COST OF LIVING IN CHIANG MAI | Expat 2024 

@@marko5937 thank you! :)

Have you checked out online websites like Perfect Homes or DD Property? They have quite a few listed on there at the moment since it's currently low season in CM. If you send an email to hello@katherinenicole.co, I can also send the contact for the agent I've used if you'd like to contact her directly, she's sooo helpful! :)

Haha yeah probably! I use to eat only Thai food when I first moved here in 2019 but I’ve since moved on 😂😂

@@katherinenic Okay.

Do most expats use visa runs to "live" there or did they crack down on that?​@katherinenic

No problem! My most recent video titled, "What NO ONE Tells You About Chiang Mai" goes into detail about burning season :)

Yes the cost of your expenses can vary depending on your lifestyle and what you need but it is definitely possible to live on a lot less. I would say 900 is doable if you live on mostly Thai food, don't have other expenses or subscriptions and if you don't spend a lot on any activities (gyms, social events, markets, shopping, etc.) but to note - this video only includes basic living expenses (rent, bills & food) but could be helpful to include other expenses in your budget like any activities you enjoy doing, gym, etc. as well :)

I'll keep this in mind for future videos :)

@@TheOfficialMagiss in my video, ‘Chiang Mai Ultimate Guide’ I break this down in more detail with recommendations on how to find condos :) I would only use booking or agoda for hotels for travel but not long term rentals.

Thanks for the feedback! I’ll keep that in mind for a future video :)

How long have you been in Thailand? Thanks

@@keithporter2397 15 months in Thailand…just renewed visa for another 12…17k Baht ($500US) multiple entry thru my agent. I didn’t have to do anything other than drop my passport to him.

That’s amazing! Yes, western food can get a bit pricey here 😅 Definitely check out Chiang Mai when you can :)

@katherinenic but definitely worth paying for 😄 and I definitely will do ma'am thankyou ☺️

down here near the beach - That's a strange way to call bar girls

why not cook your own?

@@avamaria8447 Since I eat mostly western meals, the cost of western ingredients/groceries here can actually be more expensive sometimes than just ordering it out (depending on what you eat). This can really vary though, I do have some friends who cook at home but I just prefer the convenience of ordering out :)

@@adrianjencgy1993 I am on an education visa to study Thai language 😊

The further away from the city you are, the cheaper rent you can find. I use to live in a 2 bedroom/2 bath townhome for $272/month but it was about a 20-25 min drive from the main city center I have a cleaner that comes once a month and I pay 13$ :)

Great point! Depending on medical needs, age etc there are other factors to consider when it comes to healthcare here as well. Thanks for pointing that out :)

I trust Thailand more than Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos in regards to medical

I used an agent I've been working with since 2019, if you send me an email at hellokatherinenicole@gmail.com I can send over her details so you can contact her directly. There is also Perfect Homes Chiang Mai which might help too! perfecthomes.co.th/

Feb-April I usually travel down south to one of the islands until the pollution gets better 😅 If I have to stick around for a bit longer, I have an air purifier in my place and try to only go to cafes or gyms that have air purifiers too :) I’m actually going to make another video on this soon!

That means need another accommodation because I think you pay rental yearly.

@@johnwalk123 I pay my rent month to month but yes I’m on a year to year contract. Some people sublet their condos during burning season (if it’s approved by the owners) and split accommodations down south with friends but yes depends on your situation and is something to keep in mind :)

@@floridamantales42 I’ve been with the same condo for a few years so the owner gives me a great price. It’s in Chang Phueak area 10 min from old city :)

@@katherinenic oh I’m in wat ket. I pay 7500 a month but 52 sounds so relaxing. I had to get an office just for RU-vid stuff @expatben is my Thailand channel

@@floridamantales42 I’ve tried and the prices were pretty similar. I have the grab membership so I get a ton of discounts :)

In Chiang mai grab is double than bolt.

Glad you found it helpful! No, the first 2 years I worked part time at an international school as a counselor with a work visa/permit. The last 3 years I’ve been on education visas to study Thai language :) They also have muy Thai visas & self defense visas (both under education as well) if she’s interested in any of those. If she’s interested in teaching, a work visa could be a good option too!

Glad you found it helpful! :)

Thanks so much! :)

If you are coming on a U.S passport, you can arrive and stay for 30 days with no visa :) You can also apply for a 60 day tourist visa if you want to give yourself more time to check things out at www.thaievisa.go.th/ but you'll need to give yourself more time to get this approved. The processing time can vary so I'd double check in case! There's also a FAQ if you scroll down from the home page (www.thaievisa.go.th/) where you can input how many days you'd like to stay and it will tell you what you need to do

@katherinenic KAT!! you rock. Thank you responding me. I am doing that online today. 😃

@@katherinenic i went online to do a tourist visa and it would not let me go further without a flight ticket and I don’t have it yet. So I can go without the visa for 30 days correct? And then I can try to get all my correct visa forms there why I’m there? I am wanting to live there permentaly.

