Land, property and real estate portal for Krabi province in Thailand

Some Krabi expats talk about their first-hand experience of moving to Krabi and how they have settled in to life here.

See also - Krabi expat guide: practical information for those wishing to move to Krabi

John, UK

“I MOVED to Krabi because of family and friends. Even though I’d been here on holiday a lot before I moved, I did find it quite hard to adapt. Everyday life is totally different from being a tourist. You don’t go to the beach every day and out partying every night, for a start!

“You spend more time in the house, which makes it quite important to have your own place, rather than renting. You also have to adjust to eating the Thai food - western stuff is just too expensive for every day.

“There’s also the whole ‘nature’ side, which you never see when you stay in a hotel. In a regular Thai home, there’ll be creepy crawlies, frogs, and even snakes to deal with, so if you plan to live out in the countryside you should be aware of that, especially if you have children - that’s why I live in a clean compound in town!

“On the plus side, life is much safer here - my kids can play outside and they have much more freedom than back home. You meet new people all the time and the expats are pretty friendly. And you’ve got top-class hospitals and shopping for everything you need in Phuket only an hour and a half away.”

Renato, Italy

“I THINK you are definitely able to have a good quality of life in Krabi, especially if you like nature and being out of doors.

“If you come from a big town, you might find some services lacking, like hospitals and shopping malls. Maybe this is not so good for older people, although if you can drive, Phuket is very close.

“On the property side, I would recommend not rushing into anything. Take your time, maybe even rent a place for a year or so first to get a feel for the area and if it’s the kind of place you will be happy in. You need to be able to feel comfortable with Thai people as there are not so many expats here that you can spend time exclusively with them.

“This will also give you time to get proper advice and check out the seriousness of what is on offer. There is more and more choice now and ways of buying so you have to be sure about what you’re doing.

“But once you decide to stay you will not regret it. I moved here 15 years ago and I still love the place. It’s a beautiful area, with friendly people, really one of the nicest places I’ve seen in Thailand.”

Sune & Birgitta, Sweden

“WE started as tourists in Krabi, but then decided to move, after touring many places in Thailand. We come from a small country town in Sweden so Krabi is quite similar, it’s not too big and also it’s friendly. We like to live with Thai people also, not only foreigners.

“We are not so good with language - and Thai people are not so good with English either. This can be a problem sometimes, but we usually understand each other!

“We got help from other Scandinavian expats to find the place we are living in. We rent the house as it was fully furnished so we did not have to do anything or invest a lot of money. There’s a good kitchen too and we cook and go to the market every day.

“You should not worry about living close to the beach - you will find when you are here you don’t need to go to the beach every day - same as back home there are lots of other things to do! When you do want to go it’s easy. Krabi is very easy to get around.

“We find living here very safe and quiet. You can have a good standard of living for not so much money.”

R E S O U R C E S > > >

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Intro to your property rights
UPDATE! Your new property rights as a company owner
Land titles 101
The price of land in Krabi
Krabi Property Clinic: your questions answered

SCAMS AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
Common pitfalls when buying real estate in Krabi
Beware of bogus agents!

CHOOSING A PROPERTY
Where to buy your home: a guide to the different areas
The Krabi holiday home checklist
Self-build or off-plan?
Focus on Had Yao: Krabi's next big thing?

DESIGN & INTERIORS
Design tips from a Krabi architect
Creating a modern Thai-style interior
Planning a tropical garden
Should you install a swimming pool?

SHORT STAYS AND RENTAL PROPERTY
Renting a house in Krabi: a guide to the different types of houses available, prices, and where to look
Long term hotel stays

LIVING IN KRABI
Case study: retiring to Krabi
Expat life in Krabi
(Practicalities for the long-term resident)
Expat testimonials: moving to Krabi - how was it for you?

KRABI PROPERTY LISTINGS
Homes and land for sale and rent in Krabi

Krabi property news - new developments, infrastructure etc.

WHO WE ARE('nt)
Krabi Property is not a real estate agent - we do not sell houses, land, or property of any kind, nor are we affiliated with anyone who does. We provide the only honest and independent information about the housing scene and the legal process of property purchase in the Krabi area, because we are not trying to sell you anything. Though you will find listings of Krabi villa projects and developments on our site, these are paid for as normal advertising and we do not receive any commission or kickbacks for sales. Finally, we regret that we cannot provide help for individual customers; those interested in property purchase should contact our advertisers directly, not us. More about us.

More from our partner sites - for your complete guide to Krabi Province:
Your Krabi (Ao Nang, Krabi Town, Railay and the mainland coast)
 
Phi Phi Islands Guide
 
Lanta Islands Guide