Southeast Asia · Thailand
Chiang Mai
The original digital nomad capital for a reason. Chiang Mai gets almost everything right — affordable, fast internet, massive expat community, and enough culture to keep you interested for months.
Monthly Budget
Lean
$780
Tight budget, shared spaces
Comfortable
$1,250
Private room, nice cafés
Don't Care
$2,250
Boutique hotel, premium co-working
Best for
Not ideal for
Neighborhoods
Nimman
Walk: HighTrendy cafés, coworking, and expat bars
Nomads who want to be in the thick of it
Old City
Walk: HighTemples, markets, and backpacker energy
Budget travelers and culture seekers
Hang Dong
Walk: LowQuiet suburbs, bigger apartments
Long-term stays wanting space
Coworking Spaces
| Space | Day Rate | Month Rate | WiFi | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAMP (Maya Mall) | Free | Free | 50 Mbps | Free with coffee purchase — iconic nomad spot |
| Alt_ChiangMai | $5 | $60 | 200 Mbps | Clean, professional, great community |
| Yellow | $8 | $80 | 150 Mbps | Boutique and design-forward |
Cost Breakdown
| Tier | Accommodation | Food | Coworking | Transport | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lean | $400 | $250 | $80 | $50 | $780 |
| Comfortable | $650 | $400 | $120 | $80 | $1,250 |
| Don't Care | $1200 | $700 | $200 | $150 | $2,250 |
Connectivity & Getting Around
SIM Card
AIS or DTAC — both excellent. 100GB data for ~$10/month. Buy at the airport or any 7-Eleven.
Average Speed
80–150 Mbps in most cafés and coworking spaces
Getting Around
Scooter rental ($50–80/month) is the move. Grab works but adds up. Songthaews (red trucks) for short hops.
Best Months to Visit
Ready to fly to Chiang Mai?
Compare flights and find the best deals on Trip.com.
Where to Stay
Affiliate disclosure: Travomad is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Some links on this page are affiliate links — we earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend things we'd genuinely use ourselves.