Hi John,
Having lived in the Philippines, here are my thoughts from my experience:
Urban Areas (Metro/Tier-1 Cities): Cities such as Manila, Cebu, and Davao are equipped with advanced medical technologies and specialized care options. These cities also have more healthcare professionals and private facilities, which translates to shorter wait times, but the cost of services can be high, particularly in private hospitals.

Rural Areas (Provincial): In contrast, provincial and rural areas face significant disparities. Facilities in these areas are often underfunded, lack modern equipment, and face shortages of trained healthcare professionals. Access to specialized care is limited, and people may need to travel to nearby urban centers for more comprehensive treatment. Affordability in public facilities is generally better, but the quality and accessibility are challenging.
And then, you have conveneient access to afforadable healthcare in the neighborhood countries like Thailand & Malaysia including Medical Tourism option.

Please do let me know if you would like to know further. Happy to help. Cheers!

Thanks,
Pramod

My bank's debit card will not work overseas, and even if it did, I would have been subject unfavorable exchange rates. An option that I, and several other expats I know use, is creating an account with Wise. com. Although not exactly a bank, they allow you to hold amounts in several currencies which can be a useful option. Plus, the exchange rates are competitive.

The much-awaited Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) visa has been relaunched with new terms and conditions. We've just posted an update on our website: https://internationalliving.com/malaysias-mm2h-relaunch-what-expats-need-to-know/

Hi John,

That really depends on where in Thailand you would like to live, and how integrated with the locals you plan to get.

If you’re living in one of the major cities, a popular tourist area, or a known expat community, you can get by with speaking English. However, when you move out of these areas English is not widely spoken, and some Thai language is needed.

Learning the language can improve your understanding of the culture, make it easier to communicate within businesses and officials, make new Thai friends, get better prices at markets, keep your brain active and help you find out what is happening in your town by being able to read or communicate with Thais.

It’s also respectful, and Thai people appreciate foreigners who try—even if you’re not especially fluent.

And that’s understandable, because the Thai language can be quite difficult for English speakers to learn. It’s a tonal language, which means individual syllables have a corresponding tone and may result in different meanings.

Most expats learn minimum greetings, polite requests, and thank you. That’s generally enough to get by in expat areas and to show willingness with the locals, given the complexity of the language to Western ears.

If you choose to go further than this, identify precisely why you want to learn Thai and to what level. Do you want to be at a beginner level and understand greetings and make polite requests? Are you aiming for advanced, detailed conversation in Thai? Do you want to be able to read and write?

Having a clear picture in mind can help you refocus if you lose your mojo. A clear goal will help you choose the right learning methods for you and your budget.

Fortunately, there are many resources online and a fantastic range of ways to learn Thai.

Initially, I would recommend an online program like ThaiPod 101. This site sometimes offers packages giving full access to their online programs from about $7 per month, and you can upgrade to receive online tuition.

The company also has a YouTube channel with lots of free lessons, which you can find here.

Hi Greg,

One big benefit to living in Thailand is its excellent, inexpensive healthcare. The quality, particularly in the private system, is as good as what you’ll find in the U.S. or Canada.

And prices are low. They’re a third to a half of what you’d pay back home for similar services.

In fact, because of the low cost of treatment, most expats do not bother with insurance for outpatient care. Inpatient-only coverage combined with a reasonable deductible can result in affordable monthly premiums for most people.

Some expats only purchase accident insurance, which is much cheaper than full health coverage. Others forgo medical insurance altogether and rely on the money saved from living abroad for unforeseen medical emergencies.

Expats don’t have access to Thailand’s public health scheme. But they do have access to three healthcare options: local clinics, private hospitals, and public hospitals.

Local Clinics

Local clinics are set-up for the resident population, but expats are also welcome. All are operated by well qualified and experienced medical practitioners. A consultation with an English- speaking doctor, treatment for any ailments, plus any required medications (which is usually dispensed by a pharmacist on staff at the clinic) typically cost no more than $14 a visit.

Private Hospitals

Outpatient departments at the major hospitals serve as an alternative to the local clinics. And Thailand has a large network of public and private hospitals. In fact, the country has 51 private hospitals that are accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), the gold standard for hospital care.

In Bangkok and Chiang Mai’s private hospitals, you can expect a quality equal to standards in the U.S. There are also some very good private facilities in Hua Hin, Udon Thani, Phuket, Pattaya, and Koh Samui where most primary and secondary medical care problems can be dealt with.

Public Hospitals

Public or government run hospitals are much less expensive than their private counterparts, but they are generally more crowded and sometimes less well-equipped. However, all the medical facilities in the country are staffed by well-trained doctors and nurses who provide excellent care to both expats and locals alike.

Read more about healthcare in Thailand on the dedicated page of our website here.