Moving to Thailand from the US helped Gen Z save money and travel

Simms-Aur, 26 years old, He said Thailand’s low housing and food prices allow him to save more money and have better peace of mind than in the United States.

“The things I was afraid to give up, like my nice car, my good job, and my nice apartment, were holding me back from achieving my personal financial goals,” Simms-Aur said. “Now that I’ve let go of those things, my ability to save, invest, and travel full-time has increased exponentially.”

Simms-Aur is one of many U.S. military veterans who have relocated overseas. As of 2022, there were 132 U.S. Navy veterans living in Thailand, according to a Defense Department report released in October 2023. Although the report did not include Among the reasons veterans left the United States, Simms-Aur said they wanted a better cost of living and the ability to travel more.

Thailand was the sixth most popular country for Navy veterans, after the Philippines, Japan, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Thailand offers low costs and a good lifestyle

Simms-Aur enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 21. He said he wanted better economic opportunity and didn’t want to take out loans for college.

“I did a lot of research into finance because I don’t come from a wealthy background,” Simms-Aur said. “I definitely wanted to change the trajectory of my family’s financial future.”

Simms-Aur served for three years and, after being honorably discharged, he said he realized how expensive it was to live in the United States. He received veterans benefits (but declined to specify what type) and worked in the computer industry, but felt like he was “surviving” living in St. Mary’s County, Maryland.

Additionally, he has always been fascinated by the prospect of traveling the world, often watching videos on YouTube and social media of young Americans exploring different countries.

Simms-Aur said she did extensive research to think about living abroad, including comparing the experiences of travel vloggers and reading Reddit forums and Facebook groups about people’s experiences moving abroad.

“I realized that Thailand was an ordinary country that kept popping up when it came to safety, cost of living and the ability to live a good lifestyle,” Simms-Aur said.

Simms-Aur is on a student visa and living off his savings and veterans benefits. He is studying cybersecurity technology at the University of Maryland Global Campus, which offers a hybrid program that allows him to complete his studies in Bangkok.

In his free time, he also learns Thai at a local school to immerse himself in the culture.

He hopes to save and build wealth while living abroad before eventually returning to the United States to pursue his career in cybersecurity.

Finding more affordable accommodation abroad opens the doors to travel

Simms-Aur said he had the courage to move in December 2023.

“The biggest obstacle was the initial anxiety and the mental decision to pursue the project,” Simms-Aur said.

In Maryland, Simms-Aur said his monthly rent is $2,123. In Bangkok, he pays $540 a month. His building includes a gym, pool, laundry facilities, a coffee shop and a 7-Eleven store in the lobby.

Additionally, he said daily living was affordable. For example, he could afford to eat out regularly and schedule mid-day massages. He added that he could get a healthy takeout meal for $3 to $7.

“I came here to make less money, but I feel like I’m making more money,” Simms-Aur said. “I think that’s the craziest part.”

He said the language barrier was not too much of a concern as the people he met in Bangkok had a working level of general English, but it also gives him the opportunity to practice his Thai.

Simms-Aur also plays the flute and participates in Bangkok’s music scene, including performing at the Mango Art Festival in Bangkok.

Simms-Aur said travel options include cheap destinations throughout Thailand, as well as easy flights to Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and many other countries. Given the low cost of living, he can afford to explore more of the world while saving money.

“I realized I valued time and peace of mind more than money, but by moving here I increased those benefits,” he said.

Are you a young American who has decided to move abroad? How do you save and finance your move? Contact us at jtowfighi@businessinsider.com