Moving from Shanghai to Chiang Mai: Real life differences from a digital nomad's perspective

"Is Chiang Mai suitable for Chinese people to live?" "How much does it cost per month?" "Is it safe there?"

I've received many such private messages recently. As a "new villager" who just lived in Chiang Mai for over a month, today I'll share the most real experience. If you're also interested in coming to Chiang Mai to live, you might as well finish reading this article before deciding.

What surprised me most when first arriving in Chiang Mai was the "Chinese content rate" here

There are so many Chinese people living here! Chinese signs everywhere in the city, doctors who speak Chinese in hospitals, all kinds of Chinese restaurants, even trees in roadside parks have Chinese labels saying "Beware of falling branches." Although we don't speak Thai, we can get by with English or occasionally Chinese in daily life. This cultural tolerance made us, who just arrived, have almost no discomfort. But seeing "Please don't wash feet in the sink" written only in Chinese in the bathroom still makes me feel mixed emotions.

Next, let's talk about living costs here

After a month of experience, Chiang Mai is not the legendary "cabbage price" paradise, but compared to domestic first-tier city prices, it's indeed more affordable. Eating a meal at an ordinary restaurant costs only 50-100 baht (about 10-20 RMB); if you want a nicer restaurant, under 100 yuan per person can also have a very good dining experience.

For renting, generally you can choose to rent an apartment or a villa. Apartments are usually close to the city center and convenient for life, while villas have larger living spaces but are closer to the suburbs. Compared to short-term rentals, long-term rentals have more choices, but you also need to be selective. Generally, apartments are around 2000-3000 yuan. If you have a more generous budget, 3000-4000 yuan can rent a better apartment, but the same price in the suburbs can even rent a standalone villa, though you need to consider getting a car. Fortunately, Chiang Mai isn't big. Even living in the suburbs, driving to the city center is only about 15 minutes.

But when it comes to transportation, I personally think this might be Chiang Mai's biggest shortcoming

There's almost no complete public transportation system here. Getting around mainly relies on motorbikes or cars. Taking a motorbike in the city is about 50 baht, a taxi is about 100 baht per trip. In remote areas, getting a ride is more difficult. You might have to wait a long time, or there might be no cars available. Therefore, if you want to stay long-term, renting or buying a car is something you must consider. If you choose to drive, be prepared to deal with narrow roads and traffic jams. Riding a motorcycle is convenient, but sun exposure and exhaust issues also need consideration.

So overall, monthly rent and car expenses are fixed costs. Extreme cheapness might be hard to achieve, but with the same expenses, replacing Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou with Chiang Mai, the quality of life can indeed improve significantly.

Season choice for living in Chiang Mai is very important

The cool season from October to February each year is the best time, with pleasant weather and good weather almost every day. But this is also the tourist peak season, and short-term rental sources will be relatively tight. The most important thing to note is the burning season in March-April, when air pollution is serious. Many long-term residents choose to leave temporarily. The rainy season from May to October, friends say, isn't as bad as imagined. It doesn't rain all day, and because of the rain, the air is especially fresh.

What moved me most about Chiang Mai is its intimate relationship with nature

We live near Doi Suthep. A 20-minute walk can reach waterfalls. There are often hiking activities here. As soon as we arrived, we were pulled into the local hiking group by fans. Chiang Mai has a famous rock climbing spot, and the outdoor climbing atmosphere is also very good. This natural closeness that requires special vacation arrangements in big cities is part of daily life in Chiang Mai.

For us digital nomads, the work environment here is also very friendly

The coffee shop culture here is developed. Almost every shop is very suitable for working. Some shops have outlets at every table. Spending a dozen yuan on a cup of coffee can enjoy an afternoon of work time. This makes many digital nomad friends who returned to China sigh, because in China maybe only Starbucks can work like this. And there are many digital nomad gatherings here, with dedicated FB groups. Although we didn't have time to participate this month, it's already on my future plan. After all, coming to live in Chiang Mai, I still hope to communicate more with digital nomads from various countries.

Regarding safety, my observation is that Chiang Mai is generally quite safe

The night market is bustling with people, men and women, old and young. Many families with children have settled here. You can see happy playing figures everywhere. This relaxed and comfortable atmosphere is, to some extent, the best safety indicator. But given recent Thai public opinion, I would suggest that for people who have safety concerns, you can wait and see before considering coming. Now the Thai Prime Minister is also saying he will do his best to ensure the safety of Chinese tourists. I hope there will be a good result.

But I also need to remind everyone that Chiang Mai's life rhythm is indeed very slow

We met a community friend who's been here for over a month and said: "Life here is too comfortable, making people easily lose motivation to struggle." Indeed, for people used to fast-paced life, it takes time to adapt to this rhythm.

It's precisely because of this huge lifestyle change that some people feel confused after coming to Chiang Mai, some worry about whether they'll sink, some are anxious about future development. But at the same time, we also see some people starting side businesses in Chiang Mai, some going back to school, some focusing on online work, and some simply starting new businesses. The slow rhythm and low cost actually give them more space to think and try.

So I think slowing down isn't necessarily a bad thing. True free life isn't indulgence, but finding balance between comfort and progress. Choosing slow life doesn't mean giving up progress. The key is finding a rhythm that suits you. In this month of living in Chiang Mai, I deeply realized: whether you want to focus on remote work or try new possibilities, this place can provide enough space and opportunities.

Final thoughts

Thailand might not be where we'll live forever in the future. But this year, we should spend most of our time in Chiang Mai and will continue sharing Chiang Mai life experiences with everyone. We've always liked long-term living in places with community atmosphere. We lived in Mexico for 1.5 years, Peru for 8 months, and Bali for 4 months. In the nearly 2 years after returning to China, because we were working as travel bloggers, location changes were very frequent, but I really didn't like this rhythm. The freedom in my heart is being able to go when I want to go, and stop when I want to stop. So this year, our plan is also to slow down our pace and live well in one place. But we'll still continue writing articles and making videos well. Welcome everyone to search "Chinese Nomads" on various video platforms to watch our video content.

Finally, let me share our recent small achievement with everyone. The nomadic community we've been working on has been established for 1000 days! Over the past 1000+ days, we've helped 550 friends explore the infinite possibilities of global living life. Some chose Chiang Mai, some went to Bali, and some have rooted in Europe and America... Everyone is looking for their own lifestyle. If you also want to try unlimited global nomadic life in your limited life, welcome to join our paid nomadic community. Here, you can not only get first-hand living experience sharing, but more importantly, you'll meet a group of like-minded friends, inspiring each other and growing together.

We are Ding and Pan, a digital nomad couple who have been living abroad for 5 years. Thank you for your support and companionship along the way.