Is life in Bangkok better than Toronto in 2024?

[@kmichael1850]

Good video Cal. I am from Winnipeg and moved to Bangkok years ago and I could never imagine moving back. This choice is confirmed every time I go "home" for a visit.

[@thebangkokguide]

Winnipeg winters… I bet! I was back for a Toronto winter like 5 years ago and that was enough for me!

[@barry4848]

Brilliant summation video. I left Toronto 7 years ago....the change has been dramatic, and not in a good way.

[@thebangkokguide]

Thanks for the kind words! Toronto seems massively overpriced for what's on offer these days.

[@mikebaker4190]

I left Ottawa as a 61yr old in January to Retire to Thailand. Canada and the west are all set to collapse very , very soon. An avrage 1 bdrm in Ottawa goes for 1,600.00 -1,800.00. I lived in a new 1 bdrm condo complex in Jomtien for the first 6 months for 600.00 a month. 15 min walk to the beach. Now moved to Ao Nang /Krabi for 450.00 a month. 15 walk to the beach. Send the kids a ticket to come and see you in Thailand and get on with your retirement. I have friends coming here from Ottawa to retire next yr.

[@thebangkokguide]

Sounds about right. I was surprised at how much rent prices have increased in Ottawa as well. I went to university there and had a 4 bedroom house downtown with friends for $1600 back then. I can’t imagine how students are affording much of anything at this point… thanks for your input!

[@kleerogers]

exactly, fellow Canadian here, Penticton BC, our town house has gone up $300K in 4 years, we are pulling the plug soon, moving to Hua Hin

[@mikebaker4190]

@@kleerogers You will enjoy Hua Hin. Send the kids a ticket and get on with living a better life.

[@kleerogers]

@@mikebaker4190 no kids

[@mikebaker4190]

@@kleerogers Even easier. Enjoy the move.

[@BloobleBonker]

Great video Cal, again. Your final point is a great worry. Visiting Pattaya, Phuket or Sukhumvit Rd., I get the feeling that they are no longer part of Thailand, and the Thais now feel uncomfortable there. Western culture has walked all over the old polite and considerate Thai ways, and will continue to do so more and more. It's a bit sad but you can't stop progress. Fortumately, there's plenty of Thailand that is unaffected as yet!

[@thebangkokguide]

Thanks for the kind words. It seems like a global phenomenon of large scale migration that is creating a lot of social and cultural dislocation… not sure where any of it ultimately goes.

[@thastayapongsak4422]

Those places have been the center of western culture since the Vietnam war, and they will evolve over time.

[@kevinp8108]

The difference between Canada/USA and Thailand is that when people in the West lose their jobs, they set up tents along the streets, and when Thai people lose their jobs, they set up food carts along the streets.

[@thebangkokguide]

Good point... heavy regulations in the west, except when it comes to setting up full tent encampments. Strange.

[@moonmc1047]

No I'm Thai, when Thai people lost their job they can go to live with parents or relatives whereas in the west you are on your own, no one would help you except government benefits money. When parents are old most Thai family still look after their mum and dad also. That's Asian culture.

[@sofiabadis]

​@@moonmc1047 same for us muslims / arabs

[@someguyonyt2831]

@@moonmc1047 Yep, exactly this. I'm Thai-Japanese, born in Nara, Japan, currently living in Bangkok. While i'm in Japan, i live with my parents because it's rent free. But when i'm in Bangkok, i'm alone. Well, not exactly alone, i'm with my girlfriend but you know what i mean. Collectivism in a nutshell. In urban area in Nara, most people are still live with their parents despite having their own family and a stable job, same as Bangkok. Both countries have a strong cultural expectation for children to care for their aging parents, unlike the West. It's just how it is in East - Southeast Asia.

[@aman888]

​@@thebangkokguideOP's point has more about to do with Thai work ethic vs western standards.

