Affordable Retirement Options - Can You Retire to Southeast Asia on Social Security

Is Southeast Asia an affordable retirement haven, perfect for those relying on Social Security alone? From the perpetual warmth and scenic beauty to vibrant cityscapes and tranquil tropical life, what could possibly be wrong? We will explore the low cost of living, affordable healthcare, and wonderful food throughout the area. But, of course, with every wonderful destination comes some negatives. We will navigate the challenges like the varied weather seasons, the extreme heat, and transportation issues as well as a few more areas to consider. Drawing off our experiences of traveling the area, we hope to help shed some light to help you determine if Southeast Asia aligns with your affordable retirement aspirations.
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[@phill7573]

I retired a year ago to Thailand. I rent a 500 square foot 1 bedroom condo, 10 minute walk to a huge beach for under $400usd. Yes, it gets very hot and humid, but you kind of adapt after a while. The food is awesome and very affordable, and the medical care is top notch. Im able to live a good life here and spend about $1400usd a month. There are pros and cons everywhere, but for me, the pros outweigh the cons here.

[@BrianandCarrie]

You are spot on with everywhere has its pros and cons, Phil! If you can adapt to the climate, Thailand has the best food in the world!! Keep living your best life!!! Thank you for watching and commenting! Cheers!! 🍻

[@animedan6954]

Hi Phil, Condo was $400.00USD, could you explain the $1400.00/ month if food is so cheap? What is the breakdown of the additional $1000.00 monthly. Thank you in advance.

[@phill7573]

@animedan6954 Hello, I spend about $400 a month at the grocery store, including detergent, paper towels etc. Eating out $50, Medication $50, Utilities, internet, and cellphone $125, visa fee $50, transportation $50, $200 for self insurance , entertainment $50

[@animedan6954]

@@phill7573 Big thank you Phil :)

[@kleerogers]

@@phill7573 it all ads up, people always think they can live on half of what they really need, once they get in country they quickly find out they were unrealistically optimistic, they learn real fast, I say double what you think you need, any extra is in an emergency fund (which you will eventually need)

[@carlostheman1671]

I sent a comment on one of your videos explaining how I was taking my son to Phuket, Thailand because of your amazing videos. We are back from our vacay, he had a blast. Thank you sooooo much!! We had an amazing time! I did this for him because he did awesome at school. Thanks to your advise, we stayed at Wabi Sabi Boutique Hotel. To be honest, you guys were spot on. That was good enough for us. Great accommodation and great people! I spoke to them about your channel. Who knows. I hope you get the royal Treatment when you go back. Great choice! Super close to the beach! Highly recommend your thought process as it is hands down, down to earth. You guys rock!! If we ever managed to (for some reason) travel at the same time to the same place, I’ll buy you all the beers you want. Thank you guys

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! I absolutely remember your message 😊. So happy to hear you had a wonderful trip and enjoyed your stay at the hotel, we loved it there. Would love to meet up if we ever cross paths 😊

[@mangostickyrice555]

Thumbs up 👍 Brian & Carrie

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you!!! ❤

[@rositahl]

I've been following someone who has lived in Thailand for over 20 years on KZbin. For a while it was on top of my list but not sure we could be OK with the heat and humidity plus the noise etc. We have been focusing more and more on slow travel through Europe, going back to Span in two weeks to continue searching for places. We might do the non-lucrative visa but for now the slow travel option is more appealing. Looking to stop working next year at 52!!

[@dsr8223]

Right. Incessant heat, humidity, and noise are enjoyment killers.

[@dsr8223]

If you've got family you want to see again, the cost of flights has to be considered.

[@soullatheoklitou6687]

Try Cyprus

[@samueldavis2327]

Also, Thailand has just imposed, a significant tax on all money brought into Thailand by anyone that has lived there for six months or more.

[@jeffsmith2251]

Hello guys, thank you for you videos. We are retired and live in Thailand. We left the US in 2022 to travel the world to find an ultimate retirement location. We traveled to Portugal, Spain, Serbia, Netherlands, Singapore, Croatia and Montenegro. We decided to try Thailand. We fell in love with the country and the people. We were able to get a Retirement Visa and live here year year round. We lived in Chiang Mai for a while and moved to Bangkok. We got a beautiful condo for 700 usd per month. After watching your recent video you are right that there are some dirty places. We found that the Thai people are very clean as they are always cleaning their personal spaces. However, the government only cleans where the wealthy people and the tourist visit. Yes it is hot here but so is south Texas where we came from. The game changer for us was how rude the people were in Europe (especially eastern Europe) during our time there. We found the people here are so accepting. We have been in some of the really poor areas of Bangkok where people live on 12 usd per day but they always smile and are grateful that you acknowledge them. Yes there are dirty places in SE Asia but have you visited Portland, LA, NY, Austin, Houston or Seattle lately! We just spent time in Hua Hin and it is a beautiful coastal town that is on the gulf of Thailand. It is mostly retired expats from all over the world and is much more affordable than Chiang Mai and Bangkok. We are currently on Koh Samui and love it here. Anyway, we love being retired here. Thanks for your great videos! Jeff & Patricia

[@BrianandCarrie]

Jeff & Patricia, it sounds like an amazing life. One thing that we noticed is that people are happy with much less in other parts of the world. Thank you for adding your experiences to the channel!! 😃 Cheers!!🍻

[@jameshall2299]

We just booked 2 weeks in hua hin and 1 month in pattaya for next may-June. We are currently in Athens for a month and they have a Thai restaurant here that’s just ok with pad Thai at $13 or 500 Thai baht equivalent. Crazy! We are missing 30 baht mango smoothies and 70 baht pad Thai and pad kra pow. We also love Thailand!

