(July 2022)
Thailand Living Costs 2022
With the exception of 2021 (due to COVID-19), my family has been returning to Chiang Mai, Thailand every year for a decade now. In total, we’ve easily lived there for more than 3 years in total. Even with over-tourism, it can still be a very inexpensive place to live. My family of 3 spends about US$2000 per month for all our living expenses and we do not consciously try to limit our spending. We eat out every day, drink great coffee, and largely do what we want to do.
- Our monthly rent is about US$300, including twice-weekly cleanings and all utilities. The apartment is small, but we love the owners and it’s in a great location so we are happy to stay there.
- A typical Grab ride is less than $4.
- My cell-phone bill is about $15 per month.
- A huge meal for the family in our favorite restaurant with multiple dishes and smoothies is less than $20. A full meal in a high-quality Italian restaurant with beer might get up to $40. We don’t drink much in Thailand, though.
- One hour massages can still be found for about $5.
We don’t aim for any particular budget, but $70 per day for the 3 of us is not constrictive at all. That is $700 per person per month, including rent.
I think it’s very doable for a single person to live on US$700 per month. There are plenty of apartments around US$150 per month range and there are many local restaurants with meals for $1 to $2. You couldn’t drink much alcohol or travel outside the city on that budget, but you could definitely live that cheaply.
I occasionally get some angry feedback saying that I don’t know what I’m talking about and that it’s impossible to live a decent life for this cheap. I agree to a point. If you spend all your time in bars drinking western alcohol, eat at western restaurants, and want to live in a western-style house in a sub-urban compound, your living costs will be much higher. This is Thailand, so many of the sex-pats will have rented girlfriends and have to spend a lot of extra money maintaining that lifestyle.
This post assumes you are willing to eat Thai food regularly and don’t spend most of your free time in bars.
Living Inexpensively in Thailand
My wife and I spent two months in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Relative to living costs, it definitely is one of the best cities for quality of life. There are other great cities around the world, but for a similar lifestyle, you would likely pay many times more. I have already written about why Chiang Mai is such a haven for digital nomads, so in this post I am going to provide more specific details on our living expenses and lifestyle in Thailand. We didn’t quite keep our costs under the elusive $500 per month budget, but we weren’t far off.
Accommodations in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Thailand is fantastic for short-term rentals of both guest houses and apartments. While most other countries still expect long-term contracts, Thailand is geared towards casual travelers and has accommodation for every budget and duration.
My wife and I paid $360 per month for a nice hotel-style apartment ten minutes walk from the trendy Nimmanhaeman Street of Chiang Mai. Internet was included, but water and electricity were about an extra $30 per month. (Update: I share our $150/month Chiang Mai Apartment in a recent post.)
There were cheaper options, but we wanted a nice balcony with a view, a usable kitchen and a building with a swimming pool and exercise facilities. Eating breakfast on the garden facing balcony every day was definitely worth a few dollars per day.
I had an uncle say in the busier night market area for about $280 per month. He didn’t have a balcony and the building was a little run down, but it was still very acceptable accommodation.
Another Uncle rents a house outside the city for about $200 with about another $100 per month for Internet and utilities. The house was furnished with three bedrooms, making it a great choice for a family or for those with roommates.
I have also met others who were renting for as little as $100 per month. Great deals like this take a little more leg work, but they are available.
Food and Entertainment.
A meal at a street vendor can be had for as little as $1 per plate. These little food kiosks are set up all over the city so they are easy to find with plenty of options to choose from. One of our favourite meals consisted of:
- 2 wonton soups $2,
- Plate of stir fried vegetables $1,
- 3 barbecued squid $2,
- 2 large soda waters $1
Total = $6 for two people.
One of our favourite restaurants, Kuhn Churn offers a vegetarian buffet with dozens of items, including drinks and dessert for $4 per person. It is very easy to find great dishes in all types of restaurants for $2 to $4.
One of our biggest expenses was for espresso in various cafes where we worked. A latte or cappuccino will cost $2 to $3. Alcohol can also add a lot to your budget, with large beers going for about $3 and cocktails up to $6 in some trendier bars or restaurants.
Fresh coconut water, from a coconut cut open in front of you can be found for $0.50 to $1. Fresh fruit shakes go for $0.65 to $3.
Other Expenses
Thai Massages
One of my favourite parts of Thailand is the inexpensive massages. It is possible to get a one hour massage in the markets for $4, with higher-end places charging $10 to $15. My wife and I tried to go for a couple of massages every week.
Visa Runs
Unless you are over 50 years old and have a retirement visa, you will have to leave the country regularly to renew your visa. We had the 60-day visa, so we didn’t have to leave, but for longer stays, there are people who leave the country every 30 days. (2014 Update: This used to be 15 days for land crossings and 30 days for air, but 30-day land crossing visas have been reinstated. Crossing the border will give you a 30-day extension.)
You are not supposed to be able to do this indefinitely, but I know of people who have left the country dozens of times without incident. There are bus tours set up to do visa runs for less than $50, however if you were doing this twice a month it would definitely add to your expenses.
Thailand Living Expenses
Here is a summary of our expenses in Thailand for 2 months including 7 days in Bangkok, which is much more expensive.
