Thailand · Southeast Asia
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is where you go to actually get work done. Rent is low, food is brilliant and under $2, and the old town is small enough to cycle. It's quieter than Bangkok or Bali and suits people building something.
Monthly budget
$900–1,500
Best months
November–February (cool, clear)
Safety
Very safe — the main concern is burning-season air
Getting set up
Many nationalities get 30–60 days visa-free with an extension at immigration; the DTV visa now covers much longer remote-work stays. Condos rent monthly with pool and gym for very little — Nimman is the nomad default, the old town is more atmospheric.
Working from here
Fast fibre in most condos, and cafés like Graph and Ristr8to are institutions. Yellow, Alt and Punspace are the coworking staples. Thailand is UTC+7 — comfortable for Asia and Europe mornings, rough for the Americas.
Safety and health
Crime is very low. The genuine health issue is burning season, roughly March to April, when air quality collapses — most long-termers leave for the islands or Vietnam. Private hospitals such as Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai are cheap and excellent.
Making friends
Muay Thai gyms, Sunday night market wanders, and a long-running coworking crowd that welcomes newcomers. Smaller city, so the same faces recur quickly — one hello goes a long way.
Where people stay
Best cafés & coworking to work from
The spots people in Chiang Mai rate highest for a laptop day — good Wi-Fi, sockets and nobody rushing you out.
Yellow Coworking
Santitham
The long-running nomad hub — fast fibre, quiet rooms and regular community dinners.
Punspace Nimman
Nimmanhaemin
Classic Chiang Mai coworking: 24/7 access options, meeting rooms and a steady crowd of founders.
CAMP (Maya Mall)
Nimmanhaemin
Huge open study-and-work space above the mall, cheap coffee and plug sockets everywhere.
Graph Café
Old Town
Small specialty coffee spot for a focused morning session before the seats fill up.
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