For those who seek for the preferred digital nomad areas, Chiang Mai is bound to seem on that record. For those who don’t need to be immediately hooked, don’t look any additional—that is one place so intoxicating that you just’ll be planning your journey immediately. There are numerous professionals of residing in Chiang Mai; it’s no marvel that so many distant employees 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, in style with numerous different distant employees and pleasant locals. The professionals of residing in Chiang Mai far outweigh the negatives in my view, however it’s essential to find out about each side of the coin to make your individual knowledgeable resolution earlier than taking the plunge.
15 Execs and Cons of Residing in Chiang Mai
For me, Chiang Mai is the jewel in Thailand’s crown. Sure, Thailand is an enormous 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 will help you out.
Execs of Residing in Chiang Mai
As a result of I prefer to concentrate on positivity earlier than the rest, let’s begin with the benefits of residing in Chiang Mai. By the tip of this record, you’ll in all probability have one foot on the airplane and be planning your first few days within the metropolis.
1. A Nice Place to Meet Different Digital Nomads
Undoubtedly, one of many greatest professionals of residing in Chiang Mai is simply how straightforward it’s to satisfy different distant employees. In 2023, an enormous 3.9 million individuals handed by the doorways of Chiang Mai airport, with an honest proportion of these positive to be digital nomads. Irrespective of while you go to, you’re assured to satisfy loads of different like-minded individuals, which is able to make your keep a lot extra satisfying.
I’ll speak about coworking areas shortly, however most have common social evenings, with a concentrate on bringing individuals collectively—the identical goes for hostels across the metropolis. It’s really easy to mingle in Chiang Mai, and I met many new pals whom I nonetheless communicate with at the moment. Town affords many nice alternatives to collaborate, but when socializing is all you take into account, you actually received’t wrestle 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 often discover an house within the metropolis middle and even stylish Nimman, for round 7800-14,000 THB ($220-$390) with utilities on high. 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 stick with native meals; if you’d like Western-style meals then you possibly can count on to pay extra. Considered one of my favourite locations was the Chiang Mai Night time Bazaar, the place it’s potential to fill your self with road 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
Whenever you’re trying on the professionals and cons of residing in Chiang Mai, you’ll little doubt need to find out about security to begin 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 actual fact, a 2023 report said that Chiang Mai is the most secure metropolis to go to in Southeast Asia general.
In fact, like some other metropolis on the earth, you shouldn’t take undue dangers, and customary sense ought to all the time be practiced. Total, nonetheless, Chiang Mai is taken into account a protected metropolis to go to when it comes to low crime charges; providing you with peace of thoughts when seeing the sights and going about your each 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 accessible. Based on Speedtest, the typical 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 House is one among my high suggestions, however you’ll discover many dotted round. There are some low-cost choices to select from, akin to HeartWork, a coworking cafe that prices a low payment for using their web for a number of hours. Once more, these are nice locations to satisfy individuals, community, and recharge on inspiration.
5. Pleasant Locals
You’ll discover a few of the friendliest individuals on the earth in Chiang Mai and loads of locals who need to inform you about their traditions and customs. Whereas it may be tough 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 pals.
Locals in Chiang Mai are very accustomed to worldwide guests, and I by no means felt something apart from fully welcome. So long as you do your greatest to immerse your self within the conventional methods, you’ll meet individuals from all walks of life. In fact, you possibly can assist your self just a little by studying a number 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 inexpensive healthcare. This must be one thing you concentrate on regardless of the place on the earth you’re. In Chiang Mai, you’ll discover private and non-private hospitals, each of that are inexpensive 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, however it was fortunately tremendous straightforward, and there have been English-speaking workers. In fact, be sure you have good medical health insurance, and also you received’t have any issues if a health-related problem 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 day off. I puzzled what I’d do in my spare time as the 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 cherished strolling across the night time markets, and there are a number of: the Sunday Strolling Market is vibrant and enjoyable and is all the time 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 approach to beat the warmth. For those who’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 professionals of residing in Chiang Mai. Throughout the yr, the typical temperature not often dips beneath 22°C/71°F. August is the rainiest month, with the wet season stretching between Could and October. Throughout this time, there are various heavy showers, however they’re typically 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! Throughout the wet season, it could actually turn into just a little humid, however I didn’t really feel it was too overwhelming. Waking as much as the solar most days is certainly 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 residence comforts, it’s a very cultural place with a special lifestyle. Simply strolling down the streets and seeing the superbly adorned temples and tuk-tuks passing by exhibits you that you just’re in nearly one other world. I’ve already talked about the night time markets, however these are a beautiful approach to simply immerse your self within the tradition.