[@waldosmyth8110]

Fully agree with your assessment. I live in Toronto for almost 20 years and can't wait to get out of here. Public transit is dirty and inefficient, the parks have been taken over by homeless people, going out for food has become unaffordable and then the unfriendly attitude of the residents. Despite all that, they believe they are a top-notch place to live! I lived in Bangkok for a couple of months and found driving a scooter safer than in Toronto. People are very open and friendly, as long as you try to speak the language and understand their culture (in Toronto, they only talk about how accepting and progressive they are) and I never felt unsafe - even in the area of Kholng Toey. And that's not even mentioning the culture. As soon as I can afford it, I'll be heading to Thailand - it's my happy place 🙂

[@thebangkokguide]

I wasn’t very impressed by Toronto when I was back recently… just didn’t seem like it was worth the cost of living there compared to other global cities. Thanks for your input! Cheers

[@eeemaster]

I'm with you dude. I came here in 1989 from Germany and have watched the painful decline of a once vibrant city with lots to do. Now it has 1 million dollar shoe-box condos and people who are not exactly nice.

[@versasys]

I total agree with you. I sold my condo in 2016 and have since been priced out the Toronto market. Now I spend 6-7 months during winter in south east Asia and enjoy a better standard of living than staying in Canada during this time.

[@thebangkokguide]

I think that too much of the Canadian economy and wealth is just centered on speculative real estate prices at this point… thanks for the input and hope life is going well! Cheers

[@JohnSmith-fd1ql]

Thai Buddhism is what makes the Thai culture the best

[@thebangkokguide]

Its a very relaxed and congenial culture.

[@ហ៊ុនសែន797]

❤❤❤

[@Cdnguy703]

Born and raised in Toronto. My family and I are selling our condo and getting out as well. I'm a realtor and know all too well how much hurt is going on with regards to housing affordability. Great video, brother!

[@thebangkokguide]

Thanks for the kind words. The affordability has really gone off a cliff there... you should do well abroad with the money from the condo! Cheers

[@adamparker21]

This is an awesome video man! Super well researched and encapsulates my exact feelings on Toronto Vs. Bangkok after heading back there during the Holiday Season last year. Cheers 👍🏼

[@thebangkokguide]

Thanks for the kind words! The reverse culture shock is real. Great videos on your channel as well. Cheers!

[@ialislam]

Great to see you're back and sharing the info!!

[@thebangkokguide]

Thanks! Back at it 😅

[@user-kz9rp3pq2z]

Really interesting, thanks Cal. Australia is sadly headed in the same and wrong direction, like Canada. I am leaving for SE Asia shortly. Thank you for the motivation to make a better life for ourselves!

[@thebangkokguide]

Thanks for the kind words. I have a few Australian friends here and they say it makes Canada look affordable. Welcome to the expat journey!

[@shawndennstedt5898]

Brilliant video brother. Keep up the strong work.

[@thebangkokguide]

Thank you for the kind words

[@JohnnyTog354]

Wow, great video man, carefully studied, thanks.

[@thebangkokguide]

Thanks for the kind words! Cheers

[@lukew5255]

I think Bangkok has chaos in traffic but I love the chaos! It’s so cool to be in amongst 100 motorcycles at a light and then it turns green and it feels like Mario Go Kart!

[@thebangkokguide]

It always reminds me of mariokart too 😂

[@kleerogers]

Cal, love your videos, 100% understand and agree with you about Canada, it has gotten so expensive, my wife and I can afford it, but why? Headed to Hua Hin as soon as we sell our home in Penticton BC. This will double our investments portfolio almost, even at 3% interest we will never run out of money in Thailand, not even close. Keep up the great videos 🍁 🍁

[@thebangkokguide]

Smart move. Thanks for the kind words. I think it largely comes down to propping up house prices in perpetuity as this is essentially the Canadian economy at this point.. while also keeping wages in check with cheaper imported labor to avoid a wage inflation spiral. Really sells out working classes, retirees and young people.

