Moving to Thailand from Colombia

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Colombia to Thailand — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Colombia to Thailand, you would find that Thailand is 29.7% cheaper than Colombia overall. A COP240,000,000 salary in Colombia would need to be roughly THB1,770,000 in Thailand to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Thai. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bangkok averages 91°F vs 61°F in Bogota, making it significantly warmer.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

Is Thailand cheaper than Colombia?

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 50.9% less

Groceries

pay 11.3% less

Transportation

pay 13.4% less

Housing

pay 43.6% less

Childcare

pay 11.5% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 7.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 COP = 0.0105 THB (October 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

What salary do you need in Thailand?

What does your salary buy?

COP240,000,000 → THB1,770,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Thailand

Calculate with your salary →

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Colombia to Thailand.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

CO
24.9
TH
4.8
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

CO
51%
TH
67%

Thailand generally does better on safety, though Colombia leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

CO
$1,758
TH
$1,067
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

CO
25.4
TH
5.4

Thailand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Colombia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

CO
24.0
TH
29.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

CO
1.8t
TH
4.0t

Colombia performs better than Thailand across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

CO
17.2
TH
14.9
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

CO
3.6%
TH
23.0%

Colombia generally does better on infrastructure, though Thailand leads in electricity per capita.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

CO
8.3%
TH
0.8%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

CO
$8,562
TH
$8,057

Colombia generally does better on employment & economy, though Thailand leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

CO
77.9 yrs
TH
76.6 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

CO
10.5
TH
7.7

Colombia generally does better on family life, though Thailand leads in infant mortality.

Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2011–2022), World Health Organization (2024), Directorate of National Taxes and Customs (DIAN) (2016), The Revenue Department, Government of Thailand (2016). How we calculate this

Weather in Thailand vs Colombia

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Bogota Rain: 31.5 in/yr (799 mm)
61° / 45°F

Avg. annual high / low

Bangkok Rain: 59.0 in/yr (1498 mm)
91° / 75°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Bogota Bangkok
Jan–Mar 62°/44°F (17°/7°C) 91°/74°F (33°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/47°F (16°/9°C) 93°/78°F (34°/26°C)
Jul–Sep 60°/45°F (15°/7°C) 90°/77°F (32°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) 89°/73°F (32°/23°C)
View all months
Month Bogota Bangkok
Jan 62°/42°F (16.4°/5.6°C) 90°/70°F (32.0°/21.0°C)
Feb 62°/44°F (16.7°/6.5°C) 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.3°C)
Mar 62°/46°F (16.7°/7.6°C) 93°/77°F (33.7°/24.9°C)
Apr 61°/47°F (16.0°/8.6°C) 95°/79°F (34.9°/26.1°C)
May 61°/48°F (16.2°/8.7°C) 93°/78°F (34.0°/25.6°C)
Jun 60°/47°F (15.7°/8.3°C) 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.4°C)
Jul 59°/46°F (14.9°/7.7°C) 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.0°C)
Aug 60°/45°F (15.4°/7.3°C) 90°/77°F (32.5°/24.9°C)
Sep 60°/45°F (15.8°/7.1°C) 90°/76°F (32.3°/24.6°C)
Oct 61°/46°F (15.9°/7.7°C) 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.3°C)
Nov 61°/46°F (16.0°/7.9°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.1°C)
Dec 61°/43°F (16.1°/6.3°C) 88°/69°F (31.3°/20.8°C)

Data: Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environment Studies Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environment Studies, Thai Meteorological Department Thai Meteorological Department

Can you move from Colombia to Thailand?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Colombia and Thailand. To live, work, or study long-term in Thailand, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Thailand's immigration authority.

Colombia passport

Colombia passport holder visiting Thailand

Visa Free
Colombia passport holders can enter Thailand without a visa.
Thailand passport

Thailand passport holder visiting Colombia

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Thailand passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Colombia.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Thailand than Colombia?

Yes — Thailand is on average about 30% cheaper than Colombia. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Thailand?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly THB442,500 in Thailand on a COP240,000,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Thailand?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Thailand has 14.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Thailand safe for expats?

Thailand generally does better on safety, though Colombia leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Thailand is 4.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 24.9 in Colombia. About 67% of people in Thailand feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Thailand compared to Colombia?

Thailand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Colombia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 5.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Thailand, compared to 25.4 in Colombia. Thailand scores 82 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Colombia: 80).

What's the weather like in Thailand compared to Colombia?

The average high temperature in Bangkok is 91°F, compared to 61°F in Bogota. Bangkok receives around 59.0 in of rainfall per year, while Bogota gets 31.5 in.

What language do they speak in Thailand?

The official language in Thailand is Thai. In Colombia, the official language is Spanish.

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At a Glance

CO TH
Population 53,425,635 71,619,863
Currency Colombian Peso (COP) Thai Baht (THB)
Languages Spanish Thai
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +57 +66
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 123 191