OpenTube

The Digital Nomad Dream is Finished in Thailand

keis one

135,011 views

Thailand was once the ultimate destination for digital nomads—but in 2026, the dream is beginning to change. In collaboration with SafetyWing: https://tinyurl.com/Keissafetywing2026

After five years of living here, I’m breaking down eight reasons why digital nomads and expats are starting to leave Thailand. From visa uncertainty and rising living costs to banking restrictions, tax confusion, the expat community and the realities of Thailand’s weather, some of the things that once made the country so appealing are slowly losing their shine.

With my own move to Japan getting closer, I’ll also share my honest feelings about leaving Thailand—and whether these problems are actually the reason I’m going.

🌍 Stay protected with SafetyWing Nomad Insurance: https://tinyurl.com/Keissafetywing2026

Sign up for Nomad Insurance and unlock eight weeks of free electronic theft coverage. Scroll down to the SafetyWing train, click the pink camera and enter the reward code: KEISONE

🚗 Thai driver’s licence service I personally use:
Facebook: Easy-Thai-Driving-License-Support-61577265039630

🔔 SUBSCRIBE & JOIN TO BE A MEMBER!! 🔔 keis_one

Join My Online Community for Content Creators! - https://go.getthecreatorsedge.com/kei...

🛠 I use 🥳
Travel Insurance - https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=k...
VPN - Go to https://surfshark.com/keisone for 4 extra months of Surfshark
Music: https://www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
eSIM - https://holafly.sjv.io/m4GZBX

💰Support 💵
🤫 Join Patreon for exclusive extras! - Patreon: keis_one
🍺 Buy me a “coffee” - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/keis_one
💰 Contribute directly - https://www.paypal.me/keis1

📸 My Gear 💻
New Camera - https://amzn.to/3UfsGGq
Action Camera - https://amzn.to/3UAdIfv
Main Lens (Wide) - https://amzn.to/4bgEOOb
Favourite Prime lens - https://amzn.to/4bl6Yrz
Zoom Lens - https://amzn.to/3WmJC0u
Studio Camera - https://amzn.to/3y4Ponr
Studio Lens - https://amzn.to/3B81f6n
External Microphone - https://amzn.to/3uhvx5m
Mic Adapter for GoPro - https://amzn.to/3sGQZ1D
GoPro - https://amzn.to/3Uj4h2U
Drone - https://amzn.to/3sBoqCY
Computer for editing - https://amzn.to/3OZRyNY

CHAPTERS:

00:00 The digital nomad dream is over
00:56 Visas and Thailand’s DTV
03:41 The digital nomad dream is collapsing
06:17 Thailand’s expat community
09:39 The rising cost of living
12:17 Difficulty accessing basic services
14:30 Tax confusion in Thailand
15:37 The reality of Thailand’s weather
17:20 When the shine wears off
18:09 Why I’m really leaving Thailand

#Thailand #DigitalNomad #LivingInThailand #Safetywing26

20 Comments

@keisone Creator 2 weeks ago Pinned

Just to be clear, this video is not about me, it’s suggesting reasons the digital nomad bubble has burst in recent years here.. I’m doin fine 👌

@kttananyada6580 2 weeks ago

As a Thai local, I really appreciate your honest and grounded perspective. You hit the nail on the head regarding the administrative friction—the banking rules, visa bureaucracy, and foreign card fees really need to adapt to modern remote living.

At the same time, Thailand is in a transition phase. For years, the line between casual tourists and long-term remote workers was blurred, but as the numbers surged, the government started pushing for clearer regulations, local tax integration, and better oversight. While it creates short-term headaches and makes Thailand less "cheap and effortless" than neighboring countries, it's part of becoming a more structured destination.

The "Honeymoon Phase" ending is inevitable no matter where you live, but we're glad Thailand was a great home to you for 5 years. Thank you for respecting our culture, sharing your journey, and all the best on your next chapter in Japan.

@AL4140 2 weeks ago

I’m actually happy about this. Every Dick and Joan constantly promoting Thailand all over social media I’m sure has a huge part of the prices being driven up. Yes I know it’s still affordable but it’s just getting ridiculous.

@คุณหมอ67 11 days ago

"Everyone was excited for our arrival!" Spoiler alert: They weren't.

