Bangkok Was the Easiest City to Work in After 20 Years Abroad

When I look back on 20 years across three continents, I’ve learned one truth: Some places make expat life easier than others.

A decade ago, I was at what felt like the height of my career in South Africa as a magazine editor, yet I wasn’t fulfilled. The constant anxiety fueled by the crime rate was a heavy weight, and I had hit my professional ceiling.

The moment of clarity came in 2014, on a night bus winding through rural Thailand during a vacation. I realized then that I needed to move abroad.

But as many expats discover, working abroad isn’t always glamorous. Visas, cultural barriers, and red tape can turn a dream into a struggle. Along the way, I fell in and out of love with cities. I’ve finally found the easiest city to work in, but it took many years of searching.

Life abroad was calling me

My first expat venture came at 23, when I moved to London on a two-year working holiday visa. My fascination started as a fanatic’s dream. I was obsessed with the Spice Girls and landed a job as a music editor. I was living my dream, meeting the band, and even got to judge the Brit Awards, which, for a short while, they dominated.

But the dream faded after summer. The relentless gray skies and cold were a brutal shock after a lifetime of African sun. I realized seasonal depression is real and that sometimes, you can be too young for such a drastic change.

I quit after seven months. It became clear that a glamorous career doesn’t always equate to a livable environment.

Related stories

Opportunities in the Middle East

Years later, at 30, I landed an editorial role in Dubai. I was concerned about being gay, but living there was a revelation. Turns out being gay wasn’t a problem. What I learned was that public affection is frowned upon for everybody, and sexuality isn’t an issue unless you make it one.

The city’s 90% expat population made finding my tribe easy. Everything was safe, efficient, and glamorous. Even a trip to a mall toilet was like a luxury service.

For five years, I thrived in Dubai’s high-energy, manufactured brilliance. The city taught me the value of a community built on shared ambition, but it was still a grind. It felt like a place where you constantly have to put in the work.

A job opportunity prompted me to move to Abu Dhabi. It felt like Dubai’s quieter, more reserved cousin. Getting around was a nightmare: no metro, long taxi rides, and a slower pace of life.

While charming for some families, it was a little less exciting for singles. I landed myself in hot water with security after being spotted kissing a guy in a beach club pool.

After living in the city for almost a year, I knew it was time to get out.

Bouncing across Asia

Seeking excitement, I moved to Singapore for a job. If Abu Dhabi felt slow, Singapore left me even more unprepared. The city is famously clean and safe, but I never found its pulse.

Making friends with locals was tough — many my age still lived at home — so I jetted off to Thailand or Bali nearly every other weekend. Singapore remains the only place I’ve lived that I never want to revisit.

After only six months in Singapore, I relocated to Hong Kong. At the time, work visas were easy, and expat jobs plentiful. I arrived in March 2020, oblivious that I’d soon be locked down for more than two years.

My tiny apartment became my world. I watched the city’s soul change. By the time borders reopened, English-language jobs had shrunk, redundancies were common, and the soaring cost of living no longer made sense. The payoff vanished, and so did my love for the city.

Settling down in the easiest city

And that’s how I found myself back in Thailand. But this time, I wasn’t just a traveler. After 20 years, I’ve found my answer in Bangkok. It is, without a doubt, the easiest city I have ever worked in.

The Thai capital is often Asia’s go-to for expats, and for good reason. It offers an exciting lifestyle, affordable cost of living, and accessible visa options.

When I discovered the Destination Thailand Visa, it felt like a golden ticket. Designed for remote workers and freelancers, the online application was simple and cost me 10,000 Thai baht, about $310. It’s valid for five years.

I’ve been living here for almost a year and, for the first time in a decade, I can breathe. The stress of visa renewals and bureaucratic uncertainty has vanished. I’ve settled on my own terms, finally achieving a healthy work-life balance in a country I genuinely love.

For now, I’m done searching.

Got a personal essay about moving abroad that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor: akarplus@businessinsider.com.