Andrew Corona, 30, moved from San Diego to Bangkok in 2025 with his fiancée, fulfilling a dream sparked by his first trip to Thailand in 2018. He now works US business hours on an overnight schedule, which he says feels more relaxed than his previous life in America.
The idea of relocating seemed impossible years ago, when remote work was rare and his corporate job limited travel to two weeks. In early 2019, Corona quit to run his own business, eventually making the move feasible. He pays about $2,500 in rent for his Bangkok apartment.
Corona's journey began with a monthlong vacation in 2018, which he extended by three months to travel across Southeast Asia. That experience convinced him to return permanently, though it took years to achieve. Remote work and entrepreneurship finally made the trans-Pacific shift possible.
The overnight schedule allows Corona to overlap with US clients while enjoying Bangkok's daytime affordability and culture. His story reflects a broader trend of digital nomads leveraging time zone differences for lifestyle gains. He now balances work with the slower pace he sought.
Critics argue such arrangements blur work-life boundaries and can lead to burnout, despite the perceived relaxation. Corona's experience may not generalize to others without similar entrepreneurial flexibility.