Moving to United States from Thailand
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Thailand to United States — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Thailand to United States, you would find that United States is 2.6 times more expensive than Thailand overall. A THB2,497,395 salary in Thailand would need to be roughly $149,093 in United States to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Washington averages 66°F vs 91°F in Bangkok, making it significantly cooler.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Thailand to United States.
What does your salary buy?
THB2,497,395 → $149,093
To maintain the same standard of living in United States
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 4.5 times more
Groceries
pay 2.0 times more
Transportation
pay 44.6% more
Housing
pay 3.9 times more
Childcare
pay 3.0 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.1 times more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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 United States cost about 150% more than cities in Thailand.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Thailand to United States, based on official data.
people moved from Thailand to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
32.256,642
Thailand
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Thailand to United States.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Thailand generally does better on safety, though United States leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Thailand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Thailand generally does better on environment, though United States leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
United States generally does better on infrastructure, though Thailand leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Thailand generally does better on employment & economy, though United States leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
United States performs significantly better than Thailand across all family life metrics.
Data: The Revenue Department, Government of Thailand, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Bangkok | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 91°/74°F (33°/23°C) | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 93°/78°F (34°/26°C) | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/77°F (32°/25°C) | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 89°/73°F (32°/23°C) | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bangkok | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 90°/70°F (32.0°/21.0°C) | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) |
| Feb | 91°/74°F (32.7°/23.3°C) | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) |
| Mar | 93°/77°F (33.7°/24.9°C) | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) |
| Apr | 95°/79°F (34.9°/26.1°C) | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) |
| May | 93°/78°F (34.0°/25.6°C) | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) |
| Jun | 92°/78°F (33.1°/25.4°C) | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) |
| Jul | 91°/77°F (32.7°/25.0°C) | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) |
| Aug | 90°/77°F (32.5°/24.9°C) | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) |
| Sep | 90°/76°F (32.3°/24.6°C) | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) |
| Oct | 90°/76°F (32.0°/24.3°C) | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) |
| Nov | 89°/74°F (31.6°/23.1°C) | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) |
| Dec | 88°/69°F (31.3°/20.8°C) | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) |
Data:
Thai Meteorological Department,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Thailand and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Thailand passport holder visiting United States
Visa Required
United States passport holder visiting Thailand
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in United States than Thailand?
No — United States is on average about 99% more expensive than Thailand. City-level variation matters.
How much money do I need to move to United States?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $37,273 in United States on a THB2,497,395 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from United States?
Internet is rarely the blocker — United States has 37.8 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 United States safe for expats?
Thailand generally does better on safety, though United States leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in United States is 6.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 4.8 in Thailand. About 63% of people in United States feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in United States compared to Thailand?
Thailand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 9.3 in Thailand. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Thailand: 82).
What's the weather like in United States compared to Thailand?
The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 91°F in Bangkok. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Bangkok gets 59.0 in.
What language do they speak in United States?
The official language in United States is English. In Thailand, the official language is Thai.
