Should you seek for the preferred digital nomad areas, Chiang Mai is bound to look on that record. Should you don’t wish to be immediately hooked, don’t look any additional—that is one place so intoxicating that you simply’ll be planning your journey immediately. There are numerous execs of residing in Chiang Mai; it’s no marvel that so many distant staff and vacationers alike flock there yr after yr.
Having spent a number of months residing in Chiang Mai myself, I’d love to return, and I completely will in some unspecified time in the future. It’s a sociable place, widespread with numerous different distant staff and pleasant locals. The professionals of residing in Chiang Mai far outweigh the negatives in my view, but it surely’s vital to find out about each side of the coin to make your personal knowledgeable choice earlier than taking the plunge.
15 Professionals and Cons of Residing in Chiang Mai
For me, Chiang Mai is the jewel in Thailand’s crown. Sure, Thailand is a giant nation with wonderful seashores, like Koh Samui and Phuket, and the vibrancy of Bangkok is unbeaten, however there’s nothing fairly like on a regular basis life within the northern metropolis of Chiang Mai. It has its challenges, in addition to its main benefits, and having skilled most that Chiang Mai has to supply, I really feel fairly well-informed that can assist you out.
Professionals of Residing in Chiang Mai
As a result of I wish to deal with positivity earlier than anything, let’s begin with some great benefits of residing in Chiang Mai. By the tip of this record, you’ll most likely have one foot on the aircraft and be planning your first few days within the metropolis.
1. A Nice Place to Meet Different Digital Nomads
Unquestionably, one of many greatest execs of residing in Chiang Mai is simply how straightforward it’s to satisfy different distant staff. In 2023, an enormous 3.9 million folks handed by way of the doorways of Chiang Mai airport, with an honest proportion of these certain to be digital nomads. Irrespective of while you go to, you’re assured to satisfy loads of different like-minded folks, which can make your keep a lot extra pleasant.
I’ll speak about coworking areas shortly, however most have common social evenings, with a deal with bringing folks collectively—the identical goes for hostels across the metropolis. It’s really easy to mingle in Chiang Mai, and I met many new mates whom I nonetheless keep up a correspondence with at this time. Town presents many nice alternatives to collaborate, but when socializing is all you take note of, you actually gained’t battle to discover a new buddy or two.
2. Value-Effectiveness
Chiang Mai is a fairly cost-effective place to remain over the long run. For instance, you possibly can normally discover an condominium within the metropolis middle and even fashionable Nimman, for round 7800-14,000 THB ($220-$390) with utilities on prime. If you could find a coliving area or just share with one other distant employee, you’ll save much more on lodging.
It’s low-cost to eat out too, so long as you follow native meals; in order for you Western-style meals then you possibly can count on to pay extra. One among my favourite locations was the Chiang Mai Evening Bazaar, the place it’s potential to fill your self with avenue meals for a really small amount of money. Even espresso retailers are low-cost—you could find a cappuccino for round 55THB ($1.50), and these are nice locations to work from too.
3. Security
Once you’re wanting on the execs and cons of residing in Chiang Mai, you’ll little doubt wish to find out about security to start with. I can hand on coronary heart say that I by no means felt unsafe for even a second throughout my keep, whilst a solo feminine traveler. In reality, a 2023 report said that Chiang Mai is the most secure metropolis to go to in Southeast Asia general.
After all, like another metropolis on this planet, you shouldn’t take undue dangers, and customary sense ought to at all times be practiced. General, nevertheless, Chiang Mai is taken into account a secure metropolis to go to when it comes to low crime charges; supplying you with peace of thoughts when seeing the sights and going about your every day enterprise. Regardless of this, site visitors is a completely separate topic which I’ll speak about later.
4. Nice Web High quality & Coworking Areas
One other of the highest benefits of residing in Chiang Mai is the variety of coworking areas and the standard of web out there. Based on Speedtest, the common add and obtain speeds in Chiang Mai are 169.21 and 198.03 Mbps respectively. I by no means struggled with the web connection as soon as, together with video calls and lengthy durations on-line.
There are some unbelievable coworking areas across the metropolis too—Yellow Coworking Area is considered one of my prime suggestions, however you’ll discover many dotted round. There are some low-cost choices to select from, akin to HeartWork, a coworking cafe that fees a low charge for the usage of their web for a couple of hours. Once more, these are nice locations to satisfy folks, community, and recharge on inspiration.
