The cost of living in Chiang Mai, Thailand 2023 - 2024. Retire in Thailand affordably.

Here is the real cost of living in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2023 and 2024. Are you planning to live in Chiang Mai? Are you wondering how to retire in Thailand? The cost to retire in Thailand? Here are the real figures about what it costs to live in Chiang Mai. If you are considering retiring in Thailand, you should consider Chiang Mai.

We don't just talk about prices. We literally show you. We take you on tours of apartments in the low, medium and high price range. We visit restaurants and see actual meals and what they cost. We discuss motorcycle and transportation costs. Our goal is to not only provide you with helpful information, but make it entertaining as well.

Chiang Mai is much less expensive than Bangkok, Phuket, and the islands, but is a beautiful city, close to nature with plentiful hikes and waterfalls. And few cities are as famous as Chiang Mai for its multitude of great coffee shops and restaurants. It is a foodie paradise, but at a low cost.

Just FYI, one bad thing about Chiang Mai to be aware of is the "smokey season," or some call it the burning season. This is when farmers burn their crops to regenerate the soil (or to promote mushroom growth) all around the north: Laos, Myanmar, northern Thailand. It turns beautiful Chiang Mai into an unpleasant place (not so bad some years but terrible in 2003), usually. February to April. So you need to factor in that you might want to use these months to travel, either around Thailand (cheap flights and cheap places to stay, but you are maybe paying rent in Chiang Mai while you are gone, so a double expense while away), or to be your annual trip out of Asia or to your home country. Every city seems to have a "bad" aspect - crime, unrest, smog, high costs, et cetera - so we just figure the smokey season is the one bad thing about Chiang Mai, and we work around it in our lives. BTW, 2023 was a bad smokey year, but the years prior were not as bad. We home one day the generational practice of burning crops will lessen.

Part 2 will review health insurance, visas, and give a wrap-up of budget issues.

⏰ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction
01:19 Housing costs
10:08 Food costs: restaurants
13:42 Food costs: grocery stores
15:26 Food costs: outdoor markets
15:47 Transportation
18:04 Closing comments

🟦 OUR OTHER VIDEOS YOU MIGHT LIKE 🟦

🏠 All the apartments we showed you were available for rental at the time of filming. Below is the contact information for each location. We have no affiliation, nor do we profit, from these locations:
⚫ Home Place Hotel: [phone]

🟦 MY EQUIPMENT 🟦

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[gregb]

You know the first thing I always check when renting or staying at a hotel? The AC filters! And 9 times out of 10, they have never been cleaned since they were installed! Well, they go straight into the shower and washed down as I can not think of anything worse than all the dirt and dust floating around the room! This is not just a Thai thing, I have had that in Australia and many other countries!

[Soupy]

I've watched 100's of videos on this subject and Randy and Joy have gone out of their way to make one of the best videos I've ever seen, even before he mentions it at 19:00 minutes of the video. Very much appreciated and the chapters on each subject is very helpful for reference. Thanks for going out on the town and showing us around, and good music too! Well done!

[Dmanz]

That first room would be absolutely fine for a young person.

[SlackHoffman]

Oi Joy, Randy’s got millions 😏💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵💵🤏🏻
Under his hat 🎩😅
Just kidding guys ……
Your videos are so informative and get straight to the point !
You’re a superbly calm and special couple! Thanks 🙏 Again 😎🍀

[TwinJalanugraha]

You both seem so comfortable with each other.

Good health and long life ❤

[bagelsandmash]

Hi. Im new to your channel. This is my second summer here in Thailand with my American Thai wife. We love Chiang Mai! I just wanted to say i really like your videos. Unlike some other travel youtubers you dont have any filler and I appreciafe how you get right to the point! Also showing the food at the different restaurants was very smart. The only thing you missed was eating at night markets which is even cheaper!

[knowthygod-olivergonsalves]

Randy/Joy: Very comprehensive video on Chiang a great way to publicize this city narrated by people that really care about it....Both of you seem truly happy forward to more videos.

