8 Reasons to Live in Chiang Mai, Thailand

This post was originally written in 2018 when I stayed in Chiang Mai for 6 months. I spent another month in 2023 and have hopes to live here for an extended period in the coming years. I hope this article inspires you to live in Chiang Mai!

I decided in 2017 to pack my bags, move from the United States, and live in Chiang Mai. The city is nestled in the mountains of Northern Thailand and it is located 700 km north of Bangkok.  It is a lively area all year round; full of locals, expats, digital nomads, retirees, and longtime travelers.

What’s an expat? An expat is someone who lives in a country, yet is a citizen of a different country. This person may have been sent abroad by their company to work or has decided to take their business abroad.

What’s a digital nomad? A digital nomad is someone who works remotely and has no home base. They make their income working from a laptop from anywhere in the world.

I have found that Chiang Mai is a work-oriented city for expats and digital nomads. People come to surround themselves with like-minded people and to build their online businesses. They work hard during the day and have a fun social life at night.

Here are the reasons why you should consider trying to live in Chiang Mai either permanently or temporarily.

1. The Cost to Live in Chiang Mai is Low

It is extremely affordable to live in Chiang Mai. You can live comfortably on $1200 USD a month and even less if you give up some luxuries.

A studio apartment will cost anywhere from $200 – $500 USD a month, depending if you want amenities or not.

For $400 USD a month, you can get a brand new one-bedroom condo with laundry in the apartment, a gym, and a pool.

You can easily find cheaper accommodations if you watch this video HERE. Chris the Freelancer will show you the many options.

Meals are $1.50-$3.00 for Thai food. If you want Western food, it can range anywhere from $5.00 -$10.00 a meal. Kitchens are a rare find in the condos, so you will most likely eat out more often than cook at home.

I did a trial run of buying Thai ingredients and made a meal in my kitchen. It was $3.22 to make the meal at home for two people, while for that same Thai dish at a street vendor, it was only $1.00 each.

It also took some maneuvering to find room to cut the vegetables and clean up. So, in my opinion, it’s just easier and cheaper to dine out.

2. Your Quality of Life Will Improve if You Live in Chiang Mai

Before Thailand, I lived in the New York City area and simply could not afford to live there on the salaries that we had been given.

I loved my job, but the pay did not cover my NYC costs, and you may be in a similar situation.

In Chiang Mai, since you can live comfortably on $1200 USD a month, you do not feel the constant pressure to work a 60-hour work week, just to make ends meet.

People are also noticeably less stressed out in Chiang Mai, there is an amazingly calm vibe throughout the city.

3. Altercations are Non-Existent

You won’t see people yelling at each other. Not from across the room to get your attention, not honking their horns to get out of their way, literally never.

The locals are very respectful of each other and the visitors. People will be driving like maniacs on scooters, weaving in and out of cars, yet you will never see anyone get angry.

However, I have seen one couple yell at each other in the street, and guess where they were from… The United States.

4. Chiang Mai is Clean

There’s no trash anywhere. Not a cigarette butt, a random wrapper, or a beer bottle cap on the majority of the street

I have concluded that since there are no garbage cans on the city streets, people take their trash with them.

You will also constantly see people sweeping the streets. We saw a man hosing down a walkway when it was raining like cats and dogs one day. They mean business!

Some buildings are run down and need some repairing, but they are still kept tidy. Just because some parts of the city are a little outdated, does not mean that Chiang Mai is dirty.

5. People are Friendly and Helpful

They don’t call it the “Land of a Million Smiles” for no reason.  The Thai locals are always willing to help. If they do not understand you, they will try to find someone who speaks enough English to assist you with what you need.

If you decide to live in Chiang Mai and ever get in a situation where you are being misunderstood, just use the Google Translate app on your smartphone. It will come in handy, trust us!

6. You Will Meet People from All Over the World

Digital nomads, expats, and travelers of all ages flock to Chiang Mai. There are constant meetups to make new friends, improve your business skills, or even practice speaking other languages.

Within a week of arrival, we attended three events where we went from not knowing a single person, and now we have a group of ten friends.

Through these new friends, we have a place to stay in Bali, someone to help us with SEO on our website, and a local Thai friend to show us where to get the best deals on food.

Here are some of the best groups to join:

Chiang Mai Digital Nomads

Chiang Mai Events

Chiang Mai Health and Fitness

7. Transportation is Accessible

There is no formal public transportation system in Chiang Mai. However, you can hire a Tuk Tuk, a Songthaew, or call for a Grab taxi (like Uber). You will never have to wait longer than 10 minutes to find a mode of transportation.

The Songthaews (or Red Bus) can take you all over the city for the low price of 30 – 60 Baht (approx. $1.00 – $2.00 USD), depending on how far you need to go.

It’s like riding a city bus, so it will take the longest to get places, as you may have to stop multiple times for other riders to get off and on.

Tuk-tuks are readily available, but you may need to bargain with the driver. These are the fastest mode of transportation, as they do tend to drive a little recklessly and weave in and out of traffic to get you to your destination quickly.

Calling a Grab Taxi is as simple as pulling out your smartphone and using the Grab app to hire a car to pick you up.

8. There’s A Lot to Do In and Around the Chiang Mai Province

You can rent a scooter for the day and explore the city’s many temples.

Or head into the mountains of Doi Inthanon and chill out by waterfalls and hike through the lush gardens.

Want to get away from Chiang Mai for the weekend?

Head to the pretty towns of Pai or Chiang Rai. Or you can easily access Malaysia, Cambodia, and Bhutan from the various parts of Thailand.

Bangkok is a 90-minute flight away if you crave a big-city getaway. Chiang Mai’s international airport is an easy 20-minute drive from anywhere within the city.

Even if you do not have plans to leave your home country for an extended period, you should at least visit Chiang Mai to see what it is all about.

The laid-back atmosphere, the friendly people, and the affordability alone will make you want to stay for longer than you intend.