For families · Moving to Southeast Asia
Where in Southeast Asia will your family land?
Compare Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Bali and the Philippines through the decisions that shape family life: schools, visas, healthcare, costs, tax and the practical work of leaving home. Start broad, then narrow the map to 15 family bases.
- 5
- destinations compared
- 15
- family bases researched
- Official
- sources linked and dated
Five countries. One honest comparison.
We compare every country in the same way: cost, schools, visas, healthcare, English and international connections. The figures are for a family of four and include international school, with the date of our latest check shown alongside them.
Thailand
- Monthly family cost
- £2,000–£4,600/mo
- Last verified: Aug 2026
The established choice — deepest expat-family infrastructure in the region, but the visa system is a genuine maze and Bangkok/Phuket costs climb fast.
Open the destination guideExplore family location guides
Malaysia
- Monthly family cost
- £2,000–£4,700/mo
- Last verified: Aug 2026
The value pick — excellent English, strong British-style schools at a fraction of KL-vs-Singapore prices, and Penang is a genuine family hub. MM2H's cost jump is the catch.
Open the destination guideExplore family location guides
Vietnam
- Monthly family cost
- £2,000–£4,700/mo
- Last verified: Aug 2026
The most affordable comfortable life in the region, and Da Nang is a rising family favourite — but the visa picture is the weakest of the five and English is less common.
Open the destination guideExplore family location guides
Indonesia (Bali)
- Monthly family cost
- £3,100–£5,500/mo
- Last verified: Aug 2026
A ready-made international family community and a lifestyle that sells itself — but journeys can be long or multi-leg, costs are rising in Canggu, and visa categories need current-code checks and careful planning.
Open the destination guideExplore family location guides
The Philippines
- Monthly family cost
- £1,600–£4,000/mo
- Last verified: Aug 2026
The English-speaking wildcard — English is widely used, family culture is a major strength and daily costs can be low, but expat-family infrastructure is thinner and some long-haul journeys involve a stop.
Open the destination guideExplore family location guides
Southeast Asia: which country is right for you?
Not sure which country? Compare all five on cost, schools, visas, healthcare and flight time — and find the right fit for your family.
All figures are indicative, for a family of four including international school. Display-currency planning conversions use ECB reference rates from 31 Aug 2026; provider rates and charges differ. How we scoreJourney examples use London because GBP is selected. They are indicative ranges from that representative gateway; your home airport, route, connection and travel date can change them. Time differences are current and may move with daylight-saving changes.
Family-services directory
Find the practical help your family may need
Research named schools, childcare providers, hospitals, activities, movers and other useful services before you arrive. We have organised 255 starting points by destination and location, so it is easier to build a shortlist around the places your family is considering.
- 255
- researched services
- 15
- family locations
- 17
- service categories
A practical research starting point—not a recommendation. Always confirm current details and suitability directly with a provider.
- Schools
- Childcare
- Healthcare
- Moving help
Research your move
Start with the question that matters most to you
Start with a place, school, visa or budget. The guides show how each decision affects the others, so you can research the move from home and build a plan that fits your family.
Best places in Southeast Asia for families
Compare 15 city and island bases across five destinations, with family trade-offs for schools, healthcare, everyday travel and cost.
Explore all 15 family bases- International schoolsCompare fees, curricula, admissions pressure and the neighbourhoods that make the school run workable.
- Family visasUnderstand dependant options, work rights, renewals and the documents a family application may need.
- Healthcare and insuranceResearch hospital access, insurance choices, exclusions and the real cost of protecting a family.
- Cost of livingBuild a family budget around housing, school, transport, healthcare and the costs that are easy to miss.
- Destination taxLearn how residence, local income, overseas income and departure-country ties can affect the questions you need to ask.
- Practical relocationPlan schools, documents, healthcare, shipping and arrival admin from home before departure gets close.
Three steps from “maybe” to “moved”
Step 1Compare
Find your fit. Answer a few questions and see which countries and cities actually suit your family, your budget and your kids' schooling — not just the ones with the prettiest beaches.
Find your fitStep 2Plan
Get your checklist. A step-by-step timeline covering visas, schools, healthcare and shipping, arranged so you can see what to do next and when.
Open the move checklistStep 3Prepare to leave home
Sort the admin. Plan tax residence, healthcare records, finances, family documents and what happens to your home in a sensible order.
Plan the departure side
The complete planning package
One calm place for the decisions, numbers and next steps
The Family Move Planner combines a fillable guided planner, a linked budget workbook, five destination briefs, printable worksheets and editable enquiry templates.
- Compare all five destinations fairly
- Build the first-year budget and cash plan
- Keep research, questions and timing together
£39one-time digital purchase
Before you go
Plan the departure side of your move
Planning the new life is only half the job. The country you leave can affect your departure date, budget and options later through tax residence, healthcare, banking and investments, family records and the home you keep behind.
Start with the six questions that apply to families worldwide. If you are leaving the UK, continue into the detailed HMRC, NHS, pensions, investments and property guides below.
Plan how your family leaves homeHow we keep the information useful
Relocation information can change quickly. Visa rules are updated, school fees rise and exchange rates move. We show when changing figures were last checked, publish the method behind our country grades and link important claims to the authority or provider responsible for them.
Sources cited — important claims link back to the responsible authority or provider
Regularly updated — changing figures show when we last checked them
Family focused — written around the decisions parents and children actually face
Free planning resource
A clear checklist for your family move
Work from early research through to arrival in a sensible order. The checklist focuses on decisions you can make from home, and the PDF is easy to keep nearby while you plan.
- Nine-to-twelve-month planning sequence
- Schools, visas, healthcare and housing
- Departure-country tasks in the right order
- A printable PDF for quick reference
Common questions
Moving to Southeast Asia as a family: the big questions
A clear starting point for the decisions that usually shape the move. Each answer opens into a deeper guide in our research library.
Which Southeast Asian country is best for families?
There is no universal winner. Malaysia is a strong all-rounder for English, healthcare and schools; Thailand offers depth and choice; Vietnam can combine value with energetic city or coastal living; Bali has established international communities; and the Philippines offers widespread English and many different city and island lifestyles. The best fit depends on your visa route, school needs, healthcare priorities, budget and preferred pace of life.
How much does a family need to live in Southeast Asia?
Our indicative country ranges cover a broad span for a family of four including international school. Use the currency selector for a consistent planning view. The useful figure is your own scenario: city, school tier, housing area, insurance, transport and travel can move the total sharply. Use the country comparisons as a starting range, then build a city-level budget.
Where are the strongest international school options?
Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur have especially broad international-school markets, while other family bases may offer fewer choices or require a more careful home-to-school plan. Curriculum, fees, admissions timing, learning support and commute all matter, so compare the school route before choosing a neighbourhood.
What visas can families use to move to Southeast Asia?
The answer depends on how the family qualifies, such as through employment, investment, retirement, study or an eligible remote-work programme. A dependant visa does not automatically provide work rights. Always check the current official rules for every family member before making non-refundable plans.
What should a family arrange before moving abroad?
Plan departure-country tax and residency questions, passports and family documents, schools and records, healthcare and insurance, banking and investments, property decisions, shipping and the first weeks after arrival. The order matters because school places, visa documents and notice periods can affect one another.
Still wondering where your family would fit?
That is exactly what the quiz is for. Two minutes, no signup, and you will get a reasoned shortlist of Southeast Asian destinations based on your budget, school needs, healthcare priorities and preferred pace.
Find your family's fit