Before introducing this article, if you are interested in our core services which are expat financial, insurance and mortgages, you can contact me here. 

The best time to consider your financial situation is when you are moving to a new country.

Introduction

Digital nomads are people who use telecommunication technology to make a living and lead a nomadic lifestyle. This kind of employees usually works remotely, like from foreign countries, public libraries, coworking spaces or cafes. This is often achieved through the use of devices with wireless Internet access, such as smartphones or mobile hotspots. Successful digital nomads often have the need to develop high levels of self-confidence and self-discipline.

The digital nomad uses online (or “digital”) tools to work from anywhere. This kind of work is also called “location independent”.

Digital nomads are people who use wireless digital technology to carry out their work duties and are generally nomadic. These workers usually work remotely – from home, in cafes, public libraries, and even from recreational vehicles – to accomplish tasks and goals that would normally be accomplished in a single stationary workplace.

The digital nomad community has organized various events to host its members. The most popular types of digital nomads are:

• retirees or semi-retirees,
• independently wealthy people or entrepreneurs,
• remote workers (most often younger ones).

People usually want to become a digital nomad for different reasons, and the first one can be the desire to be financially independent and locationally independent. During that time when digital nomads enjoy the advantages of freedom and flexibility, they see one biggest problem – called loneliness, which can consequently cause other problems.

Lifestyle also comes with other challenges such as securing international health insurance with global coverage, complying with various local laws, obtaining work visas and paying taxes in accordance with local and local laws.

Who are digital nomads?

Digital nomads can be:

• Freelancers who write, code, teach, run social media campaigns, and more for their clients online.
• Professionals who provide online / remote services including legal assistance, accounting or even consulting.
• Entrepreneurs who manage their team with online tools
• Employees who work remotely in a more traditional company
• People who create and sell digital products like e-books, manuals, online subscription services, etc.

Digital nomads mostly are young people and they are usually working in industries such as marketing, design, information technology, writing, media, tutoring, or consulting. According to a 2020 study by MBO Partners, there are 10.9 million digital nomads in the US alone, with an additional 19 million Americans reporting that they are considering a digital nomad lifestyle.

Digital nomads can be either remote workers or knowledge process outsourcing workers. While most homeworkers and freelancers are technically digital nomads, the term is most often used to describe people living or traveling abroad or inland while working. Some digital nomads have a wide range of clients and make a living by combining jobs, while others enter into formal or semi-formal agreements with clients that guarantee a certain amount of work or paid time.

Digital nomads are often people who want freedom and flexibility in their job choices and travel times. Digital nomads often live a minimal existence rich in experience rather than physical objects. They get the opportunity to explore new cultures, leaving temporary roots in many places each year. The digital nomad lifestyle isn’t for everyone. If you can’t make enough money on the road, you may find yourself broke with no money to return home.

You may have to work unconventionally and manipulate multiple clients. Digital nomads must have reliable internet access and work and meet deadlines across time zones. Many digital nomads separate the feeling of loneliness, with no family or close friends in the city, and it can be difficult to establish long-term relationships. It can be expensive to purchase travel medical insurance, and even though health care in some countries is cheaper than in the United States.

Pros:

• Freedom from the traditional office environment
• Chance to travel and learn about new cultures
• Time to do some outdoor hobbies like surfing
• More control over your time

Cons:

• Traveling regularly can be expensive
• You may need to work with clients across multiple time zones
• Loneliness or isolation from family and friends
• Must be highly organized for maximum balance between life and work on the road

What destinations are most popular among digital nomads?

Several destinations are some of the most popular destinations for digital nomads, including Chiang Mai – Thailand, Lisbon – Portugal, Medellin – Colombia, and Mexico City – Mexico.

Bali – Indonesia, is a great example of a popular destination due to its low cost and reasonably high quality of life. For example, the city of Ubud in Bali became popular with digital nomads after installing fiber-optic connections to access the Internet. There is also a petition for a digital nomad visa to the Indonesian government, signed by over 2,000 people and led by social media advisor Olumide Gbenro.