[@kleerogers]

@@thebangkokguide many do not plan properly, they live beyond their means, sacrificing tomorrow for extravagance today, most people do not understand money management and planning for the future/retirement. At some point we all have to work hard and save, and invest properly, maybe that means getting a roommate and living well below your means. For everyone that is different, but the goal is the same, the future comes soon enough, we all need to be prepared, maybe that means not living in ridiculously expensive Toronto or Vancouver, where all your income goes to rent/mortgage. I was in Fort McMurray for 10 years, I hated it, but I got to retire at age 49 because I worked 12-16 hours a day almost all the 10 years, no pain=no gain in life

[@thebangkokguide]

That is true. Actually there are many Canadian cities that still offer good value when it comes to cost of living versus wages... I believe that Edmonton ranks very well in terms of affordability globally. I think that this video definitely pertains to cities like Toronto and Vancouver.. whereas cities like Fort McMurray or Edmonton would be the pragmatic choices. That being said, I think that low cost of living non-western cities paired with online incomes or international pay packages can offer a great value proposition.

[@kleerogers]

@@thebangkokguide Yes, online income, pencions, investment portfolios/stock market, all good, Thailand is a no brainer, when we move to Hua Hin we do not plan to come back to Canada to live, no reason to

[@danielcully6047]

Get ready to get a Thai tax id#. You will be taxed by all the money you bring into country. I guess you did your homework on this.

[@mauriciolee7349]

Thank Cal for this INFORMATIVE video. One question please, you don't mention about the POLLUTION problem in Bangkok. Yes, Toronto has this problem too but Thai government has no law against pollution. A KZbin video titled "Top Thing You Won't Like About Thailand (Local Won't Tell You)" by Thai Thoughts speaks about this problem. The most interesting is she's originally a Thai.

[@thebangkokguide]

That’s correct. I have discussed pollution quite extensively in other videos discussing the negative aspects of living in Thailand. I agree that it is a big problem and downside about life here. Thanks for your input!

[@sylvainhyais8166]

Excellent video full of great insight..Same housing problems in France big cities....

[@thebangkokguide]

Thanks for the kind words. It seems to be similar in all major western cities.

[@mangostickyrice555]

Thumbs up 👍 Cal

[@thebangkokguide]

Thank you!

[@thehammer3340]

Leadership is crucial, out with the OLD and in with the NEW. Make Canada Great Again.

[@thebangkokguide]

It definitely is. Seems there will probably be an election fairly soon.

[@traceylankford8579]

That last thing you said is exactly what happened to Mexico. I'm thinking it hopefully won't happen to Thailand because of the distance from the west, but who knows.

[@magicfire1]

Thailand has many flaws but I can assure you if bunch of foreigners start misbehaving, create issues and Thai start complaining, they going to clamp down fast on visa rules and restrict long term tourist. Lot of Thai higher ups politics don't like foreigners.

[@thebangkokguide]

It’s all a question of economics and demographics… like much of Asia, Thailand is facing a demographic collapse very soon. Hard to see how any of it will play out.

[@SuperheroArmorychannel]

Excellent video comparing life in the west to life in Thailand. I’m preparing to permanently relocate to Pattaya after spending 3 months there this year. It checks all my boxes & Americas has become completely insane.

[@DeusExMachina50]

Why did you choose Pattaya over Bangkok?

[@SuperheroArmorychannel]

@@DeusExMachina50 2 reasons: the beach & the girls. Pattaya is also much more affordable than Bangkok & Bangkok is much too crowded & busy for my taste. Pattaya is more of a party town & it’s only advisable if you have some self control. I don’t party or even drink so for me it’s not a problem. Also Jomtien Beach is only 15 minutes away and it’s much mellower, quiet, cheaper & luxurious.

[@DeusExMachina50]

@@SuperheroArmorychannel Thanks, I'm leaning toward Pattaya as well.

[@SuperheroArmorychannel]

@@DeusExMachina50 Bangkok is better if you’re searching for a relationship. Pattaya girls are mostly freelancers and party girls and they’re less interested in anything serious. I’m not too interested in anything serious either so for me pattaya is an ideal place to make friends & have options. Jomtien beach is mostly where foreigners with families stay.

[@DeusExMachina50]

@@SuperheroArmorychannel I'm not looking for a serious relationship either, and Jomtien beach looks like the right fit for me.

