hey I have always said that being an expat is cool (been one here in thailand for over 24 years) but tourists can often have more fun

Condos are the way to go as a Farang can own one (up to 49% of the total amoun tof condos) but as u say they are pricey.
They have just started a few projects here in kamala and they start at 4,500,000 for a small 2 bedroom back in the village>.

Pattaya is indeed cheaper but Pattaya is well Pattaya and who would want to live there?

BUT its the visa siutaion that gets ya even on a retirement visa u need to show 800,000 in the bank for 3 months before they will grant you the 1 year extension

Thailand is not as cheap as it once was and they keep changing the rules for visas. Geting harder and harder to stay here unless u have the $$$.

Cambodia issues a 1 year multi entry business visa for $250 no questions asked. Vietnam is opening up

whle Thailand crawls backwards into the stone age
Still no real goverment in Place, no consitution, no freedom of rights. and daily bombings and killings in the south

They want your money here and not you BUT all in all there are a lot worse places to live

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A good Traveler is one who does not know where he is going to,
and a perfect Traveler does not know where he came from.