- Rent $630
- Hotel (6 nights in Bangkok) = $180
- Return Airfare: Bangkok to Chiang Mai $280 for 2 people
- Thai 60 Day Visa for two: $80
- Food and Entertainment: $1141
- Local Transportation: $124
- Other: $305
Total = $2740
“Local Transportation” includes all the taxis, trains, tuk tuks and other public transportation in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
“Other” includes purchasing a table and chairs for our patio, cleaning supplies, clothes, sight-seeing admissions, massages and regular swims in our hotel’s pool at about $1.80 each time.
We also spent $437 on dentists because my wife and I also had some major dental work done, but this amount is not included in the total.
Can you Retire on $500 per month in Thailand?
Overall, our expenses were $1370 per month, which works out to be $685 per person. It is not quite $500 per month, but we aren’t far off. On our next visit, we will stay longer and possibly even fly directly into Chiang Mai, which will lower our total costs substantially.
As a retirement destination, or even a short working vacation, Chiang Mai offers great food, entertainment and weather, all at a price that won’t break the bank. There are decent internet speeds at most cafes, great live music, a growing art scene and countless expats and travellers to meet up with. My wife and I will definitely be going back to Chiang Mai later in the year.
Living Cheaply in Chiang Mai
Here are some more articles on living cheaply in Chiang Mai, Thailand from other bloggers .
Amazing.
Oh how I dream of heading back to Chiang Mai soon. You’ve just made me a little more motivated. I’m even missing the spicy noodle soup.
Hi Jamie,
Chiang Mai is fantastic. Maybe we will meet up there soon.
Thanks for taking the time to provide some great photos and some good detail in regards to Chiang Mai. I’ve passed the information along to several friends that travel to Thailand quite a bit, as they will be very interested to see your photos and may have questions. I should be heading back to Thailand soon again myself, and hope to get up North on this next trip. Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much for posting this John as Im heading to Chiang Mai in the coming weeks to work from up until August.
Just a quick question: how do you go about getting the 60 day visa? Is that something you have to get from a Thai embassy before you arrive?
Hope you’re good mate!
Hi Ash,
You get the Thai visa in your home country. If you are planning to stay for longer than two months, make sure you get the double entry visa. I believe it costs $80, but it will let you stay in the country for a total of 6 months, by renewing in the country and leaving once. Have fun in Chiang Mai!
Thanks for the comment. Hopefully, we can meet up in CM some time soon.
Living well in Thailand with $500 a month is possible, my site details a month in
Chiang Rai on $400. From what I can see the standard is about the same as yours was.
I find $600 a month to be very comfortable.
With regards to the visa thing it is possible to do the 14 day thing indefinitely the law was changed a few years back, and I have confirmation of this from the head honcho at immigration here in CR. As you state every 14 days is a bit of a drag unless your close to a border like we are in CR.
If you would like to check out CR before settling on Chiang Mai next time give me a shout would be happy to show you around and help you settle in.
John is absolutely correct, a single entry will get you 60 days, and then you can file an extension to get another 30 days (it costs 1,900 baht), giving you 90 days total per entry. A double entry will get you up to 6 months. Triple entries used to be given out as well, but I haven’t heard of anyone scoring one of those in a while.
I will definitely make sure to see where you are next time I head up North.
Thanks for the comment Neale. $400 is a tough budget, but definitely possible if you live simply.
Great article, we were in Chiang Mai for 3 months, stuck it out through the most polluted times but were rewarded with Songkran at the end of our trip. If there is a next time I think we’d work much harder at getting better value accommodation. We ended up in the 2nd building of the place you stayed and paid approx $600 a month. I don’t really know what cheap is any more. If you’re living on savings then I don’t think I’d be putting Chiang Mai in the bargain bucket but in some ways that’s our own fault as we got tied into a 3 month contract in our eagerness to ensure I had a phone line.
I read another article you might like by this fantastic couple we met in Chiang Mai http://www.abramsfamilyworldtravel.com/2012/04/world-travel-is-anywhere-cheap-anymore.html
I’m still looking for the perfect place to live. Good infrastructure for telecoms and organic food, ideally close to the beach and reasonably priced. I’m guessing Melbourne is out! Do you know anything about Playa Del Carmen, I’ve read good things about it.
Hi Michael,
To get the best deals on accommodation you really need to stay longer-term and get a local to help you find the best deal. Short term tourists are easy money for landlords so the price is generally much higher.
It depends on what standard of living you are looking for, but if you can live and eat like the locals, then living costs will easily be half of the typical short-term traveller. Like I said in the post, my uncle rents a 3 bedroom house in Chiang Mai for $200. I doubt if his expenses are much more than $500 per month. (He bought a nice truck now, so that will add another $200 per month in expenses I’d imagine.)
My wife and I loved Chiang Mai and will definitely be going back. The pollution can get bad, but it is a great combination of cafe culture, fantastic fresh food, nice weather and a very low cost of living. Budapest is also great, but a little more expensive and winters get cold.
For Playa Del Carmen, you might want to read WanderingEarl.com. He spends a lot of time there.
Thanks john me and a friend who lives in nyc have been talking about this for a while now, he found it hard to except that you can get first world or close to it for what we would think is cheap in usa.