[@J.-kv7jl]

We moved to Singapore 20 years ago, and now we are semi retired here. The beauty of Southeast Asia is that we can experience completely different cultures in a short plane ride. Quality of life is great in Singapore, but the cost of living is a killer. We also spend a few months a year in Europe but Asia is home for us for now. Your channel is a great eye openner for many of us.

[@jameshall2299]

We are finding out that a perfect retirement for us is 3 months in the USA, 3 months in Thailand or Vietnam, 3 months in Europe and possibly 3 months in South America. It’s tough to find that 1 place to settle down that has the perfect weather and affordable cost of living. The cost of living in the USA is out of control and between food and healthcare, we almost can’t afford to live in our home country and our home is paid for.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We absolutely agree!! We are starting a new schedule of returning to the US once every three months for about a month each time. This will help us recharge, see family, and give us a little downtime from KZbin!! 😃

[@JonesTravelers]

When we realized our monthly property taxes in California were more than renting abroad, we decided to sell and move abroad.

[@hornerssundaykitchen9790]

My wife and I are going over there to travel for a few years, so your videos are so helpful. We are from Wenatchee, Wa originally but have lived in Houston TX for about 15 years now so the adjustment to the heat and rain won’t be as big of a transition for us. I was in the Navy and have been to South East Asia and loved it. Keep up with the videos:)

[@BrianandCarrie]

So happy you are finding our videos helpful 😊. I have family in Wenatchee (mainly Orondo area) and lived there briefly...so I know it very well. Happy and safe travels ahead.

[@robertmcfarlane4151]

I like the practical advice when guiding someone to make their own decision. You are bringing forth your experience both the positive and negative which can be considerations from each individual or couple. Some people may love and welcome heat and humidity as opposed to those who melt from it. You show the dollars and cents but also addressing eating and oppressive heat and mobility issues. I tnink that it is really good to point out that retirement travel will change over time from the Go-Go Years, to the Slow-Go Years and then No-Go Years. It seems shortsighted to think that what works at 58yo will work for 68yo or even 78yo. I imagine that it won't always but these are considerations for all as we age. I certainly would go and stay at least 3-6 months, as suggested. Great content. Cheers.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, such great points. There are many phases of retirement and what you may want at the start could look quite different from what will appeal towards the end. Thanks so much for watching and following along 😊

[@BarryWilder-b9v]

Seattle rain socks in for months (overcast and grey) whereas Asia rains for an hour and then sun light. Your podcast is really from the eyes of a traveller.

[@BrianandCarrie]

It is really the humidity more than anything for us.

[@dianegriffith3006]

This year more than usual -like right now-lol. 🌧️

[@grigorirasputin425]

Just put some warm socks on and you will be fine even in Seattle

[@noahj.5740]

Seattle isn't as rainy as it used to be and it is Smoky and it is near the top of the world's worst air quality it seems every year or so now from forest fires.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Seattle is absolutely as rainy as it used to be. There have been forest fires, but it isn't seasonal occurrence like in SE Asia.

[@dominiquetheeasyminimalist]

Thanks for sharing your perspective and experiences so honestly. You'll be celebrating 50k subscribers very soon, well deserved because you work hard and your videos are both valuable and enjoyable 🙂

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you so much for watching and following along ☺. We are excited for this milestone the many more to come. Cheers!

[@ErikBlair]

I think for people deciding to relocate for retirement who are coming from the United States, the pros and cons are dramatically different depending on how much money someone has to start with, and how sustainable their lifestyle is in the US or somewhere in SEAsia. For me, the US is completely unsustainable as far as cost of living, and I don't see an end to it's continued inflation and escalation of problems. So the cons of staying in the US are so bad that living in some of the worst heat or humidity, traffic or trash, are completely non-issues for many. The more money one has, the more the little things might be a matter of a pro or a con, but for most US retirees living on social security and a small savings, SEAsia seems like a no-brainer positive.

[@BrianandCarrie]

This is very true...if finances are quite limited those things like extreme humidity and heat are things some may be willing to live with, for a better quality of life. Cheers!!

