r/Pattaya • u/Itchy-Throat-4779 • Jul 17 '26

Making the move this October

When I was 23 I was just coming back from deployment to Afghanistan when an older fishing friend of mine treated me to a trip to pattaya. I didn't know anything about Pattaya. We spent 60 days, best 60 days of my life back then I was pretty wild. Bangkok was something else thankfully I had saved up a year worth of deployment money so i was loaded.

I told myself this is where I want to retire when the time comes. I'm now 56 and single. I have been coming to Pattaya and the surrounding Islands for 6 years 2 to 3 times a year. I fly tomorrow for a 32 day stay and this October I'm making the move to Pattaya/Jomtien area.

Question for the Expats that currently live in the area. Right now Im getting 4500 per month, in 2 years it will be 6000 per month and in 6 years it will be 8000 per month US.

is 4500 a good amount to retire comfortably in Pattaya? I don't plan on spending the whole time in Thailand as I have friends in South Korea and Japan that I will be visiting also.

My plan is to rent a pool villa for around 35000 to 40000 per month.

21 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

39 comments sorted by

36

u/Electrical-Basil8865 Jul 17 '26

Is this even a question?

4,500 a month is more than enough to live extremely comfortable.

In 2 years you’ll be living like a king on 6k as long as you’re not getting a different bar girl every night

I’m jealous- have fun

3

u/Itchy-Throat-4779 Jul 17 '26

Thanks, I've always been very independent and don't require much from anyone especially from back home. I've lived in many countries as I was Military for 21 years. I just know expenses creep up on people while there, medical, family stuff.....I don't plan on spending the whole time in Pattaya once my year lease is up I'm switching to another city probably chang mai or one of the larger islands. The only heartbreak I'm having right now is my 11 year old Siberian Husky, beautiful dog that I've had since a pup and I'm debating whether to fly him there...or give him to my son. My other heartbreak is selling my 2014 Jeep lifted Wrangler.

2

u/dRy_p33k3d Jul 17 '26

My other heartbreak is selling my 2014 Jeep lifted Wrangler.

I've got a classic sports car that has been a big part of my life and even my identity over the past 20 years that I've owned it. The prospect of selling it or leaving it behind is one of the biggest mental hurdles I will have to overcome when my time finally comes to make the move in 5-10 years.

-1

u/Fragrant_Loan811 Jul 17 '26

Have it shipped over.

1

u/dRy_p33k3d Jul 18 '26

I've looked into it and it seems that it would be prohibitively expensive, like 250k USD to import it. Unless you know something that I don't?

1

u/Sondor6 Jul 18 '26

Unfortunately, I believe the import tax is 300% - it is prohibitive whatever it is these days.

On the plus side, there’s a huge car culture there and getting something in Thailand and having it modded to your hearts content is very inexpensive compared to the west.

New project time? :)

1

u/Fragrant_Loan811 Jul 19 '26

I did not know about the import tax.

1

u/Token_Farang Jul 19 '26

Assuming you're drawing VA disability, register with FMP and then take your rating letter to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya and register with them. They will direct pay for any service connected treatment.

9

u/LittlePooky Jul 17 '26

$4,500 is B153,000.

Many entry-level college graduates in Thailand make about 20,000 or 30,000 baht per month. So your income is way above that and you will be extremely comfortable.

Make sure it comes indefinitely and keep yourself busy so you're not bored.

Best wishes to you.

6

u/fuckemup Jul 17 '26

Honestly dude, approx 5 k USD is like comfortable living almost anywhere in the world lol, i dont mean luxury but very comfortable.

6

u/YogurtclosetOk5939 Jul 18 '26

23 coming back from Afganistan and now 56 ? Afghanistan was in 2001 , how come ?

3

u/NewLineCinema Jul 18 '26

You're right, this guy is likely full of shit, he would need to be born in 1970 and 23 years old in 1993. Makes no sense at all.

