Cost Of Living In Chiang Mai
It’s no secret that Chiang Mai is widely credited as being one of the most liveable –and lovable- destinations in the whole of Asia if not the world. For a taste of the city’s myriad of virtues, be sure to read our teaser article Starting a New Life in Chiang Mai. Foremost, though, among the jewels in Chiang Mai’s crown is in its affordability.
Indeed even within Thailand, your purchasing power here is generally twice that in the nation’s capital, Bangkok. The low cost –and often extraordinary value- of routine necessities (most notably housing, utilities, food, healthcare, transportation and fuel) allows anyone from bootstrapping Digital Nomads on a shoestring budget to retirees with a fat pension to enjoy the trappings of a comfortable, if not lavish, lifestyle for a fraction of that in a developed country. Testimony, in fact, to the economic magnetism of Chiang Mai is the almost obsessive preoccupation among tourists and expats alike while living in the city to proudly broadcast breakdowns of their personal expenses online! Here is our guide to the
cost of living in Chiang Mai.
As well as paying rent, those living in leased accommodation will almost always be required to fork out separately on utilities likewise on a monthly basis but instead settled in arrears. In Chiang Mai, mains power is supplied by the…
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Unless treated by means of an in-home water purification system, the municipal water that supplies Chiang Mai is best considered not safe to consume direct from the tap (faucet) and should therefore be sourced from elsewhere. For those on the…
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For those partial to the odd tipple, by far the most prevalent of all intoxicating beverages in Chiang Mai are the assorted beers. With a greater than 90% share of the market, sales of the leading domestic brands Chang, Leo…
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An everyday expense it may not be but a valid and relevant entry permit which legally sanctions a foreigner either a ‘Temporary Stay’ or a ‘Long Stay’ in Thailand is arguably the most fundamental overhead that needs to be factored…
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Obtaining a Thai pre-paid SIM card will enable the subscriber to use the respective carrier’s 3G or, substantially faster, 4G/LTE mobile data networks and, in areas of coverage, allow the internet to be accessed on a smartphone or other SIM-enabled…
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While it’s perfectly possible to use a foreign SIM card in Thailand, doing so will usually invite crippling international roaming charges. Infinitely more economical an option is to acquire a Thai SIM card after arriving in the country. The big…
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With ambitions to develop into a true co-working space, the superbly appointed, spotlessly kept, ultra-modern and state-owned Thailand Creative and Design Centre Resource Centre provides a free one day trial with a ‘Tourist Pass’ (offering the same benefits as their…
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Laundry Although a fitted washing machine is far from mainstream in Thailand, alternative laundering facilities exist in abundance throughout Chiang Mai and are particularly inexpensive. Serviced wash shops usually charge by weight with ironing, a hot wash or same day…
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Use a Visa or MasterCard debit, credit or pre-paid foreign currency card issued outside of Thailand at a cash machine of any bank in Chiang Mai and you’ll be slapped –to varying degrees of severity- with an ATM fee. Effective…
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While Chiang Mai can’t lay claim to large-scale mass transit systems (such as the MRT or the BTS in Bangkok), plenty of alternative options exist for getting around the city and beyond. Representing Thailand’s most iconic mode of conveyance and…
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