[@travelrefocused]

Another good discussion. We have been full time traveling around Southeast Asia for almost two years now, before that, it was a year in Mexico. Fortunately, we are not as sensitive to the heat and humidity as others, so that provides us a little more flexibility in developing an itinerary. We have never rented a motorbike. Other than some of the smaller islands, I never felt there was a need for a motor bike (or car for that matter). Our favorite places are either mostly walkable (we are big on walking) or public transportation, Grab, and songthaews/tricycles are widely available. I completely agree with your thoughts on pollution. It is disheartening to see. Although I have seen some efforts to address the trash and pollution problems in some places, It's not nearly enough. Hopefully it improves and I applaud your efforts to be honest about it. In an effort to avoid travel burnout and to reduce sequence of return risk on our retirement portfolio, we plan to spend a couple more years in Southeast Asia, slowly rotating among a few favorite places we have identified. We will also throw in one exploratory mission to other places we haven't visited yet. Eventually we will get to Europe. That's one of the great things about this lifestyle, we don't have to choose just one place.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Sounds like you've found such a great balance for yourselves ❤️. And yes, that is the major plus of this lifestyle, we can completely change our minds and our path. Cheers!!

[@WaypointofView]

Super informative video, you guys give such great and detailed info! Also congrats on 50,000 subscribers!! 🤗🤗

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you!! Love the Istanbul guide you offer on your channel!! Great idea!! Thank you for watching and commenting!! Cheers!!🍻

[@WaypointofView]

@@BrianandCarrie ☺☺ if you guys make it back to Istanbul, definitely let us know!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Absolutely we will!!! 😀

[@ronorange990]

Thank you! Excellent as usual and having visited Malaysia in particular, I concur with your evaluations.

[@BrianandCarrie]

You're very welcome, thank you so much for watching 😊

[@retire_recharge_roam]

Great video! We retired from the US to SE Asia (Laos) last year, and agree that you do need to go in eyes wide-open if you’re planning long-term living here. We recently had some experiences with medical/dental, and you’re right on with your observations. So glad we found your channel! -Javier and Fon

[@BrianandCarrie]

We are glad that you found our channel as well!! Thank you for watching and commenting!! Cheers, Javier and Fon!!!

[@paulz6491]

Another great video, thank you 😊 In Vietnam I’d suggest Da Lat which is in the mountains with a cool climate (I wore a jacket some nights:). The coffee is amazing, waterfalls, markets and very nice people. And if you want the beach, Nha Tran is just a few hours drive from Da Lat (I loved Da Nang but Nha Tran had the better beaches by far).

[@BrianandCarrie]

We plan on being back in Vietnam in 2026. We want to be there in January and February and plan on exploring Argentina in 2025. There are just too many places we want to visit!! 😃

[@merrillmixer1190]

I couldn't make SE Asia my year-around home due to heat and humidity. But, would love to go for 2-3 months in winter and wouldn't mind the smaller spaces as long as there is a pool and fitness center. We love the affordable cost of living - especially the food, and inexpensive massages. We would spend and spend and spend - and never spend over $1500 a month! In Chiang Mai we found restaurants and the food court at the air conditioned malls and would buy fruit from a street stand to have on hand in our unit. Yes, lots to love! The downsides are communicating beyond a smile and a wai. We thought about buying a condo to use as a rental when not there, but the confusion due to misunderstandings in communication over all the different aspects was an issue. Oh yes, the plastic waste! Remember the plastic cup sleeves so drinks can be carried on your wrists while riding a scooter?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, totally forgot about the drink bags as well, so much waste. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@teammikeadventures]

Great content guys! I appreciate that you discuss the pro/con of the various locations. Bottom Line: folks need to go experience the various locations before deciding if they want to settle in an area. Personally, I prefer the slow travel life. It provides an opportunity to build a sense of community. Plus, a longer term stay in SE Asia affords an opportunity to save for a more expensive European stay. I may have missed it but Brian didn’t give pro/con using beer as a criteria 😂 Keep up the great work!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you! Yes, absolutely agree, SE Asia is a wonderful place to go to live a wonderful life all while saving for those other more expensive areas to travel. Cheers!!

[@ShazWag]

Thank you for sharing these tips. Which sites do you find the best to find good deals on flights? Your pronunciation of Koh Samui is cute ☺. I believe it's pronounced more like _Koh - Samoy_ . I'm not sure the street litter in Vietnam is due to culture; I think it's more to do with poverty/deprivation and lack of government support. As for getting hot food in plastic bags, it was the same in China. Regarding plastic litter, I found some of the beaches in Bali to be incredibly littered, with huge swathes of floating plastic seen out in the ocean, for example to go dolphin watching. I noticed that Japan also uses a huge amount of unnecessary plastic, but you don't see any litter - at all. Everywhere was pristine.

[@surreycase]

You're points are valid, although really points out that being adaptable in SEA is key to success of living there. Yes it's not for everyone but it's amazing for those who forget what they are accustomed to back in the West!