[@VintageThaiLadyBoy]

Well, Bangkok is only 1.5 hrs from Moo Deng. That's all that currently needs saying 😍

[@thebangkokguide]

Moo Deng for the win 😅

[@ethics3]

My friend has a Thai wife . He is still in his home country selling off assets , but his plans for living in Thailand are in limbo right now due to the proposed new tax structures being proposed by the thai government .

[@thebangkokguide]

I’m guessing the Thai government wants to set Thailand up as a digital nomad haven and benefit from collecting taxes… so that could definitely be an issue in the future.

[@ethics3]

@@thebangkokguide Yes , but it goes farther than that. We , as well as a tax lawyer have been trying to make sense of what the Thai government is trying to accomplish , and it appears they will be trying to circumnavigate an agreement they have with many other countries that prohibits " double taxation"/ In effect it will allow Thailand to tax any assets that a foreigner has, even if he has already paid taxes on said assets in his home country ( if he spends over 180 days , or more , in Thailand each year ( all retirees) If this comes to fruition , it will have a devastating effect on the expat community , but details are vague and laws have not been passed as of yet. Still , many soon to be retirees are making alternate plans , Time will tell , but it looks like Thailand is in effect , killing the golden goose ( Much like different Liberal governments in Canada have decimated certain businesses through over taxation from the 1970s onwards )

[@melee75]

I live in San Francisco and pretty much everything you say about what's happened to Toronto is EXACTLY the same here. I also didn't realize the healthcare system was as bad as it is there since I'm American and always heard about how much better the Canadian health care system was. I guess America's healthcare system is so bad now anywhere else is better, even Mexico! I'll be giving Bangkok a month trial run to live this winter. I'm looking forward to it but I do have overall concerns about the pollution and overcrowding. Maybe you can do a video about those issues and other major issues about living in Bangkok/Thailand? I'll be seeing how it is firsthand though soon. Another great video though, keep up the great work!

[@magicfire1]

You coming during the peak pollution December to April. Don"t forget to buy an air purifier at home. If pollution is unbearable, you can go to Koh Samui. Amazing island. Some people don't mind the pollution though as they stay 70% of the time in malls/restaurant/in their condos.

[@mikebaker4190]

Jomtien is nice during that time of year. Less effect from the burning season and a quick jump to Koh Chang.

[@thebangkokguide]

Thanks for the kind words! I think most western countries currently have problems with healthcare due to shortages of doctors and nurses. A lot of this comes down to medical associations serving their own interests… fewer doctors equals higher wages, and governments seem to have been asleep at the wheel in terms of addressing a whole host of problems. Bangkok definitely has issues with pollution and overcrowding. I cover a lot of the annoyances of Bangkok life in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYLTn5Wegc1lY7Msi=mjNzFtTvdGf0uEeD

[@melee75]

@@mikebaker4190 The thing is I already know I don't want to live in Pattaya though. I do want to visit Koh Chang. I was in Koh Lanta last year and liked it a lot.

[@melee75]

@@magicfire1 I'll be in Bangkok from the end of October though November. Trying to figure out where to go for December, maybe Hua Hin or Koh Chang.

[@quarkcypher]

I am wondering how the locals in some Asian countries cope when their incomes are low. The countries I prefer in Asia are the higher cost nations like Japan and South Korea. Singapore is a great place too but expensive and hot. There are nice places to visit in south-east Asia but I find the humidity and heat too uncomfortable. Anyway, to each his own.. I live in a mountain temperate region of Australia and the climate in my region is comfortable for most of the year.

[@thebangkokguide]

Base housing and food costs are very low and people generally have larger family networks..but it is definitely difficult on the lower salaries.

[@HaklGuru]

Finally reached Bangkok two weeks ago! Looking forward to hopefully meeting and collaborating with you Cal? Hit me up when you get back!

[@thebangkokguide]

Welcome! Sure. Shoot me a message. Hope your enjoying Thailand thus far!

[@informative_wanderlust]

@@thebangkokguide Enjoy the face masks

[@Constellasian]

San Francisco and Los Angeles are in a similar situation. It's crazy how areas that were once considered good in these cities became dangerous and have tents all around. The delusional people will continue denying there are growing issues with these places though.

