A Remote Worker's Guide To Living In Chiang Mai
^Photo by Markus Winkler
Table Of Contents
- The Basics of Living & Working Remotely in Chiang Mai
- Chiang Mai Daily Life
- Chiang Mai Weather
- Chiang Mai Cost of Living
- Getting To Chiang Mai & Getting Around
- Coworking & Social life In Chiang Mai
- Making Friends In Chiang Mai
- What To Do In Chiang Mai
- Best Places For Remote Workers To Live in Chiang Mai
- Chiang Mai For Remote Workers: Other Important Things To Know
- My Tips For Remote Workers In Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai may be one of my favorite cities in the world. I was in and around Chiang Mai for about one and a half years, although completely outside a remote work capacity (I was working for a volunteer organization in Northern Thailand).
During that time I went to a “Digital Nomad Summit”, and realized just how many people live and work remotely from Chiang Mai. It’s a LOT. So why do so many remote workers call Thailand home? We’ll go into that below.
And if you're looking for more cities to work remote, make sure to check out our Remote Work Cities Guides.
The Basics of Living & Working Remotely in Chiang Mai
^The famous Thai smile
Chiang Mai sits at the #22 safest city in the world. Why? Thai people. They’re awesome. Thailand is generally a very respectful culture, and as long as you show respect, you’ll be shown respect.
With that said, no matter what city in the world you’re in, you need to watch out for your personal safety and belongings.
And another thing to consider. Before you go around getting mouthy with that polite Thai person in the 7-11, remember that their national sport involves violent kicks to the head.
Chiang Mai Daily Life
^Street food in a local market
Life in Chiang Mai, and Thailand in general, is just slower. This has good sides and bad sides. You have more time to sit and enjoy the company of others, but bad if you’re hoping for an expeditious fix to that leak in your roof.
Life will also vary quite a bit based on what time of year you’re there. November through February is high season, whereas you’ll find a lot less people there during March, April and May.
Chiang Mai Weather
^Stunning views of Chiang Mai's mountains during Cool Season
Ask locals and they’ll tell you Thailand has 3 seasons; rainy season, hot season and hotter season. But the truth is, “cool season” in Chiang Mai is pretty pleasant.
Here are the three main seasons in Thailand;
Chiang Mai Hot Season (March-May): You’re looking at temperatures at or above 100 degrees fahrenheit with humidity levels into the 50%-70% range.
Chiang Mai Rainy Season (May-October): Despite the name, it only rains for about an hour a day during the rainy season. Other than that, you can expect hot temperatures in the low 90s with humidity levels hovering around 80-90% during the day. And your dad’s favorite saying is right; it’s not the heat that gets you, it’s the humidity.
Chiang Mai Cool Season (November-February): Weather-wise, this is the best time to visit. You’re getting highs in the mid-80s with tolerable 60% humidity levels, and it can even get chilly in the evenings, with temperatures falling into the mid-50s.
Remember November through February is high season in Chiang Mai, which brings crowds and higher prices.
What Time Of Year To Avoid Chiang Mai
You should avoid Chiang Mai from February through the end of April due to Burning Season. This is when farmers around Southeast Asia burn their crops to fertilize and prepare their fields for the coming growing season. The air quality dramatically suffers, and it’s downright dangerous for anyone with existing lung problems or asthma.
Chiang Mai Cost of Living
Yes, Chiang Mai is renowned for its affordability to those coming from higher income countries. You can enjoy a comfortable lifestyle on what would be a pretty moderate budget back home. Expect to spend around $800-$1200 USD per month, which covers accommodation, food, transportation, and entertainment.
Chiang Mai Monthly Living Expenses Breakdown
Chiang Mai Monthly Housing Costs: Renting an apartment or condo in popular areas like Nimmanhaemin or the Old City can range from $200-$1000 per month. $200 for a room in a shared apartment to $1000 per month for a very comfortable spot.
Chiang Mai Monthly Food Costs: Street food is incredibly cheap and delicious, and it’s actually usually cheaper to eat out than it is to buy groceries and cook. Expect to spend around $200-$300 per month on food.
Chiang Mai Monthly Transportation Costs: Songthaews (shared red truck taxis) cost about $0.50 cents per ride, and Grab taxis will run you a couple dollars per ride. To keep Grab costs down you can get a Grab motorbike taxi. Expect to spend ~$50 per month on transportation.
Chiang Mai Monthly Entertainment Costs: If you’re not into opulence and luxury, entertainment in Chiang Mai can be pretty affordable, especially as so much entertainment revolves around food. Expect to spend ~$200 per month on entertainment.
Getting To Chiang Mai & Getting Around
^Tuktuks, a go-to local form of transportation
Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) is well-connected to major cities in Thailand and Southeast Asia in general.
Chiang Mai has a great public transportation system, so getting around is relatively easy. Or you can rent or buy a scooter. However, if you’re going to get a scooter, three important things;
- Wear a helmet. If you’re coming from a country with relatively organized driving cultures like Europe or the US, Thailand is different. It’s going to take some getting used to. Wear a helmet.
- Get your international driver’s license before heading to Thailand.
- Get your motorcycle endorsement on your license before heading to Thailand.
Coworking & Social life In Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai Coworking Spaces & Connectivity
Chiang Mai has one of the strongest communities of remote workers of anywhere in the world. It’s amazing, and it’s in no small part due to the number of coworking spaces and wifi speeds.