[@kleerogers]

most expats in SE Asia are there because they can't afford places like Europe, not all of course, many are there for dating or marrying younger women, which is not available to them in the West. I am married so that is not something I am interested in, Europe is much better for me, and I can afford it, many can not. Like everything, you get what you pay for

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, very much agree. If these are issues that people can live with, it may be the perfect area for them 😊

[@Fell214]

Nice to see an honest review of SE Asia.

[@miker7233]

I was a member of an expat forum for people living in Thailand. This was during my recent three year stay in Bangkok. I moved back to the states. Because personally living in Thailand became annoying for me. I liked the warmth and had no issues with it. As for people. I felt I had to be careful who I could trust. Both locals and other expats. Not everyone is friendly and cordial as the tourism ads want you to believe. Especially when trying to cross a street in a cross walk and a traffic light. When drivers will just keep going straight for you. Not caring if they run you over. Thailand has the highest rate of motor vehicle accidents and fatalities in SE Asia. If you do move to Thailand long term or even as a tourist. I suggest you learn a few basic words or phrases. Because even in Bangkok. The majority of the people cannot speak or understand English. Unless they have specific jobs dealing with tourists. You can decide how you want to live depending on your means. I find that many retirees I have spoken to or on the expat forum moved to Thailand because of very little income. Most live in the country side or villages. I didn’t have that issue.

[@steveliedown]

Really enjoyed this video (as I do all your videos ) I don’t think I could retire anywhere but definitely looking to escape the awful uk winter, looking at Dubia for xmas and new year ( daughter lives there ) then onto Vietnam and Thialand for 2/3 months never thought to take into account the burning season so thanks for bringing that to my attention. I expect I will need extended visas as well ( Annette)

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! Sounds like a wonderful plan. We can totally relate to escaping the cold and wet winters. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@wheretoretire3315]

I’ve been travelling SE Asia for the past four months. Totally agree about humidity being one of the biggest issues. As a retiree, it is important to me to stay active. It’s difficult to do that when it is so hot.

[@BrianandCarrie]

That is a huge issue for us coming from the PNW.

[@emmalee9747]

A big part of retirement for me is Downsizing and learning to live with less. I could definitely live in a 700 sq foot apartment in SE Asia or less. It would be a home base when I travel and I don’t want or need the space and accumulated stuff I had in America.

[@emmalee9747]

Also not every place in Southeast Asia is small and have small kitchens. BGC was comparable to the USA.

[@mustafaozlen3282]

You are very productive, 2 podcast in a week .

[@veemann9644]

Very informative and thought provoking.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Glad you found it helpful 😊. Cheers!!

[@seandavie3672]

I absolutely agree. I live in subtropical Australia and SE Asia has so much going for it, but the humidity is such a barrier.

[@BrianandCarrie]

It's a tough one for us to get past for sure. Doesn't help that we've never had to live dealing with it before.

[@cavumine]

I've been watching your content for quite a while, and I love it! Unfortunately, my partner and I are not in agreement on leaving the US or long-term travel. If it were up to me, I'd definitely consider leaving the US sooner rather than later. I hope you might address internet access - I note that in your Europe vs US cost video you included it, but for some folks it's about internet speed, too. Just a thought. Keep up the great work!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Great idea. We have included the internet in our most recent video coming out on Saturday. We have not had any problems with the internet anywhere that we have gone so far. Thank you for watching!! ❤

[@BoninBrighton]

Try house/pet sitting solo

[@AMcC-Edinburgh]

Hello Brian and Carrie... we've been enjoying your videos over the last couple of years, particularly the destination ones which have caused us to add a couple of places onto our planning list for future visits. Do you plan to do more destination reviews in the coming months?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes! We were home visiting family so haven't been on the road as much. We did Dublin a couple weeks ago and Fethiye, Turkiye will be out tomorrow. 😀

[@jackiemanderson2080]

I live in Florida and went to Thailand in late May to mid June 5 years ago. Going back to the summer humidity of Florida was a relief 😂

[@wildfoodietours]

Eating is my passion and I LOVE countries where eating is affordable and the food is tasty. Excited planning my future early retirement country hopping adventures between America, Mexico, Asia, and South America! Three months in each country seems ideal.

[@BrianandCarrie]

That sounds like a great plan!! We will be doing something similar with stops in Europe as well. Good luck and safe travels!! Cheers!! 🍻

[@d.y.e3803]

Great vlog, guys. My heart has been in Thailand since the late nineteen nineties, long before I retired early in my mid-fifties about a decade ago. However, I'm a Bangkok person. Chiangmai is also very nice, except for the season of smoke. But, I like the craziness and energy of Bangkok. It's like second home to me. And I'm fine with the weather. I will always live here permanently, but will continue to take long, solo trips to overseas countries like I've done for five decades now. I have pretty much narrowed it down to where I want to continue to travel and spend extended time. And I have always figured in which destinations are good and which are not so good for solo females as I've been to places in the world that were doozies due to being female. I should have written a book starting in my teen years and onward. Friends tried to get me to write one. They were also out traveling the world solo, like I was, starting back in their teen years and are mostly still traveling. Greetings from Los Angeles

[@BrianandCarrie]

We love Thailand as well, but yes, for the right seasons. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@danieltroyo3847]

Another window of opportunity, thanks for the info,i never wouldve considered Asia!!