​@@lucian_73 You can enter on what they call 'visa-on arrival' (if you're flying with a US passport) which gives you free 30 days and after those initial 30 days are up, you can apply for a 30 day extension at immigration for another 30 days. (Should give you 60 days total this way). However if you are entering on a tourist visa, sometimes (it depends on the immigration officer) they will ask for proof of a return ticket (a flight out of Thailand). Depending on what type of visa you are going to apply for to stay here long-term - some visa agencies and/or schools can convert your tourist visa to an education visa (for example) within the country for an additional fee but you'll need to contact the visa agencies directly. This is the agency I've used in the past - Vera Visa Agency: g.co/kgs/PcKk9Vh You can contact them via a messaging chat application we use here called 'Line' with the phone number listed in the link above or if you can call internationally might be easier! Hope this helps!

She reminds me of Hailey Hicks from the Elite Visa YT page. Both explain things very well too. They could pass for sisters imho.

No problem! Thanks for following along :)

No problem! :)

@@tjvuuren8136 no place quite like Chiang mai! 🩷

Can keep the option open, you never know! 😊

Dental work here is very affordable and some of the dentist are actually trained in U.S/Australia too! For a more formal setting, I would highly recommend Chiang Mai University Language Institute (CMU). Last year I believe it was around $1,400 for the 1-year education visa, tuition fees, etc. You can contact them directly here: learnthaicmu@gmail.com and get your visa process started even before you get here (usually). And here is their website: www.learnthaicmu.com/ For CMU, it's usually 2x a week, 3 hours each class. I studied here for 2 years and my experience was great overall, the only downside is they are pretty strict with attendance (outside of regular school holidays) so this would be something to consider if you are looking to travel often. Hope this helps!

Thank you! The prices vary a lot depending on what type of condo/place you are looking for (studio, 1 bedroom, etc). I prefer to live outside of Nimman because it can get pretty busy with traffic and I like living in more quiet areas. If you want to live right in the middle of Nimman, you usually will be paying much more because it’s a busy/touristy area but living there also makes everything more walkable so if you’re looking for convenience, it could be an option. I have seen some older condos in Nimman that are decent priced for the location - one in particular called Hillside Condo 3 or Himnimman. I would recommend booking an AirBnB for a week to check out different condos in a few areas: Chang Phueak, Santitham, Jed Yod (these are all within 5-10 min from Nimman) to see what you prefer. It’s much different seeing these places in person to get a feel for what works better for you :) Hope this helps!

Exciting! Good luck with your move 😊

Thanks so much!

In my other video, "How to get an education visa" I share the cost and process for 1-year education visas in Chiang Mai. Hope this helps! :)

Nope, I have a kitchen with both a working double electric stove and microwave :)

@@katherinenic Well, then you are getting a truly sweet deal!

This budget only includes rent, bills/utilities and food/cafes. I rarely drink alcohol so that's not something I include in my budget but definitely something to consider if it's something you enjoy doing :)

Thank youu 🙏

Glad you enjoyed the video! It just depends on what type of activities you’re interested in :) I like the low key and slow pace of life here, there’s always something to do - markets, gyms, crossfit and sport events, music events, digital nomad meetups, etc. But when I do feel bored and need a change of environment, I take a flight to the islands when I can. It def helps to find a community here - I’m a part of a Latin dancing community here and I’m into the jazz music scene here too which helps! There’s also tons of weekend trips you can take to explore in the mountains but again it’s really dependent on what type of activities you’re looking for. Hope this helps!

@@katherinenic It does! Thanks for a thorough response!

@@fengson362 no problem!

Thank you! :)

No, I’m on a 1 year-education visa at the moment :)

@katherinenic Ah so it's free to do a 1 year education visa? Another Stupid video

@@Yakimakix There are many visa options. Whatever you do, *don't do any research* yourself so you can just complain. That's easier.

@ScooterOnHisWay2024 If you knew then you would understand she is paying an education visa. That visa is an extra 3000 baht per month but she chose to omit that. As I said it's a stupid video from a stupid girl, with stupid subscribers.

I can speak basic Thai so that helps a lot! :)

Have you ever considered you might have an auditory processing deficiency. One potential solution is to click the “gear” symbol in the top right corner then click “playback speed” to .75x, .5x or .25x. Kat may sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher but you may help you. If that doesn’t work, maybe Kat is not the right vlogger fit for you.

Glad you enjoyed it! 😊