Move Smart. Live Well. Thrive Abroad.

Foreigners may live throughout Thailand, but they aren't distributed randomly. Russians have developed a major presence in Phuket, Israelis are highly visible on Koh Phangan and Koh Samui, Japanese communities thrive in Si Racha and Bangkok, while Scandinavians have longstanding connections with Khao Lak and Hua Hin. Here's the geography behind Thailand's many foreign communities.

Thailand is intensifying its crackdown on nominee companies and foreign-linked property structures in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Phuket, Krabi and other major tourist destinations. Foreigners can legally own qualifying condominium units, but land ownership remains heavily restricted. Here’s what expats need to understand before buying a house, villa, condo or land in Thailand.

Thailand’s cannabis laws have tightened since the freewheeling days following decriminalization in 2022. Officially, cannabis flower now requires medical justification and a prescription. On the ground, however, Thailand still has thousands of cannabis businesses and remains dramatically more cannabis-friendly than most of Asia. Here’s how Thailand compares with Vietnam and other popular expat destinations in 2026.

Recent high-profile crimes have caused many prospective expats to ask whether Thailand is still a safe place to live. This article looks beyond sensational headlines and examines the latest research, crime statistics, government advisories, and expat surveys to answer one of the most important questions anyone considering a move to Thailand can ask.

Thailand has once again earned a place among the world's top destinations for expats, ranking 3rd overall in the 2026 InterNations Expat Insider Survey. But does the ranking reflect reality? In this article, I break down what Thailand gets right, where it still struggles, and who is most likely to thrive here.

Every year, thousands of foreigners move to Thailand with dreams of a better life. Some stay for decades, while others leave within months. Here's what I've observed after years of living in Thailand—and why success has less to do with money than you might think.