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    Best Place to Retire in 2025 (Thailand vs Vietnam vs The Philippines)



    Best Place to Retire in 2025 (Thailand vs Vietnam vs The Philippines)

    #costoflivingabroad #retirethailandorphilippines #retireinvietnam

    In part of The Cost of Living Abroad Pod with @Willtravelz we compare the best affordable places to retire early in SE Asia: Thailand vs The Philippines vs Vietnam. Where should you retire in Southeast Asia in 2025?

    Become a Patron for early access, exclusive videos, Q n As and uncut interviews including this one with @Willtravelz

    https://www.patreon.com/evaneh

    This American Lives in VIETNAM Under $1000 with a Filipina Girlfriend! 🇻🇳 Part 1with @Willtravelz https://youtu.be/e7n1hlamGVU

    Full episodes available on this channel: @costoflivingabroad

    WATCH MORE VIDEOS:
    Full interview ⁨@Willtravelz⁩ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HHgKElqlpM
    My fave spots in Vietnam https://youtu.be/_kOAKXNDBUQ
    Life in Vietnam on $500 https://youtu.be/R4G73dVNAug
    SCAMS in Vietnam https://youtu.be/CIQFy93qWUk

    0:00 intro episode highlights
    1:30 Pros of Philippines vs Thailand or Vietnam
    3:20 Cons of Philippines vs Thailand or Vietnam
    6:00 Pros of (Bangkok) Thailand vs Philippines or Vietnam
    7:00 Cons of (Bangkok) Thailand vs Philippines or Vietnam
    9:30 Pros of Vietnam vs Philippines vs Thailand
    11:30 Cons of Vietnam vs Philippines vs Thailand
    13:50 Are local people friendly?
    15:30 Poverty in SE Asia
    16:30 What’s the local culture like?
    17:00 How do you meet friends?
    18:30 What’s dating like in Philippines vs Thailand or Vietnam?
    20:45 Comparing visas to Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam
    24:00 Advice for someone moving to SE Asia in 2025
    25:00 Full episodes of The Cost of Living Abroad Pod

    In part of The Cost of Living Abroad Pod with ⁨@Willtravelz⁩ we compare the best affordable places to retire early in SE Asia: Thailand vs The Philippines vs Vietnam. Where should you retire in Southeast Asia in 2025?

    Become a Patron for early access, exclusive videos, Q n As and uncut interviews including this one with @Willtravelz

    https://www.patreon.com/evaneh

    This American Lives in VIETNAM Under $1000 with a Filipina Girlfriend! 🇻🇳 Part 1with ⁨@Willtravelz⁩ https://youtu.be/e7n1hlamGVU

    Full episodes available on this channel: @costoflivingabroad

    WATCH MORE VIDEOS:
    Full interview ⁨@Willtravelz⁩ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HHgKElqlpM
    My fave spots in Vietnam https://youtu.be/_kOAKXNDBUQ
    Life in Vietnam on $500 https://youtu.be/R4G73dVNAug
    SCAMS in Vietnam https://youtu.be/CIQFy93qWUk

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    Discover the ultimate retirement destination in 2025 as we compare the top contenders: Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines! 🌴 Whether you’re seeking stunning beaches, a rich cultural experience, affordable living, or warm hospitality, this video breaks down the pros and cons of each country to help you decide where to start your next chapter. Don’t miss insights on cost of living, healthcare, quality of life, and hidden gems. Watch now to find your perfect paradise! 🌏✨

    #Retirement2025 #Thailand #Vietnam #Philippines #ExpatLife #TravelAsia
    #ExpatLife #VietnamLiving #FilipinaGirlfriend #VietnamBudget #LivingAbroad #travelasia #lifeinvietnam

    43 Comments

    1. @evan_eh on

      Thanks for checking this one out, guys. For me Life in Vietnam is tops, but Bangkok is a way better city than anywhere in VN. And I still need to get to PH. What about you>

    2. @brucef310 on

      This guy is giving prices from 20 years ago. I spend $2500 a month here in Thailand and i still can't do everything I want. Sure I could save money and move into a 10000 baht condo in Bangkok that is old and crappy looking and spend $200-$300 a month on food but that is either all street food all the time or Terminal 21. You cannot go out for a nice Steak dinner once a week and if you are dating then forget about it. Of yeah want to go out to some nice bars or clubs on a date and spend 400 baht at a nice place per drink then $1100 a month is not realistic at all.