[TomBTerrific]

My wife and spend 1 month in ChangMai in 2014. We loved it there and hope to return someday. Thai food is the best! The people are super friendly. My wife is Filipino and would like to live there permanently. Thanks for the recent prices.

[nareevanzanen]

I first went to Chiang Mai in 1968. I returned to live there from 1984-1994. We bought a house in the Wualai Sliver-working area for $25, 000US and expanded it for another $13000. The city has changed so much that it appeals to me only for a short visit but not a permanent arrangement. There is so much to see in other SEAsian areas that being locked into one place is not for me.

[ravydavy]

Absolutely fantastic.
So informative
I’m sincerely grateful that you both took the time to make it so interesting.

[petereriksson]

Hello & Thanks! I have looking on at 50 Youtube channels about living or living cost in Thailand last month and your video is absolute the best! Thanks from Peter Eriksson Sweden Europe. 😊❤

[soidog]

I live in udon thani your channel just popped up, I have seen many types of these videos, this one has got to be one of the most informative and nicely presented anybody wanting to live in Chiang Mai this is a must see video

[RockmasterVideos]

Well produced & narrated by both of you, Thanks Sir! Thailand is 100x as modern as the PH, No doubt at all. Hopefully No roosters screeching 24/7, no way I'd tolerate that noise pollution.

[Paul-ub]

We have talked before. You two are great and show so much. I’m coming in Dec. for 3 months will rent a scooter and start my hunt for a great condo.. thank you

[neilallen]

Thanks for the video and look forward to part II. We have family and a home in Nan. Like you I want to split time between California and Thailand once I retire. I do enjoy comforts of city life so think a mix of Chiang Mai and Nan are in order. Hope you can cover some recreation costs too. Keep up the good work and hope to see you around town sometime!

[Basman]

Randy, your videos are brilliant. I am ardently starting at the beginning and working my way through them. Your delivery and happy demeanour make watching, not just compelling, but thoroughly enjoyable. While the first budget hotel room works fine especially the patios and location and honestly the price is like what I paid in the USA for shared apartment 40 plus years ago at university there would come a time when one might want a proper bathroom or a desk to write etc. The Riverside condo's are great the $460 one is great but who wants that much space...lol Funny the views from Riverside are better than the Astra. One could start out in the budget studio for 3 months and then just shop around make a list of the necessary accoutrements e.g. luxury studio, wash machine, pool, gym etc...or whatever its all personal as you said. Fabulous job. As for Pad Thai or Pad Woon Sen I could live on that alone - a crusade to find the best beckons me thinks. Joy adds great value and like yourself is very personable. This video was extremely helpful so elucidating, especially the food I could easily live on 300 baht a day - coffee 60 baht, shake 60 baht and 3 meals 60 baht...that would be a bargain for what you get, add in a a studio room life couldn't be simpler. You then have loads of dispensable income for gyms, travel to Vietnam et al. and a good solid base to come back to - can;'t wait for the other videos - well done that man - strike that, couple!

[kendahl]

Thank you for All your helpful insights. My wife and I are planning on visiting Thailand in 2026 to see if we can realistically live in Chiang Mai. On a 1500 dollar per month budget.

[hjqbcb]

Great Video - loved seeing the different restaurant options and food for cooking at home. Enjoying all your videos so keep them coming 🙂 We actually start our retirement this Sunday. Flying from Australia to Bangkok and then move up to Chiang Mai a week after that - all possible due to Hailey and Yam at Elite Visas. Was quite shocked to see her in your vids. A small world indeed 🙂

[andyroid]

My criticisms of your video.... none! Excellent, intelligent concise and clear narration. Very informative, well edited. I arrived at your video after wading though and 'thumbs-downing' several 'talking 'heads', all waffling, with no usual information. Such a refreshing change to find your work! Congratulations! You've just got another subscriber - thank you very much! Chok dee!

[onlyme]

Great work, are you going to cover the costs of having some fun/socialising too? Retirement needs to be enjoyable not just about survival, and whilst everyone’s idea of fun is different, the cost of a few beers in a local bar and a ticket to the cinema or 1hrs tennis court hire might be something to look at!