[@alexsumbati4194]

Brian and Carrie,what an excellent and invaluable informative video for anyone contemplating retiring in South East Asia. You’ve spelt out all important points that have to be taken into consideration before making such an important move,especially for elderly retirees. Many factors should be considered ie. weather,housing,food,healthcare,just to name a few,and you’ve nailed it. I have a question for you: you have visited numerous countries/cities around the world and I’m sure that certain cities you’ve probably said to your selves “ you know,I think I can retire in this country/city”.After taking everything into consideration,where would that be? I’d be interested to read your answer.

[@BrianandCarrie]

This is a great question and one we've had many questions about. Stay tuned for a upcoming video 😊

[@cherokesky]

KL. Durning Ramadan, Batu caves while walking up the stairs thought of you two.... Towers in a few days... The street food Chicken fish 😋 Heading to Chiang Mai next month then Phuket..... Great video... Agree 100 percent.. Larry and Minnie

[@BrianandCarrie]

You'll love Chang Mai! As always, thanks guys for commenting. Cheers!!🍻❤

[@Dviking]

Thanks, that was great. Answered a lot of my questions

[@BrianandCarrie]

Glad it helped! Thanks for watching 😊

[@Miramart007]

Great video and insight to your time in those countries. One question, are you planning to post more videos of you actually out and about exploring or is this the expectation for content going forward? Just curious. 🧐

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you! This weekend is our Fethiye video. We will still have plenty location based videos but we just came off 2 1/2 months at home 😊. Plus, moving on to Greece today!

[@Miramart007]

Awesome! Safe travels. Looking forward to seeing what’s next!! 🤗

[@rubbertoad3681]

I got my money's worth out of this video on the thoughts on the weather and time difference in SE Asia. Will definitely go in the right months when we go.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@Mr.DJones]

Thank you for your time and posting.

[@BrianandCarrie]

You're very welcome 😊. Thank you so much for watching.

[@Mr.DJones]

@@BrianandCarrie Watched it again. Slowly gaining confidence by watching your vids. :)

[@xaviotesharris891]

Thank you. This video helped me decide where I'll be going this summer -Thailand. It was already on the list, but this put me over the top. You know, unless I change my mind. (I've lived in humidity - I'll get through it.) The basic reason? I'll need a thorough check up by then. The second reason? A nice way to reposition for some consulate business I'll have on the U.S. west coast.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, if you're used to humidity, that absolutely helps. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@randolphh8005]

Just be aware that our best friends just spent 2 weeks there, and really complained about the oppressive heat and humidity. We are all from Florida where humidity is very high half the year. They said Thailand and some of the areas were WORSE. And, AC is not common.

[@FollowingTheStones]

Great video as always!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you, Greg!!

[@angelc6395]

Your SE Asian experience is much different from mine. I've enjoyed your vlogs and your perspective, but I disagree with some of your conclusions. But I do look forward to referencing your experiences in Europe when I travel there next......haven't been to Europe yet.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Totally understandable as we all experience a location in a different way. Enjoy your Europe travels 😊

[@louis20122]

I love heat and humidity so I have no issue but I need to travel there and check it out.

[@livingworkingoutsidebox]

Great breakdown. Well put with the different experiences between vacation, slow travel, and living there full time. Next time you find SEA in your travel rotation, what are your "must go to" cities? Would smaller towns and villages earn month stays or just day/week trips? What about VinWonders Phu Quoc island?🤔🌍

[@BrianandCarrie]

We usually prefer the smaller towns. Must go to cities we haven't decided on yet, but we know that we want to go to Loas, Cambodia, Japan and back to Vietnam. We will only spend three months so that would be all we have time for.

[@vgshwk]

I was in Chang mai for a week it rained hard every day. All I could do is grab an umbrella go get something to eat and back to the hotel.

[@gkim3138]

100% agree on SE asia. Keep up the real honest experiences! SE is overly glamorized. I'd recommend checking out China, it has some of what you like about Europe and SE asia, combined.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We would love to visit China!! It may be as soon as next year!! 😀

[@gkim3138]

Shenzhen, you'll thank me later 🙂@@BrianandCarrie

[@kleerogers]

You guys are BANG on in everything you say, for one, motorcycles are extremely dangerous in SE Asia, 2 friends were killed on motorcycles in Hua Hin this past winter while we were there, Chiang mai 4 years ago was a disaster during the burning season, Literally can not breath, horrible for your health. agree with everything you 2 say. After 7 trips to SE Asia, we have decided on Southern Spain, just figuring it all out now, going this summer to set everything up, selling our property in Canada in the next year or 2. No regrets travelling to SE Asia at all, loved all our travels, but not a place to retire for us, for the reasons you mentioned!!!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Sounds like you spent plenty of time there to see if it would be a good fit 😊. We love traveling there and will continue to do so, but Europe is a better fit for long term for us as well. Cheers!!