Absorbing the native tradition is a good concept, and by doing this, you’ll recognize your time in Thailand way more. Thai tradition is wealthy and simple to study; native individuals will fortunately present you their traditions so long as you present respect always. I don’t suppose I’ve skilled tradition in some other nation as a lot as I did right here, and it’s one among many explanation why I need to return.
10. Wonderful Meals
One of many main advantages of residing in Chiang Mai is the meals, certainly. It’s very straightforward to attempt native delicacies, and the native markets are a terrific place to begin. Thai road 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 grew to become way more adventurous with making an attempt new issues.
Khao Neow Ma Muang, or sticky rice and mango, is one among my favourite dishes and it’s really easy to seek out from road 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 the earth 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, no less than not for me, however they’re issues that might have an effect on your keep in case you’re not clued up beforehand.
1. Visas Can Be Tough to Get
One of many greatest disadvantages of residing in Chiang Mai is that getting a visa over the long run generally is a problem. It’s on no account unattainable, however the necessities are a lot stricter than they was and there’s loads of paperwork concerned. Rules change typically so it’s essential to double-check earlier than you intend to journey to keep away from discovering your self in a difficult state of affairs.
Total, most individuals can go to Thailand for 60 days on a vacationer visa, however this varies in accordance with 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 just a little simpler to grasp, you possibly can enter your passport particulars into this website and discover out what your choices are.
2. Potential Language Barrier
Whilst 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 number of occasions, which may be irritating, particularly in case you’re looking for essential data otherwise you need assistance.
I made a decision to view this as a terrific excuse to be taught a number of phrases of Thai. You don’t must 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 communicate nice English. I discovered that talking even only a few phrases made individuals need to assist me be taught 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 actual fact, many individuals both keep away from the world throughout this time or go away 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 could actually make even strolling round pretty troublesome. Some years are higher than others, however there’s a common haze over your entire metropolis between these months it doesn’t matter what. For those who’re somebody who suffers from respiratory points, akin to bronchial asthma, you may need 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 shocking in case you’ve ever been to the capital. One of many cons of residing in Chiang Mai is making an attempt to navigate site visitors, and in case you select to drive, you’ll must be very cautious certainly. Even strolling may be perilous as there are only a few respectable 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 troublesome to make use of; it definitely works out cheaper than gasoline and gives a extra genuine expertise. I used the songthaew very often and I even made some pals 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 signifies that as a foreigner, you’ll be charged extra for some sights than a neighborhood particular person, and generally the distinction may be fairly important. I’ve seen twin pricing in lots of different international locations, however not as clearly as I skilled in Thailand.
It’s annoying, however what it’s important to keep in mind is that native wages are significantly lower than what most foreigners obtain and these costs replicate that. The excellent news is that this solely occurs on admission charges and also you received’t see it on markets, public transport, or common each day purchases. It’s one of many stuff you merely have to just accept, however it’s a draw back all the identical.
Is Residing in Chiang Mai Value It?
Like wherever else on the earth, there are professionals and cons of residing in Chiang Mai. It’s manifestly apparent that my record has way more professionals than cons, and that’s not an accident. The complete expertise of residing in Chiang Mai was optimistic sufficient for me to see these downsides as small annoyances quite than huge deal-breakers, apart from the visa problem.
As one of the vital in style 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 occasions it’s peaceable and chilled out—your entire metropolis is a contradiction in all the perfect methods potential. It’s additionally the primary place to satisfy different individuals, a few of whom could find yourself your greatest pals for all times.
I can’t wait to return; when are you going?
