If you happen to seek for the preferred digital nomad places, Chiang Mai is bound to look on that checklist. If you happen to 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 at once. There are numerous professionals of dwelling in Chiang Mai; it’s no surprise that so many distant employees and vacationers alike flock there 12 months after 12 months.
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, well-liked with numerous different distant employees and pleasant locals. The professionals of dwelling in Chiang Mai far outweigh the negatives in my view, nevertheless it’s vital to find out about each side of the coin to make your individual knowledgeable determination 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 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 Residing in Chiang Mai
As a result of I prefer to concentrate on positivity earlier than anything, let’s begin with some great benefits of dwelling in Chiang Mai. By the top of this checklist, you’ll most likely 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
No doubt, one of many greatest professionals of dwelling in Chiang Mai is simply how simple 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 certain to be digital nomads. Regardless of while you go to, you’re assured to satisfy loads of different like-minded individuals, which can make your keep a lot extra gratifying.
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 keep up a correspondence with immediately. The town presents many nice alternatives to collaborate, but when socializing is all you bear in mind, you actually received’t wrestle to discover a new buddy or two.
SEE ALSO: 7 Finest Digital Nomad Cities in Asia
2. Price-Effectiveness
Chiang Mai is a fairly cost-effective place to remain over the long run. For instance, you’ll be able to normally discover an house within the metropolis middle and even fashionable Nimman, for round 7800-14,000 THB ($220-$390) with utilities on prime. 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 follow native meals; if you need Western-style meals then you’ll be able to anticipate to pay extra. Considered one of my favourite locations was the Chiang Mai Night time Bazaar, the place it’s doable to fill your self with avenue meals for a really small amount of money. Even espresso retailers are low cost—yow will discover a cappuccino for round 55THB ($1.50), and these are nice locations to work from too.
SEE ALSO: 10 Finest Espresso Outlets and Cafes in Chiang Mai (Laptop computer Pleasant!)
3. Security
Whenever you’re trying on the professionals and cons of dwelling in Chiang Mai, you’ll little doubt 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. In truth, a 2023 report acknowledged that Chiang Mai is the most secure metropolis to go to in Southeast Asia general.
After all, like every other metropolis on the 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 protected 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 wholly 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. 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 incredible 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, reminiscent of HeartWork, a coworking cafe that expenses a low price for the usage of their web for a couple 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 planet in Chiang Mai and loads of locals who need to let you know about their traditions and customs. Whereas it may be difficult with the language barrier typically, it’s not one thing you’ll be able to’t overcome. I had many conversations with espresso store and meals stall house owners 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 completely 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. After all, you’ll be able to assist your self somewhat by studying a couple 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 reasonably priced healthcare. This must be one thing you concentrate on irrespective of the place on the 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 simple, and there have been English-speaking workers. After all, ensure you have good medical health insurance, and also you received’t have any issues if a health-related challenge 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 puzzled 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 cherished 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 choice.
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 suggest a day journey to Sticky Waterfall, which is a superb option to beat the warmth. If you happen to’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 12 months, the common temperature not often dips under 22°C/71°F. August is the rainiest month, with the wet season stretching between Might and October. Throughout this time, there are a lot of heavy showers, however they’re typically short-lived, and the climate usually clears up in a short time.
April and Might 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 could possibly change into 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 dwelling comforts, it’s a very cultural place with a unique lifestyle. Simply strolling down the streets and seeing the superbly embellished temples and tuk-tuks passing by reveals you that you just’re in nearly one other world. I’ve already talked about the evening markets, however these are a beautiful option to simply immerse your self within the tradition.
Absorbing the native tradition is a superb thought, and by doing this, you’ll respect your time in Thailand rather more. Thai tradition is wealthy and simple to find out about; native individuals 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 reason why I need to return.
10. Superb Meals
One of many main advantages of dwelling in Chiang Mai is the meals, no doubt. It’s very simple to strive native delicacies, and the native markets are an excellent place to begin. Thai avenue meals is scrumptious and extremely low cost, serving to you to maintain money in your pocket. I developed a severe love of Pad Thai in Chiang Mai and I turned rather 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 avenue 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 suggest 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 planet 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, 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 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 and there’s a variety of paperwork concerned. Laws 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 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 may then apply to increase this for one more 30 days in case you select to. To assist make your particular state of affairs somewhat simpler to grasp, you’ll be able to 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 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 occasions, which could be irritating, particularly in case you’re looking for vital data otherwise you need assistance.
I made a decision to view this as an excellent excuse to be taught 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 individuals need to assist me be taught much more, they usually appeared to understand my makes an attempt, irrespective of how dangerous!
3. Burning Season
For me, one of many greatest downsides of dwelling in Chiang Mai is the burning season. In truth, 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 possibly make even strolling round pretty tough. Some years are higher than others, however there’s a basic haze over all the metropolis between these months it doesn’t matter what. If you happen to’re somebody who suffers from respiratory points, reminiscent of 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 checklist of most harmful locations to drive in Thailand; It even beat Bangkok, which is sort of stunning in case you’ve ever been to the capital. One of many cons of dwelling in Chiang Mai is making an attempt to navigate site visitors, and in case you select to drive, you’ll should be very cautious certainly. Even strolling could 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 pace. 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 offers 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 dwelling 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 an area individual, and typically the distinction could 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 you need to bear 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 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 Residing in Chiang Mai Value It?
Like anyplace else on the planet, there are professionals and cons of dwelling in Chiang Mai. It’s obviously apparent that my checklist has much more professionals than cons, and that’s not an accident. Your complete expertise of dwelling in Chiang Mai was optimistic sufficient for me to see these downsides as small annoyances slightly than huge deal-breakers, except the visa challenge.
As one of the vital well-liked 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—all the metropolis is a contradiction in all the very best methods doable. It’s additionally the primary place to satisfy different individuals, a few of whom might find yourself your greatest pals for all times.
I can’t wait to return; when are you going?
