I’m a retired Florida cop living in Thailand with my wife and dog – and a stress-free life is way cheaper here

A retired Florida cop has detailed how he now lives a cheaper, safer and less stressful life after relocating to Thailand. 

Fred Jones, 56, and his wife moved to Chiang Mai in 2023, a month after he retired from his 26-year career in law enforcement. 

He said the couple are living on a third of what they would be in the US in the mountainous city in northern Thailand. 

They have found a community of fellow expats, and Jones feels much safer in his new home than he did in Florida, he told Business Insider.  

‘It feels like things have slowed down for me, and it really feels good,’ he told the outlet. 

Jones, who documents his relocation on his YouTube channel Far Away Fred, said he and his wife moved to Chiang Mai sight unseen. 

The city, which is around 450 miles north of Bangkok, boasts beautiful temples and delicious food. 

He retired from law enforcement on August 19, 2023, the couple sold their house in Lake County, Florida, and then embarked on their next adventure about a month later. 

He said his initial focus was on the cost of living, which many Americans are struggling with after years of high inflation. 

In Florida, in particular, while taxes are lower than in other states, other costs including home insurance premiums are soaring amid rising climate catastrophes.

Jones told Business Insider he decided to move to Chiang Mai, which has long been a popular destination for tourists and expats, after speaking to people on Facebook who had been living there for many years. 

‘If you look hard enough, there’s a road map out there for you to follow and adjust accordingly to what you need,’ he said, adding that being a cop had prepared him ‘for the unknown.’

He said he also chose Chiang Mai because he wanted somewhere relatively quiet but also easily accessible. 

The couple decided to rent a home rather than buying – and pay 18,000 Thai baht, or about $540, each month for a two-bedroom home with a yard for their dog. 

The 1,200 square feet home in Doi Saket, which is around 20 minutes east of the city, is ‘comfortable’ and not too different from their former home in Florida, Jones said. 

The couple’s monthly budget is $2,100, although their spending typically comes to about $1,800, he said, including health insurance and travel. 

‘I would say that my wife and I are probably living on a third of what we would be spending in the United States right now,’ he said.

The local market is a five minute walk away, he added, and there are bigger grocery stores nearby which stock Western brands. There are also lots of coffee shops in the neighborhood – and an Italian restaurant. 

Their neighbors, who are also expats, brought them along to a weekly gathering at a local café, and Jones said he and his wife have found a lively community in their local area.

According to data from the Bureau of Registration Administration of Thailand, around 161,979 foreigners were living in Chiang Mai province as of November last year. 

‘There are probably between 12 and 15 expats that meet there every Sunday, from France, New Zealand, America, just so many different countries, and they’re all English speakers,’ Jones told the outlet. 

‘I sat there, and I absorbed information from people who have been here for 20, 30 years.’

His wife is learning Thai, he added, but the local people have been very accommodating about them not knowing the language. 

The retired cop said his mental health has vastly improved since the move, and he feels much safer in his new home.

‘I never realized how hypervigilant I was all the time, even off-duty, until I moved here,’ he said. ‘It’s just like all the stress, having your head on the swivel, all of that stuff just disappeared.’

He told Business Insider that since moving, he has been able to sit with his back to the door – which is something he never used to do in Florida. 

‘That’s what I mean by it being life-changing,’ he said.