pension

Bragi Jonsson is Icelandic but hates the winter’s freezing cold there. In fact, he hates it so much that since 2020, he has been heading south during the winter

A retired security guard who swapped his life in Europe for a sun-soaked Southern Hemisphere country has shared how much his life there really costs.

Bragi Jonsson is Icelandic but hates the winter’s freezing cold there. In fact, he hates it so much that since 2020, he has been heading south during the winter, staying in Thailand for months at a time. The 69-year-old rents somewhere cheap and spends his time relaxing, enjoying the warm weather and local culture.

The Mirror caught up with Bragi during his most recent trip to Pattaya, a vibrant coastal city on the Gulf of Thailand that is known for its energetic beaches, diverse nightlife and the Big Buddha.

“It is pretty nice. This is my fifth time I’ve come down here,” Bragi explained while sunning himself in the 30 °C January weather. Bragi is one of an increasing number of Europeans who call Thailand their home, at last for part of the year.

By one estimate, there are around five million foreigners living in the country, around 300,000 of which are North American, European or Australian. One reason is the more generous visa rules that were introduced in 2024, with visa-free access extended to 60 days for tourism, up from 30. The process is further streamlined by the adoption of Thai e-Visa and a new Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system, though authorities are enforcing stricter checks on long-term “visa runs”.

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Another big reason – beyond the pleasant weather – is the cost of living.

“It is much cheaper to live down here than in the UK or Iceland. I’ve got a lovely place down here and it’s cheaper to go out dining than cooking at home,” Bragi explained.

“Food, for example, £4 for a course would be expensive. I like pad thai. A good steak with beer is £5. Altogether, it’s cheap living down here. If you really go local at the food stands, you can live cheap.”

In terms of beer, a large bottle of Chang or Singha beer can be bought in the shops for 70 baht, or around £1.60, with the price rising to roughly double that in bars.

“There is a big nightclub further down the beach (in Pattaya), and it’s more expensive the closer you go to there. There’s a bar with ladies who look after you. Every bar lady tries to chat you up. It’s a nice gesture, but you have to tip them,” Bragi added.

At the moment, Bragi is paying £240 a month for his accommodation, a studio apartment which includes water, electricity, and internet. studio apartment.

Bragi, who retired in 2021 after years spent working as a security guard in Iceland and in hotels, continued: “I never wanted to own anything. The most expensive thing I’ve owned is a car. I never wanted to own a property. I work and travel. I have a permanent address in Iceland and pre-settlement status in the UK, but I am hoping to move to Thailand longer term.”

When asked if he missed anything about his home country, Bragi said “nothing”. “I wouldn’t survive up there. The rent is so expensive. And it is damn cold over there. My plan is at least seven/eight months in Thailand, maybe move around to Bali or Vietnam. I am definitely not going to Iceland. I don’t worry about anything. I am just living life.”

As Bragi doesn’t own a home in Iceland. When he’s not in Thailand, he travels the world, house sitting for families in the UK and elsewhere in Europe via HouseSitMatch.

He has now stayed in over 70 properties and doesn’t see himself stopping anytime soon. He saves on rent and household bills, and can enjoy exploring new places during his retirement. But his biggest tip for exploring unknown areas is fascinating – he takes part in Geo Caching – essentially a treasure hunt via GPS on your phone. “It has taken me to so many places that I would never have known about, you can do it anywhere in the world and it keeps you fit and healthy – I see lots of families doing it too.”

According to Thomas Cook data, it’s mainly couples that are heading to Thailand on holiday – accounting for 51% of all bookings. What’s more interesting is holidaymakers are leaning into luxury, with 93% of bookings to Thailand made this month opting for four- and five-star accommodation. Nicholas Smith, holidays digital director at Thomas Cook, said: “We’ve seen bookings to Thailand increase by more than 400% year-on-year, as holidaymakers look to stretch their budgets further while still ticking off long-haul, bucket list destinations. Strong value on accommodation and experiences, paired with Thailand’s reputation as a safe and flexible choice for first-time long-haul customers, are all playing a part.”