When I was in Thailand about 7 or 8 years ago they just recently raided a co-working coffee and jailed the 'nomads' over night (as far as I remember) there was also regular talks about what to tell and not tell border patrol and official visa places.
Most people I met just paid taxes 'at home' or were generally lost in limbo financially but there always was an awareness about this being illegal.
Personally, I'd never do anything as flag-worthy as using a coworking space unless remote working was explicitly OK for the visa I had. In practice, while some countries do require a business visa to attend a conference or meet with customers, most countries in my experience don't care--in a sort of ill-defined way--unless you're receiving local payment for something. (Based on accounts I've read I'd be very careful about saying anything about travel expenses being reimbursed or getting an honorarium.)
You need to finish that story. Those people were released after it was made clear that they were not working for Thai companies. It was not about them working in Thailand while on a tourist visa. It was about not taking local jobs.
> When I was in Thailand about 7 or 8 years ago they just recently raided a co-working coffee and jailed the 'nomads' over night
That was because the authorities did not understand how co-working spaces operated, and had concluded that the foreigners in there were employees of the space's owner.
They have since said that they will not repeat that, and have been true to their word so far.
I challenge this as someone who frequents Thailand and the SEA region. You can get a nice condo (short-term airbnb/utilities paid) for $500 or less; only 20 minutes from central Bangkok. Sure, more expensive options exist. But comparing Switzerland to Thailand when it comes to living costs is plain ridiculous.
I don’t get it. Most of my expenses are “living costs” and food. You also said you have the same tax residency. May we know what other expenses in Thailand that matches Switzerland (I’d guess some electronics, but these are casual expenses that you can pick up from the duty free).
The other possibility is that you are simply spending more in Thailand. I’ve seen some DN who have the same expenses because they get used to going out ever night. But this is an apples to oranges comparison.
Brand electronics and branded imported food is more expensive in Thailand than Switzerland. I went out drinking maybe once a month if at all.
However: I eat good and healthy if possible. I love the street food there, but not 2-3 times a day. I am a coffee junkie, coffee to go is generally more expensive as there are no or only expensive imported options in 7/11 and coffee shops are oriented at tourists.
I definitely didn't waste money, didn't have any money to waste. All I am telling is that Travelling(!) In a cheap country can be just as expensive than staying(!) Long term in a expensive country
However i still paid taxes, health care, a mobile contract, banking, etc in Switzerland.
The actual savings should be in living and food. On short term I rarely rented below $800/month for a single room flat. (Vs $1000 for a old house in Switzerland) for food I have to cook myself now Vs. Eating out twice a day in Thailand.
Without actually moving and centering your life to a cheap country (and giving up on a lot of luxury and safety) you dont easily safe money.
Digital Nomading was an absolute luxury for me. Not a way of saving money (at least looking back)
Might sound surprising but I am looking at immobilia in some parts of Switzerland at the same price range. I enjoy the good health care, fair taxes and generally the environment. My entertainment (outside of my techy home) is nature now.
“Normal” meals in Thailand are food stalls, $2 per meal if not less.
If you’d eat out twice a day in Switzerland, you’d go bankrupt.
Same with renting. Short term leases in Switzerland would be astronomical in price.
The way you air-quoted “super cheap Thailand” implies that it isn’t cheap to live there at all. It is, as long as you don’t go out of your way to spend extra.
>“Normal” meals in Thailand are food stalls, $2 per meal if not less.
I gotta disagree here, that's what low-skilled staff eat on their lunch break. It's usually not very tasty or hygienic (depending on what you order), so westerners only eat this once or twice to try it out before learning their lesson. Then they stick to restaurants which cost $5-12 per meal.
Your average western expat spends 30 euros per day on food in Thailand, if they eat out. I know this because a friend did a survey.
- Cheap first meal: $2-$3
- 2-3 Espresso from Supermarkets: $4
- Coffee or tea to go: $3
- Water: $1
- Eating out: $6-$30
So my average day in Food was about $16 - $41 per day. I rarely spend this much in Switzerland when buying only organic food and mostly from farmers. I save a lot on coffee by having a proper coffee machine.
Not sure about Thailand but key in Philippines is to go in the village/province where the locals are the primary consumers of housing. It helps if you know local families to keep you from getting ripped off.
I am lazy and a sucker for basic luxury. I tried, and I realize I could be living a lot cheaper. But I highly doubt I can live cheaper anywhere else at the same standard :)
However I recommend anyone to find their place and lifestyle and look as far as possible!
Most people I met just paid taxes 'at home' or were generally lost in limbo financially but there always was an awareness about this being illegal.