When you seek for the preferred digital nomad places, Chiang Mai is bound to seem on that record. When you don’t wish 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 dwelling in Chiang Mai; it’s no surprise that so many distant staff and vacationers alike flock there yr after yr.
Having spent a number of months dwelling 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, common with numerous different distant staff and pleasant locals. The professionals of dwelling in Chiang Mai far outweigh the negatives in my view, but it surely’s essential to find out about each side of the coin to make your personal knowledgeable determination earlier than taking the plunge.
15 Execs and Cons of Dwelling 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 can assist you out.
Execs of Dwelling in Chiang Mai
As a result of I prefer to deal with positivity earlier than anything, let’s begin with some great benefits of dwelling in Chiang Mai. By the top 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
Indubitably, one of many greatest professionals of dwelling in Chiang Mai is simply how straightforward it’s to satisfy different distant staff. In 2023, an enormous 3.9 million individuals handed via the doorways of Chiang Mai airport, with an honest proportion of these positive to be digital nomads. Irrespective of whenever you go to, you’re assured to satisfy loads of different like-minded individuals, which is able to 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 individuals 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. The town provides many nice alternatives to collaborate, but when socializing is all you take into consideration, you actually received’t wrestle to discover a new buddy or two.
2. Price-Effectiveness
Chiang Mai is a fairly cost-effective place to remain over the long run. For instance, you may often discover an condominium within the metropolis heart and even stylish Nimman, for round 7800-14,000 THB ($220-$390) with utilities on prime. If you could find a coliving house 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 keep on with native meals; if you’d like Western-style meals then you may count on to pay extra. One in every of 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
While you’re trying on the professionals and cons of dwelling in Chiang Mai, you’ll little question 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. The truth is, a 2023 report acknowledged that Chiang Mai is the most secure metropolis to go to in Southeast Asia total.
In fact, like another metropolis on the earth, you shouldn’t take undue dangers, and customary sense ought to all the time be practiced. General, nonetheless, Chiang Mai is taken into account a secure 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 day by day enterprise. Regardless of this, 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 dwelling in Chiang Mai is the variety of coworking areas and the standard of web accessible. In accordance with 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 prime suggestions, however you’ll discover many dotted round. There are some low-cost choices to select from, reminiscent of HeartWork, a coworking cafe that fees a low charge for the usage of 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 number of the friendliest individuals on the earth in Chiang Mai and loads of locals who wish to let you know about their traditions and customs. Whereas it may be tough with the language barrier generally, it’s not one thing you may’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 finest to immerse your self within the conventional methods, you’ll meet individuals from all walks of life. In fact, you may assist your self somewhat by studying a number of phrases within the native language.
6. Excessive-High quality Healthcare
One of many greatest advantages of dwelling in Chiang Mai is the accessible, high-quality, and inexpensive healthcare. This must be one thing you consider irrespective 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 a sophisticated course of, but it surely was fortunately tremendous straightforward, and there have been English-speaking employees. In fact, be sure you have good medical insurance, and also you received’t have any issues if a health-related situation occurs to come up.
7. Lots to See and Do
There are such a lot of issues to see and do in Chiang Mai throughout your break day. I puzzled what I’d do in my spare time as town doesn’t have a seashore, however I shouldn’t have even questioned it—I used to be by no means bored for a second. I beloved 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, reminiscent of Wat Umong. I additionally advocate a day journey to Sticky Waterfall, which is a superb strategy to beat the warmth. When 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 professionals of dwelling in Chiang Mai. Throughout the yr, the common temperature not often 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! In the course of the wet season, it could possibly turn out to be somewhat 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 search 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 reveals you that you just’re in virtually one other world. I’ve already talked about the night time markets, however these are an exquisite strategy to simply immerse your self within the tradition.
Absorbing the native tradition is a good thought, and by doing this, you’ll recognize your time in Thailand rather 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 another nation as a lot as I did right here, and it’s one among many the explanation why I wish to return.
10. Wonderful Meals
One of many main advantages of dwelling in Chiang Mai is the meals, definitely. It’s very straightforward to strive native delicacies, and the native markets are an incredible place to begin. 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 grew to become rather more adventurous with attempting new issues.
Khao Neow Ma Muang, or sticky rice and mango, is one among my favourite dishes and it’s really easy to search out from avenue distributors. Thai meals can also 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 check out one thing new.
Cons of Dwelling in Chiang Mai
Nowhere on the earth is 100% good, and there are some cons of dwelling in Chiang Mai you want to pay attention to. They’re not main deal breakers, at the very least not for me, however they’re issues that would have an effect on your keep if you happen to’re not clued up beforehand.
1. Visas Can Be Tough to Get
One of many greatest disadvantages of dwelling in Chiang Mai is that getting a visa over the long run generally is a problem. It’s under no circumstances inconceivable, however the necessities are a lot stricter than they was once and there’s numerous paperwork concerned. Laws change usually so it’s essential to double-check earlier than you intend to journey to keep away from discovering your self in a difficult scenario.
General, most individuals can go to Thailand for 60 days on a vacationer visa, however this varies in response to nationality so, once more, double-check. You may then apply to increase this for one more 30 days if you happen to select to. To assist make your particular scenario somewhat simpler to grasp, you may enter your passport particulars into this web site 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, if you happen to enterprise away from these areas you’ll possible 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 might be irritating, particularly if you happen to’re looking for essential info otherwise you need assistance.
I made a decision to view this as an incredible excuse to study a number of phrases of Thai. You don’t have to be fluent to get by, however the fundamentals will serve you effectively if you happen to enterprise into rural areas otherwise you meet somebody who doesn’t converse nice English. I discovered that talking even just some phrases made individuals wish to assist me study much more, they usually appeared to understand my makes an attempt, irrespective of how unhealthy!
3. Burning Season
For me, one of many greatest downsides of dwelling in Chiang Mai is the burning season. The truth is, many individuals both keep away from the world 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 subsequent rising season and harvest.
Throughout this time, air high quality is fairly poor, and it could possibly make even strolling round pretty tough. Some years are higher than others, however there’s a normal haze over the whole metropolis between these months it doesn’t matter what. When you’re somebody who suffers from respiratory points, reminiscent of bronchial asthma, you would possibly 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 if you happen to’ve ever been to the capital. One of many cons of dwelling in Chiang Mai is attempting to navigate visitors, and if you happen to select to drive, you’ll have to 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 visitors or drive at excessive pace. Personally, I most well-liked to get round by way of public transport, and I by no means discovered it tough to make use of; it definitely works out cheaper than fuel and supplies 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 dwelling 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 might 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 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 received’t see it on markets, public transport, or common day by day purchases. It’s one of many belongings you merely have to simply accept, but it surely’s a draw back all the identical.
Is Dwelling in Chiang Mai Value It?
Like wherever else on the earth, there are professionals and cons of dwelling in Chiang Mai. It’s manifestly apparent that my record has way more professionals than cons, and that’s not an accident. The whole expertise of dwelling in Chiang Mai was optimistic sufficient for me to see these downsides as small annoyances reasonably than large deal-breakers, except for the visa situation.
As one of the vital common 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—the whole metropolis is a contradiction in all one of the best methods potential. It’s additionally the primary place to satisfy different individuals, a few of whom might find yourself your finest mates for all times.
I can’t wait to return; when are you going?
