Thailand
Thailand is the starting point for most people who make the move — and it’s easy to see why. The cost of living is low enough that a teacher’s salary genuinely feels like freedom, the people are warm and welcoming, and the lifestyle options are hard to match anywhere else in the world. Beach life in the south, city energy in Bangkok, or the laid-back creative scene of Chiang Mai — Thailand lets you choose what kind of abroad life you actually want to live. It’s not just a good place to start teaching. For a lot of people, it becomes home.
- Most popular teaching destination in Asia for a reason
- No degree required for many private school positions
- Incredibly low cost of living leaves real disposable income
- Choice of beach life, city life, or laid back mountain towns
- Warm and welcoming culture that makes settling in easy
- Year round warm weather and world class street food
- Strong expat and teacher community makes the transition smooth
- Easy base for exploring the rest of Southeast Asia
Thailand is the starting point for most people who make the move — and it’s easy to see why. The cost of living is low enough that a teacher’s salary genuinely feels like freedom, the people are warm and welcoming, and the lifestyle options are hard to match anywhere else in the world. Beach life in the south, city energy in Bangkok, or the laid-back creative scene of Chiang Mai — Thailand lets you choose what kind of abroad life you actually want to live. It’s not just a good place to start teaching. For a lot of people, it becomes home.
- Most popular teaching destination in Asia for a reason
- No degree required for many private school positions
- Incredibly low cost of living leaves real disposable income
- Choice of beach life, city life, or laid back mountain towns
- Warm and welcoming culture that makes settling in easy
- Year round warm weather and world class street food
- Strong expat and teacher community makes the transition smooth
- Easy base for exploring the rest of Southeast Asia
Salaries and Cost of Living
Teaching salaries in Thailand typically range from £700 to £1,500 per month depending on your school type, location, and experience. Private language schools and international schools pay more – government schools less, but often come with additional benefits. The good news is that cost of living is genuinely low. A comfortable monthly budget in Chiang Mai runs around £500-700 covering rent, food, transport, and a social life. Bangkok costs slightly more at £700-900. That leaves real disposable income even on a modest salary – something most Western salaries don’t allow.
Requirements
A degree is officially required for a legal Non-Immigrant B teaching visa in Thailand, but enforcement varies significantly depending on the school and region. Many private language schools hire without one, particularly in smaller cities. A TEFL certificate of at least 120 hours is widely expected and makes you significantly more employable regardless of your degree status. A clean background check is required for most legitimate positions. CELTA holders will find doors open faster, particularly at higher paying international schools.
Best cities
Bangkok is the obvious choice for first timers — highest salaries, most job opportunities, incredible food and nightlife, and easy connections to the rest of Southeast Asia. It’s intense and exciting but expensive by Thai standards. Chiang Mai is where people go when they want the Thailand lifestyle without the chaos — lower cost of living, slower pace, strong expat community, and a creative digital nomad scene that makes it easy to settle. Phuket and coastal areas offer beach life but fewer teaching opportunities and higher tourist prices. Most people start in Bangkok, fall in love with Chiang Mai, and end up staying longer than planned.
How to find your first job
Ajarn.com is the go-to job board specifically for teaching in Thailand – check it weekly and apply early as good positions go fast. The big language school chains – Wall Street English, ECC, and Berlitz – hire regularly and are good for first timers because they provide structured support. Facebook groups like “Teaching English in Thailand” have active job boards and honest advice from people already there. Applying from home before you arrive is possible but many schools prefer to interview in person – arriving in Bangkok with a TEFL cert and a month’s budget to job hunt in person is a legitimate and often more successful strategy than applying remotely.
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