[@kleerogers]

@@BrianandCarrie couldn't agree more, I too love SE Asia, but not to live, way to hot in the summer months

[@brucesnyder690]

Retired expat from the US living in Thailand six years. Welive in southern Thailand. Wide owns home; we have two cars, two motorcycles. Great people, low cost of living, plenty to do, lots of travel. We travel every month. Long road trips, Vietnam, intl 3 times a year. Back to the US twice a year to visit family. Weather? Yup, hot season now. But can manage. And nice breeze late afternoon at the beach fir a beer or dinner ($3).

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, so many positives for sure, and money savings is a huge one. Sounds like you've found your perfect place 😊

[@BarryWilder-b9v]

You need to compare short term to long term also.

[@Jim-gf9tp]

I tried a few weeks in SE Asia, but couldn’t handle the time difference. (I work NY hours.) Europe is a lot better. I can do something during the day and then log in at 3 or 4 in the afternoon (9 am in New York). Of course, I have to work until midnight, so I can’t go out in the evening during the week.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, that time difference would be so challenging with work. Thanks for watching 😊

[@erickarnell]

Great content. FYI, Brian's microphone was relatively louder for some reason. Not too distracting, but I noticed it.

[@janhertzberg1797]

Agree…but not too distracting.

[@BarryWilder-b9v]

What about real homes in Chang Mai or Hua Hin or north of Georgetown?

[@rickp1904]

Dont no about other se countries but thailand if living here youll have the visa issues also if staying more then 30 days 90 gays is 80 dollar or if over 50 a retirement visa is 1900 baht a year but you have to have 800k baht in the bank here or 64k baht a month coming into the country so thats another thing to consider

[@RoMa-ln9kh]

Thanks for sharing!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@MrSwagnificentSpeaks]

I was in Bangkok last September. I was okay with the heat and humidity. I’m from the state of Texas and I am used to it.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Good to know! Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@sydtybil291]

The red trucks are called songthaews in Thailand.

[@BarryWilder-b9v]

The best weather in the world is Lakeside in Chapala area in Mexico. Close to home for you also.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We will be in Mexico this fall!!!

[@BarryWilder-b9v]

Please don’t miss Ajijic. We lived there 3 years and the weather is perfect. The cost of living is comparable to Canada 😟

[@sydneyexpert]

I love your videos but I don't think you have spent enough time in the region to give a balanced view. You are right - no one should choose a place without spending several months there. We have spent a lot of time in different parts Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia in the last 20 years. We have been there for a few months in both in the hottest part of the year and the rainy season Honestly you do get used to it. I found after a few months the humidity you don't really notice anywhere near as much. The key is choosing a condo in a good location. It's all about testing the water - We have done the rainy season in Bangkok, Koh Samui and Chiang Mai, the rainy season is fabulous, the crowds drop and the really heavy rain is not often for more than a few hours, and accommodation prices plummet. Any flooding clears quickly in most areas that an expat would live. Transport is a challenge in Phuket and the reason we would never choose it as a base. We have driven around the country and are very comfortable driving in Thailand but would never ride a bike. The lack of crime in Thailand is a huge plus for us and I don't think I would feel as safe in South or Central America. Btw the food in Northern Thailand is less spicy that it is in the south, in they south they really dial up the volume. If you decide to return visit Hua Hin - I think you would like it.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thanks so much for your viewpoint from your experience, very much different than ours. But, that is how it works, we all see things in different ways the exact reason everyone needs to experience it longer term to see if it's for them. For instance, we dealt with extreme humidity for about 2 1/2 months and that right there was a sure sign it wasn't for us, we weren't ever going to get used to that ☺. This could be true for some of the food in Northern Thailand, but the one dish we were referring to is the hottest dish we had ever had laugh 😂. Thanks so much for watching! Cheers

[@ianwhittaker3041]

Hi guys, great video thank you. I have an idea for a future video. Based on your travel experiences to date, your top 5 destinations that you feel you could retire to. Hopefully you haven't already covered this in another of your videos. Cheers :)

[@BrianandCarrie]

Great video idea, thanks for the suggestion 😊

[@donnabosilkovski7580]

Great video, wondering which spending app you use please? Thanks in advance.

[@BrianandCarrie]

I use a app called travel spend 😊

[@Travelers4Good]

I appreciate your videos and follow your channel, but what you're doing is not really retirement, and certainly not to a specific area. Your experience of housing cost is not reflective of what an expat retiree will pay since you are taking monthly ABnB rentals. Someone settling in for more than a year will pay as little as half of what you paid by signing a long term lease. Frequently ABnB hosts in SEA don't own the properties they host, they lease them and mark them up for ABnB short term rentals.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for the comment. We specifically said in the video that these are not Airbnb prices. That is why we included utilities and other expenses that you would expect to pay.