I would like your feedback on the Visa’s John to me in the past 80% of countries where use to having the week long stay’s BUT since more and more people are expats? (not sure that quite describes us yet) so most country’s are wondering wait you want to stay how long now?
Hi Steve,
It is not accurate to think that you would get first world standards of living at a fraction of the price. Thailand is definitely not first world. It is great, but you are not going to get the same culture, services and atmosphere of your own country at a cheaper price. For example, Bangkok is not a cheaper New York city. They are very different experiences. I would love to live in NYC but I can’t stay in Bangkok for longer than a few days at a time. Chiang Mai is fantastic and I will probably start spending several months there every year, but again it is not the same as Japan or Canada or any other country in the world.
Visa’s vary by country, but a general rule is that you can stay for 60 to 90 days, often with a chance to renew by leaving the county and returning. I don’t know of any countries that only have 1 week visas.
Do your research before your travel though. Every country is different. In most of Europe you can stay for 90 days out of 180. In China, you will need to apply for a visa in advance. In Thailand you can only stay for 30 days unless you buy the extended visa in your own country. In Turkey, you pay for the visa on entry and the price changes depending on what country you are from.
Love your articles! I started to live as a digital nomad in January 2012. At the moment I’m living on Malta, Europe. Love it! But the winter here was to cold for me so my plans are to stay in Chiang Mai January – March 2013. It is 25 years since I was in Thailand. It’ll be an adventure 🙂 Will you be there? I would love to meet up and learn some more about Chiang Mai.
/Anna
Hi Anna,
Thanks for the kind words. We may very well be in Chiang Mai in early 2013. Our current plant is to go to Asia in November and stay for 3 to 6 months. Please keep in touch.
I have never been to Malta before, but have heard that it is nice.
I’ll be in Chang Mai in a few weeks if you’re there?
Playa Del Carmen has been booming since I first visited over 10 years ago. The downtown looks like nothing like it once did. Every time I go back I can’t believe how much it has grown since my last trip. I did read a post on Wandering Earl (recently I believe) where he had found a pretty cheap apartment. However, seeing what I’ve seen over the years, I just don’t imagine cheap and Playa Del Carmen will continue to be mentioned in the same sentence.
Hi John,
I’m headed to Chiangmai soon and was wondering if you could tell me the name of the placed you stayed at in CM. I’m having difficulties finding anything near that cheap online that doesn’t require signing a long term lease. Thank you very much.
Hi,
I stayed at http://www.greenhillplace.com/ It is close to Nimmanhaeman Street, but a little far from the Old Town.
http://www.chiangmaismithres.com/ is also a popular place for expats. It is in a great location, near the Sunday night market street and old town.
http://www.huaykaewresidence.com/ is inexpensive and in a great location, but it is getting very run down. We wanted somewhere nicer.
I would recommend against booking online. You will find better deals if you visit the locations in person and you can see exactly what you are getting. Book a guest house for the first few days and walk around. You will find many places to rent.
I’d love to live there for a few months but would have to try and find a good deal on accommodation.
Great article.
You should definitely check out Malta, I wrote about it recently: http://www.fitforblogging.com/malta-digital-nomad-destination/
Also just got to Chiang Mai, and I agree with your previous comment that it cannot be compared to big cities like NYC, it’s not as simple as saying that you get the same standard of living at the same price. Sure it’s very nice here, but you’re gonna miss some things from back home. Also to get high quality accommodation you need to pay as much as you’d have to pay in countries like Malta.
Hi Jean, Welcome to Chiang Mai!
I’m not sure of the prices in Malta, but you can get beautiful accommodations here for much cheaper than most other Western countries. Also, a full-time cleaner or gardener is only about $200.
Hi , came across your blog its great!! I’m looking to teach for a year in Chiang mai, although being a young austrlian girl who will be living by myself , is Chiang mai safe to live? Are the apartments to rent secure? Have you ever had your place broken into. Any info would be great! 🙂
Hi Jasmine,
Chiang Mai is very safe. We see single women walking around the city alone all the time. We’ve never seen any theft or crime here, nor heard of anyone that has. I think you will find that it is much safer than your home city.
I would like to take a trip to Thailand but know absolutely nothing about it such as air line,what city for night life,do they speak English,can you drink their water,etc/
Is ther a agency to guide me with information and book my flight and general information that should be known as doctors in case of emergency etc?
It was so wonderful finding your website and reading about the journey you and your wife have been on. My husband and I live in Edmonton and a couple of years ago took a year off to travel. Needless to say when we got back we were changed, but everyone around us was the same. It is so hard to fit in with everyone who is still ruled by their possessions. I love your blog on “Less Stuff Equals More Experiences”. When we took the year off we sold our house and gave away a lot of our possessions. As soon as we returned we got rid of even more of the “stuff” we thought was so important to put in storage and have been working towards a Retire in 10 years plan. Well…we have been back for 3 years now and the plan quickly went from 10 years to 5 years and now we are at 4 years. Two years ago we visited Thailand for the first time and fell in love with Chiang Mai and now have the goal to retire there in 4 years. Thank you for all of the information and I hope that next time we are there we have the chance to meet and get to know you.
Thanks for reading Naomi!