Another popular choice among digital nomads is Cyprus: a European nation with low taxes, fast company formation and beautiful scenery, the island of Cyprus has a growing nomad community.

Other cities include Tallinn, Tarifa, Bansko, and Tbilisi due to the critical mass and wider acceptance of the digital nomad lifestyle, as well as the relatively lower cost of living. For digital nomads, there are cities with a higher cost of living, including Singapore and Oslo. Other notable movements loosely associated with the rise in popularity of digital nomads include Vandwelling.

Due to the popularity for people, there are opportunities to live in the area as digital nomads to facilitate this. Popular cities in the United Kingdom include Bristol, Birmingham and Brighton. And all this is happening due to the reduced cost of living compared to London. Organizations such as Innovation Birmingham exist to house 90 technology companies.

Many digital prefer Thailand for their adventurous lifetime. Except for all the mentioned, one question will arouse, is being a digital nomad legal in Thailand or in any other country. Let’s discuss this question below and try to understand every point.

Is it legal to be a digital nomad?

Living a life with the freedom to travel the world and work as digital nomads right from your laptop is too good to be true. The first impression is that there is something suspicious behind this.

Some can say it is illegal and some can insist on its 100% legal. Before we dive into why it’s legal or illegal to be a digital nomad and debunk the myths you’ve heard about them, let’s see what kind of definitions people give to being a digital nomad.

Many digital nomads tend to come from more developed countries with passports allowing a greater degree of freedom of movement. As a result, many seek to travel on a tourist visa. While it is technically illegal for digital nomads to work in the country on a tourist visa, many digital nomads tend to live in lower cost of living places, working online on different projects abroad in another country.

In most countries, as long as a nomad behaves discreetly and does not take work from a local, the authorities turn a blind eye to the work of nomads. In the digital nomad community, it is not uncommon to be without a visa. Some nomads also tried to legalize their stay by taking part-time jobs, teaching English, and attending university courses in their country.

In addition, digital nomads often use their status as perpetual travelers to avoid tax liabilities in their home countries without immigrating to another country’s tax system. However, this practice is considered controversial among digital nomads.

This has led to the creation of several programs targeted at digital nomads, such as e-residency in Estonia and the SMART visa program in Thailand. Estonia also announced plans for a digital nomad visa following a growing number of e-residency applications. Other countries such as Bermuda, Barbados, Georgia and Croatia have begun offering similar digital visa programs for nomads.

Some digital nomads have used residence permits in Germany for the purpose of freelancing or self-employment to legalize their stay, but successful candidates must have a real connection and reason to stay in Germany.

Tourist visas and digital nomads

Many countries understand this very clearly when you apply for a tourist visa – it does not give you the right to work, it just gives you the right to come and visit on vacation.

It is quite true that the tourist visa was developed by most places even before the advent of the Internet. It is also true that millions of real tourists will check their emails or chat with the office while on vacation.

This, according to some digital nomad gurus, turns tourist visa work into a so called gray zone and it’s only “technically illegal”. They are wrong. Being a digital nomad with a tourist visa is illegal.

However, this does not mean that you will be held accountable for checking your email or receiving calls at work. Countries have taken a very simple approach to the small amount of work done with tourist visas – they pretend they don’t.

Any written exemption that allows tourists to do a reasonable amount of work would be open to exploitation by those looking to immigrate illegally. It would be a work visa with a back door.

Unfortunately, digital nomads don’t do tiny businesses – they work in the countries they visit. If you need a tourist visa, you are almost certainly working illegally.

It probably doesn’t matter if you’re restrained. The only digital nomads we know of who were prosecuted for working on a tourist visa were wrong all this time. Local residents gave them to work because they continued to brag about the money they earned while doing it.

You can lie in the pool and relax if you figure out how to be a digital nomad, even if you are “illegal”.

Do not tell anyone and no one will ever know that you are working on a tourist visa at all. And whatever you do, don’t declare your digital nomad status to the immigration office when traveling on a tourist visa – say you’re a tourist.