[@thebangkokguide]

It's strange that it's happening in almost every western country in similar ways... despite ostensibly having different elected governments.

[@Boddav]

Not just Toronto. Zones of the disenfranchised are evolving.And they are becoming easier and easier to gain residence in.

[@thebangkokguide]

True. Seems similar in most western cities.

[@KalilCirillo]

Thanks for the forecast! I need some advice: I have a SafePal wallet with USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (behave today finger ski upon boy assault summer exhaust beauty stereo over). What's the best way to send them to Binance?

[@thebangkokguide]

You should not post any seed phrases online.

[@eastcoasthomestead5207]

I have a question, when you rent an apartment, what are the financial requirements? First and last month? Security deposit? Paperwork?

[@thebangkokguide]

Usually first month rent and a security deposit that is equal to two months rent, and you will sign a lease. I recommend you watch this video, as I cover the whole process: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4G3qqyOqcapbtksi=BSrPP9_SXmrrgMAL

[@rydmerlin]

This reminds me of what I remember seeing in Australia the last few years.l with the housing crisis they have. There. But how does healthcare work there in Thailand for people who don’t have work permits? So Bangkok will eventually become Singapore. I just remember during the pandemic seeing the wealthy Thais travel to the US to get the RNA vaccines that were not available to them in Thailand.

[@thebangkokguide]

Healthcare in Thailand is quite good, but you will need decent health insurance for any longterm plans. You don't need a work permit to get private coverage. Here in Thailand we only had the AZ vaccine for quite some time so many wealthy Thais went to the US for RNA vaccines. I think this was similar for many countries, as the US had preferential access.

[@Pattayaman999]

Toronto is experiencing societal collapse. People are leaving. Bangkok is modern, civilized and safe. Bangkok for the win.

[@thebangkokguide]

It seemed a bit like the slow boiling frog… prices more and more expensive every year and most people are just poorer overall.

[@magicfire1]

Not only Toronto and Canada. Also big cities in western europe: Paris, London, etc... We all looking to move out to Asia ahah

[@10010x0x0x01101XX0X1]

lol. no it's not

[@taccntb4345]

Thailand is 3RD WORLD menality and quality. After one year I no longer want to associate with Thais unless they are educated enough to learn english. Fun Fact: Thais are taught English for 12 YEARS yet if you ask them anyhing in Engish they will stand there dumb founded. And these are Thais that are fresh out of school. The bar for Thai education is extreamly low... I may leave the country. Im tired of dealing with "nice" idiots.

[@marinagusova]

@@thebangkokguideBut you know , I’d like to make a valid point . Toronto has lots of khalistaanis 👳🏿‍♂️🇮🇳, whereas I believe that such problem doesn’t exist in Bangkok. Am I right ??

[@GUITARTIME2024]

I live in an American city that has no sidewalk tents, no park takeovers, etc. its illegal. Leadership matters.

[@thebangkokguide]

It definitely does. Good to hear things are better!

[@ignatiobuns4853]

Yet another well researched, insightful, and informative video. I think you nailed all points mentioned. I left California for a new life in SE Asia for all reasons stated (many thanks to you, Cal, for the motivation - been in Chiang Mai and Bangkok for the last two months, moving on to Da Nang in a few days - still looking forward to your Vietnam tour videos if time ever allows!). Never felt safer in my life roaming local neighborhood back allies feeding stray cats in Bangkok. Cost of living comparison is amazing. Locals have consistently made me feel very welcome. Will definitely return in the future!

[@thebangkokguide]

I agree. I love roaming around without even thinking about problems… I was walking around in Toronto and suddenly remembered that it’s important to pay a little bit more attention with the angry drunk guy coming at me 😂 Enjoy Danang! Beautiful place. Haha I’m getting to the Vietnam stuff now.

[@buffalosoldier7360]

Is that in Loonies or USD?…

[@thebangkokguide]

Good question. For rent in Canada it was in Canadian dollars, but everything in Thailand was US dollars… I should have added that!