Chiang Mai would be a great city to retire in. You might want to leave for a few months in April every year though. It gets very, very hot and smoggy.
I think Chiang Rai and Pai will continue to become hotspots as well in the future.
What would you consider the best way to find cheap rent in Thailand ?
Hi Sammy,
By far the best way is to go to the country and look yourself. Having Thai friends recommend a place is best, but you can still find deals on your own. My wife and I recently paid $200 per month for our apartment (Varada Place) and there are hundreds of similarly priced locations. The longer you stay the better deal you can get. Also, start your rental agreement in the off season. If you arrive in Nov./Dec/Jan. you’ll have difficulty finding a nice place and you’ll most certainly pay more.
Hey, my husband and I are travelling to Chiang Mai in June and looking for an apartment similar to what you describe in this post. Would you be able to supply me with contact details for this apartment? I’d be most grateful
many thanks
Jessie and Steve
Hi Jessie,
Sure, I’ll email you some more information. However, if you are planning on staying there for a while. I highly recommend staying in a guest house for a week and exploring the city to find out where you want to stay. There are hundreds of properties so finding an apartment is very easy. You’ll want to make sure you stay in an area you’ll like. Most travellers like the busier, backpacker area. I personally hate that area.
If you are renting a motorbike, location will matter less. My wife and I prefer to walk everywhere so we chose an apartment in an area where we spend most of our time.
Hi John –
It looks like my wife and I are headed to Chiang Mai for a month or so spanning Dec-Jan. Like you, we’d like to avoid the noisier, backpacker area. Won’t be renting a scooter.
Could you share a bit about Chiang Mai neighborhoods in general, with your personal preferences? (or point me to a blog post 🙂 Wifi is a must – we just started our second year as digital nomads.
Thanks, Tyler
Hi Tyler,
December is the busiest month of the year and it’ll be hard to find places. It’s much better to arrive in early November if you can. You’ll definitely pay more in December. There is good wifi all over the city and in cafes. The larger the building the worse your connection will be because it’ll be shared with more people.
Santitham is my favorite area, North West of the old city, close to the mall and the trendy Nimmanhaemen area.
I’ll try to write a blog post on Chiang Mai soon to provide more detail.
Hi John,
My young wife and I are planning to move to Chiang Mai in late August for about 3 months. We are a newlywed couple and we are excited for the time we will get to spend there. We are looking for an apartment similar to what you described in this post. Would you be able to supply me with contact details for this apartment? Or some advice on what is the best way of finding an apartment/ temporary job?
Thank you
Hi Ben,
There are thousands of apartments all over the city. The advice I give to everyone, is to rent a guest house to start and then search for an apartment after you arrive. Don’t rent anything in advance. That is the only way to ensure you’ll get the room you want in the area you want.
You won’t find any temporary jobs. Wages are very low, so you wouldn’t want one anyway. If you need to earn money try some online freelancing or other work where you can get paid in a richer country’s currency.
Teach is an option, but these are rarely short term positions, with the possible exception of summer camps. Korea, China and Japan offer the best summer camp opportunities.
Good luck.
What this article and the many others along similar lines of retiring cheaply shows, is that it is exponentially cheaper retiring as a couple. But I guess that is why many countries pay a lower pension to couples than they would for two singles.
The advantage of sharing certain costs like rent is huge. And if trying to live ultra cheap, at least you have a companion to share time and experience.
A couple could definately approach $500/mth. A single would need to sacrifice much more. But anymore than a couple starts adding back again. Especially kids that cant contribute to expenses but contribute to costs. Good schooling is expensive (relatively) everywhere.
I’m keen to retire in Thailand or Philippines. Been to both. Both have pros and cons. But I’m still a few years hard work away.
Thanks for the informative post.
Thanks Brian,
I agree that there might be some cost savings as a couple, but it’s also possible to save as an individual.
As a single male, you can rent smaller and cheaper places without losing your sanity. Virtually, all other costs are half price so it doesn’t make a difference if you are alone or a couple.
However, young, single males seem to spend a large amount of time and money in bars. 🙂 That is where the biggest expense comes from.
Hi John,
Great article and I’m looking forward to visiting Chiang Mai myself.
I was wondering if you were able to obtain the 60 Day Visa through the Internet / Mail or did you need to visit a Thai Embassy in your home country. Thank you.
Hi Pete,
You have to go to a Thai embassy or consulate. It only takes a couple of days and it’s an easy process. You choose between single, double or triple entry visas. Make sure you the length you need in advance.
Hi John
just stumbled on to your blog, very informative. I have worked all around the world for the last 40 + years and not interested in retiring in the UK. Are there many guys out there with their western wife both around 65. Will be visiting next week to get an idea of the rental price range
Hi Hugh,
There are many couples of all ages, however Thailand does seem to appeal more to single men because of the sex trade. There are certain parts of the every city that are less than attractive, but my wife loves Chiang Mai.
John, great blog you’ve got here. I was in Thailand last year with family and we’ve been in Chiang Mai. Its sad that were only in Thailand for 2 weeks time, I wanted to stay longer. I so love the beaches. I’m planning to visit Thailand and go to Chiang Mai again. I was wondering if you can give me insights on which month is the perfect time to visit? The last time were there is December and it was quite busy.
