American Man Moves to Bangkok to Work US Hours and Enjoy Upscale Living

Andrew Corona, a US-based private lending firm owner, relocated to Bangkok in January 2025 to leverage remote work and lower living costs. According to Business Insider, Corona uses a five-year Destination Thailand Visa to operate his US commercial real estate business while reducing his monthly housing expenses by approximately 50% compared to his previous residence in San Diego.

Corona, 30, manages a private lending firm specializing in US commercial real estate. He and his fiancée settled in the Thonglor neighborhood, an upscale district of Bangkok, after a three-month trial run in an Airbnb in early 2024. Business Insider reports that the couple spent the remainder of 2024 visiting cities including Dubai, Madrid, and Buenos Aires before choosing Thailand.

How does the cost of living in Bangkok compare to San Diego?

Corona pays 80,000 Thai baht, or approximately $2,500, for a furnished two-bedroom, two-bathroom condominium in Bangkok. He told Business Insider this monthly rent is roughly half of what he paid for a two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in San Diego.

The Bangkok residence includes several building amenities, including a golf simulator, a gym, a rooftop pool, and parking. The property is also within walking distance of a train station, according to Corona.

Beyond rent, Corona estimates his basic monthly expenses—which cover groceries, utilities, and a gym membership—at about $1,700. He allocates an additional $1,000 to $2,000 per month for leisure and entertainment.

How does working US business hours from Thailand function?

Because his clients are located in the United States, Corona operates on an overnight schedule in Bangkok. He typically wakes up between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and begins his workday at approximately 7 p.m. local time.

Corona told Business Insider that he prefers this reverse schedule because he finds it easier to focus at night with fewer distractions. He generally goes to bed between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. His fiancée follows a similar routine.

The schedule allows Corona to spend his afternoons running errands, visiting the gym, and using the pool before his professional obligations begin. He noted that the couple occasionally takes breaks at local Japanese restaurants that remain open into the early morning hours.

What are the legal and demographic drivers for US expats in Bangkok?

The move was facilitated by the Destination Thailand Visa, a five-year program designed by the Thai government to attract remote workers. Corona and his fiancée both hold this visa.

Thai civil registration data from 2025 recorded 102,988 foreign residents living in Bangkok, though Business Insider notes the actual number in the city of 5.4 million may be higher.

Other expats in the city have cited safety and a vibrant social scene as primary reasons for relocating. Bill Strayer, a retiree who trades US stocks overnight, told Business Insider in February 2026 that the city’s variety of activities makes it difficult to stay home.

Why did Corona leave San Diego for Southeast Asia?

Corona first visited Thailand for a month in 2018 and extended that stay by three months to travel Southeast Asia. While he wanted to move at the time, he told Business Insider that remote work was not yet common and his corporate job rarely allowed for more than two weeks of travel.

Corona quit his employment in early 2019 to start his own business. He later cited frustration with San Diego, specifically mentioning political divisions, drug use, and homelessness, as factors that influenced his decision to move overseas.

Since relocating, Corona says his definition of success has shifted toward freedom and the ability to control his time. He noted that one of his friends from San Diego has since moved to Bangkok as well, despite never having visited the country previously.