5. Pleasant Locals
You’ll discover a number of the friendliest folks on this planet in Chiang Mai and loads of locals who wish to let you know about their traditions and customs. Whereas it may be difficult with the language barrier generally, it’s not one thing you possibly can’t overcome. I had many conversations with espresso store and meals stall homeowners and even made some native mates.
Locals in Chiang Mai are very accustomed to worldwide guests, and I by no means felt something aside from totally welcome. So long as you do your greatest to immerse your self within the conventional methods, you’ll meet folks from all walks of life. After all, you possibly can assist your self slightly by studying a couple of phrases within the native language.
6. Excessive-High quality Healthcare
One of many greatest advantages of residing in Chiang Mai is the accessible, high-quality, and reasonably priced healthcare. This needs to be one thing you consider regardless of the place on this planet you’re. In Chiang Mai, you’ll discover private and non-private hospitals, each of that are reasonably priced in comparison with different international locations.
I needed to go to Ram Hospital in Chiang Mai after tripping and injuring my arm. I anticipated it to be an advanced course of, but it surely was fortunately tremendous straightforward, and there have been English-speaking workers. After all, be sure you have good medical health insurance, and also you gained’t have any issues if a health-related subject occurs to come up.
7. A lot to See and Do
There are such a lot of issues to see and do in Chiang Mai throughout your break day. I questioned what I’d do in my spare time as town doesn’t have a seaside, however I shouldn’t have even questioned it—I used to be by no means bored for a second. I beloved strolling across the evening markets, and there are a number of: the Sunday Strolling Market is vibrant and enjoyable and is at all times a very good possibility.
A day journey to Inthanon Nationwide Park is a must-do in addition to a tour across the temples within the metropolis, akin to Wat Umong. I additionally advocate a day journey to Sticky Waterfall, which is an excellent solution to beat the warmth. Should you’re a nature lover, there are some nice climbing trails round, together with Huai Cho Reservoir Loop, which I actually loved.
8. Fantastic Climate
Heat climate is undoubtedly one of many execs of residing in Chiang Mai. Throughout the yr, the common temperature hardly ever dips under 22°C/71°F. August is the rainiest month, with the wet season stretching between Could and October. Throughout this time, there are numerous heavy showers, however they’re usually short-lived, and the climate usually clears up in a short time.
April and Could are the most popular months, with common highs of 30°C/86°F, and fortunately, most locations have air-con and loads of followers! Through the wet season, it will possibly change into slightly humid, however I didn’t really feel it was too overwhelming. Waking as much as the solar most days is unquestionably a plus and one of many main pulls towards Chiang Mai.
9. A Cultural Place to Discover
The factor I preferred most about Chiang Mai is that though it’s very easy to seek out house comforts, it’s a very cultural place with a special lifestyle. Simply strolling down the streets and seeing the superbly embellished temples and tuk-tuks passing by reveals you that you simply’re in virtually one other world. I’ve already talked about the evening markets, however these are a beautiful solution to simply immerse your self within the tradition.
Absorbing the native tradition is a good thought, and by doing this, you’ll respect your time in Thailand rather more. Thai tradition is wealthy and straightforward to study; native folks will fortunately present you their traditions so long as you present respect always. I don’t suppose I’ve skilled tradition in another nation as a lot as I did right here, and it’s considered one of many the reason why I wish to return.
10. Superb Meals
One of many main advantages of residing in Chiang Mai is the meals, no doubt. It’s very straightforward to attempt native delicacies, and the native markets are an amazing place to start out. Thai avenue meals is scrumptious and extremely low-cost, serving to you to maintain money in your pocket. I developed a critical love of Pad Thai in Chiang Mai and I turned rather more adventurous with attempting new issues.
Khao Neow Ma Muang, or sticky rice and mango, is considered one of my favourite dishes and it’s really easy to seek out from avenue distributors. Thai meals can be actually wholesome and made with the freshest produce. I took a cookery class, and I discovered a lot about native delicacies; I’d extremely advocate it if you wish to throw your self into native life and take a look at one thing new.
Cons of Residing in Chiang Mai
Nowhere on this planet is 100% good, and there are some cons of residing in Chiang Mai you want to pay attention to. They’re not main deal breakers, a minimum of not for me, however they’re issues that would have an effect on your keep in case you’re not clued up beforehand.