    3. @MarcoMasseria on

      Asia? 90 day visas?! Nah!
      We don't have the prostitute scene, but Uruguay is an actual place to live that isn't nonsense.
      "Latin America" in name and Spanish language, alone.

    5. @SinkHoIe on

      If you are a tourist just visiting the Philippines you will think that cost of living is high….. but if you live like a local in The Philippines its way more cheaper than any asian countries.

    6. @markholland6657 on

      Easiest way to deal with Asia is accept its different, let go of everything you think you know or expect, look at what you NEED and if has those requirements then 'just go with it' all…

    8. @keithrogers9741 on

      Good eval, doing a eval of Malaysia would be helpful and beats the 3 except for the retirement visa cost, Sarawak being the cheapist, otherwise a free 3 mo tourist visa but cannot return immediately

    12. @oliver-church on

      Danang and other tourist cities are completely saturated with old wealthy expat men and have a poor uneducated population leading to a lot of prostitution. Danang in-particular has only developed recently, a lot of women who don’t want to be paid, are still not open to dating foreigners.

      Don’t believe the hype. I actually think Vietnam government sponsors these kinds of videos to be honest. Aside from that it’s still a great place to live, dating aside.

    15. @sffffish on

      The more developed countries The price will also be more expensive. It depends on your lifestyle and your pocketbook. Which one do you want?

    16. @JohnSmith-yx1ie on

      Don't discount English-speaking.

      If you are NOT a semi-native speaker of any of the native languages, you are going to have a rough time doing ANYTHING outside of the tourist areas.

      For English alone, staying in any of the major city centers in the Philippines (BGC, Makati, Ortigas, IT Park) beats Thailand and Vietnam, hands-down.

    17. @graerindley6312 on

      Your aversion to riding motorbikes is so phobic.
      Dude you look about 38; of course you dont get a retirement visa in Vietnam. But when your 90-day Vietnam tourist visa finishes you could take a holiday elsewhere (for negligible cost), return, then start a new 90-day stay.

    19. @Sunyata7755 on

      Three really important topics you didn’t cover are:
      1. Quality and cost of health services (medical and dental)? Health insurance?
      2. As you age it will likely become difficult to do visa runs.
      3. Taxation on income?

    20. @DamienYuen7718 on

      Whatever works for someone in the end. There is no right or wrong place. No right or wrong amount to spend. If it works for you then that is all that matters. If you spend $750 or if you spend $7500 is a personal choice based on what you can afford and what you want. Neither is being cheap or stupid with their money. You work with what you have to get what you want be it a little or a lot.

    21. @Chandoe65 on

      Have been 3 weeks philippines 4 weeks Thailand.THAILAND becoming expensiver.but quality everything streets houses looks better average.

    23. @thomasvansteenberge1790 on

      The host values 100s of dollars and malls more than decent conversations and social life.

      I've been in Thailand and the Philippines.
      In the Philippines you feel like a king. The connection, conversations with the people. Who on earth would prefer saving some dollars in some boring mall in loneliness?

    25. @jacobrivera3668 on

      For me personally Vietnam not having a retirement visa removes it as an option for a permanent residence… due to that Thailand has a bigger draw for me, but hey if Vietnam ever offers a retirement visa and its in my budget I'm so there lol.

    28. @truckn on

      His comment about knowing that Vietnam is communist was exactly what I've said. I said like this, after being in Thailand 1st and then Vietnam and if I didn't know and someone asked me which country is Communist, I would've said Thailand and hey I love Thailand. This is my 4th winter here. Maybe I think the way I do is because the Police are everywhere and their uniform looks more military than police uniforms and same with school teachers. I've spent 3 Feb in a row in Vietnam (Not last Feb) and I hardly see the Police. Not sure about Vietnam Visa run but they changed the rules in July 15 2024 for Laos border runs, you know have to spend at least 2 nights outside of Thailand to get the next 60 day extension.

