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72 thoughts on “Why live in Chiang Mai? The home of Expats & Digital Nomads”

  1. So nice to see so many familiar faces in the post! 🙂
    Even If I only saw a few temples from the songthaew and the best thing I know in Chiang Mai is the 7/11 down the road (I know this is coming so I’m anticipating it ahahha), I had the chance to visit a few interesting places and most importantly, to meet some great people! 😉

    • Thanks for being part our post Clelia!!
      Any plan to get back to Chiang Mai? WEe are flying to Thailand on July 22nd, but we´ll stay in BKK for a while!
      All the best sweet!
      Keep travelling and blogging! 🙂
      Ks
      Nat

  2. It was great to meet most of the bloggers in this post. Hopefully, we’ll get to meet up again sometime, somewhere down the line 🙂

  3. We are headed to Chiang Mai in August so it will be fun to see in person what you are talking about! It sounds like an enchanting city and we can’t wait to explore it! Maybe we will get the bug to stay there too!

    • I hope you love Chiang Mai Alyssa!!!
      It took me few days to get used with the city and the pace of life (Chiang Mai was my first time & first city in Southeast Asia)… But it didn’t take too long to fall in love, so true that now I want to go back!
      Safe travels 🙂
      Nat

  4. fantastic post and Chiang Mainis somewhere id love to move to.

    How do you go about visas now as I’ve heard the Thai government have stopped allowing people do border runs? And how can you find a condo or apartment to move into before you get to the city?

    Cheers guys!

    • Hey Luke!
      Thanks for stopping by!

      We have Brazilian passport and we can stay in Thailand 90 days (we renew our visas 3 times while there, just went to for a few days trip Cambodia – Philippines and Malaysia). We never overstay and also never had a problem. I have a friend that last week did the visa run to Myanmar and back to Chiang Mai without a problem either.

      The big issue is if you are hired by a company or do some kind of “local work” there while tourist visa, then you might have a problem.

      For the condos you can search on Google and Facebook (there are some communities). We booked a hostel for the first week and then looked around the city to find the best option for us! 😉

  5. I’ve heard they changed the visa laws recently to crack down on people without a proper work visa. How do you guys stay long-term in Chiang Mai? Thanks!

    • Hi Richelle!!

      We have Brazilian passport so we can stay in Thailand for 90 days with a tourist visa. We never had a problem regard to the visa while we are working online (at coffee shops and libraries). The big issue is travellers that are working as teachers (in private classes and small schools), hostels, etc. without the proper working visa.
      Also some people do the visa run to Cambodia or Myanmar just in one or two days, just for crossing the border, sometimes coming back to Thailand in the same day. That can be a bit suspicious too. But if you follow the rules and don’t overstay your should not have any problem, like us and like many people we know.

      Thanks for stopping by. All the best

  6. I couldn’t agree more, Chiang Mai is just a perfect mix of awesome food, affordability, climate, friendly people and yes, most importantly an amazing wifi connection!! Cannot wait to be back!!

    • Hey João!
      If you want to meet a great bunch of digital nomads and entrepreneurs Chiang Mai is definitely the address for you. We have made so many good connections and friendship there that I can´t even count in one hand… We have learned a lot while sharing experiences with those guys!
      Thanks for stopping by!
      Happy Travels,

      Nat

  9. This article was incredibly helpful! My travel partner and I have been contemplating moving to Thailand and you have totally sold us on Chaing Mai.

    • Glad to hear that April!!
      Hope you enjoy Chiang Mai as much as we did. And if you need any help to settle there just send me an email!
      Happy Travels,

      Nat 🙂

  10. wow, I’ve always wondered why Chiang Mai was so popular among travel bloggers. I’ve kind of thought it was a coincidence if I was keeping stumbling upon it while wandering around the blogosphere… but now I know it isn’t! 😉

    • Hi Giulia!
      I’m happy that you like the post and that I answered a question that was haunting you for a long time!
      Chiang Mai is the place to be if you want to meet with blogger and amazing people.

