Methodology & Sources

Last reviewed June 2026

This page exists so you never have to take our numbers on faith. Below is how every calculator works, the data behind it, and the rules we hold ourselves to.

Our sourcing rules

Sourced & dated. Every benchmark carries the source it came from and the date we last checked it, both shown on the tool.
Status-flagged. Numbers are labelled sourced (from a citable source), estimate (a reasonable modelling assumption), or verify (needs confirmation before you rely on it).
Editable. Every assumption can be changed by you on the page, so the result reflects your real quotes — not just our defaults.
No invented data. If a figure can't be sourced, it's flagged "verify" rather than presented as fact.

The formulas

Cost of Living

Monthly total = Rent + Utilities + Internet + (Mobile + Food + Transport + Insurance) × adults + Nightlife + (Gym × adults) + Children + a 10% buffer. Household items are counted once; per-person items scale with the number of adults.

Condo ROI

Gross yield = annual rent ÷ price. Net yield = (rent collected after vacancy − management − common fees − maintenance − tax) ÷ all-in cost. Payback = all-in cost ÷ net annual income.

Rent vs Buy

Both paths start from the same cash. Buy wealth = home value − selling costs − running costs; Rent wealth = that cash invested − rent paid. The break-even is the first year buying overtakes renting.

Trip Budget

Total = (daily cost per person for your travel style) × days × people + one-off flights.

Visa Finder

A transparent rules engine scores all ten routes against your answers using hard eligibility gates (age, income, savings) plus purpose fit, then ranks the best matches with the reasons and gaps shown.

Best Time / City Comparison

Best Time weights weather, value and crowd scores by your chosen priority. City Comparison uses one standardised "comfortable single" basket so cities are compared like-for-like.

Data sources

Cost of living & trip costs: thailand-property.com, hipflat.com, bambooroutes.com, retiredinpattaya.com, freedomabroad.io, roof21.co.th, iamkohchang.com, pattayamotorbikerentals.com, traveloka.com, budgetyourtrip.com, pattayaup2u.com (2025–2026).

Health insurance: pacificprime.com, expatden.com, insurance-thailand.com (2026).

Property & investment: globalpropertyguide.com, franklegaltax.com, forbesandpartners.com (2025–2026).

Visas: Siam Legal, ThaiEmbassy.com, ExpatDen, the BOI LTR portal and Thailand Privilege (2026), plus official Thai government sources (thaievisa.go.th, immigration.go.th).

Cities & seasons: thethaiger.com, expatistan.com, shortform.com, pickyourtrail.com, holidify.com, pattayaunlimited.com (2025–2026).

Exchange rates: exchange-rates.org and coincodex forecasts, refreshed periodically and editable on every tool.

How often we update

All benchmarks live in a single dated configuration file. Volatile figures — exchange rates, rents and especially visa rules — are reviewed regularly and re-dated when changed. Because rules and prices move, always confirm anything important against a live official source before acting.

Everything here is general guidance and planning estimates — not financial, legal, tax or immigration advice. Verify with official sources or a licensed professional before making decisions.

More on who builds this and why on the About page, or jump straight to the tools.