Are you considering or planning to move to Chiang Mai? I believe it is a great city to experience Thai culture, hospitality, and of course amazing Thai cuisine. We’ve been living in Chiang Mai for 2 months now and I will miss it dearly when we leave next month. So let’s jump right into everything you need to know before your move to Chiang Mai!
Some links in this article are affiliate links, which means that I get a small commission each time you purchase something through them. (AT NO EXTRA COST for you) I only recommend products and services that I trust. A big thank you for supporting Here With Dia by using these links for your online purchases.
Table of Contents
Things to know before moving to Chiang Mai
————————
Is Chiang Mai right for you
Located in northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is one of the largest cities in the country. It’s not a bustling metropolitan city like Bangkok, but it’s become a popular spot these days for digital nomads and people looking to retire abroad. As an established city popular amongst tourists and ‘expats’, Chiang Mai offers a lifestyle that is convenient and accessible for foreigners.
There are 3 indoor shopping malls with plenty of night markets every night of the week. You can find cheap local eats as well as more high end luxury dining. There are co-working spaces throughout the city, and living costs are fairly reasonable. You can also take day trips and explore some areas nearby, there are plenty of hiking trails and beautiful temples in and around Chiang Mai.
What’s the weather like in Chiang Mai
In 2018, the yearly weather average showed lowest temperature of 17C/62F and highest at 38C/100F. Chiang Mai packs the classic heat you find in other Southeast Asian countries but without the humidity. Rainy season is generally between the months of May to October, with the hottest summer days between March to May. You will experience cooler temperatures between November to February. By that I mean sweater weather, you still won’t ever need to bundle up in a coat.
What’s the living cost in Chiang Mai
Here’s a general breakdown for the most basic necessities:
- Accommodation: 300-500USD/month
- Food: 5-10USD per meal/for two people
- Transportation: 45-65USD/monthly scooter rental
- Phone Data: 5-20USD/month depending on carrier and data amount
- Internet: 25-35USD/month depending on provider
Tourist Visa or Visa exemption upon arrival
30-DAY VISA EXEMPTION: Depending on which country of origin your passport’s from, this may vary. For U.S passport holders, you can come to Thailand without a visa and receive a 30-day visa exemption upon arrival. The common practice used to be ‘visa runs‘ – what this means is a few days before the 30 days are up, people will buy a cheap flight out of the country and fly back in immediately afterwards to receive another 30-day visa exemption. HOWEVER, due to the high volume of people using this method, Thailand immigration has tightened that ship recently. They can always deny entry if you keep abusing the visa exemption.
60-DAY TOURIST VISA: This is the visa we applied for and received before arriving in Chiang Mai. The process was fairly straight forward and costs 1,900Baht/60USD. (as of 2019) This is good if you plan on staying in Chiang Mai longer than a month, and you can apply for an extension before your 60 days are up. We recently went to the immigration office and applied for a 30 day extension which costs another 60USD. After you’ve exhausted your extensions, you can always try to do a ‘visa run’, even though you are not guaranteed re-entry, I think it looks a lot better that you’ve paid for the tourist visa rather than just abusing and taking advantage of the 30-day exemption multiple times.
Travel health insurance
I have heard horror stories of people getting into scooter accidents and having to pay out of pocket while traveling or living in Thailand. While you can find amazing dental care in Chiang Mai for cheap prices, things like emergency visits or other health concerns may cost a bit more. I would highly recommend looking into travel health insurance just so you won’t end up paying crazy expensive medical bills while living in Thailand. (Let’s hope you won’t ever, but sometimes it’s better to be safe)
➟ World Nomads is a highly trusted and recommended health insurance created for travelers by travelers. You can get a quote easily below, and buy a policy for the time you need plus extend it later if you decide to stay in Thailand longer.
What to pack for living in Chiang Mai
You can find most of the necessities you might need in Chiang Mai. There are shopping malls with international chain stores like H&M and Uniqlo, there are also night markets where you can find basic t-shirts, shorts, sandals etc… I’ll still go ahead and list some of the most useful items to pack.
Water-proof jacket – If you happen to be in Chiang Mai during the rain season, rainfall can definitely catch you unexpectedly. one second it’s sunny the next there’s a storm or shower coming down on you. Having a light weight water-proof jacket can definitely be helpful. You can use it to keep yourself or your belongings dry.
Scarf – There are plenty of beautiful temples that you can visit but must have your shoulders and knees covered. I’ve been traveling with at least 2 scarfs for the past two years and they are incredibly useful.
Hiking shoes or sneakers – Even though you’ll end up wearing sandals for the majority of your time in Chiang Mai, if you’re living here you’ll definitely find the occasion and activities that’ll require some solid sneakers or hiking shoes. I recommend buying hiking shoes back at home, because you may not be able to find high quality ones here. If you do, the prices will likely be the same or higher.
Other recommended items for Chiang Mai:
→ READ NEXT: My Must Have Packing Essentials after 2 Years of Traveling
Things to do after you arrive in Chiang Mai
————————
How to find an accommodation in Chiang Mai
APARTMENTS: Some apartment complexes require 6months or longer leases, however there are plenty of places that offer month to month lease with slightly higher rent prices. Here is a short list of places you can check, simply walk to the lease office in the building and inquire about prices and ask them to show you an available unit.
*Prices may vary by season and unit availability. Prices shown below do not include utilities or deposit and are in Thai Baht.
- Huay Kaew Palace 1: 11,000
- Le Grand Living: 3,500
- Suan Sukapap: 4,500
- Hill Crest: 5,500
- Ban Ha Kham: 6,000
- Chomdoi II: 4,000 – 11,000
- Hi Nimman: 7,800
- Punna 2: 11,000
- Green Hill: 11,000
- Vieng Ping: start 7,000
- Baan Thai: start 7,000
- Punna 5: 12,000
- Dome: 12,000
- Trio Condo: ??
