The American entrepreneur who traded San Diego for a Bangkok night shift

For Corona and his fiancée, the transition to Bangkok became official in January 2025. They now occupy a two-bedroom apartment in Thonglor, an upscale district often compared to Beverly Hills, paying roughly $2,500 in monthly rent—about half the cost of their previous San Diego home. Their new lifestyle includes building amenities like a rooftop pool and golf simulator, a sharp contrast to the misconceptions held by some relatives who initially imagined them living in a beachfront hut.

Working for a US-based commercial real estate firm requires an unconventional rhythm. Corona typically wakes between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., dedicating his daylight hours to the gym and errands before starting his workday at 7 p.m. While some might find the reversal taxing, he claims the night hours offer fewer distractions and improved focus. He estimates his monthly living expenses, excluding leisure, hover around $1,700.

Corona is part of a growing cohort of expats drawn to Thailand, which recorded over 100,000 foreign residents in Bangkok as of 2025. The city's safety and social connectivity have proven easier to navigate than expected, even leading to a close-knit friend group formed during an impromptu building evacuation after an earthquake. For Corona, the move is less about geography and more about autonomy. He now defines success by the freedom to dictate his own time, noting that he misses very little about Southern California—save for the occasional good burrito.