Where Thailand comes to relax
Hua Hin is where Thailand comes to relax. A calm, safe, genuinely Thai seaside town — the royal family's holiday home for a century — with everything an Australian retiree needs close at hand.
Don't just take our word for it — the experts agree
Thailand consistently ranks among the world's very best places to retire.
๐ Hua Hin was named among the best places to retire abroad in 2025 (one of four Thai destinations)
Forbes, "Best Places to Retire Abroad in 2025"
๐ Hua Hin was named among the top 10 places to retire in Asia
U.S. News & World Report, 2024
๐ Thailand ranks #1 in Asia (9th in the world), with 96/100 for cost of living
International Living, 2026 Global Retirement Index (24 countries)
๐ฅ Thailand is among the top three in the world for healthcare value (18/20, level with Spain and France)
Retirement Abroad Index 2026
๐ฐ Everyday costs in Thailand run around 45% below the United States
Numbeo cost-of-living data, 2026
โญ 96.5% of retirees say Hua Hin met or exceeded their expectations
2025 survey of 512 residents: Hua Hin Today, Be Well Medical Center & Assumption University
And beyond the rankings: we've personally spent time on the ground in Hua Hin — visiting the hospitals, clinics, banks, immigration offices and neighbourhoods — so our guidance comes from real experience, not a brochure.
What 512 retirees in Hua Hin actually say
A 2025 academic survey of 512 foreign retirees living in Hua Hin — run by Hua Hin Today and Be Well Medical Center, with researchers from Assumption University — found:
96.5% said life in Hua Hin met or exceeded their expectations
84% rate local healthcare as very good or excellent (4.2 out of 5)
Safety scored highest of all categories — 4.18 out of 5, for low crime and a strong sense of community
84% plan to stay in Hua Hin for at least the next two years
2025 survey of 512 foreign retirees in Hua Hin — Hua Hin Today, Be Well Medical Center & Assumption University.
A real town, not a tourist strip
Relaxed, safe, and authentically Thai — but with Western comforts, English widely spoken in shops and clinics, and a large, friendly expat community.
Excellent healthcare nearby
Modern private hospitals, an affordable local hospital, and English-speaking clinics — all close by. See Health & Safety for the full picture on what happens if something goes wrong.
A warm, welcoming community
Walking groups, morning beach walks, markets, golf, community get-togethers — it's remarkably easy to meet people. We help you become part of it.
A gentler cost of living
A comfortable month — eating out, a cleaner, the odd massage — can cost considerably less than the same lifestyle in Australia.
The beach, the markets, the food
Long sandy beaches, night markets, and some of the best, freshest, most affordable food anywhere.
Getting around — no car needed
One of the quiet joys of Hua Hin is how easy it is to get around without driving. Many people find they don't need a car in Hua Hin:
- Your neighbourhood is walkable — the beach, restaurants, markets and a 7-Eleven are all close by.
- The local songthaew (a shared open-back taxi) runs along the main road for around เธฟ15 (about AUD $0.65) a trip.
- Grab — Thailand's ride app — is widely available and generally affordable. No parking, no stress, no unfamiliar roads.
- We help make getting to our group activities easy.
If you do choose to drive or ride a scooter while you're here, that's your decision — and we'll point you to how to do it safely and legally, including the licence and insurance you'd need. But most people happily leave the driving to others and simply enjoy the ride.
Hua Hin, in motion
The little things that make Hua Hin, Hua Hin