[@dbostrander]

Asia sounds pretty good except i cant handle the food - eastern Europe and Mexico is where i am looking - good info. Appreciate your point of view

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thank you for watching!! We will be in Mexico this fall and so excited about the food!!!

[@lightning6718]

You can’t handle the food in Asia? What the heck can you eat in Eastern Europe and Mexico? Just eat the same food like burrito every day? Asian countries have the best food and the most variety of food in the world. I been to Eastern Europe countries and Mexico and the food selections are sad. I cannot live in Eastern Europe or Mexico due to limited food selections.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Some people don't like Asian food and that's ok, I have a cousin who won't eat it. My dad is a meat and potato guy, we won't even eat fish. We tend to agree that Asian food is some of the best in the world, but we also love a good street taco!! 😀

[@valarietonkin2816]

So Southeast Asia sounds like Central America but with less crime, cheaper prices, better health care and much better infrastructure! Not to say I don't love Central America, especially Costa Rica, but we've spent the past few winters there and had to stop because it's getting so expensive! But I agree, if I were to slow down traveling and wanted to retire somewhere it would be Europe for sure

[@LawrenceStevens01]

I’m in San Jose, CR, right now getting excellent dental care at a fraction of the USA cost. You mentioned the cost in CR. Compared to where? I’m coming back in 6 months to complete the implant procedure and I was thinking of checking out a snowbird rental somewhere near the water. Your thoughts?

[@valarietonkin2816]

I'm Canadian so maybe that changes things a bit, but the dental in Costa Rica is really good and cheaper than most places in North America for sure. As for beach stays, I highly recommend the Esterillos or Bejuco areas for a beautiful big stretch of sand with few people. If you like things a bit more exciting, I personally prefer Manuel Antonio to Jaco, prettier beach and more wildlife!

[@janhertzberg1797]

Thx for getting right to the point…”could you retire in se Asia.”

[@BrianandCarrie]

Thanks so much for watching ☺

[@kbaughanyoung]

How do you account for your airfare or long distance travel? I haven’t seen you include that in your monthly cost summaries. Do you prorate it per destination? TY! Thanks for the detailed info.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We include airfare in our year-end cost summaries. Thank you for watching!! ❤

[@richardfiske]

Thanks for your videos…. What places that you’ve been too that you would want to live… that you could make a long term home base?

[@BrianandCarrie]

We really like the Algarve region of Portugal, and we are also loving Fethiye, Türkiye. Türkiye has been a very pleasant surprise for us.

[@Rob_b0601]

Who’d have guessed it is hot and humid in a tropical climate?! 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@BrianandCarrie]

Love the sarcasm, Rob! 🤣

[@dianegriffith3006]

I’d love southern France or maybe Italy somewhere but on SS that’s debatable. Climate and landscapes would be more important to me.

[@BrianandCarrie]

Agree, climate can make or break a area. Southern France would be amazing 😍

[@jasminehayes4810]

Did you go with the water bottle with the light technology cleaning system or the one with the replaceable filter?

[@BrianandCarrie]

We bought the UV-C bottle, then also bought the filter lid as a add on. We can use both this way.

[@st2596]

I know this isn’t relevant to this podcast but, do you still love your carry on personal item bag? If so, can you add it to your shopping essential list? Please and thank you!

[@BrianandCarrie]

Hi! Which were you referring to...our carry on luggage or Brian's back pack or Carrie's underseat bag?

[@st2596]

Lol. Carrie’s under seat bag but I’m sure everyone would want all items listed. Cheers from Ellensburg!

[@BrianandCarrie]

the brand is called Beis. We have down a couple of packing videos describing it in more detail. 😃

[@INTERNETVID]

Do you have any plans to visit South America?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Yes, we are heading that way in the winter of 2025 😊

[@michaelnichols6267]

On a scale of 1 to 10.. 10 being the riskiest....when you two decided to travel full time and make videos of your travels and in hopes of making additional income from ad revenue..what was the feeling like the of if this was the right thing to do to right now of if u are able to sustain this for a long time??

[@BrianandCarrie]

Maybe a 3. We didn't count on or plan on KZbin money on our planning our decision making 😊

[@kanesymons171]

Have been following your travels since your very first video, are you planning to return to doing travel videos or is this new format the future of this channel?

[@BrianandCarrie]

Our Fethiye, Türkiye video will be out on Saturday, and then we will visit Greece for 2 months. We were home visiting family for over two months, so we had no destination videos. Thank you for sticking with us for so long!!! ❤

[@kanesymons171]

⁠@@BrianandCarriegreat looking forward to your adventures

[@orangelily935]

I'm curious that you guys sold home in the states or just leasing out ?

[@BrianandCarrie]

We sold everything 😊

[@orangelily935]

@@BrianandCarrie so brave

[@vgshwk]

Se Asia is different from country to country with the Philippines being the most western.

[@deekang6244]

Yes, it’s like comparing New England to Florida in terms of climate.

