Can i have a decent life there?

**sierrafery** · 21st August 2016, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by PhilipA

I just had a look at the Border protection website for retirement visas.
They require a minimum of AUD 50K income.

You should be aware that AUD 3000 per month is about the amount of a married pension in Australia so is the very minimum you could live on if you have a partner. This would be a very basic existence with no money for holidays or luxuries. "Experts " reckon you need at least 50K to have a comfortable life .

The big problem is Health insurance. You are not eligible for Medicare and have to have private Health Insurance and this can cost at least $6000 per year and as you get older and sicker the additional costs you have to pay can be crippling. I have a UK friend who has retired to The Sunshine Coast in Qld and he now has heart problems which cost a bomb.

So mate as much as we would love to have you in OZ , it would be difficult for you. I do note that you can work 20 hours a fortnight and of course there is a thriving "cash in hand" economy in OZ, but as you got older this could be a problem.

I am in a Probus club in my area and we have had several British retirees whose kids moved to Australia move back to UK, as they can live well there on their pension while they are poor in Australia.
Regards Philip A

That's very relevant, thanks Philip...it seems that if i insist for OZ i have to wait untill my wife will get pension then we'll have +1500/month = 54k/year... but that's 10 years from now while i'm feeling already tired(to not say old) after 25 years of air traffic controll

DiscoMick · 21st August 2016, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by frantic

If living here is to expensive , a couple of close to here options are Bali and Thailand . Also Thailand has pretty good private medical.

I know several people who have retired to Thailand and live very comfortably in large rented houses with cleaners and rarely need to cook. Germans go to Hua Hin on the coast while many Europeans are in Phuket or Chiang Mai and the Russian Mafia favours Pattaya, which is sleazy.
Foreigners face restrictions on being able to buy so you might be better to rent out your home and just rent in Thailand, so if you decide to move on there won't be problems selling. Just buy a runabout car cheaply.
I used to work in Thailand so I speak from experience.
http://www.siam-legal.com/thailand-v...ement-Visa.php

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**sierrafery** · 21st August 2016, 03:26 PM

Those figures in the link are looking really good

... the question is how they speak english

**PhilipA** · 21st August 2016, 07:29 PM

I also lived in Thailand for 3 years and met quite a few expat retirees, some of whom for some reason were ex CIA operatives.

The Australian Embassy had holiday cabins at a place called Bang Saray south of Pattaya.
We used to often have visits from these people who seemed to crave company of other expats.

The answer on how they speak English is "not very well' particularly outside Bangkok and the overtly tourist areas like Phuket.

Staff who speak English command a HIGH premium .

You have to be prepared for the extreme level of what we in the West call corruption. You may be stopped on pretexts by police at any time looking for bribes ( I have been), You may find that any repairs to your house are extortionately expensive, If you have a car accident it is ALWAYS the Farang's fault. You will have to be constantly on the alert that your landlord does not up the rent or evict you if he gets a better offer.

My driver hit a couple slowly and knocked them off their motorcycle and before my insurance company could get there Bumrungrad hospital had done USD1000 of "tests" on them even though they were unhurt.

I for one would never retire to what is an alien culture of Thailand or say Bali. Having said that I love the place particularly the country areas.

Medical costs are astronomical at the Western run hospitals , although there are some good ones in Bangkok. they are non existent outside of Bangkok. Thailand is like 2 countries, the prosperous Bangkok and the poor country where particularly in the North East families sell their daughters into prostitution at about 12-14. Don't believe a word of the Thais blaming tourists for prostitution. It is a Thai cultural norm .
Regards Philip A
.

**sierrafery** · 21st August 2016, 07:53 PM

You've already scared me... corruption is one of the reasons why i want to leave my country so i'll not go where it's even worst

... in many "tops of best places to retire" Nicaragua, Panama are on top in first places so i'll concentrate on some central american zone... at least they're latins like most of my homies

...for example in Nicaragua they welcome you with benefits: https://internationalliving.com/coun...y-information/ and since they've got rid of Ortega the zone is secure and in continous development

I had a dream with Australia which will not come true

DiscoMick · 22nd August 2016, 05:41 AM

Corruption can be avoided.

Maybe you should check out NZ. Cheaper than Oz and safe.

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Tombie · 22nd August 2016, 08:19 AM

My old boy retired to Thailand. He loves the lifestyle.

Owns a major percentage of his property (there is a restriction) and the other portion is owned by his female companion.

He has a social circle of ex-pats, plays golf every day, goes out every night or hosts dinners.

Friend owns a club... but can not work there as they protect their citizens.

Overall he really enjoys it..

And yes Farang are always in the wrong!

DiscoMick · 22nd August 2016, 08:31 AM

Maybe, before making a decision, you should holiday in places that interest you and feel them out. No need to rush.
Also, there may be places that you haven't thought of, which could be the best option.
Pack your backpack and go wandering for a while.
Then decide.

This website might be useful:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquely.../#5ff695e341b8

DiscoMick · 22nd August 2016, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by Tombie

My old boy retired to Thailand. He loves the lifestyle.

Owns a major percentage of his property (there is a restriction) and the other portion is owned by his female companion.

He has a social circle of ex-pats, plays golf every day, goes out every night or hosts dinners.

Friend owns a club... but can not work there as they protect their citizens.

Overall he really enjoys it..

And yes Farang are always in the wrong!

Yes, in many places the foreigner can only own 49% and 51% must be Thai-owned. This leads to many situations in which the couple break up and the Thai wife keeps the house, while the foreigner gets shafted.
There are a few places, such as some developments in Bangkok, where it is legal for a foreigner to have full ownership, but they are limited.
I recommend renting. That way your money can be invested in other places where you believe it is secure and you live off the income, which helps to qualify you for the visa. If it goes wrong, you just pack up and leave.

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