All we know that this gives some people discomfort, but it is much less inconvenient than being denied entry into the country and then deporting or arresting as an illegal alien.

However, you should be aware that even if you are working illegally, you may still be eligible to pay tax on your income in the country in which you are a tourist. In most countries, you are eligible for taxation if you reside in the country for more than X days a year, and this is usually, but not always, 180 days out of 365.

Digital nomads in Thailand

Over the past few years, you can notice a huge increase in the number of so-called digital nomads in Thailand. Countries around the world are now beginning to see the benefits of accepting digital nomads and have begun offering special visas specifically designed to attract them.

Estonia, Barbados, and Dubai have introduced special visas or programs specially designed for this purpose. The same cannot be said about Asian countries, including Thailand. This is relatively surprising considering Thailand is often touted as the best destination for digital nomads, especially Chiang Mai. Koh Phangan is another popular destination that is becoming more and more attractive for its high quality of life and beautiful beaches.

Thailand Smart Visa

While a digital nomad visa would be a welcome option for those looking to come to Thailand, there hasn’t been a single Asian country that could follow Estonia’s lead. As a result, many freelancers are turning to short-term tourist visas as a way to live and work in Thailand. While this may seem like a simple alternative, there is one major drawback: tourist visas do not allow the holder to work.

Although there is no immediate solution to the problem, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. In December 2020, the Thailand Covid-19 Management Center approved a proposal from the Investment Board of Thailand (BOI) that will allow freelancers and digital nomads to work in Thailand for up to four years under the pre-existing Smart Visa program. The proposal is currently awaiting approval from the Thai Cabinet and has not yet entered into force.

The Smart visa was originally introduced in 2018 to “enhance Thailand’s attractiveness by attracting science and technology experts, senior executives, investors and start-ups.” Currently, just over 500 applicants have successfully applied for and received a Smart Visa. However, if the proposal from the BOI is legal, there will likely be a large increase in applications.

Should digital nomads pay taxes in Thailand?

In Thailand, you are considered a “resident” if you are in the country for more than 180 days in any tax year. Residents of Thailand must pay tax on income from income in Thailand, as well as income that is transferred to the country from foreign sources.

However, even if you are not a resident of Thailand, that is, you stay in Thailand for less than 180 days a year, you are still required to pay tax, but only on income received in Thailand. Please note that the first THB 150,000 is tax deductible.

In fact, it is very difficult for the Thai authorities to get taxes paid as most digital nomads live here on tourist or short-term visas. This is because they do not need to register their business or activities with anyone in the country, so it is almost impossible to track down people who owe taxes. However, it is important to note that this is a very dubious and gray legal area.

The possible introduction of the above amendments to the smart visa should create a basis for paying taxes and other issues, but so far there has been no official information on this matter.

What options are currently available for digital nomads seeking legal status in Thailand?

One of the easiest ways for a digital nomad to gain legal status in Thailand is to start a company. However, starting a company is not an ideal solution for digital nomads as the requirements for starting a company are high (2 million baht paid up capital) and a minimum of 4 Thai employees are required to obtain a work permit.

A dealership can be used as an alternative as there are fewer initial requirements, but there are more favorable work permit options, meaning you can get a work permit for the first two years before paying the full investment. There is also a reduced share of only 1 Thai employee per foreigner required to obtain a work permit. Representative offices have several disadvantages, firstly, the scope of their activities is limited, and they cannot generate income. Second, it is mandatory to have a head office outside of Thailand (Hong Kong or Singapore is a popular choice for a head office that is then used for invoicing customers).

Another potential option is the use of Contractor-for-Employment Management. These companies will be able to accept you and provide you with a work permit and visa. However, they will charge you for this convenience by charging you a fee from your monthly salary. The service fee is usually around 15,000/20,000 baht per month.

Or a different solution that has become popular lately is to take advantage of the current smart visa type S. Smart S is an initial 6-month visa (renewable up to 2 years), which is for foreigners who are planning to start a startup. companies in Thailand or engage in promotional activities for startups or startups. This visa is a popular choice as it does not require a work permit to set up and work with a startup. Holders of this visa can also participate in approved startup promotion activities.

