Moving to Thailand from Louisiana

moving to

What to Expect

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

If you moved from Louisiana to Thailand, you would find that Thailand is 51.8% cheaper than Louisiana. A $75,000 salary in Louisiana would need to be roughly THB1,220,000 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 77°F in New Orleans, 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 Louisiana?

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

Restaurants

pay 72.7% less

Groceries

pay 40.9% less

Transportation

pay 5.8% less

Housing

pay 68.5% less

Childcare

pay 39.7% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 44.1% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 33.64 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?

$75,000 → THB1,220,000

To maintain the same standard of living in Thailand

Calculate with your salary →

Cost of living by city

Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).

On average, cities in Thailand cost about 38% less than cities in Louisiana.

Louisiana

Lafayette 63%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Louisiana to Thailand, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
4,211 ↑ 5% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Thailand · UN DESA

Who's moving to Thailand?

Top countries of origin for Thailand's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

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

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2024

share of adults with obesity

LA
40.6%
TH
16.4%

Thailand performs significantly better than Louisiana across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2024

share of households with internet

LA
84.9%
TH
90.9%

Thailand performs significantly better than Louisiana across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

LA
3.9%
TH
0.8%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

LA
$55,662
TH
$8,057

Thailand generally does better on employment & economy, though Louisiana leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2024

average years of life at birth

LA
73.1 yrs
TH
76.6 yrs

Thailand performs significantly better than Louisiana across all family life metrics.

Weather in Thailand vs Louisiana

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

New Orleans Rain: 56.8 in/yr (1442 mm)
77° / 64°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months New Orleans Bangkok
Jan–Mar 65°/51°F (18°/10°C) 91°/74°F (33°/23°C)
Apr–Jun 84°/70°F (29°/21°C) 93°/78°F (34°/26°C)
Jul–Sep 89°/77°F (32°/25°C) 90°/77°F (32°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 71°/57°F (21°/14°C) 89°/73°F (32°/23°C)
View all months
Month New Orleans Bangkok
Jan 60°/46°F (15.6°/8.0°C) 90°/70°F (32.0°/21.0°C)
Feb 64°/50°F (17.9°/9.9°C) 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.3°C)
Mar 71°/56°F (21.4°/13.3°C) 93°/77°F (33.7°/24.9°C)
Apr 77°/63°F (25.2°/17.1°C) 95°/79°F (34.9°/26.1°C)
May 85°/71°F (29.2°/21.5°C) 93°/78°F (34.0°/25.6°C)
Jun 89°/76°F (31.8°/24.4°C) 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.4°C)
Jul 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.5°C) 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.0°C)
Aug 91°/78°F (32.7°/25.7°C) 90°/77°F (32.5°/24.9°C)
Sep 87°/75°F (30.4°/23.7°C) 90°/76°F (32.3°/24.6°C)
Oct 79°/66°F (25.9°/18.9°C) 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.3°C)
Nov 71°/57°F (21.5°/13.7°C) 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.1°C)
Dec 63°/49°F (17.0°/9.3°C) 88°/69°F (31.3°/20.8°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Thai Meteorological Department Thai Meteorological Department

Can you move from Louisiana to Thailand?

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Thailand

Visa Free
United States passport holders can enter Thailand without a visa.
Thailand passport

Thailand passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Thailand passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

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 Louisiana?

Yes — Thailand is on average about 52% cheaper than Louisiana. 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 THB305,000 in Thailand on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Thailand?

Usually fine from major cities in Thailand. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Thailand compared to Louisiana?

Thailand performs significantly better than Louisiana across all health & wellbeing metrics.

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

The average high temperature in Bangkok is 91°F, compared to 77°F in New Orleans. Bangkok receives around 59.0 in of rainfall per year, while New Orleans gets 56.8 in.

What language do they speak in Thailand?

The official language in Thailand is Thai. In Louisiana, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

TH
Population 4,618,189 71,619,863
Currency United States Dollar ($) Thai Baht (THB)
Languages English Thai
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +66
Time zones 11 1
Emergency number 911 191