I Retired In Thailand 6 Years Ago — 2026 Is The Worst It Has Ever Been

Overview

A viewer message prompts a long, evidence-based “verdict” from Colin Haverstock Price, a 64-year-old retired history teacher living in Chiang Mai, Thailand for 6 continuous years. He argues that, compared with his earlier years, 2026 is the worst year he has experienced in Thailand—not because Thailand is collapsing, but because measurable conditions have worsened across multiple dimensions.

Framing and method

• Colin says he is not in crisis and intends to remain in Chiang Mai long-term.
• He claims he has spent 32 years teaching students to separate nostalgia from analysis and alarmism from evidence.
• To avoid bias, he sets a baseline by reviewing each of his first five years, then explains why the current year is different.

Year-by-year baseline

• Year 1 (pandemic era): abnormal. Tourism ground to a halt; he “doesn’t count the first year” when judging whether Thailand is worth it.
• Year 2: tourism revived; Chiang Mai felt lively and affordable. He formed friendships with long-term retirees/professionals, and daily life was stable and enjoyable.
• Year 3: a noticeable shift as digital nomads increased and coworking/short-term rentals expanded. Changes were not “catastrophic,” but rents rose and local businesses catering to Thai life were replaced by offerings for a different demographic.
• Year 4: practical tightening begins. The British embassy stopped issuing income-certification letters, forcing him to show proof via consistent monthly transfers to a Thai bank—more paperwork and more risk. He also notes increasing inconsistency across provinces (“amplification”).
• Year 5: gradual decline becomes visible. Tourism density drops in parts of Chiang Mai; some restaurants/areas thin out. His social circle weakens as friends leave, and rebuilding at an older age is harder.

Why this year is “worst” (6 dimensions)

Colin says 2026 is worse than any prior year across six categories, each supported by specific examples:

1. Administrative burden (visa/verification): His latest renewal required the most paperwork, verification steps, and time at immigration. Added requirements include extra checks on the source of funds, tighter health insurance rules (approved insurer list), and fixing TM30 address discrepancies.

2. Cost of living / squeezed savings: Using the same expense spreadsheet, he reports monthly costs rising from about £820 (year 2) to about £1,190 now—roughly a 45% increase over 4 years. His monthly surplus shrinks from ~£680 to ~£310. If growth continues, he fears savings could disappear within a few years.

3. Social environment deterioration: Higher turnover among expats, fewer long-term “core” friendships, and difficulty forming stable ties at age 64. He links some of this to growing uncertainty about whether residents can manage stay requirements.

4. Physical environment changes: Walking routes are less pleasant due to conversions of local markets and shophouses into tourist accommodation/boutique guesthouses and laptop-oriented businesses. He also reports one of the worst smoke seasons and prolonged road construction reducing daily enjoyment.

5. Institutional “Thai warmth” under economic pressure: Personal human warmth remains (e.g., a long-standing market seller, clinic staff, and remembered interactions), but small businesses feel more strained. A previously lively coffee shop owner appears more reserved/tired, which Colin attributes to reduced profitability and rising costs.

6. “Premium for uncertainty” (loss of future certainty): Earlier years allowed confident planning for visa renewals, rent expectations, and living stability. Now rules have changed twice within 12 months, rent and expenses are harder to predict, and even his social circle may not persist—creating a new kind of stress that he treats as an independent cost.

Counterbalance (what hasn’t worsened)

Colin emphasizes that Thailand overall is still good for him, and some life metrics improved:

• Health/stress: better health indicators and lower baseline stress than during his working years.
• Diet and walking: fresher Thai food and more walking.
• Financially: still positive, not in crisis.
• Quality-of-life elements persist: coffee shop, clinic, walking routines, Sunday market (though smaller), continued friendships (though weaker).

Final advice to prospective retirees

Colin’s conclusion addresses men considering the move:

• Don’t base budgets on outdated videos; add at least 20% to monthly totals—or don’t come if it still fails.
• Expect social turnover and be prepared to work at friendship building continuously.
• Don’t assume visa rules are permanent; build life flexibility so increased documentation won’t jeopardize staying.

He reiterates he is not leaving and that his decision still makes sense based on his circumstances—but he argues the honest answer is now more difficult and more qualified than what most optimistic expat content suggests.

Presenters / contributors

• Colin Haverstock Price (main narrator/author; the viewer who wrote in under his name and then speaks on his own behalf)