch requirements vary, and life gets much easier once you are inside the Thai banking system with PromptPay switched on. The public evidence base is clearest at Bangkok Bank, so this guide uses that as the official baseline and then separates out what is still branch-level reality.
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GuidesRenting in Phuket in 2026: Deposits, Agents, Contracts and Mistakes
One month in advance plus two months as deposit remains a common Phuket market pattern. Current consumer rules add important contract, utility and refund protections when the landlord is a covered residential-rental business.
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GuidesYour First 30 Days in Thailand: What to Sort First
The first month is where people either build a life properly or spend four weeks pretending chaos is a personality. Sort the boring stuff first and the rest of Thailand gets much easier.
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Visas and ImmigrationThailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) Guide for 2026
If you are flying into Thailand, this is the form people forget until the airport check-in desk looks at them like they have missed the obvious. It is free, it matters, and scam sites keep trying to sit in the middle.
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Money and TaxBest Apps and Ways to Move Money In and Out of Phuket & Thailand (2026)
If Phuket is your base, the cleanest setup is usually a simple stack: Wise for international transfers, a Thai bank account with PromptPay for local spending, and TrueMoney or cash as backup. The details matter, especially if your visa or branch rules make opening an account a little awkward.
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Health and WellnessPhuket vs Chiang Mai vs Bangkok Air Quality (2026)
If you want a straight answer, Phuket wins the annual race, Bangkok can still surprise you on a good day, and Chiang Mai is the city that reminds you burning season is a contact sport.
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GuidesBest Places to Live in Phuket for Singles, Couples and Families (2026)
Phuket is not one housing market. Some areas are built for beach clubs and late nights, others for school runs and weekly routines, and a few newer pockets are where the island's next wave of growth is heading.
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Money and TaxCost of Living in Phuket (2026): Real Monthly Numbers
What it actually costs to live here in 2026, from a lean budget to a comfortable one, with real numbers.
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Health and WellnessMuay Thai in Phuket for Beginners (2026)
Phuket has everything from traditional open-air gyms to large multi-discipline camps. The right choice is the one you can reach consistently, trial first and recover from properly.
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Health and WellnessHealthcare in Phuket: Where to Go When You're Sick (2026)
Hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and what to do in an emergency. Where to actually go when something goes wrong.
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GuidesHow to Get a Thai Driving Licence in Phuket (2026)
The official fees, documents and routes for getting a Thai driving licence, plus the details to confirm with your provincial office before attending.
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Money and TaxDo You Owe Tax in Phuket & Thailand? (2026 Guide)
Phuket is the base for a lot of long-stay readers, so Thai tax still matters. Here is the published 2026 position in plain English, and why individual advice still matters.
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GuidesSIM Cards, eSIMs & Internet in Phuket & Thailand (2026)
Getting online in Phuket is cheap, fast and easy. Here's what to pick for your phone and your home in 2026.
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GuidesSurvival Thai for Everyday Life in Phuket
You don't need to be fluent. A handful of phrases said with a smile will get you a long way in Phuket.
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GuidesSchools & Schooling in Phuket for Expat Families (2026 Guide)
If you are moving to Phuket with kids, school is the first question. Here's how it works, what it costs, and how to choose without making it weird.
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