Move-in Tip: Make sure before you move in to take videos or photos of any damages found in the unit, there have been reports of landlords not returning full deposit to renters.
AIRBNB: After walking around for 2 days, we ended up deciding to rent long-term from an Airbnb host. The reasons were, the flat price we pay monthly (400USD) includes all utilities plus internet and there is no deposit required. You may want to consider this option if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of utilities bills and deposit. If it’s your first time using Airbnb, click here to receive 40$ off your booking.
HOTELS: If you’d like the luxury of a fully furnished apartment without worrying about the deposit, consider long-term stay at a hotel as your accommodation option. There are other perks included in hotels such as weekly cleaning and laundry services for a fee.
Check here for the best hotels in Chiang Mai
Transportation // Getting around in Chiang Mai
RENT A SCOOTER: The best option for living in Chiang Mai long-term would be to rent a scooter or motorbike. We pay 1,600baht/51USD a month for our scooter. There are many places you can rent from in the city, but I highly recommend Mango Bikes Rental. The owner and their team are really professional about the quality of their bikes. We went in for a second month rental renewal and they did a 30 minutes inspection plus oil change before we left. * Petrol costs around 30Baht per litre. You can fill up the tank for around 60Baht/2USD.
Scooter Tip: Make sure you have an International Driver’s Permit or apply for a Thai driving permit. There are police check-points near Old Town area that primarily stops foreigners. If you’re caught driving without the proper documents, fines range from 500 – 5,000 Baht.
USE TUK TUKS: There are plenty of red tuk tuks available in the city and surrounding areas, you basically let the driver know where you need to go and costs start from 30Baht per ride to more depending on passenger number and distance.
GRAB: Similar to Uber in the U.S and other parts of the world, Grab rides are actually quite reasonably priced. It’s not as cheap as renting a scooter or using Tuk Tuks but it’s definitely convenient and affordable. There are public buses as well, but they are not the most efficient or convenient means of transportation in Chiang Mai.
Where to eat in Chiang Mai
It goes without saying, you have plenty of dining options here in Chiang Mai. There are many cheap street stalls that basically sells home-styled cooking for around 2-3USD per dish! There are also plenty of restaurants that you can dine in for great prices. The only thing to be aware of is sometimes businesses take a lunch break during midday and may not open until dinner time. Here’s a short list of our favorite places to eat in Chiang Mai.
Khao Tom Baht Diao – They offer an amazing variety of authentic Thai dishes at even more amazing prices. Open for lunch and dinner except on Sundays. Make sure to try the variety of spicy salads with different sausages.
Tikky Cafe – Okay Tikky Cafe is mostly frequented by tourists and travelers, but they do have a great array of large portion dishes that’ll satisfy your hungry belly. Do try one of their classic fruit smoothies!
Khao Soi Khun Yai – I would say this is one of, if not THE most popular Khao Soi spots in Chiang Mai. They offer only a few items on the menu which to me always means it’s GOOD. This spot is often busy and visited by both locals and tourists alike.
There are plenty more delicious dining options in Chiang Mai. The way we have found these places were simply by driving around and checking on Google Maps.
Where to work in Chiang Mai
Maybe you don’t have fast internet at home, or maybe you’re one of those people that work better without the distraction of comfort. You can definitely spend the day at one of these co-working spaces in the city. Co-working spaces generally charge a small fee per hour or day. Sometimes the fee comes with a drink, or you can also head over to any of the cafes in town and just grab a drink to work a few hours on your laptop.
Check here for a list of co-working spaces in Chiang Mai
How to make the best of your time in Chiang Mai
Get connected with other travelers and residents from abroad as well as get involved with local events and activities. I work on my laptop and can spend all day just sitting inside with the AC cranked on high, but I make sure to go check out some place new every week. Otherwise why live and work in Thailand, you can just move back in with mama and work there.
There are night markets every night of the week and you can find an array of goodies and yummy street food in each night market. There are also plenty of fun outdoor activities less than a 30 minutes scooter ride away.
Make sure to read my article: 33 Awesome Things to do in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Check here for a list of Facebook groups for Chiang Mai – Great for apartment search, meet ups, any questions you may have about living in Chiang Mai.
We also met up with a local to teach English to a group of Thai students as well as volunteered for a day at one of the dog shelters in Chiang Mai.
Additional insider tips for living in Chiang Mai
#1. You can find really cheap dental care here.
For some reason Chiang Mai has become the epicenter of affordable dental care. You can get cosmetic work done as well as dental surgeries at REALLY affordable prices. Just make sure to do some research to find a good office.
#2. Many apartments don’t have full kitchens.
You’ll be lucky to find an apartment with a full kitchen or a kitchenette. Most of the time though, they are equipped with fridge, microwave, and a kettle.
#3. You can still eat cheap home-cooked meals.
There are local food markets which Thai residents go and buy their groceries and meals from. The prices are insanely cheap and it’s basically like eating home-cooked meals. Our favorite one is Siri Wattana/Thanin Market. You can find ready to eat meals starting from 20baht per dish.
#4. You can’t buy alcohol from 2pm-5pm.
Alcohol sales are prohibited in 711s and any other markets during 2-5pm in Chiang Mai. I believe you can still buy a drink at restaurants and bars.
#5. Download the food delivery app Food Panda.
Technically the app says “no delivery fee”, however I have noticed most if not all of the prices for dishes are slightly higher than if you went there in person. However it’s still incredibly affordable and you can track where the driver is and get a call when they’ve arrived with your food. Great app to have for rainy or lazy days.
📌 Pin it for later:
The best guide I found so far! Thank you!!
Aw I’m so glad you found it helpful!