      All the best!
      Nat

    • If you have the opportunity to visit Chiang Mai, go for it Sarah!
      It´s an amazing city to visit, you can go for a week or maybe stay longer… 🙂

      Happy travels,
      Nat

    • Hey Bethaney!!

      Chiang Mai is the perfect spot to rest for a while, focus on work and live cheaply… Few days there and you will be ready to keep travelling.
      All the best,
      Nat

  13. It’s so interesting to read about living in Chiang Mai. I visited as a backpacker years ago, but it really does seem like a perfect spot to live for a while.

  15. Hi Natalie,

    Flat out my fave place on earth outside of the Southern tip of Phuket. LOVE CM! It is magnetic. We’ve traveled there some 4 times and have lived in CM for close to a year, on and off, over the past 4 years. No place like it.

    Ryan

    • So you got bitten by the “Chiang Mai Bug” too!
      Glad to hear that is not only me 🙂

      We have been in Phuket last year and enjoy the island, maybe we should have stayed a little bit more in the southern part to find out if it is good as CM.

      All the best,
      Nat

    • Philippines is a paradise, there is no way to compare with northern Thailand. But if you need to work, there is no place on earth like Chiang Mai. Believe me!!

      Enjoy Philippines, but be aware of the crappy internet connection around the islands!
      🙂
      Happy Travels,
      Nat

  18. Wow! My husband, daughter and I plan to go to Thailand in the fall. We should definitely spend some time in CM, we hope to meet you all!

    • I´m sure you and your family will love Chiang Mai, it´s a great place to visit and leave!
      We keep in touch, would be a pleasure to meet you there!!

      Happy Travels,
      Nat

  21. Hey Ana!!!
    So now you have a good excuse to go back to Chiang Mai: meet us and other awesome bloggers 😉
    And you are right, the food there is the best!!
    We never been to Indonesia, but it is on our plans, so I will check Yogyakarta out!

    Thanks for stopping by!
    Nat :-9

  23. So nice 😀 Good to know that Chiang Mai has fast Wi-Fi!!! xD
    but for real, it seems to be a cool place to live.
    I would totally enjoy living in Asia anyway, so this post made me happy!

  24. Fantastic post. So great to hear so many fantastic opinions and perspectives of a place. I haven’t made it to Chiang Mai just yet, but after reading this & after 10 years of nurturing an addiction to Pad Thai, i’m almost certain i’ll want to stick around!

    • Hi Gabby!
      If you love Pad Thai, you will love Chiang Mai… Believe me, I have tried several dishes all around Thailand and anyone cook it as good as in Chiang Mai Sunday Market 🙂
      Also, the papaya salad are the best ones!

      Happy travels.
      Nat

  25. WOW! I had no idea what a wonderful place this is! Thanks for sharing. While you didn’t mention children specifically, everyone goes on and on about how friendly the people are so I think kids would be welcome and have a wonderful time, don’t you?

    Your inspirational post just bumped Thailand to the top of the list!
    Thanks,
    Natalie, The Educational Tourist

    • Hey Natalie,
      The place is perfect for children too, so many things to see, amazing temples, huge statues of elephants around the city and friendly people. I think the kids would love there, definitely!

      I’m glad that you liked the post and I made you thinking about travelling to Thailand, it´s a great country!
      All the best,
      Nat

  26. I’ve never been to Chiang Mai but I’ve read lots of posts about it, mostly by young backpackers. That made me think it must be overrun with a young partying crowd, which made me not want to visit. This post gives a much more nuanced view, and I’ll add Chiang Mai to our plans when we finally get to Thailand!

    • Hi Rachel!!
      For sure there are many young backpackers in Chiang Mai, but the vibe is really relaxed and not much partying… All the pubs and bars close around 2 – 3 am, and the city is more a cultural hub than a destination for wild summer holidays.

      If you go to Thailand you definitely need to visit Chiang Mai and the little towns around, the north of the country is completely different from the south and from the island, much more authentic.

      All the best,
      Nat

  27. Would have to agree that Thai food is some of the best in the world!

    Then obviously, the place is so cheap, so no surprises there!!