[@eeemaster]

Hell Yeah! I do qualify for a DTV! I just need 60 days for the first round to see if I like it. Toronto has become unlivable since the sudden rise of housing in 2014. Now you need a median income of 160K Canadian to even live here. Wanna travel? Pearson airport is the most overpriced and over-fee'd airport in the world. You are paying almost an extra grand just to fly from here, making travel impossible for the average Canadian. Also I find Toronto lost its charm when they turned the club district into the suburbs.

[@thebangkokguide]

Yeah I was surprised at how much the downtown changed... costs to fly in and out of Canada, and especially inside Canada, are absurdly high. I feel like Canadians are kindof unaware of just how much harder inflation has hit there.

[@LeHalazoone]

Even the weather is better in thailand. Please can you let me know if data scientist jobs are in demand in thailand ? I m a fresher data scientist from montreal and i will leave here in 2 months🎉

[@thebangkokguide]

Definitely a lot better weather. I’m sure there are some data jobs available but at lower levels it’s likely a restricted job… remote work with the DTV visa may be your best option.

[@LeHalazoone]

@@thebangkokguide thanks a lot and good luck See you soon there

[@lucca_lee]

If it so cold how people who live in the tent outside can survive all night they need heater and thick wall.

[@thebangkokguide]

I think it’s very difficult in winter. I’m not sure how they survive also.

[@diviab5]

Different standard of living dude. I feel like you focused a lot on the lack of safety in Toronto which is known to be one of the safe in north america....hum I prefer taking a walk in Toronto than Manilla or some parts of BKK personally. Thailand is a developing country with tourism being the main industry. The country is working hard to attract tourists and expats. People are coming here to find what they're missing in the west. Not everything is positive tough. The country has some serious problems that us westerners need to really adjust. High pollution, drug, low salaries, scams, lack of job opportunities... And most importantly what about locals who struggled hard already and now even more and can't afford the rising cost of living due to foreigners ? South east asian countries are cheap only for foreigners who bring western currencies. All the awesome malls, food court, high rising condos with super amenities... are catered for westerners. The developers build to adapt to western lifestyle to attract farang.. There's lot of wealthy thais but most locals will never be able to afford these. Don't get me wrong, Thailand is a beautiful country to visit with awesome features but it's not a land of opportunities. Most of jobs are exclusively for thai citizens and it's understandable. It's great to move there once you have a successful business or retired or have a thai spouse for easy visa.. Wouldn't recommend for young professionals who want to build a life long term there unless they lower down their standard of living. Just my 2 cents.

[@thebangkokguide]

I think that I could make an entire video response to this comment. In terms of safety in public spaces, I definitely give the clear win to Bangkok over almost any western city as there just isn't much of a gang culture in Thailand. Overall, I would rank Toronto well within North America as well, but I wouldn't rank North America as particularly safe globally when it comes to public spaces. Manila actually differs considerably on that front, and I'm not sure how it made it into the comparison... but I never mentioned Manila and it's definitely very different from Bangkok. I agree about pollution and scams as key problems in Bangkok, and I've made quite a few videos covering those issues... And there are drug issues in Thailand, but drugs are much more prevalent in North America with nearly 10,000 overdose deaths per year in Canada and over 100,000 in the US. Thailand has nowhere near the level of overdose deaths or the open public use of drugs. In terms of tourism and development, you are placing far too much importance on westerners. To be honest, this is a very typical opinion in the west where people seem to think the west is far more important than it really is anymore. Tourism comprises 20% of the Thai economy... and the Chinese are much more influential in tourism and investment, alongside wealthy and middle class Thai people. All those condos and malls aren't being built to cater to westerners. Just take a glance at any metric... tourist and expat numbers, condo purchases, FDI, and westerners are a small segment that are way behind the Chinese.. as well as Russians, and even Japanese, Koreans and most other Southeast Asian countries. At this point, the property market in Thailand is an enormous bubble and a lack of external money has become the primary risk to the economy... hence all the pushes for new visa and tax programs by the government. And finally, when it comes to work it really depends on the industry. It's a total misconception that every westerner is earning a low salary here. There are plenty of corporate management jobs. International schools. Intergovernmental positions. I earn a salary that is commensurate with a western salary, as do nearly all of my friends... and this allows for far higher savings and investment due to the low cost of living. For young people, getting into an international career is far better at this point.. The only real selling point in western cities is getting into the ever inflating speculative housing market... but even then it's better to simply buy property, set up rental units and leave.

