Retiring in Hua Hin: A Guide for Australians

Hua Hin is a seaside town on the western shore of the Gulf of Thailand, in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, south of Bangkok. It has long been a holiday town for Thais, and it's one of the most popular places for foreign retirees, Australians included. It offers a long beach, golf courses, a relaxed pace, private hospitals and an established expat community. It's also within driving distance of Bangkok for specialist care and international flights.

This is general information, not advice. Visit for at least a few weeks, ideally in different seasons, before you commit to a lease.

At a glance

	Hua Hin
Province	Prachuap Khiri Khan
Setting	Gulf of Thailand beach town
Getting there	Usually by road from Bangkok (a few hours' drive, depending on traffic). Also by train and a small domestic airport
Healthcare	Private hospitals in town, including Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin. Bangkok's major hospitals are a drive away
Immigration	Prachuap Khiri Khan Immigration Office, in Hua Hin district
Best for	A quieter beach lifestyle, golf, an established retiree community
Watch-outs	Fewer big-city amenities. International flights are mostly via Bangkok

Getting there from Australia

There are no direct international flights from Australia to Hua Hin. Most Australians fly into Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang) and continue by:

• Road: private transfer, taxi, bus or minivan. This is the most common option.
• Train: Hua Hin is on the State Railway of Thailand's southern line, and its historic station is a local landmark.
• Air: Hua Hin has a small airport. Domestic and international routes change often, so check current schedules.

Healthcare

Healthcare is one of Hua Hin's main attractions for retirees:

• Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin, 888 Petchkasem Road, Hua Hin, is part of the Bangkok Dusit Medical Services network.
• There are other private and public hospitals and clinics in town.
• For complex specialist care, many residents travel to Bangkok.

Check that your insurer pays the hospital you'd use directly, and what's covered. Medicare doesn't apply in Thailand. See our Medicare guide and insurance guide.

Immigration: 90-day reports and extensions

Hua Hin residents deal with the Prachuap Khiri Khan Immigration Office. The MFA's listing (April 2024) gives:

• Address: No. 439 Moo 1, Thap Tai Sub-district, Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110
• Phone: 0 3252 0617 or 0 3252 0620

Offices sometimes move. Confirm the location before you visit.

You'll go there for your retirement or marriage extension, and possibly 90-day reports (unless you file online or by post). See our 90-day guide, TM30 guide and retirement extension guide.

Where people live

Hua Hin has a mix of:

• Condos, often near the beach or the town centre, popular with retirees who want low maintenance
• Houses and villas in developments (often with shared pools and security), typically inland from the beach
• Quieter areas to the south, such as Khao Takiap and beyond, and towards Pranburi further south

Rents vary widely by location and building. We haven't quoted figures because we couldn't verify them from a reliable published source. Rent before you buy, and read our renting guide and condo ownership guide.

Lifestyle

• Beach and sea: a long beach running south from the town, with quieter stretches further out
• Golf: Hua Hin is well known for its golf courses
• Markets and food: night markets, Thai and international restaurants
• Expat community: clubs, social groups and volunteer organisations
• Pace: generally calmer than Pattaya or Phuket

Climate and environment

• Like the rest of central and southern Thailand, Hua Hin is hot all year, with a rainy season. The Gulf coast's rainfall pattern differs from the Andaman side (Phuket and Krabi). The Thai Meteorological Department publishes climate information.
• Air quality: generally better than the north's haze season, but check readings on Air4Thai.
• Beach safety: Smartraveller warns of strong currents and drownings at Thai beaches. Swim only where it's safe and pay attention to flags.

Costs

Living costs in Hua Hin depend on your housing, insurance and lifestyle. Imported goods and international restaurants cost more than local food. Build your own budget with our cost-of-living guide and Age Pension guide.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Calm, established retiree town with a large expat community
• Private hospitals in town and Bangkok within reach
• Golf, beach and markets

Cons

• Smaller than Pattaya or Phuket, so less nightlife and shopping
• International flights mostly via Bangkok
• Some areas are quieter outside the tourist high season

Is it right for you?

Hua Hin often suits retirees who want a quiet beach town with good services, and who are comfortable that most international travel goes through Bangkok. Compare it with the other towns in our best places to retire guide and Chiang Mai guide.

What we couldn't verify

• Rents and living costs in Hua Hin: we couldn't find a reliable published source.
• Flights: current domestic and international routes from Hua Hin airport.
• The immigration office address, from an MFA list last updated April 2024: confirm before visiting.
• Travel time from Bangkok: varies with traffic and route, so we didn't give a fixed figure.