Eastern Thailand
Living in Trat
Gateway to Koh Chang archipelago with gem markets and rainforest
Population~25,000 (city), ~230,000 (province)
Monthly Cost$350 - $600
Internet Speed80 Mbps
Safety Rating
Expat Score
About Trat
Trat is the gateway to the Koh Chang archipelago and Thailand's easternmost province, featuring a lively night market with outstanding seafood, a historic gem market that is a sapphire trading center, and access to the Cardamom Mountains rainforest. The Hat Lek border crossing connects to Cambodia for visa runs and exploration. With monthly costs of $350-600, a safety score of 9, and ferry access to stunning islands, Trat offers adventurous expats a frontier-town atmosphere with island-hopping access and authentic eastern Thai culture.
Best For
Island hoppersGem enthusiastsBorder explorersNature lovers
Highlights
Gateway to Koh Chang archipelago
Trat Night Market with excellent seafood
Gem market (sapphire trading center)
Cardamom Mountains rainforest
Getting Around Trat
Trat is 315km southeast of Bangkok, the last major town before the Cambodian border. Buses run to Bangkok (5-6 hours, 250-400 THB) and Pattaya (3 hours). Speedboats and ferries to Koh Chang depart from Laem Ngop pier (30km from town). Trat Airport (TDX) has daily Bangkok flights (65 minutes). Motorbike rental (2,000-2,500 THB/month) provides access to piers and surrounding countryside. Songthaews serve the town and connect to ferry piers.
Gateway to the Eastern Islands
Trat town is the gateway to Thailand's eastern island chain -- Koh Chang, Koh Kood, Koh Mak, and dozens of smaller islands. The town itself has a charming night market with excellent seafood, gem shops (Trat is a gem trading center for rubies and sapphires from Cambodia's Pailin fields), and traditional wooden shophouses. Laem Ngop pier area offers sea-view restaurants and a relaxed coastal atmosphere. The nearby Ban Hat Lek border crossing provides access to Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains. The town is also known for its durian orchards.
Practical Living
Internet: AIS 4G at 50 Mbps with fiber in town. Healthcare: Trat Hospital provides good care; Bangkok Hospital Trat offers international-standard services. Shopping: Night market, gem market, fresh seafood at the pier. Cost of living is moderate -- the tourist island proximity raises some prices but the town remains affordable with meals from 35-50 THB. The rainy season (May-October) brings heavy downpours that can affect island ferry schedules. The town has a small but friendly expat community, mostly retirees and those running island-related businesses.
Pros and Cons of Living in Trat
Advantages
- Koh Chang gateway
Direct ferry access to the Koh Chang archipelago with over 50 islands for weekend exploration.
- Cambodia border access
Hat Lek crossing makes visa runs and cross-border exploration easy.
- Very safe
Safety score of 9 in a quiet, friendly provincial town.
- Affordable seafood
Night market serves some of eastern Thailand's best and cheapest seafood.
Considerations
- Far from Bangkok
5-6 hours by bus or expensive Bangkok Airways flights to reach the capital.
- Limited expat community
Very few foreign residents with minimal international infrastructure.
Neighborhoods
Popular areas to live in Trat
City Center
Night market area with restaurants, gem shops, and transport connections to islands
From $80-200/moFerry pier area
Laem Ngop area with ferry terminals to Koh Chang and island-view guesthouses
From $80-220/moKoh Mak area
Quieter island option 40km offshore with coconut groves, boutique resorts, and a laid-back atmosphere
From $200-500/moLocal Living Tips
- 1Take the overnight bus from Bangkok's Ekkamai — it is comfortable and saves a night's accommodation
- 2Visit the night market for the best and cheapest seafood in eastern Thailand
- 3Buy ferry tickets at the Laem Ngop terminal rather than through tour agencies to avoid markups
- 4Use the Hat Lek border crossing for Cambodia visa runs — it is less crowded than other crossings
- 5Explore the Cardamom Mountains on day trips for waterfalls and jungle trekking
- 6The gem market is worth browsing even if you are not buying — the sapphires are locally sourced
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