News Summary

• Thailand's long-stay visa options have long attracted overseas retirees.
• In 2025, Thai civil registration data recorded just under a million registered foreign residents.
• Chiang Mai, which has an international airport, accounts for a sizable share of that population.
• There, a bowl of noodles from a street food stall or a latte from a café can cost around 75 Thai baht, or about $2.50.
• The Thai concept of "sabai sabai" — living in a relaxed, unhurried way — is something many told me they've come to embrace.