The range of living options in Chiang Mai is one of the many reasons it is such a popular destination for longer-term living for foreigners. From modern condos to traditional Thai houses to comfortable family homes, there truly is something for everyone.
One of the most popular living choices, especially for families and pet owners, are moo baans – the gated communities that are dotted around Chiang Mai.
For many, the benefits that come with living in a gated community mean moving to one makes a lot of sense. This means that when you find a property you like in some of the more notable moo baans, such as the Koolpunt complexes, Home In Park Village, and Baan Wang Tan, you should act fast!
So, what is it that makes them so popular? To answer this, we’re delving into the top 7 things that make sense when living in gated community in Chiang Mai.
Table of Contents
1. The Feeling of Community
Chiang Mai is famously friendly. Finding new people to meet, saying hello to neighbours – or strangers – and feeling part of a community can be as easy as you make it.
This is even more so when living in a gated community. As you’ll see as we go through the rest of this list, nearly everything you get in a moo baan directly leads to a community feel.
You’ll be neighbours with people looking for a similar living experience, and in an environment where mingling with each other is much more common than on the average street or building in the city.
2. Manicured gardens and greenspace
Chiang Mai is a working city. It’s not one littered with trash per se, but public areas don’t always get the same attention that you might be used to from your home country.
Gated communities have managed the roads, walkways, and shared areas within the community, leaving a clean and presentable environment in which to live in.
Many moo baans have their own gardens, shared greenspaces and play areas, but even the smaller ones that don’t have sidewalks, roads, and entrance areas that are well-presented.
It is long-proven that living in an environment of greenspace and trees make for a relaxed and natural environment, and we’re strong advocates for living near or amongst some greenery and nature.
3. Health and fitness facilities
One of the biggest draws for many who live in moo baans are the facilities they offer. Condo living is increasing in popularity thanks to the in-built gyms and communal swimming pools they increasingly include, and many moo baans offer these too.
Amongst the health and fitness facilities you’ll frequently find in Chiang Mai’s gated communities include:
- Swimming pool
- Fitness gyms
- Tennis courts
- Badminton courts
All of these facilities are shared amongst the residents – adding to the community feel of a moo baan – with the upkeep managed by the moo baan.
While you might find a property with private fitness facilities, you’ll be paying a premium for it alongside the responsibility for the upkeep. Having these in your moo baan, however, is a zero-maintenance, low-cost way to get easy access to health and fitness facilities on your doorstep.
4. Family Friendly Shared amenities
Aside from the health and fitness and greenspace facilities on offer in most gated communities, the other shared amenities that you get access to could become mainstays of your routines.
Moo baans are popular among families, and the most popular are ones that offer play areas right in the community. Even a children’s area with the basics of swings, slides, and climbing frames offers a convenient way to entertain the kids when you don’t want to venture far from home.
One of our favourite amenities we see in some gated communities around Chiang Mai are the shared eating and barbecue areas. These can range from a fixed barbecue for anyone in the community to use to a fully covered dining area, complete with tables and chairs.
These, along with verandas, park areas and flower gardens all contribute to a convenient, civil, and sociable environment to live in.
Some even have restaurants, shops, and café’s within the compound so you won’t even need to leave to get your iced caramel macchiato!
5. Added Feeling of Safety
When talking about living in Chiang Mai – and Thailand in general – one of the first things that residents will say is how safe it is.
This is never truer than when you live in a moo baan.
In fact, the first thing that you’ll spot that makes a moo baan recognizable, over a regular street or neighbourhood, is the security gate and guards you’ll spot at the entrance.
The guards are almost never called into action in the way a security guard might in less safe countries, but they will ensure that the community retains its sense of safety.
They’ll check visitors and vehicles before they pass through the gates, but also regularly patrol the roads and facilities, and are a friendly part of the experience of living in a moo baan. Some of the more heavily secured moo baans also have arrangements in place for police patrols.
The quieter roads make for a safe environment for families and pets too. Walking the dog, playing balls games in the driveway or street, or just taking an evening stroll are all on the doorstep, with little need for concern over road safety.
6. Peace and quiet
Talking of quiet – it isn’t just the roads that are quieter, slower-paced, and policed – the community in general is likely to offer a very peaceful lifestyle.
There can be a range of property types in the gated communities around Chiang Mai, but they are all set in quieter parts of the city. We’re not saying Chiang Mai is the noisiest city by any means, but the peace of mind living in a community where the random pop-up markets, karaoke sets and roadworks that can appear from nowhere just won’t happen.
Moo baans also manage community for soi dogs who, whilst rarely a problem in terms of safety, can be noisy and disturb pets.
What’s the price of reliable peace and quiet? Well, it’s whatever the cost of renting or buying your home in a moo baan in Chiang Mai!
7. Great Value for money
When you add all of this together you are likely to find exceptional value for money. What your budget is will determine the actual cost and will be impacted by location, size and age of property, the facilities you get in your moo baan, etc., but you generally get a LOT for your money.
Renting a medium-sized house can start from less than 15,000 baht a month, and you will at minimum live in a gated community with security, well-kept streets, some greenspace and a quiet community to live in.
The closer you are to the city or other outside amenities might impact the price, but then proximity to these also offer added value.
Housing in general in Chiang Mai is priced very favorably, but add in the built-in facilities and services from a gated community and you’ll be getting outstanding value for money.
