Where to live in Thailand · City guides

Which Thai city is right for you?

This guide compares the Thai cities relocating foreigners actually choose between — Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Samui and Krabi — on who each suits, neighbourhoods, cost and honest trade-offs. Bangkok isn’t the only option.

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Still deciding between cities at a high level? Start with our where to live in Thailand overview, then dive into the city that fits. Set on Bangkok? Compare its districts with the best-neighbourhood ranker and head-to-head comparisons. Torn between two cities? See our city head-to-heads.

Where to live in Thailand · The North

Chiang Mai

Thailand's laid-back northern capital — low cost of living, a huge remote-work community, mountains and temples, and a slower pace than Bangkok.

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Where to live in Thailand · The Andaman Coast

Phuket

Thailand's biggest island — beaches, an international airport, the best island infrastructure in the country, and prices that can rival Bangkok.

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Where to live in Thailand · The Eastern Seaboard

Pattaya

A beach city two hours from Bangkok — affordable sea-view condos, a huge expat scene, and a reputation that's outgrowing the nightlife cliche.

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Where to live in Thailand · The Gulf Coast

Hua Hin

A genteel beach town three hours from Bangkok — calm, safe, family- and retiree-friendly, with golf, gentle prices and an easy pace.

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Where to live in Thailand · The Gulf Islands

Koh Samui

A tropical Gulf island with an international airport — palm-fringed beaches, a growing remote-work scene, and true island pros and cons.

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Where to live in Thailand · The Andaman Coast

Krabi

Dramatic limestone scenery and quieter Andaman beaches — cheaper and calmer than Phuket, but with fewer amenities and a smaller community.

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Where to live in Thailand · The Far North

Chiang Rai

Thailand's northernmost city — even cheaper and calmer than Chiang Mai, with mountains, hill tribes, famous temples and a small but settled long-stay community.

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Where to live in Thailand · Gulf Islands

Koh Phangan

The Gulf island famous for full-moon parties has quietly become a wellness, yoga and digital-nomad base — tropical, laid-back and surprisingly well-connected for its size.

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Where to live in Thailand · Isaan (Northeast)

Udon Thani

The main city of the northeast — a low-cost, authentically Thai regional hub with a large, long-settled Western-expat community and an international airport.

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Where to live in Thailand · Eastern Seaboard

Rayong

Thailand's industrial east — the corporate-relocation base near the Map Ta Phut and Amata estates, with quiet beaches at Ban Phe, easy access to Koh Samet and a settled international workforce.

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Where to live in Thailand · The Andaman islands

Koh Lanta

A long, laid-back Andaman island south of Krabi — quieter than Phuket or Samui, with a small but real long-stay and remote-work community, family-friendly beaches and a famously unhurried pace.

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Where to live in Thailand · Isaan (Northeast)

Khon Kaen

The largest, most developed city of the northeast — a fast-growing university and economic hub with strong hospitals, low costs and an authentically Thai pace, away from the tourist trail.

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Narrowed it down?

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General information only — not legal, immigration, tax or financial advice. Costs, seasons and rules change and depend on your situation; verify current figures locally. BAANLYY takes no paid placement.

Kirby Scofield
By Kirby Scofield
Founder of BAANLYY · International real estate broker, investor & relocation specialist
Last updated 7 July 2026 · Last reviewed 7 July 2026