Hi Mark,
Yes, December is peak tourism season so it’s the busiest month of the year. I think Feb. and Mar. and Sept to Nov. are great months. The weather is nice and it’s not so crowded.All the best,
John
Hi John
Great to read your comments ……it’s just great what you have done …
Just about to head to Chang Mai tomorrow …just wondering how I would find such an apartment …where would I start to look .
Regards
Giles
Hi Giles,
There are tons of apartments everywhere around the city. Rent a guest house first, and then explore the city to see which area you like most. Some like the old city, some like Nimmanhaeman, others rent motorcycles and are not tied to an area. Without exaggeration, you’ll find rental signs on apartments on virtually every street. There are popular places like Verada, Smith Residence, Sunshine House, The Bliss etc., but you’ll find many gems if you explore on your own.
Very informative postings. Thank you. As i am retiring soon, I am interested in living abroad. I have a question in regards to money, if living in Thailand. What’s the best way to handle it? I mean do you open a bank account there or travel with travelors checks or some other method? I would like to avoid the costly exchange fees on credit cards.
Again, thanks
Hi Mark,
On a retirement visa, you can open a bank account here. Traveler’s checks are not widely accepted anywhere any more, so I strongly recommend against them. There are no fee international bank accounts, like the one offered by Chase, so that might be an option.
Actually, the exchange rates offered on credit cards and bank cards are better than exchanging money on your own, so even with a $5 transaction fee, you’ll still probably be better off.
My rent also comes to around $360 (12,000 baht). I know much cheaper is possible, but I feel it’s worth it for having the extra space in the apartment and a refreshing view of the mountain. There is some truth to Feng Sui in the sense that the quality of your immediate environment affects your state of mind, which includes happiness and productivity.
Hi John, thanks for a good article. I am heading to Chiang Mai in a couple of weeks and would like to find an apartment in the south part of the city, hopefully in Hang Dong. Do you have any ideas about where to look(like which websites to search) or do you perhaps have a contact or two that I could try out?
Thanks
Lars
Hi Lars,
The best thing to do is walk around the area you want to stay in and visit apartments personally. There are many apartments on practically every street so you won’t have trouble finding any.
Hi John, my wife and I currently live in Cambodia and although we love the people, the country itself is dirty and rather ugly. We are going to come to Thailand next month(April) for a few weeks to investigate both the north and the south as possible living areas. We are both over 50 so can get the retire visa. I was about to buy a moto and a dirt bike here . Do you know anything about bringing motor vehicles into Thailand? The regulations I looked up seemed very confusing and unclear!! Your living comments have been most helpful… I am retired , but have always wanted to become more of a full time artist, I believe I’ve heard that Chiang Mai has a blossoming artist community…what do you think?
Hey John,
My girlfriend and I (along with our dog) are planning on moving to Chiang Mai for a month and then down south to the Phuket for a month.
Do you have any idea if either Green Hill Place, Smith or other short term rentals accept dogs? He’s very small 15lbs and curious how easy that will be there? Thanks much!
Hi Matt,
I don’t think I’ve seen any dogs in rental apartments. One couple I know travels with a cat, but I’m not sure about dogs. I think it could be difficult to find a place.
Thank You John! My wife and I are headed to CM too! You didn’t mention the customary terms for renting an apt there for a month or longer. Should we expect to pay it all up-front? Are security/damage deposits the norm, etc? Cheers!
Hi Jeff, You typically pay one month rent as a deposit. Rents are always paid monthly.
would you say prices in thailand have substantially changed since you wrote this article in 2012
Hi Collin,
The Baht has declined recently, so I don’t think prices have changed much. They might be 10 to 20% higher for some restaurants, but it’s still very cheap.
Hello, great article, very helpful. Just one thing, where did you and your uncles contact for short stay apartments / houses? I am in Chiang Mai at the moment looking for a 3 bed house to rent short term but cannot find anything, getting very frustrated!
Thank you, Ben
Hi Ben,
There are apartments on almost every street in Chiang Mai. I think you just need to knock on doors and ask what’s available.
Good luck.
My husband aged 68 from The Netherland and my age 49 from Indonesia plan to stay in CM for 6 months.
Wat suggestion can you give us about our visas ?
Get a triple entry visa before you enter the country. You can get them from any Thai Embassy or consulate.
I am really fascinated with your way of life as described on your posts. I get 600 euros/month as a disability retirement and dream to leave Greece for a tropical country but I was always afraid that my money isn’t enought. Considering your article, I don’t have nothing to be afraid of, do I? My medication is cheap (bipolar disorder) let’s say 50-100 euros a month. I just think that Greek goverment will be seriously pissed off with me spending my retirement money in Thailand…(what do you think on this? Whould it be legal?You inspire me but I can’t take a decision ,yet…Are you Super sure that with 700 A.dollars I will have a normal life there? I am not seeking for luxurious life,by the way…thanks for sharing this kind of articles. I hope I’ll get the decision some time to change my life!
Hi Nikos,
I recommend you visit before you commit to anything. Your costs will depend on how you live. Only you know what a ‘normal life’ is so I think you need to try it for yourself.