- Coworking Spaces: Chiang Mai is loaded with coworking spaces. Some of my favorites are;
- Internet Speed: Thailand has the 10th fastest internet in the world. So yes. The internet in Chiang Mai is more than fast enough for remote workers.
Making Friends In Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is an incredible place for remote workers to make friends. It has an incredibly strong community full of remote workers, which means people just like you, are looking for friends too.
Some of the best ways remote workers can make friends in Chiang Mai include;
- Join a Muay Thai gym. If you care more about making friends than learning to fight, join a more “social” one.Just tell the gym employees “I’m here to have fun and make friends and learn Muay Thai, but I don’t plan on taking an actual fight”. If you’re in a gym where fighters are training for their upcoming fight, they’ll probably point you down the road to a more social gym.
- Chiang Mai Digital Nomads Facebook page
- Chiang Mai Digital Nomads Coffee Club
What To Do In Chiang Mai
^A Muay Thai class for in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai has no shortage of activities;
- Outdoor Adventures: White water rafting, jungle trekking, mountain biking, Grand Canyon Water Park - Chiang Mai is full of outdoor activities.
- Night Markets: Chiang Mai’s night food culture is LIT. Some of the best noodles in the city come out at night.
- Cooking Classes: Learn how to cook like a proper Thai chef. And learn how to sneak a hot pepper into a ball of white rice next time your friend comes to visit you ;)
- Massages: Find your favorite masseuse and go as often as you can. Or get certified in Thai Massage.
- Muay Thai: Take a Muay Thai class!
- Yoga & Fitness: There’s no shortage of yoga and fitness classes in Chiang Mai, they’re around nearly every corner.
- Day Trips To Nearby Cities: Chiang Mai is incredibly well-connected via CNX Airport. Grab a cheap AirAsia flight to Koh Tao for the weekend.
^Visiting a night market, a staple of Chiang Mai life
Best Places For Remote Workers To Live in Chiang Mai
- Old City: If you’re a remote worker looking for a highly convenient place to live, where everything you would ever need is located within a 2 square mile block, Old City, Chiang Mai is the perfect place for you.
- Nimmanhaemin: A bit more upscale than Old City, Nimmanhaemin is great for people who like trendier cafes and restaurants.
Chiang Mai For Remote Workers: Other Important Things To Know
You can check out a more detailed guide to remote work visas in Thailand here, but here's an overview of some of the best visa options.
Thailand Remote Work Visa Options
Short-Term Visa Options For Remote Workers
1. Thailand's Visa-Exempt Entry Visa
- Applicable to citizens of visa-exempt countries (check your nationality)
- Valid for up to 30 days
- No fee
- Single-entry only
- Can be extended by 45 days for a fee
2. Thailand's Multiple Entry Tourist Visa
- Available for most nationalities.
- Permits multiple entries and stays of up to 60 days per visit.
- Fees vary by nationality.
- Valid for 6 months
Long-Term Visa Options For Remote Workers
1. Thailand's Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa
- Caters to remote workers with higher incomes.
- LTR visa applicants must meet certain requirements
- Allows LTR holders unlimited entries
- Valid for 5 years, with the ability to extend another 5 years
- LTR holder's spouse and up to 4 children (under 20 years old) receive LTR visas as well.
2. Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)
- Requires a minimum income of 500,000 Thai Baht per year
- Allows stays of up to 180 days, with the ability to extend for 180 days each entry as well (360 days total stay per entry)
- Valid for 5 years
- Unlimited entries
3. Thailand Elite Visa
- Thailand's Elite Privilege Visa is one of the most sought-after visas for remote workers in the world
- Packages differ from 5-20 years
- Unlimited entries
- Makes it easy to open Thai bank accounts, get a Thai driver's license and more
- Thailand's Elite Visa is pricey, starting from $26,000 per person for the 5-year package
Thailand Medical Care Accessibility And Quality
Thailand has some of the highest quality, affordable (on a foreigner’s salary) medical care in the world. The WORLD. I’ve got crowns put in there, I’ve got full body work done there. Private hospitals in Thailand are world-class. And most doctors in private hospitals speak english, so no language barrier worries.
My Tips For Remote Workers In Chiang Mai
^My favorite Thai dish, kao soi
- Eat street food. Don’t fear the occasional tummy ache. If you’re not willing to eat the bad meals, you don’t deserve the good ones.
- The structure of the Thai language is fairly simple. Take some Thai classes - you can have semi-conversations if you know ~100 words or so. Many locals in Thailand know English basics, but if you never learn Thai, you’ll never get to form those deeper connections with Thai people.
- Rent a motorbike to explore the surrounding areas. But wear a helmet.
- Avoid visiting during burning Season.
- Bring patience. Life probably moves at a different pace than you’re used to. Learn to find the beauty in that. I learned some of the most important things about life from Thai people, but I had to slow down to learn those things.
- That “North Face” backpack you’re looking at is not real. Sure it “fell off a truck” or it “came from a factory”. It’s North Fake. That’s why it’s cheap. But it’ll work for you. Unless you’re actually mountaineering.
Chiang Mai is a great place to live and work remotely. And if you're working remotely and need a laptop case, make sure you check out TILT.