    30. @BureaucracyWorld on

      You get what you pay for, and Thailand is the best option. You won't be bored in Thailand.
      Just dump your old lady and get a married Visa with a young Thai, and you will be doing just fine in Thailand.

    31. @RedWhiteBlue. on

      I’ve been to Da Nang and thought of living there. Stayed for few weeks and everything looked good on paper with good foods, infrastructure. But after few weeks and have done all the things to do, things just go downhill from there. Place is dying – empty parks, lots of buildings unfinished or abandoned, unfriendly locals, unpredictable weather. Da Nang feels artificial or unauthentic, like a Miami wannabe. Tourists are by beach and locals are by the river. You can stay there for few weeks until everything becomes boring and very familiar.

    34. @DLeske on

      My Filipina wife and I was in BGC Taguig for ONE YEAR with a nice one bedroom, food, travel and ease of commerce, money transfer all in for $800 a month.

    35. @GARYWARNER-g2x on

      AFTER THE NAM WAR , LOTS OF AMERICAN BOYS LEFT THE US AND MOVED TO THAILAND , WHY ? THEY WERE FROM BIG CITY" S , POOR BOYS THEIR FAMILY'S DID NOT CARE ABOUT THEM , SO LITTLE HOPE BACK HOME . I KNOW OF SOME .

    36. @uabtoca364 on

      Hello Evan, thanks very much for your insights. I understand your point of view but pardon me you just have one error on comparison that is Bangkok is a city capitol over 12 million inhabitants and Da Nang in Vietnam around 650k inhabitants and mainly not a country capital. Please don’t take me wrong. This is just a different not being bully at your post. But the difference between Bangkok (Thailand) and Da Nang (Vietnam) is huge. The rest I’m with you in that point of view. Thou to be accurate I’d choose another town in Thailand for instance Hua Hin similar characteristics as Da Nang🤔. Thanks very much

    39. @tailwind12 on

      good dude. good video, informative. i have been traveling to thailand for 17yrs. lived here now for 5yrs. did another 2 year stent back in 2012. 3yrs in Peru (cool place).

      the header this guy put is clickbait but many, not all do it: retired in thailand for $1000.

      so that is their "hook" to get you to click. once you click their numbers for YT go up and in time the revenue check goes up. the header actually said:

      $10,000 a year.

      NOT going to happen for 95% of the folks watching this. you being told and sold a fantasy for YT numbers. i have lived here for Years. retired military, was corporate for a whilte and live in thailnd for 7yrs over different time frames.

      a 50+ westerner (say US) within a few months will get sick and tired on that budget.

      the rave about thai food: IT will get old and you will want to cook youself OR western resturnats (a bit more pricey). i never got sick from thai food..but health wise do you think that the 70yoa thai cook on a cart from Issan is using virgin olive oil and top shelf soy. NO.

      want to keep under 10K. you better turn your AC off at least 50% of the day. ever day.

      want a thai girlfriend or "friend": good luck on $1000 per month.

      so rarely spoken about like IF it does not matter-

      medical insurance: drop you bike or hit by dumb thai taxi–you think the thai's will treat you for free? OR you will go to the government hosptial. good luck. do you speak fluent thai. really only at the international hospitals in english fluent. that is like, varies: $200 per month.

      you going to take a taxi or Bolt? of course not: motorbike for a month $150.

      oh you say live in a small village and not chang mai, pattaya ect. again, you speak fluent thai? nope.

      so motorbike, insurance and my apartment (long term) is nice, reasonable that is: $500 with ALL wifi, electric, ect. that $200 a night room with a broken bed, 20yoa AC will get old.

      so that is: $850 without food, without girl, without other expenses. to say $2000 per month is a buffer. not too much luxury but going on an having a nice time. yes. one person and you have "your friend" with you at times.

      unless you are doing a one-month challenge. sorry, do not buy this OR any $1000 per month in thailand.

    43. @jduncan48 on

      These are pretty limited criteria for choosing a country….it also depends on your age, your health, your financial resources…lately air quality has be one important also…the visa issue is important and Vietnam chard most foreigners out if the country during covid …so depending on Vietnam visa policy is a gamble

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