[@roygbiv6010]

@@thebangkokguide Very well said. I was recently in BKK and was blown away by the shopping centres, and I'm typically NOT a fan of shopping centres. These centres were unmistakably catered for East Asian tourists (Japanese, Koreans and Chinese), and young Thai people love Japanese culture in particular. The Western world is not that important anymore and losing its influence, particularly compared with the BRICS alliance. The West needs to stop stubbornly living in the past and accept its a multi-polar world moving forward.

[@diviab5]

@@thebangkokguide That was just my opinion over your comparison between two cities that are very different in size population and standard of living. It's almost uncomparable. Also don't be judgmental, I was not having a superior vision of the west over Asia. Maybe my points were a bit subjective but this is part of my own experience. You're probably right in term of investment and tourists coming mainly from China and others parts of Asia but I still think Bangkok is being developed to be more westernized. Also out of BKK but if you notice the business in islands such as Koh Samui, Koh Tao, they are completly catered to westerners. From restaurants, cannabis shops to gym facilities.. these are all built to attract westerners. I don't see many chinese, korean signs. And we all know Koh Samui is one of the most popular island in Thailand. Same apply to Phuket. No gang culture in Thailand? You gotta be kidding me. Lot of thai gangs. They're just very different and don't operate the same as in the West. Violence is not just defined by gangs in the streets hanging out late at night. Some thai gangs are protected and covered by police. This is corruption. One of the biggest issue in the country. Lot of murders, crimes are covered, the truth is hidden to protect thailand's image as the Land of Smile and also interests for important people. Investigation from police is known to be slow and corrupted. Lot of things are put under the rug. Also I believe there's a thai channel where they expose the murders, agressions and other types of violence. Thailand is no joke and can be pretty rough . Don't idealize the country too much. Lot of scary things happening that even locals have no idea. But agree on safety in BKK in general. I only mentioned some parts of BKK who are not very safe but this is from my own experience as I once walked through some sketchy parts and it was scary... Overall safe city. You also barely mentionned how locals struggle hard in this economy. Don't deny it. Look at the streets in BKK for example. Get out of Iconsiam and condos in Thonglor. There are lot of fancy areas but there's another side of BKK from locals living with intense poverty. Particularly the middle class struggle, Thai ppl don't have enough money and opportunities to travel like we do for example. Low pay and many work hours. The country is developing with lot of investors, businesses running , but what about the population ? Can they keep up with the rising cost of living? Do they benefit from the rapid growth of the country I still stick up to my opinion. From what you mentioned looks like you have a good situation. Good for you. And you bring your knowledge and money from the west. But Thailand is not a land of opportunities. Foreigners and locals struggle to make money. Of course there's lot of high corporate positions that foreigners can get but these are rare. If I were a young adult, highly skilled and wanted to invest or start a promising career I wouldn't head to Thailand. I would maybe settle down to Thailand once I'm financially secure to enjoy a life with lower standard.

[@Vitamin-bh9kg]

Bangkok just next)

[@heihachi1986]

We love your Us Moneyprinter!! 😂 USA!! USA!! 😂😂 Thank you

[@thebangkokguide]

Money printer go brrrr 😂

[@kenyeuong1773]

That's western society in general.

[@thebangkokguide]

True.

[@practice4089]

KZbin is getting weird. My comments on this video went to a private video ??

[@thebangkokguide]

No. I had to re-upload the video due to a problem with the last upload... although that was due to a KZbin error 😅

[@practice4089]

@@thebangkokguide 👍

[@danielcully6047]

Hey Cal, why don't you tell all your subscribers about the Thai tax laws that have been in place for years and now will be enforced.

[@thebangkokguide]

I've discussed taxes in previous videos, and I'll definitely discuss it again. I suspect that the DTV will align with tax law enforcement... but it's still too early to know what will happen. Thanks for the input... definitely an important topic.