However, in order to obtain this visa, applicants must have a plan for setting up a technology startup in Thailand, which must be approved by relevant agencies such as the National Innovation Agency. Alternatively, they should participate in activities aimed at promoting startups, or in activities like Startup Camp approved by government agencies such as the Investment Council and the National Innovation Agency.

It is highly recommended that digital nomads register with news sources related to digital nomad visas in Thailand.

The main pros and cons of being a digital nomad in Thailand?

To sum everything up, let’s see what can be the advantages and disadvantages of this kind of “illegal” activity in Thailand.

Pros:

• High quality and affordable lifestyle. Being a digital nomad empowers you to work from anywhere in the world. This means that you can choose any location that offers you the best quality of life. Thailand is the obvious choice as it has a lot of affordable food and drink, excellent healthcare, infrastructure and many amazing places to find.
• Finance goes even further – Thailand offers an attractive lifestyle that allows people to lead quality lives for a fraction of the cost of their living at home. Usually digital nomads from more developed countries like America, Canada, Europe, etc. These countries have a much higher cost of living than Thailand, which means your money goes much further.
• Legal Accommodation Options for Digital Nomads – There are several options available for those looking to settle in Thailand for a longer period. These options include setting up a dealership, using HR, and obtaining an Smart visa.

Cons:

• Legal gray area. While there are several options for digital nomads to legally live and work in Thailand, creating them is often costly and / or hassle-free. As a result, very few people take advantage of these opportunities and work in secret or say nothing. The chances of being caught are slim, but of course, doing this is illegal.
• Taxes – Living and working in any country requires you to pay taxes. However, as the legal status of digital nomads is questionable, this is a difficult area to fight.
• Security. As a digital nomad, you will not be contributing to the social security system and therefore will not have access to free public health care in Thailand. As a result, you have to rely on expensive private insurance.

Cons:

• Legal gray area. While there are several options for digital nomads to legally live and work in Thailand, creating them is often costly and / or hassle-free. As a result, very few people take advantage of these opportunities and work in secret or say nothing. The chances of being caught are slim, but of course, doing this is illegal.
• Taxes – Living and working in any country requires you to pay taxes. However, as the legal status of digital nomads is questionable, this is a difficult area to fight.
• Security. As a digital nomad, you will not be contributing to the social security system and therefore will not have access to free public health care in Thailand. As a result, you have to rely on expensive private insurance.

Before introducing this article, if you are interested in our core services which are expat financial, insurance and mortgages, you can contact me here. 

The best time to consider your financial situation is when you are moving to a new country.

Introduction

The term “digital nomad” can be found everywhere today and is arguably one of the fastest-growing lifestyles of the past decade. Anyways, many of us can be still confused with the term ‘digital nomad’, long-term traveler, or online worker. What is a digital nomad? What is the definition of a nomad and how they live? If you’re as confused and curious as they are, read on!

Before you get the answer of the “what is a digital nomad?” question, let’s first get acquainted with the term “nomad”. The meaning of a digital nomad in a more simplified way is a person who does not have a permanent location, but rather moves from one place to another. There is no clear definition of how long you need to be “on the road,” or how fast you need to move, or where you need to go to be considered a nomad and not just a long-time traveler.

However, except for being travelers, digital nomads usually travel for a very long time, sometimes it can last their entire lives. During that time they have to make money along the way. They take local jobs, such as farm or hospitality jobs, so they can buy supplies and move elsewhere. Some people prefer to stay in certain places longer, the so-called “slow travelers”, some people move to the next place faster.

Nomads who do not work locally to live stable and travel, but work on the Internet, are called digital nomads. They use their laptops, smartphones and tablets for location-independent work and thus make money. Thanks to their technology and the Internet, they can simply take their work with them wherever they go and work from hotel rooms, libraries, cafes or coworking spaces. While all digital nomads work on the Internet, their work can vary greatly and can be divided into three categories:

Corporate remote worker

At the moment a lot of companies suggest their employees to work remotely. It doesn’t matter if the employee is sitting at home doing their job or traveling. Such remote work basically provides a stable and reliable income with the flexibility to choose your own workplace.