[@FraserSmith-qb9hs]

Do More Research I think you have missed two very important criteria in your evaluation. The people and culture of SE Asia. The people are kind, helpful and thoughtful. The culture deep and varied throughout the various countries. As far as cleanliness Singapore and Japan are the best in the world. Please visit Cambodia, Laos, Japan and South Korea before you give up on SE Asia.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We spent over 5 months in SE Asia. Singapore is amazing and very clean for sure. We are very much looking forward to Japan, Laos, Cambodia and all that we missed the first time around. Thank you for adding to the channel by commenting!! 😀

[@vgshwk]

The flight from USA to se Asia is over double the distance than USA to Europe so of course the flight is more expensive.

[@BrianandCarrie]

True, and exactly why people need to take in consideration how often they would have to buy those expensive tickets.

[@vernonwunsch3204]

Wish you would have talked about the language barrier in the different locations

[@BrianandCarrie]

We've discussed this many times on our channel. We have found that you can get by in almost all tourist destinations you can get by with English and a smile. 😀

[@janhertzberg1797]

Have you traveled thru Latin America? Ecuador, Colombia,Argentina?

[@BrianandCarrie]

We have not but have plans to visit Argentina and Chile in January 2025!!

[@zrx1100zz]

Mmmmmmm. I don't know maybe a month at a pop every February possibly 😁🥃

[@sn3513]

Visa qualifications?

[@BrianandCarrie]

That always depends on what country you are from.

[@kleerogers]

So many variables, how much is a persons SS, what is their lifestyle, what country? I can only speak for myself and my wife's situation, we spend at least $2500 USD in Hua Hin and Chiang Mai Thailand, we have been to the Philippines and it is more expensive than Thailand and you get less, horrible food and bad infrastructure, Cambodia is very inexpensive, VERY CHEAP, but you get exactly what y ou pay for in Cambodia, I could not live in Cambodia. Vietnam is excellent, cheaper than Thailand, good food generally, and wonderful people, lots to see and do, but all costs money, if your SS is $1200 a month Cambodia is a good choice, and also Vietnam, Thailand in rural areas definitely, but your life will not be very exiting. I always say you need a minimum of $2,000 USD and a good emergency fund of at least $30,000 USD (more is better). Chiang Mai is not an option, the burning season is a deal killer, I have been in CM when they are burning the crops and it is horrible, my wife could not breath, we had to leave. For us Hua Hin is a good compromise, after 10 trips and years of being in Thailand Hua Hin wins for us. Hua Hin is not expensive or cheap, right in the middle, you need $2,000 USD minimum for 2 people, and that is NOT LUXURY, I can not tell you h ow many people I have met in SE Asia that literally ran out of money, poor financial planning, health issues, expensive girlfriend, not realizing how expensive it is travelling, and so many other reasons. You need money to survive even in SE Asia, but for us it is totally worth it

[@virakvisudtiphole3769]

Chiangmai is now heavily air-polluted with PM2.5 dust. Don’t think a good place to retire

[@vgshwk]

Thailand 711 welcome every time the door opens

[@BrianandCarrie]

We loved that 😊

[@soullatheoklitou6687]

Try Cyprus

[@BrianandCarrie]

We look forward to it eventually 😊

[@rickmccann4016]

I know you wouldnt include this but Thailand is now Russia in the main areas, Dealing with Thai culture is fairly easy but mixing that with Russian culture is a very bad outcome. The Russian population gets bigger and bigger by the day too. I have nothing against Russians, but it is giving Thailand a completely different vibe and not a good one.

[@BrianandCarrie]

We did notice a larger population in certain areas when we were there. But, it's also our understanding that Thailand is cracking down on visas all together - so hopefully that will help. Cheers!

[@rickmccann4016]

@@BrianandCarrie Actually they gave Russians much longer visa stays. Its going to hurt them in the long run without a doubt. I wont go into detail on the numerous reasons why. All I can say is in certain areas now it will change the entire vibe of your vacation and or retirement and of course nobody wants to talk about it, however their way of doing things mixed in with the way Thais do things is like walking through a minefield sometimes (or driving through).

[@fuz4623]

look at the guns on Carrie!

[@anonymousperson2345]

👍💛

[@cjgear3781]

goodbye enjoy your life keep your dislike of America to yourself.,

[@BrianandCarrie]

We love America! It can sometimes be difficult to understand or hear the negitive side of things. We will return to our home three times a year and enjoy life to it's fullest! Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment. Cheers!

[@orangelily935]

Actually it our US DOLLARS makes retirement easier and stretch deeper to live overseas. I'm Asian American , knowing that strong usd brings me benefits while i go back home country or Europe, Grateful.

[@brucesnyder690]

Weather much better than where I used to live- Cinnecticut. There cold and snowy six months of the year. Don't understand your comment on cleanliness in Vietnam. Danang so clean you can eat off the street. Hanoi less so, but ok. I worked in NY City for many years. Dirty, bags of garbage everywhere. Overall Hanoi cleaner. Past six years have been some of the best of my life. Haven't missed the US for a moment. Would never go back.

[@brucesnyder690]

Ret