15 Execs and Cons of Dwelling in Chiang Mai

For those who seek for the preferred digital nomad places, Chiang Mai is bound to look 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 directly. There are numerous execs of residing in Chiang Mai; it’s no surprise that so many distant staff and vacationers alike flock there 12 months after 12 months.

Having spent a number of months residing in Chiang Mai myself, I might love to return, and I completely will in some unspecified time in the future. It’s a sociable place, fashionable with numerous different distant staff and pleasant locals. The professionals of residing in Chiang Mai far outweigh the negatives for my part, nevertheless it’s vital to find out about each side of the coin to make your personal knowledgeable resolution 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 a giant nation with superb 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 the rest, let’s begin with the 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

Indisputably, one of many greatest execs of residing in Chiang Mai is simply how straightforward it’s to fulfill different distant staff. In 2023, an enormous 3.9 million folks handed by 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 fulfill loads of different like-minded folks, which can make your keep a lot extra pleasant.

I’ll discuss 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 be in contact with as we speak. Town gives many nice alternatives to collaborate, but when socializing is all you take into account, you actually received’t battle 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 possibly can normally discover an condo within the metropolis middle and even stylish Nimman, for round 7800-14,000 THB ($220-$390) with utilities on high. If yow will discover 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 persist with native meals; if you need Western-style meals then you possibly can count on to pay extra. One among 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 outlets are low cost—yow will discover 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 question need to find out about security initially. I can hand on coronary heart say that I by no means felt unsafe for even a second throughout my keep, at the same time as a solo feminine traveler. The truth is, a 2023 report said that Chiang Mai is the most secure metropolis to go to in Southeast Asia general.

In fact, like every other metropolis on this planet, you shouldn’t take undue dangers, and customary sense ought to at all times be practiced. Total, nonetheless, Chiang Mai is taken into account a secure metropolis to go to by way of low crime charges; providing you with peace of thoughts when seeing the sights and going about your every day enterprise. Regardless of this, visitors is a completely separate topic which I’ll discuss 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 intervals on-line.

There are some unbelievable coworking areas across the metropolis too—Yellow Coworking Area is considered one of my high suggestions, however you’ll discover many dotted round. There are some low-cost choices to select from, resembling HeartWork, a coworking cafe that expenses a low charge for using their web for a couple of hours. Once more, these are nice locations to fulfill folks, community, and recharge on inspiration.

5. Pleasant Locals

You’ll discover among the friendliest folks on this planet in Chiang Mai and loads of locals who need 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 possibly can’t overcome. I had many conversations with espresso store and meals stall house owners 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 solely 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. In fact, you possibly can assist your self a bit of 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, nevertheless it was fortunately tremendous straightforward, and there have been English-speaking workers. In fact, be sure you have good medical insurance, and also you received’t have any issues if a health-related difficulty 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 without work. I questioned what I might do in my spare time as the 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 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, resembling Wat Umong. I additionally advocate a day journey to Sticky Waterfall, which is a superb technique to beat the warmth. For those who’re a nature lover, there are some nice mountaineering trails round, together with Huai Cho Reservoir Loop, which I actually loved.

8. Great Climate

Heat climate is undoubtedly one of many execs of residing in Chiang Mai. Throughout the 12 months, the common 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 sometimes clears up in a short time.

April and Could are the most well liked 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 may develop into a bit of 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 house 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 evening markets, however these are an exquisite technique to simply immerse your self within the tradition.

Absorbing the native tradition is a good concept, and by doing this, you’ll respect your time in Thailand way more. Thai tradition is wealthy and simple to find out about; native folks will fortunately present you their traditions so long as you present respect always. I don’t assume I’ve skilled tradition in every other nation as a lot as I did right here, and it’s considered one of many the explanation why I need to return.

10. Wonderful Meals

One of many main advantages of residing in Chiang Mai is the meals, surely. It’s very straightforward to strive native delicacies, and the native markets are an amazing place to start out. 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 turned way more adventurous with making an attempt new issues.

Khao Neow Ma Muang, or sticky rice and mango, is considered one of my favourite dishes and it’s really easy to search out from road distributors. Thai meals can be actually wholesome and made with the freshest produce. I took a cookery class, and I realized 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 this planet is 100% excellent, and there are some cons of residing in Chiang Mai you want to concentrate on. 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 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 certainly not not possible, however the necessities are a lot stricter than they was once and there’s a variety of paperwork concerned. Rules change typically so it’s vital to double-check earlier than you intend to journey to keep away from discovering your self in a difficult scenario.

Total, 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’ll be able to then apply to increase this for an additional 30 days in case you select to. To assist make your particular scenario a bit of simpler to know, you possibly can enter your passport particulars into this web site and discover out what your choices are.

2. Attainable 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 probably 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 will 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 effectively in case you enterprise into rural areas otherwise you meet somebody who doesn’t communicate nice English. I discovered that talking even just some phrases made folks need 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. The truth is, many individuals both keep away from the realm 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 subsequent rising season and harvest.

Throughout this time, air high quality is fairly poor, and it may make even strolling round pretty tough. Some years are higher than others, however there’s a normal haze over your entire metropolis between these months it doesn’t matter what. For those who’re somebody who suffers from respiratory points, resembling bronchial asthma, you would possibly 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 sort 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 visitors, and in case you select to drive, you’ll should be very cautious certainly. Even strolling will 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 visitors or drive at excessive velocity. Personally, I most popular to get round by way of public transport, and I by no means discovered it tough to make use of; it actually works out cheaper than gasoline 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 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 particular person, and generally the distinction will be fairly vital. 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 you need to keep 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 every day purchases. It’s one of many belongings you merely have to just accept, nevertheless it’s a draw back all the identical.

Is Dwelling in Chiang Mai Value It?

Like anyplace else on this planet, there are execs and cons of residing in Chiang Mai. It’s obviously apparent that my record has way more execs than cons, and that’s not an accident. All the expertise of residing in Chiang Mai was constructive sufficient for me to see these downsides as small annoyances slightly than large deal-breakers, aside from the visa difficulty.

As one of the fashionable locations for digital nomads, Chiang Mai has one thing for everybody and delivers all of it with a cultural and genuine vibe. Typically it’s frenetic and loud, different instances it’s peaceable and chilled out—your entire metropolis is a contradiction in all the very best methods potential. It’s additionally the primary place to fulfill different folks, a few of whom might find yourself your greatest mates for all times.

I can’t wait to return; when are you going?