@Lt_Dan_2027 2 weeks ago

Regarding bank situation is absolutely spot on. Tried to open an account, took me 4 tries, finally got it open, but what a nightmare, each time bank staff will ask for different stuff, and it was at the same bank

@AaronSeguin-q6c 2 weeks ago

Good! So tired of digital nomads, especially the social media influencers. Room temperature IQs and usually no respect for other countries.

@EchoSignals101 2 weeks ago

One time I had a big problem in Thailand and I made the mistake of asking people for advice on facebook and reddit only to realized how awful and hateful people really are

@djjames6576 2 weeks ago (edited)

The older crowd will reminisce of the good old days, and for good reason. Foreigners were much fewer, little social media and often we were armed with only a Lonely planet guide that hadn’t been updated for 2 years. And the baht was about 30 to $1 AU. Foreigners usually worked in the airlines, embassy work or banking. And the BTS only went to Bearing on Sukhumvit line. It’s much easier being a nomad now but for the life of me I don’t get how taxis are still ripping off people now there is Grab. Seems some things will never change

@thethrillofpattaya 2 weeks ago

I’ve lived here in Pattaya now for over 3 years and it Does Not rain every day for 6 months! The weather here is GREAT and I’m from California!

@DeanBateman-911 2 weeks ago

I live in Las Vegas and the corporations are making every effort in attracting the super rich and disenfranchising the average visitor who built the city’s tourism economy in the first place. $50 min table games, $50 parking, $50 resort fees, $30 cocktails, and the infamous ARIA minibar menu listing Fiji water at $24.75 and a regular-size Coke at $13.75. They don't want the unwashed peasantry anymore. They just want you to come, spend money and piss off.

@laughingoutloud3713 13 days ago

thats why i keep my apartment and travel 3x two months a year, nothing really beats my home yet

@Triboulaid 2 weeks ago

I’ve been traveling to and living in Thailand off and on for the last 10 years and one thing most people don’t realize is how much prices have increased. In places like Bangkok, CM, Phuket, Samui the cost of everyday items is on par (and higher in many cases) to many places in Europe. Especially when it comes to groceries, coffee, eating out, drinks, clothing. 5-10 years ago (pre-COVID) was peak IMO and the geographic arbitrage worked very well. Now not so much. The other issue is all those so-called cheap apartments — those low priced apartments around central BKK are cheap for a reason: most are shoebox sized / sardine containers with paper thin walls that 80-90% of westerners would not want to live in long term (nor would most Thais). In the past you could get a more decently sized (or what I would consider “liveable” size by western standards) 1BR/2BR for significantly less than Europe or the USA.. Now that is simply not the case. For a normal apartment rents and monthly rates are now approaching western levels.. that is maybe unless you are fine living in dumpier areas like Lad Prao or places 1hr from central Bangkok. The value just isn’t there anymore. The islands are an even bigger ripoff now, and most of them, save maybe Phuket, have dreadful infrastructure by western standards and are simply not equipped for long term living / working. Thailand is very over-hyped now and it’s all because of the DTV “dumb money crowd” who just discovered it.

@AprilGMckinley 2 weeks ago

I have been in Thailand 🇹🇭 now 2 years on the dtv. I am now looking into moving to Portugal. I might keep the dtv for vacation purposes.

@EquinoxZenith 7 days ago

I found the honesty in this video refreshing. Especially about banking, visa and the weather

@jameslamouria8923 2 weeks ago (edited)

Hands down thailand wins over Japan, i lived there for 4 years. Japan is way more expensive and lacks the fun

@davidlane180 10 days ago

If being a digital nomad is becoming a problem then maybe look at a real job, something like a digital plumber or something. Furthermore, I get the feeling this group of people are not planning for the future and the inevitable consequences of not having things lined up for the requirements of old age. Apparently they believe they will all be super successful and self sufficient. I believe there will be a major collapse in this market as people get tired of the hype and reach out for something new.

@JabbyDiablo 2 weeks ago

@6:40 its not just Thailand, the world has got a lot more toxic.

@ByronPhuket 2 weeks ago

It does not rain everyday for 6 months. Factually incorrect.

@Getbetter-ne9bi 2 weeks ago

There seems to be a few groups of people Thailand no longer wants.

@gotsy99 2 weeks ago

I think a lot of low earning nomads are going to be put to sleep in the next year or so due to AI eating their jobs. High earning ones will value places with more structure (visa options, banking, PR/citizenship).