Do Americans ever retire in poorer countries such as China or Thailand, because they can live like kings...?

For instance, I went to Thailand two summers ago and it was great! Food was delicious, 4-star hotels cost only around $30 USD per night or less, and you could get a 2-hour massage for $6 USD! (In America, a 2-hour massage would easily cost $160+!) So of course I got to thinking, why don't people just work for a little while and make some money, then go and retire in Thailand? Do people do this? It seems like people don't do it unless they're in the army and happened to be stationed there for a long time, or some reason like that.

Public Comments

1. I'm sure they do, but who would want to live like a king in crapland? China is a communist country and Thiland is well known for it's child rape and skin trade. No thanks.
2. Yes, Thailand is the best place to live in.
3. You'd be surprised that many (not % wise) do exactly that. The reason why more people don't is because of comfort zones. Most Americans are comfortable because they know the laws, stores, food, etc and are afraid of change. However, it's not that cheap to live in the nicer areas for exampel of China as it used to be. In respone to the first post...I think she has never traveled anywhere outside her hometown. Hong Kong for example is one of the most modern cities in the world.
4. Allot of western people (mainly men) retire in Thailand, all the good things in life cheap living and girlfriend which can be their grand daugther...... But why not, spent more money in Thailand, local population will enjoy it too...
5. They do it all the time, and a lot of them were never in the military. They are called "expatriots". And they tend to go where the climate is nice
6. yes people are doing this. Mexico is a favorite, closer in distance to the U.S.
7. Well, I used to know some people who went to Mexico to retire for that reason - plus it is warm year round and you can drive back to the states to visit relatives. Peace!
8. I know a gentleman who took early retirement and now he spends his winters in Thailand. He just goes on a 90 day tourist visa everytime, so he leaves after Christmas and comes back in the spring.
9. Absolutely. Many wind up in Mexico. But there are cultural and language difficulties to overcome (although some never venture out of their expat communities), so it's not for everyone.
10. It may seem to the casual observer that you can live like a king in Thailand for next to nothing ,well the basics in life are relatively cheap that is true a lot of the better things in life that you or I may be accustomed to still are relatively expensive so to live really well you would still have to have about $500 per week coming in. on that money you would live comfortably but not like a king.
11. It's not that cheap. A 2 hr massage is usually 500-600 baht - about $15US A 4 star hotel in Bangkok will be at least 2000b a night , more in high season - $50US. Lots of Americans retire here but even more British & Australians do it. You could live comfortable here on $1000US a month, live like a king on $2500 US a month.
12. I like Thailand very much but because Spanish is a much easier language and I like parts of South America. I now spend most of my time in South America. I sold my house and am suffering now in Argentina.