    • You are right Chris, cheap and good food are a great combination, but I think Chiang Mai has something more. The vibe and the atmosphere are unique there.
      Cheers,
      Nat 🙂

  28. Great article guys! I am also a HUGE travel buff. And I absolutely love Thailand. I am super excited that my fiance and I are planning to live in Chiang-Mai this fall! I hope to meet a lot of other digital nomads like myself. I will most likely be spending time creating videos. If you guys haven’t been to my YouTube channel, check it out. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-fQ20g6nA6drF2oEvbk6Xg

    Again, thank you for writing this insightful article!!

  29. Nothing new on the northern front.

    For living ok, for the first-time SE Asia travellers again ok, but for those who have already have been to any similar culture SE Asia country think twice before going, u wont find any much new experiences than the typical temples, elephants, natute experience or Thai food, cheap shopping opportunuties. I can hear those of you bloggers ask, what else would any human wish to look for ? Please read my first sentence. Others, beware the tons of positive reviews, CM is not for everyone.

    • Hi Fatih!

      Before we moved to Chiang Mai I read a blog with the same message as your comment: Chiang Mai can be really good but not for everyone! And thanks God we have different tastes and opinions! As you said there many other interesting cities in SE Asia, Chiang Mai maybe is on the spotlight now, in a few months or a years can be another one.
      Thanks for stopping by! 😉

      Nat

  30. Btw, Natalie, i am definitely admiring your posts on travelling and am trying to read all of em. Among the bloggers i follow, u 2 are well far ahead of any others in posting frequency. How do u manage to write that much, its amazing. Have fun, and sorry if the previous message harassed any of u guys in any way, i had to share my own view.

    Best wishes.

    • Now you made me even happier Fatih!

      I’m really glad to know that you follow us and you enjoy reading our posts! This is priceless! And don´t worry about you comment above It´s always good to hear the both sides. Feel free to be part of all discussion, that´s how we learn to travel better.

      About the amount of posts we write, I actually think it is not that much, even though is a hard work for us. As a team and we can pull off between 2 – 4 posts a month.

      Wish you all the best too,
      Nat

  31. Thanks for the great post on Chiang Mai. Alison and I live and work in the Philippines, but we get the opportunity to travel frequently and SEA has become our playground. We haven’t been to Chiang Mai yet, however we have just booked to visit in November for 5 days. We can’t wait to experience the magic that everyone describes.

    Cheers

    Stu

    • Hey Stuart!
      Hope you have fun in Chiang Mai, it’s a special city!
      If you need more info about the city send me an email and I can give you two some good tips.
      Enjoy Philippines, we are planning to go there on December.
      Cheers,
      Rob

  33. This article is so inspiring. My & my boyfried just came to Chiang Mai yesterday. Looking forward to discover this city.

    If anybody would like to meet with us and organize «live in Chiang Mai» tour around the city, we would be so thankful. Because for now we feel a little bit lost.

    Btw, we came from Kiev, Ukraine and we’re internet marketers (email, SMM, landing pages building, copywriting).

    Love and hugs to everybody! <3

    • Hi Hanna!!
      Glad to meet you! We´ll be back in Chiang Mai in December, hope to meet you there 🙂
      If you search on Facebook you´ll find many groups of digital nomads in Chiang Mai, and they have weekly activities.
      All the best,

      Nat

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  35. Great post and well timed for my wife and I. We’ve been traveling for two years now, mostly housesitting in Latin America. We’ve decided we want to get back to SE Asia but can’t afford to pay too much for rent so we are planning on Chang Mai. This post just help solidify our plan.

    • Hi Tim!!
      If you want to save some money Chiang Mai is the place! Life is very easy here and the expat community great! Every time we need to focus on work and save Chiang Mai is the place we go! So, when are you planning to arrive in Thailand? We´ll be in Chiang Mai till end of February, would be nice to meet you two.
      All the best and safe journey!
      Nat

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  37. This is really nice!! I’m even considering the possibility to spend some time there.
    Which one the best time frame for you guys?
    I’m been to Thailand but just BKK and south.
    Abs

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  39. Hi my name is Beverly, I want to come and live in Chaing mai but don’t know how visa work. does any one know how long I have to go back to US for extension of visa?

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