Really enjoyed UR blog John. Will be going to Chiang Rai 9/17/ 14. Hope it will be cooler than CM. Don’t know how long I’ll stay but if i like it, probably a looooooooon time. Thanks for the great info.
Thanks Garland. Have a great time in Thailand.
Cheers John, great stuff!
Went to Chiang Mai for a business trip a couple of years back and really loved the place. I always feel a bit out of place in Bangkok but Chiang Mai is more, like, human size. And it felt very safe indeed.
As I’m still far from retirement age I’d have to make a living but there are loads of jobs that one can do online. Wages for that kind of work feel and are low in the developed countries but in a developing country one really can get a very good state of living for $1000/month and live an OK life for far less.
As Malta was mentioned a few words about the place, I’ve lived there for two spells so ought to know.
Pros:
– All the people you’ll meet speak at least decent English.
– There’s fascinating history everywhere.
– If you’re a Catholic you’ll be happy to end up in the most Catholic country in the world!
– The sea is beautiful and apartments with a seaview are plentiful and cheap.
– And yeah, the prices. You can still get a pint of lager at some bars for €1. And you can book a hotel room for €10/night off season for long term and if you know how to bargain you’ll get the sea view as well.
Cons:
– The utility prices are among the highest in Europe and most imported goods are expensive. So if you rent an apartment rather than live in a hotel you have to live like the locals to keep costs down. And that means you’ll want to wear a lot of cloths or blankets during the winter nights!
– Most towns are rather ugly as a result of unregulated building.
– The sirocco (or Xloxx in Maltese) wind can be a real pain as it blows very fine sand from Sahara. Malta is not a place for an expat with lung problems as it’s also called an island of cars. Maltese men drive everywhere, it’s considered feminine to walk.
– The local language is difficult to learn so most expats don’t even try. But the locals will treat you with respect if you bother to learn at least the basic phrases.
I love that there is a place to find out information! This is awesome! I didn’t know where to start and you’ve made it easy! I keep reading you say rent a guest house; are they easy to find once getting there? How are they found? I am under 50 with a child. So it looks like I am unable to remain for a year without multiple fees to go back and forth. How long is a stay outside the country to return? Would you know if children have the same fees and if there are activities for children?
Hi Corrie,
There are guest houses on almost every street in CM and most other places in Asia. Find one online first for a few days, then go visit places when you arrive. It’s best to visit in person to make sure you know what you are looking for. NeverEndingVoyage.com has a great post on Chiang Mai apartments. Search their site to start.
You just have to cross the border and come back. There is no time required outside the country. Many people do visa runs and only cross the border for a couple of minutes.
I don’t know about fees for children, but I’d guess they’d be the same.
There are lots of activities for children. Check out http://www.anepiceducation.com/ Jason and his family spend a lot of time in SE Asia, including Chiang Mai. He might even have a guide on family activities in the city.
Thanks, John, for the mention.
Hi Corrie. Yes, Chiang Mai has LOTS to do with kids. We were there for Jan/Feb 2014, and we’ve met many other traveling families that have spent some time there.
Lots to do with kids, but depends on your child’s age & interests, of course. Mine were 10 & 7 at the time and there was heaps to do: cooking classes, ziplining, fruit carving, fishing, art lessons, soccer teams, drama classes, etc. We made some mistakes, as well, and I outline them in a post as well, but rest assured that there are plenty of places to live and plenty of things to do in CM
a few posts:
http://www.anepiceducation.com/chiang-mai-with-kids-thai-cooking-class/
http://www.anepiceducation.com/chiang-mai-with-kids-fruit-carving/
http://www.anepiceducation.com/fishing-in-chiang-mai-with-kids/
http://www.anepiceducation.com/chiang-mai-with-kids-final/
I really appreciate this website. I am an United States Federal employee who lived and worked in Udon Thai from 2006-2008. I love Thailand and the people.
I am seriously considering retiring next year after 35 years of service and living out the rest of my life there. I am a divorcee and single again. CM would be my number one destination.
I am not really into the jet setting and partying scene but like to get out out once and a while to enjoy myself.
I own a nice car and I suppose I would have to sell it before I come over and purchase a vehicle when I get there. Can I purchase a decent vehicle in CM?
For persons who are looking at living in Thailand on a permanent basis, how does one go about doing that?
What about banking? My banking is in the USA and I know I can get baht from the ATM machines there, so is this the way I would pay rents and other expenses?
Thanks.
How is the average internet speed out there? I’m thinking of living in Thailand as I focus on learning web development.
I would love to know how to contact these apartments that you stayed at.
I live just 15 min from Pattaya Beach. A studio $60.00 a month. I put air, hot water, WIFI , UBC and some nice furnishings, screens and iron gate like doors in. The owner gave me a 5 year lease at this rate. I pay $200.00 a month for all these things incl. electric, water and garbage. I know where for $350.00 a month my friend lives in a 2 bed, 2 bath with a pool. Be careful of Chiang Mai it has at times a real problem with air pollution.Just look around Nan in Northern Thailand is lovely also.
Thanks for your details John. It’s great to get some numbers.
