When I came to Thailand for the first time five years ago, I was not too thrilled. But now I’m here again – and for the fourth time. Because now I feel comfortable in this country. The city of Chiang Mai plays a major role. At the last visit, I found the same ten reasons to love them.
Well it took me back to Chiang Mai. Decisive the idea of some digital nomads for a month was common to live in a WG. Although it has become nothing but Chiang Mai no longer went out of my head. So I booked a flight to spend November here.
The community meets in Chiang Mai
Although I knew that some nomads would come to Chiang Mai in the winter, I was after my arrival but surprised at how big the community is here. But during my three weeks in the city, I met a lot of people from the industry, partly to spend a few days here – but also partly for several months.
To times to name a few:
– Sabrina from Just One Way Ticket
– Anja von Ania de Alemania
– Florian von Flocutus
– Sebastian of Travel Work Live
– Sebastian Wireless Life
– Tim Earth City or style nomads
– Jeremy from travel business
– Jerome of … oops, someone with no blog (but with business card)
These are just the German – and not even all. At connection is lacking here in Chiang Mai not know what I list as an emerging Plus. Whoever wants to can work here, eat and celebrate every day with like-minded people.
For me personally the group events were not so interesting. And I do not feel well and am withdrawing most. I liked it, however, be able to make me into smaller groups to ordinary conversations.
The town is online
Where cavort many Webworker because there is also a good internet availability. Chiang Mai is full of nice cafes where a free wifi access is a matter of course.
While still holding the selection of good cafes in the tourist city in limits, I knew around the Nimmanahaeminda Road not initially, in which I should go first. This street and the side streets branching off are the Mecca of digital nomads and expatriates.
Wifi there is practically in every cafe. It is not always good, but often enough. Only for frequent Skype are the most useless.
Priced take all not much. As so often with western luxury, our modern coffee beverages are not extremely cheap. To time to call it a benchmark: A cappuccino costs between 60 and 70 baht – ie about 1.50 – EUR 1.75. Of that I could even go lunch.
A selection of good cafes around the Nimman Road:
– Coffee Villa – small, stylish and with good Wifi
– Kaweh – very beautiful, great working atmosphere, but during my time lousy Wifi
– Roubaix – the quietest café, if not all nomads are suddenly there
– Play – very good seating to work
– Mont Blanc – to 15 clock there are two coffees for the price of one
– Coffee Wish – not to work, but good to relax in comfortable armchairs
– CAMP – very big, always full, but the most reliable Wifi
Some of these cafés resemble very a co-working space. They are often used by young Thais who learn there (partly until late at night).
If you is not enough, or you’re looking for cafes off Nimman Road, look here:
1. Cafe 4 Nomads
2. Chiang Mai Coffee Culture
3. 10 Coffeeshop recommendations
4. Wifi Map Chiang Mai
Correct coworking spaces there are for that matter. Namely this:
– Punspace
– Coffee Monster
– Mana Space
I have never visited, since the coffee shops were adequate for my purposes.
Additionally, I have a prepaid SIM card brought me for the smartphone to go online may also be times – especially since there was no WiFi in my accommodation or I had the option not booked. Getting a SIM card with inexpensive data services, is no problem at all in Thailand. As it goes, you learn here.
Good Living in Chiang Mai
Since I stayed this time more than three weeks in one place, I have not looked around me for guesthouses or AirBnB, but for an apartment. They look a typical Thai hostel rooms although very similar, but are provided for long term rentals of one month.
Before departure I was informed a little online. In two Facebook groups I soon found. There current databases with many addresses are kept by the members. These are the two groups:
– Chiang Mai Digital Nomads
– I Love Chiang Mai Too
For many apartment complexes there are websites where you can get an overview. However, no on-line bookings are provided on most. Some landlords I asked via e-mail, but received refusals or no answer. I would now be able to call or write another owner, but that seemed too complicated to me.
Instead, I booked a room for our first two nights and went on the first day in Chiang Mai with a few addresses in his pocket in search. I wanted in the region around the Nimman Road – and that is already very compact.
Finally I ended up in a very large apartment complex, where already a lot of expats and digital nomads were staying – many of them German. There I took a 1-bedroom apartment three weeks (but paid for the whole month). The room is spacious, bright, clean and all tenants have access to a large pool. With electricity, water and bedding, it will cost about 160 euros for a month.
The lease ran straightforward. I appeared there and was able to move on the same day. For this purpose, I completed a lease that is cancellable monthly. The rent is paid monthly in advance. In addition, falls high deposit for the room, the TV and the key to (about 12,000 baht). Electricity and water will be charged at the end of the month. Power can make a big difference if you use the air conditioning. In November, however, it was never so hot that I would have to turn on. Are correspondingly low electricity costs at the end.
The landlord has no website and apparently there are among bloggers the agreement, not specifically writing about this property, as prices for many years are low and should remain so. If you have serious interest to live at least one month in Chiang Mai and need the address, please write me an email.
Here are a few other apartments in Chiang Mai, you get an idea of what standard and what price level we are talking about:
– Mata Apartment recommendation of Patrick (heldenleben.com)
– View Doi Mansion
– MP Place
– Sunshine House Chiang Mai
– Siriruk apartments (only 2,500 Baht)
A good recommendation for a hotel, there are also at Travel makes you richer
For more addresses, I refer you to the above-mentioned Facebook groups.
Conclusion: For 150 to 200 euros a month you get a decent room in Chiang Mai. Maybe it’s just a tad bit cheaper – and up there, depending on your Luxury claim no limits.
By the way, if you do not stay long enough for an apartment, but still near the Nimman Road live, will you find here at Björn a good hotel tip.
Cost of living in Chiang Mai
In Chiang Mai where life is cheap. I think you can hardly anywhere in the world live as low and at the same time comfortable. The standard of accommodation is high, there are many co-working spaces and cafes. Perfect conditions for digital nomads who come here to carry out their business. Some even come here to start it (although there are good reasons not to do so).
How much life in Chiang Mai will cost will depend as usual on each self. How much luxury you need? What would you like to experience everything here?
If you do not do much more than to spend in Chiang Mai your life and pursue your work here, you come out with 400 euros. The accommodation will cost 150 to 200 euros, a Thai meal costs one euro. Your underwear you can wash leave for 3-4 Euro. This maybe a prepaid SIM card, with which you can always be online. 2 gigabytes are available for about 12 euros.