Thailand Starter Kit is a one-stop relocation resource for Thailand. We provide free guides to current and future expats who are looking to live and work in the country. Covering the less glamorous topics every expat and long-term visitor has to figure out, you can read up on step-by-step guides to health insurance, renting an apartment, opening a bank account, hiring a lawyer and other challenges of expat life in Thailand. If you’re looking for something specific, you can use the search box on the right hand side (bottom of the page if you’re viewing it on mobile).
Where to Start
A good place to start is this detailed overview of my cost of living in Bangkok. It shows what I spend money (as well as exactly how much) while living and working here. From there you can then check out what you’ll need for living here, discover how to get the best deals and figure out the most convenient solutions. The article cross-links to a lot of other sections on the website, making it easier to dive deeper into how to figure life out in Thailand and what it’ll end up costing. You can also check out our ‘Start Here!‘ guide which gives you a very good overview of the contents of this website.
And if you enjoy the free content we have to offer, check out Thailand Starter Kit: Save Cash, Land a Job, Avoid Pitfalls, and More. It’s the only guide of its kind. It’s written by expats and researchers who’ve been living in Thailand for over a decade. The book helps you avoid the pitfalls every expat faces in the Land of Smiles and saves you hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars.
Popular Posts
Wondering what issues are important or difficult? These are the posts that consistently receive the most traffic, giving you a good idea what other readers are trying to figure out:
- A Step-By-Step Guide to All Thailand Visas: From Application to Approval
- An Expat’s Guide to Finding Work in Thailand
- An In-Depth Guide to Renting an Apartment in Bangkok
- Thai Health Insurance: Here’s What You Need to Know as an Expat
- Cost of Living in Bangkok: How I Spend ฿74,031.83 Every Month
Highlights
I cover the essentials of life in Bangkok, but there are some areas that I feel particular confident in giving advice. These aren’t always the most popular posts, but I think they can really make a different for people moving here. I’m a health-conscious guy (how to stay fit in Bangkok), who likes to optimize life (where to order groceries on the internet) and enjoys running a tech company out of Bangkok (how to hire the right people in Thailand and how to handle cross-cultural management challenges). If you are still trying to figure out what you could be doing when you move to Bangkok, you might also want to check out this guide to finding a job in Thailand.
Latest Articles
We constantly add new content to the website. If you haven’t been back in a while, you can find a list of new articles here:
Pharmacies in Thailand: How to Buy Over-the-Counter Medicine in 2026 - Learn how pharmacies in Thailand work, including what medications are available over the counter, prescription rules, trusted pharmacy chains, online delivery options, and tips for buying medicine safely and affordably as an expat.
Prenuptial Agreements in Thailand: A Guide for Foreigners Marrying a Thai - A Thai prenup only works if it's handed to the registrar on your wedding day. Sign it a week later and it's worth nothing. Here's what a Thai prenuptial agreement can and can't do, why it matters most for the foreign spouse, and what it costs.
Opening a Thai Bank Account: A Guide for Expats and Tourists - By the end of this guide, you'll find out about the documents and requirements you need to open an account, the best Thai banks for expats, and much more.
Cost of International School Fees in Thailand: A Family Budget Guide - International school tuition in Bangkok runs from about THB260,000 to THB1,197,000 a year, and the headline number is never what you actually pay. Here's what the published fee schedules add up to, tier by tier.
Traveling Out of Thailand With Your Thai Children Without Your Spouse - If you have to travel outside of Thailand with your Thai children but not your Thai spouse, follow this guide for the process and documents.Podcast: Brewed in Bangkok
If you’re wondering what life is like for the people who actually live in Bangkok, you should check out our podcast ‘Brewed in Bangkok‘. It’s a great way to discover the stories that lie hidden throughout Thailand’s capital. Here are the latest episodes of the Brewed in Bangkok podcast:
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If you would like to listen to all Brewed in Bangkok podcasts, you can find them here.
The Next Step
Already read up on everything you need to know about moving to Thailand? If you are ready to pack your bags and ‘your bags’ includes more than you can carry yourself, you can enter your details below to get a quote for moving your belongings to Thailand using the form below.
Disclaimer
This is a for-profit website that includes links to partner companies. I receive a financial compensation from people clicking on them. This happens at no cost to you and helps me cover some of the expenses of running this website.
Contact Me
If you have a question that’s not answered on the website, please feel free to contact me and I’ll do my best to help you out. Keep in mind that I have a day time job managing a company, so replies might sometimes be a bit delayed.