Freelancer

A digital nomadic freelancer does online work for one or more clients. Such jobs are often related to web design, social media management, or content writing. A freelancer can work from anywhere in the world if his clients agree that he is physically unavailable in their company. He often finds his clients on specific freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr or Freelancer.

Entrepreneur

Some digital nomads have startups and can run their entire business online. Others make money by trading online services. And very few people manage to make a living by the nomadic way of life itself, such as travel bloggers or photographers.

Later in this article we will talk about life of digital nomads in one of the attractive cities of Thailand – Chiang Mai.

Asia always wins the hearts of travelers with its unique originality, the beauty of the traditional flow of life, forgotten by the Western world behind the curtains of the modern age. Usually, people say that if you are looking for materialism, you are traveling west, if you are looking for spirituality, your way is east.

Thailand is one of the most special locations where your mind leaves you and your heart starts to work and experience every moment. You probably know what will await for you in Thailand – many Buddhist monasteries, hundreds of temples and thousands of monks.

As we know, Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, but especially Chiang Mai is the soul of Thailand and even the heart of the whole Southeast Asia. Chiang Mai is located in the north of Thailand, it is 700 kilometers far from Bangkok, it has a beautiful nature, surrounded by mountains, and with the sea. Chiang Mai is the second-largest city in the country, as well as the capital of the province of the same name.

Over the past years, Chiang Mai has upgraded from a quiet religious town to a lively active and developed, usually crowded city full of tourists and nomads from all over the world. The richness of culture and the surrounding nature of the city attracts millions of tourists every year. A loyal immigration system allows almost anyone who wants to stay in the country for an insanely long period of time only on temporary visas.

Chiang Mai has an excellent developed infrastructure and facilities for those people who travel there and stay, especially as a digital nomad. The city is full of digital nomads and, as you know, demand creates supply, which is why many cafes, coworking centers, hotels, and hostels have opened to delight visitors to the city.

If we talk about one of the best cities for digital nomads, then Chiang Mai is at the top of the list. There is much more to this place than you might imagine. This land is incredibly beautiful and offers many opportunities to live and work in harmony with nature. Whether it’s the majestic mountains or evenings by the river, there are experiences to be experienced at least once, if not more.

Chiang Mai, a city in the north of Thailand, is rich in history, culture, and traditions. Capital of the former kingdom of Lanna, this historically important place has now evolved to welcome foreign freelancers and entrepreneurs to stay and prosper while keeping their roots intact.

Visa to Chiang Mai

Whether you are visiting Thailand on vacation or permanently staying in Chiang Mai, you will need a certain type of visa. For many citizens, a visa waiver is issued upon arrival, although those who wish to reside here for more than a couple of months must go through a visa impasse.

They are issued on arrival and are valid for 30 days unless you are arriving by ground, in which case only 15 days are given. Representatives of more than 40 nationalities are participating, including citizens of the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Ireland, EU countries, Switzerland, South Africa, Japan, Singapore, Canada and other countries.

Visitors from 20 more countries are allowed to enter Thailand without first applying for a visa and are issued a 15-day tourist visa worth 1,000 baht upon arrival.

Those who are not from one of the 60 countries mentioned above can apply for a tourist visa giving them a 30-day stay in the country. Citizens of 36 countries who have been denied visas can also apply for a tourist visa, allowing them to stay in the country for up to 60 days. Prices vary at different embassies.

The tourist visa can also be renewed once by the local immigration office (at their discretion), giving you another 30 days for a stay for 1900 baht. Multiple entry tourist visas are also available, allowing up to three entries (60 days each) for six months.

