Chen, who is originally from Singapore, has created a highly unusual lifestyle. This life allows him to flourish out of Chiang Mai, Thailand, while maintaining deep professional ties to his native land. Having lived in Singapore for the majority of their lives, he and his wife made the decision to move to Thailand. They took the plunge in November 2024. On his own supercommute to Singapore for his work. He teaches a digital marketing class at National University of Singapore — only three hours a week!
The move was preceded by a story arc of deep career change triggered by Chen. Then, in February 2024, he suddenly lost his job at Google after nine years of sincere and diligent labor. Over the course of that period, he had produced a remarkable investment portfolio worth close to $2 million. This surprise development forced him to reconsider his plans for financial independence and the pursuit of other personal goals.
“I’ve been working for the last 14 years of my life, and because of the layoff, I was forced to take a break,” Chen told CNBC Make It. “It was very devastating. It was a huge blow to my ego, my identity, but it turns out, with time, it mandated me to think about what I really wanted in life.”
Now, Chen’s role as an adjunct lecturer provides him with a steady income that covers both his and his wife’s living expenses in Thailand. By teaching he makes around $2,000 to $4,000 Singapore dollars a month. This revenue allows him to live an expatriate lifestyle by saving money.
In addition to teaching, Chen has developed educational videos on YouTube. In addition to that, he owns a thriving coaching business where he makes $500 an hour for his time. These other excursions help fund his discretionary spending, allowing him and his family to experience the culture of the place without breaking the bank.
Each week, Chen invests about $250 in round-trip flights to Singapore every Friday. Back in Thailand, he lives in an even newer one-bedroom condo that rents for $450 a month. His monthly budget for food and groceries is between $300-$500 a month for himself and his wife, combined. Transportation within Thailand adds another $200.
“Three hours of work in Singapore can cover all my expenses in Thailand,” Chen said. This productive hybrid model gives him the flexibility to have his cake and eat it too, enjoying life in Chiang Mai while still getting the job done back home.
Chen knows not everyone can afford to live the way he does. I am very aware that everybody can’t take this approach and the communities don’t profit like we do along the way. We are making money in dollars, but spending in baht,” he told us. He emphasizes the importance of learning local practices in Thailand. Understanding the culture is key to fully enjoying the experience with the best return on your investment.
“For the first time in my life, I fully immersed and took advantage of all that Thailand had to offer,” shared Chen. As he looked out across his new, life-opening home. He’s convinced it all starts with increasing your craft. This creates a path to jobs with some of the highest hourly pay rates available, which is critical for anyone who aspires to that kind of life.
He showed how with a high hourly rate and low cost of living, you have to work very few hours per week to make ends meet. Because of this arrangement, they have more financial flexibility. This philosophy informs both his approach to design and his appreciation of work-life balance.
Not all expats can claim to be as happy with their lot in Thailand as Chen. “I’ve actually met a few expats here, and they’re really not happy because they were only attracted to Thailand because of the cost of living,” he noted, highlighting the disparity between expectations and reality for some.
Chen’s path is a great example of how smart financial planning and flexibility can help create a rewarding life overseas. For others looking to go down the same path, he advises, take a hard look at your finances and be open to local alternatives and ways of living.
“The strategy for anyone who wants to live in a country like Thailand is to really embrace the local culture, the local options, the local way of life,” he advised.
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