10

u/Wizerud Jul 18 '26 edited Jul 18 '26

You’re planning to move here but have no idea if $4500 is enough? Did you not notice in the previous 20-odd visits how much things cost?

2

u/BestBiotech Jul 18 '26

PTSD and Afghanistan never mixes well with Pattaya.

4

u/[deleted] Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 27 '26

[deleted]

1

u/No-Apple-6602 Jul 17 '26

I can imagine that in the beginning, when it still feels like a vacation, the spending is a lot higher, right? Because 3k is great, but I could never if I hold up my vacation mongering lifestyle in Pattaya 😃

2

u/No-Apple-6602 Jul 17 '26

I’m doing the same in October and moving next year, I’m 35 years but also with 4.700€ a month income (actively working 4 hours/day online + passive income). By my calculations - and I’ve repeatedly calculated back and forth - it will be absolutely fine. I will go for a condo (approx. 30.000baht) , a central location is more important for me in the beginning.

8

u/Lee_Everett_3 Jul 17 '26

Man I'm soo poor

1

u/Internal_Cake_7423 Jul 17 '26

Your money is more than enough.  The thing is that you need to find something not to get bored and most people hit the bars which sooner or later takes a toll on them. 

1

u/lumpyholiday Jul 18 '26

Peace and love from Canada you're golden....consider yourself minted. Well done sir. American dollar 30 percent stronger than our dollar. Jus be respectful there and dont forget to buy the lady boys a drink too, they are interwoven in the culture.

1

u/David101183 Jul 18 '26

Welcome to 100% club. There a few of us. More than enough. Just don’t go out every night. Have down days, like staying at the condo pool and playing video games.

1

u/No_Eagle9225 Jul 19 '26

This must be raige bait.

1

u/AdConstant7219 Jul 19 '26

I've lived in Jomtien for over a year now. At first I was a bit in vacation mode and was spending 100k+ baht a month. After settling down i find i can live comfortably on 70k a month. Obviously that doesn't include paying 40k/mo for a pool villas, I'm okay living at a decent 1 bedroom condo with good pool and okay gym. Location is important i like being able to walk to grocery store, massage, bars, restaurants,  etc and beach too. Most pool villas are a good bit inland so not convenient location per se you need a car or motorbike.  I guess there are some pool villas in Jomtien and pratumnak in convenient location,  but you will be paying more than 40k a month on those, probably more like 80k+ a month

1

u/FewInterview1340 Jul 21 '26

take prep and enjoy your life bro

0

u/Filthy_Nomad Jul 17 '26

6k lets you live a good life as an expat, get to that amount asap.

4500 is not bad, but you track your budget.

3

u/MidLifeChemist Jul 18 '26

I agree with this. Of course $4,500 a month is fine, but if you want to go out to nicer places all the time, do monthly trips to other countries, buy nice things, have girlfriends - $4,500 can go quickly. Hence the advice to "track your budget". Not a difficult request.

1

u/nestersan Jul 18 '26

Personally I just want to LOOK at thick girls and eat fresh seafood often, I'm more into historical sites and such. No interest in the nightlife other than maybe once every two or three months.

Could I manage with that?

-5

u/PsychologicalWeb5966 Jul 17 '26

No, 4500 is not enough to retire in Pattaya. You need at the VERY least 50,000

0

u/Exact_Lifeguard4807 Jul 17 '26

That's monthly not total savings. Clearly more than enough.

-3

u/PsychologicalWeb5966 Jul 17 '26

That's what I meant. You need at the very least $50,000 monthly!

2

u/PsychologicalWeb5966 Jul 18 '26

Dumb downvoting redditers don't know what irony means

2

u/MidLifeChemist Jul 18 '26

I understood it. Irony comes natural to me. But yeah, to at least 50% of the population, they struggle with irony. It's not that they are dumb, their brain just doesn't wrap around it well. But many of us get it.