Those entering the country on these visas may be asked to prove that they have 10,000 THB (equivalent) for a 30-day stay, although in practice this is mostly the case for those traveling by land and immediately re-entering Thailand. In addition, those who have repeatedly applied for a tourist visa at consulates near Thailand may be refused for up to 90 days.

Nonimmigrant visas in Chiang Mai

This type of visa is required to obtain a permanent residence permit here either on the basis of a work permit, spousal agreement, religious work, journalistic position, or to investigate business investments. They must be filed outside the country with supporting documents (marriage certificate, job offer, etc.) and allow you to stay in Thailand for 90 days while you collect various documents and send them to your local immigration office. An embassy-specific fee is charged.

Many permanent residents use a non-imperial visa as a means of permanent residence. It’s not hard to get it, but converting it to a legal 12-month visa involves a paper chase and some stringent conditions that many never meet. Having received a multiple entry non-imperial visa, such people are allowed to leave and re-enter the country in order to obtain another three months, for a total of 12 months. Most Thai consulates and embassies in different Asian countries will issue only a single entry visa to the visa applicants, which are the digital nomads.

Where to live?

Chiang Mai is Thailand’s largest northern center, one of the greatest destinations in the Land of Smiles, and certainly a field worth checking out on every traveler’s wishlist – in fact, it is a real city with a small center, rich in history and many southern districts. – blocks around it. Chiang Mai covers an area of ​​about 8,000 square meters and has a population of only 1.8 million, excluding expats and undocumented foreigners from neighboring countries. There are several areas that should be considered as a foreigner in order to stay for a few days or, as is often the case in Thailand, for a long time. some years.

If you are planning a short visit to Chiang Mai, you can consider the city center for staying – Old City – the best match for starting point for all your Chiang Mai adventures. In the heart of the city, there are many comfortable bed and breakfast hotels, Airbnb accommodations, hostels and boutiques. The good side is that you don’t have to go anywhere, everything you need is right in front of you! The downside is that it’s worth looking outside the walls of the Old City to see what else the northern capital and its surroundings have to offer.

The second most rated area by expatriates is the Nimmanhaemin area. This is the perfect place for the absolute digital nomad as it has all the upsides: trendy shopping malls, cozy cafes with fast internet, delicious restaurants, lots of bars and clubs to go to. It is located in the northwest of the Old City along Huai Keo Street. There are good apartments for long term rentals, both for short stays and for homestays.

The area is very popular with newly arrived digital nomads, and of course, you won’t feel lonely in a crowd of like-minded people. The Maya Mall is the best landmark for those looking to stay in the area. You can easily find suitable apartments or rooms nearby.

How to find an apartment?

It can be quite difficult for a foreigner to find an apartment in an unfamiliar city, but in reality in the Land of Smiles it is not so. Firstly, the reason is that Thailand is adept at adapting to the needs of tourists, since a significant part of the national income comes from tourism. This is why Thailand’s most popular cities and islands (eg Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, etc.) offer a variety of offers for crowds of foreigners who want to stay for a long time.

Secondly, Thailand is usually a very hospitable host – people are friendly and happy to be with us. So where to start looking for an apartment in Chiang Mai? Start in trendy neighborhoods like Old Town and Nimmanhaemin, where you can definitely find anything from simple and cheap to complex and expensive.

This is not difficult, as the Old Town and Nimmanhaemin districts are usually packed with everything you need for tourists. Many newcomers usually start with short-term stays like hostels and hotels and then move on to their dream condominium.

Depending on the season: low – from April to October, high – from November to March, you can come to Chiang Mai even without prior booking. After checking into a local hotel or hostel, it will be easier to arrive. looking for a long term rental. In my own experience, Facebook groups and marketplaces work best. Thais usually post pictures of their apartments and offer prices for one-year contracts.

Of course, sometimes one year is a lot, but you can always negotiate with the owners. There are several rental groups on Facebook, for example: Real Estate Chiang Mai, Farang Chiang Mai Real Estate, Rent & Sell House in Chiang Mai, etc. Other resources that you probably know about are Booking.com and Airbnb.com, which also have up-to-date offers for long-term rentals in this beautiful city. While it may happen that you have to pay extra for the website and the prices may be higher, it nonetheless gives some people a sense of security.