1. Visas Can Be Difficult to Get
One of many greatest disadvantages of residing in Chiang Mai is that getting a visa over the long run is usually a problem. It’s on no account unattainable, however the necessities are a lot stricter than they was once and there’s loads of paperwork concerned. Laws change usually so it’s vital to double-check earlier than you intend to journey to keep away from discovering your self in a difficult state of affairs.
General, most individuals can go to Thailand for 60 days on a vacationer visa, however this varies based on nationality so, once more, double-check. You’ll be able to then apply to increase this for one more 30 days in case you select to. To assist make your particular state of affairs slightly simpler to know, you possibly can enter your passport particulars into this website and discover out what your choices are.
2. Attainable Language Barrier
When you’ll discover English audio system round vacationer websites and in coworking areas, in case you enterprise away from these areas you’ll seemingly expertise a slight barrier. I by no means bumped into too many issues, however I did have to make use of Google Translate a couple of instances, which might be irritating, particularly in case you’re looking for vital info otherwise you need assistance.
I made a decision to view this as an amazing excuse to study a couple of phrases of Thai. You don’t should be fluent to get by, however the fundamentals will serve you properly in case you enterprise into rural areas otherwise you meet somebody who doesn’t converse nice English. I discovered that talking even just some phrases made folks wish to assist me study much more, they usually appeared to understand my makes an attempt, regardless of how dangerous!
3. Burning Season
For me, one of many greatest downsides of residing in Chiang Mai is the burning season. In reality, many individuals both keep away from the realm throughout this time or depart and return as soon as it’s over. Burning season occurs between January and April throughout a lot of northern Thailand, when farmers burn their fields to prepare for the following rising season and harvest.
Throughout this time, air high quality is fairly poor, and it will possibly make even strolling round pretty tough. Some years are higher than others, however there’s a common haze over your complete metropolis between these months it doesn’t matter what. Should you’re somebody who suffers from respiratory points, akin to bronchial asthma, you may wish to keep away from these months and go to when it’s over.
4. Site visitors
It’s no shock that in 2019, Chiang Mai ranked as primary on the record of most harmful locations to drive in Thailand; It even beat Bangkok, which is kind of stunning in case you’ve ever been to the capital. One of many cons of residing in Chiang Mai is attempting to navigate site visitors, and in case you select to drive, you’ll should be very cautious certainly. Even strolling might be perilous as there are only a few first rate sidewalks.
Chiang Mai’s roads are famously congested, and many individuals driving scooters weave out and in of the site visitors or drive at excessive velocity. Personally, I most popular to get round through public transport, and I by no means discovered it tough to make use of; it actually works out cheaper than fuel and gives a extra genuine expertise. I used the songthaew very often and I even made some mates on there.
5. Twin Pricing
Many individuals see this as one of many downsides to residing in Chiang Mai, however I personally don’t thoughts it an excessive amount of and might perceive why it occurs. Twin pricing implies that as a foreigner, you’ll be charged extra for some sights than a neighborhood individual, and generally the distinction might be fairly important. I’ve observed twin pricing in lots of different international locations, however not as clearly as I skilled in Thailand.
It’s annoying, however what it’s a must to bear in mind is that native wages are significantly lower than what most foreigners obtain and these costs mirror that. The excellent news is that this solely occurs on admission charges and also you gained’t see it on markets, public transport, or common every day purchases. It’s one of many belongings you merely have to just accept, but it surely’s a draw back all the identical.
Is Residing in Chiang Mai Price It?
Like wherever else on this planet, there are execs and cons of residing in Chiang Mai. It’s manifestly apparent that my record has way more execs than cons, and that’s not an accident. Your complete expertise of residing in Chiang Mai was optimistic sufficient for me to see these downsides as small annoyances fairly than massive deal-breakers, apart from the visa subject.
As some of the widespread locations for digital nomads, Chiang Mai has one thing for everybody and delivers all of it with a cultural and genuine vibe. Generally it’s frenetic and loud, different instances it’s peaceable and chilled out—your complete metropolis is a contradiction in all the perfect methods potential. It’s additionally the primary place to satisfy different folks, a few of whom could find yourself your greatest mates for all times.
I can’t wait to return; when are you going?