Chiang Mai definitely has pollution problems. That is the only drawback. After March it is unbearable for several months. I love the international airport, music and cafe culture there though.
hy john..this is sid..m goin chiang mai next month ,i never been there before,so can u plz tell me about its night life like its same like pattaya or bit slow? tnx
Hi Sid,
There is lots to do in Chiang Mai. There are the seedy parts of town that are unfortunately similar to Pattaya, but there are also great restaurants, live music and other attractions.
This blog is amazing. I live in New Jersey and I’m a disabled vet on 60 percent. Roughly 1200.00 a month USD.
My dream is to retire to Thailand, but it seems so complicated and frankly, …..scary. I would love to know if I can live in Chiang Mai and also, what are the chances of dating or finding a wife? I’m 50 years old…..
Pros?
Cons?
Foreign countries can be scary if you’ve never been there, but the world is much, much smaller than even just two decades ago. Most businesses speak English and you can get everything you’ll need. $1200US goes a long way in countries like Thailand.
It’s a very poor country so western men easily find girlfriends and wives.
John wonderful article!
Chaunce; I am a NJ native who’s been circling the globe for 4 years in a row. I’ve lived in Chiang Mai with my wife for about 8 months. It’s my fave city on earth. Totally safe! Much safer than my hometown in NJ, by far. For $1200 you can live like a king there.
Check out Chiang Mai Riverside Condo; wonderful spot full of local Thai and ex-pats in a nice area of town. It could be a nice fit for you as we live there whenever we visit.
All the best!
Ryan
If you really want to live in Thailand on an extremely low budget it becomes necessary that you embrace Thai lifestyle 100%.
That means a Thai style apartment for 3000B including utilities and internet.About 150B per day of food and 150B of transportation/fun. Which makes a total of 12.000B per month.
It’s perfectly doable and many mid-class Thai (not the poorest people) are already doing it everyday. Of course this is a step by step process that you need to acquire as a foreigner and it can take years without guidance.
When I have arrived to Chiang Mai 3 years ago I was spending 30.000B per month as I didn’t know I could find delicious food for cheap at the local market and all of my groceries I bought from Rimping Supermarket (a super expensive farang supermarket very popular here).
Also I was leaving in a 4 bedrooms house in Sansai for 10.000 baht per month when I could simply rent a room in the city and save more than 70% on that and on fuel expenses.
Try to adopt a simple lifestyle once you get here and your money will survive for a lot of time, then you will make mistakes but try to treasure them to save more in the future.
Thanks Ryan,
Chiang Mai is a great city. It’s too bad the pollution is so bad. That is the only drawback.
We prefer the western side of the city, but there are definitely more condo choices on the east side.
Great advice Alex.
I agree that it’s possible to get under $500 per month by adopting a Thai lifestyle but it’d be very difficult for most foreigners. Comfort food like pizza, mexican food, good coffee, cheese and bread can add up quickly. $1000 per month would increase your quality of life a lot.
Thanks for the great info. Even at under 700 bucks/month it’s pretty amazing.
Sorry if this was already stated in the comments but what place did you stay in? Looks like a great deal. Thanks
Hey Ryan…wondering if you can suggest any places to rent in Pai? I just arrived here, and been asking around. But it’s challening when you can’t drive a motorcycle and renting a tuk tuk to drive everywhere is out of your budget plans.
Any guidance would be awesome!!
Thank you for your article. I am an author and travel extensively as a muse. I have enjoyed Thailand a number of times and though Thailand is beautiful and for many not cost prohibitive the reoccurring theme surrounding the s trade is inescapable. I have worked with several local organizations struggling to irradicate this issue in Thailand. Is it your experience that CM does or does not experience this form of exploitation?
And just WHAT would you suggest these ‘sex workers’ do if you and your ilk were to ‘irradicate'(try ‘eradicate’) the problem?
How would they continue to support their parents/siblings/children?
Almost all the money they earn is sent back to their village.
Of course, they could always go back to work in the rice fields, earn a pittance, and have their families stay in poverty for the rest of their lives.
Naturally, their children would not be able to be educated, or their elderly parents medically treated. But what the heck, the trade has been eradicated.
Great idea, Susan! Typical of someone who has never had to work a 10 hour day up to her ankles in water and earn barely enough to feed herself.
Some people are just really frugal and feel repulsed to spend money on many things. They lead a very minimalistic Lifestyle and I met a whole lot of these all over the world. In Bangkok Khao San Road there are some retired guys who live in a 160 bath cell. per day. And dont eat for more than 150 bath a day. Then drink a Chang now and then 🙂 All in all they can live on 400 baht per day including the room, which has wifi.And thats Bangkok. People like that can live cheaply in many cities of the world. But Bangkok is Special in this aspect since it is a world class City, but you can still live out of a hostel without contract and deposit for 160 baht a day, amazing. Add the cheap transport and Food and the free Thai eye candy 🙂 and you have an unbelievable value.
Thanks for the comment Jordan.
Thailand is definitely unique with regards to accommodations. It’s so easy to find inexpensive accommodations here that most people find it hard to believe.
This is an old post.. But still useful. Thanks! What is the name of that condo you rented? The balcony view is great! Thanks!
Thanks for sharing your cost of living details in Chiang Mai. Based on what I see from most bloggers, the ‘countryside’ clocks in at about half the cost of what you pay in Bangkok. Especially if you’re on a budget and want to be in range of an expat community, it’s hard to beat Chiang Mai.