[@chuachua-hj9zd]

While Thailand people also want to move elsewhere

[@thebangkokguide]

This is true. The average salary in Thailand is too low.

[@bluedouchemark4685]

I have it on good authority that "free" healthcare is the best healthcare, so...

[@thebangkokguide]

In my opinion it still is, but it requires proper management… and that has been totally absent during a period of massive retirement and change. The government and Canadian Medical Association policies have created huge doctor and nurse shortages due to overly restrictive training courses, a failure to develop foreign certification programs and a whole host of poor policy planning. I worked in strategic healthcare policy briefly in the Canadian government and the current problems with doctor and nurse shortages have all been well known and anticipated for literally decades. It’s unfortunate but we would have similar issues with lack of full coverage in a private system as well.

[@bluedouchemark4685]

@@thebangkokguide Ah, I see. Government run healthcare is best, as long as the government is better than it is.

[@thebangkokguide]

@@bluedouchemark4685 haha yeah bit of a catch 22 at the end of the day 😅

[@zickzack987]

The west is dying. Fast.

[@thebangkokguide]

It seems so.

[@chadejvongsa-ik9ky]

Bangkok is way better

[@thebangkokguide]

I prefer it as well. The countryside in Canada is beautiful but cities are lacking. Cheers!

[@besovereign2032]

Pretty silly question. When was Toronto ever that good? In the 80s? It could not compare to Asian living even in the late 00s, and now it is just an open farm for wage slaves to be harvested to the max like much of the anglo-hebraic west.

[@thebangkokguide]

Good point… I guess in the past it was favorable for having plenty of jobs and good economic mobility opportunities with a relatively affordable cost of living... but I agree that it never really compared with much of Asia or Europe in terms of social life or enjoyment.

[@besovereign2032]

@@thebangkokguide yeh basically the only reason if you have a VERY good job and this a good lifestyle most of us here on YT are probably not in that category

[@scottw7098]

Justin Trudeau 🙅‍♂️

[@thebangkokguide]

The basic math on housing to immigration numbers has been a total disaster of mismanagement.

[@Peter-sz1sn]

a man-child ... running the country ... (into the ground)

[@practice4089]

Sounds like you had some sense knocked into you...literally lol

[@thebangkokguide]

Indeed... lol

[@practice4089]

@@thebangkokguide woah! that's freaky...how did this comment get here??? LOL

[@alicezachannel3656]

wow what an obvious propaganda movie for thailand. how much do they pay you! Different standard of living dude. I feel like you focused a lot on the lack of safety in Toronto which is known to be one of the safe in north america....hum I prefer taking a walk in Toronto than Manilla or some parts of BKK personally. Thailand is a developing country with tourism being the main industry. The country is working hard to attract tourists and expats. People are coming here to find what they're missing in the west. Not everything is positive tough. The country has some serious problems that us westerners need to really adjust. High pollution, drug, low salaries, scams, lack of job opportunities... And most importantly what about locals who struggled hard already and now even more and can't afford the rising cost of living due to foreigners ? South east asian countries are cheap only for foreigners who bring western currencies. All the awesome malls, food court, high rising condos with super amenities... are catered for westerners. The developers build to adapt to western lifestyle to attract farang.. There's lot of wealthy thais but most locals will never be able to afford these. Don't get me wrong, Thailand is a beautiful country to visit with awesome features but it's not a land of opportunities. Most of jobs are exclusively for thai citizens and it's understandable. It's great to move there once you have a successful business or retired or have a thai spouse for easy visa.. Wouldn't recommend for young professionals who want to build a life long term there unless they lower down their standard of living. Just my 2 cents.

[@alicezachannel3656]

While Thailand people also want to move elsewhere

[@thebangkokguide]

You already posted this exact comment from a different account 🤦‍♂️

[@sociallypatterneddefect9580]

No shit Sherlock

[@silentcoconut]

Bangkok smells really bad tho lol

[@thebangkokguide]

Fair point 😅

[@ហ៊ុនសែន797]

❤❤❤