Chiang Mai is a great combination of quality and value, so if you’re on a budget, you can still afford more than just a beautiful place and live like a king. For instance, you can get a very comfy studio apartment for at least 4,500 THB per month, and a good one-bedroom, apartment with even a pool available in the adjacent area for at least 10,000 THB per month.

Lifestyle in Chiang Mai

Thanks to the warm year-round climate, nothing else is needed besides a bathing suit. It gets a little chilly at night in winter, but still reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. In Chiang Mai, casual wear, and because of the heat, smart casual wear is all you need for dinner.

Live in the city center and enjoy everything it has to offer. You can shop in local markets and buy fresh fruits and vegetables at bargain prices. Markets throughout the city offer handcrafted clothing, furniture and everyday items for a fraction of what you would pay at home.

When the sun goes down, there is no shortage of places to hang out with friends. Dine in one of the hundreds of fine restaurants, or relax and unwind in one of the city’s concert halls. Buy a delicious meal from one of the hundreds of street vendors for as little as $ 1.50 and visit your neighbors at one of the many outdoor dining areas.

Textiles, gold, silver and ceramics are just a few of the items that are regularly exhibited in the city’s galleries. You will find different cultural events during the year where you’ll see the expats and locals work together in the community. With over thirty thousand expats living in Northern Thailand, it’s not hard to find people with interests like you. Literally hundreds of meetings and events for expats take place every month.

Chiang Mai may not be as laid-back as it was 50 years ago, but its lifestyle is still attractive and much slower than many of us have a hectic schedule. With a great climate, good shopping, great healthcare, and friendly locals, it can be great for retirement years.

Cost of living in Chiang Mai

With five huge Western-style shopping malls including cinemas, skating rinks, theaters, hairdressers, well-stocked supermarkets, inexpensive food courts, and even cosmetic surgeons, you can get pretty much anything you need. As elsewhere in Thailand, it is more expensive to buy imported goods.

Chiang Mai offers a fantastic lifestyle. People looking for a healthy lifestyle can go to gyms for as little as $ 28 a month.

Real estate prices are incredibly attractive. Depending on where you want to live, you can buy a 1,600 square foot home for about $ 83,000, or rent a modern studio apartment for just $ 253 a month.

Bills

Dedicated Wi-Fi for your room will cost around 700 baht for some reasonable speed – around 100/50 Mbps. Your electricity bill can be very low during cooler seasons when the air conditioner is not working. But suppose for a typical month when you use the air conditioner for several hours a day, it could be around 1200 baht. Your water bill can be another 100 baht per month, giving us a total of 2,000 baht (~ $ 63) for all monthly bills.

Phone

The cheapest option for your cell phone is to use a prepaid SIM card. Since you’re likely to be either at home or somewhere with free Wi-Fi almost 99% of the time, you can easily live without a data plan. In case you usually don’t make many calls, you can maintain your balance about 300 Baht per month. By comparison, the average American spends over $150 a month to pay for a cell phone.

Transportation

For transportation, you can rent a scooter for 3,000 baht (~ $ 94) per month. Gasoline in Thailand is quite cheap and scooters are economical. On a typical city trip, you may need to refuel twice a week at a cost of 60 baht per refuel. This gives you a total shipping cost of around 3480 baht.

Ideally, if you want to check the cost of living in Chiang Mai, you should plan on spending at least $ 1,000 per month. Keep in mind that this is just an amount to cover your living expenses.

However, you would set your income goal much higher. If your income stays at $ 1,000 a month, you can never afford to buy new gadgets or drive home. This is one of the big challenges when moving to Thailand to become an English teacher.

On the other hand, with an income of about $ 2,500, you can spend about half on your day to day expenses and save the other half for large purchases and travel. Finally, for first-time visitors to Thailand, expect the unexpected and stock up on some cushion before attempting the jump. So Thailand is a very welcoming country where you can live and work and enjoy your life.