Another thing to keep in mind are more infrequent expenses (e.g. flights home, health insurance or hospital bills, clothes, electronics, gifts…). Sure, you don’t buy them often, but due to the amount and the number of things that you have to buy only once a year, it adds up.
Hi mate, do you have any more information on the sort of places you can source the accommodation you talked about, so far all I’ve been able to find is much higher prices than the ones you described even in the link you posted, I’ve had a void scan about the Internet, thanks
Hi James,
Are you in Chiang Mai? There are inexpensive apartments everywhere. Just walk around and ask. Most don’t have websites so you can’t search online.
Hi I will be travelling to Thialand for my 4th trip I love the place i met a great thia girl have known her for over 1 year
I have never been to chang mia planning to stay there for 20 days I’m looking for places to stay that have kitchens
Close to all on the river side can you recommend any please
how do you go about moving to thailand and living there permanently,turned 50 . no income.just my savings etc.
If you find Malta too cold for winter ,Anna , you should research Gran Canaria. Wonderful winter weather , much better than some of the rest of the Canaries , Lanzarote in particular.
Vic.
Thailand was never on my radar until I had a conversation with a woman from China now living in Canada. I asked her how easy is it to go to China to meet a future wife to bring back to Canada. She said very easy but go to Thailand instead, much more affordable. After reading this blog I think she’s turned me unto something. I’m recently divorced and I think my plan will be to live 6 months in Thailand on savings. Then return to Canada to l for our summer months to work to pay for the next 6 months in Thailand. Where in Thailand is the living easy, very reasonable and the weather great from November to April? Thanks for any help offered.
Looking at retiring to Hau Hin as a single male on a retirement visa, I’m 55, can I live on 70300 thb per month? And could I work on a retirement visa teaching English? and is there a enough of social clubs to keep from going stale?
I am a teacher in the US and want to teach abroad. I am nearing retirement and am not willing to stay in the US. Where can I get a good Thai book for some basic phrases. Are there many expats in Chaing Mai? Need a/c. Thanks,Melba
Beach areas are best that time of the year
wtf
Just returned from Phuket.
No health and safety rules in Thailand.
Food (meat, fish etc) stored openly at room temp,people coughing and sneezing on meat.
Nurofen at chemist is fake. (Doesn’t work)
Bread half the size as in Australia approximately $4, mucher larger loaf in Australia $1.50.
Punnet of strawberries $8.
In Australia $4.
Breakfast at hotel various versions of fried rice and steamed rice. Discovered I have a rice intolerance.
Thai people love cooking with palm oil (palm oil increases risk of heart disease dramatically).
In Australia we use olive oil, sunflower oil, canola oil (much healthier options)
If u want to eat a healthy low fat western diet in Thailand, such as fruit,veges, real meat, virtually impossible and will cost you double the price. And because no health regulations be prepared to be violently ill regularly.
Couldn’t find immunity boosting foods like garlic and ginger in Thailand.
Wonder how many times you can extend retirement visa in Thailand? thanks
I think Vietnam is also a great place to live If you’re looking for the cheap options.
Well don’t go back you sook,what the hell were you expecting,honestly some people have no idea.
I want to leave Canada for 4mos. Plan to leave Dec 1. How much to stay in happening part of Thailand? I am just by myself. Thanks.
Hello! We are a couple with two children, one of 10 and another of 4 years and we are going to Thailand to spend 30 days. We would like to know if with THB 100000 just for food, drink and transportation we managed to get through this period.
Transport would be taxis and boats to the beaches as we will stay in Krabi, Railay, Chiang Mai and Bangkok.
Anyway, this value is only for fun since travel and lodging are paid for.
Thank you 🙂
“Couldn’t find immunity boosting foods like garlic and ginger in Thailand.”
Are you serious???? Both are extensively used in every second dish in Thailand. Also Galangal a close relative of Ginger. I’m not sure where you tried to buy the healthy foods you talk about but they are available in every fresh market throughout Thailand. Maybe they were not onsale in the Resort foyer?
Many perverts go to Thailand to pay for sex. This puts me off going. Is there many family orientated areas that can be recommended without prostitution and creepy men hanging around?
Wow, what crap. I’ve lived in Thailand for 4 years, and approximately 30 different places, from the Myanmar border to the Malaysian border. Rural and urban areas. If Thai street food is unsafe, it certainly hasn’t harmed my wife or I, and you do NOT see Thai people lying everywhere sick. Eating bad food affects locals the same as foreigners (look it up) and after ANOTHER 4 years in third world countries from Vietnam to India and Indonesia to northwestern China, the only sickness we’ve has was Dengue Fever (mosquito bourne) and the flu with no vomiting.
You couldn’t find garlic and ginger? Unbelievable, as Thai’s cook with these and other spices regularly.
I can still find great fresh street food with veges, tofu, chicken, pork, many fruits etc in EVERY area I’ve visited. The cost for a filling varied street meal is NOW between $1 and $3, and it’s cooked in front of you, not hidden.
I know a Thai nurse, and most drugs from pharmacies are not fake. The ones I buy do what they are supposed to do, and they are usually 1/10th the cost of in the U.S.
Sorry, you are either lying or stopped at one very odd place.