Is Chiang Mai still the digital nomad heaven it once was now in 2026?
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Chiang Mai has long been one of the most talked-about cities in Thailand for travelers and digital nomads, but things change fast. In this vlog, I share the cost of living, lifestyle, accommodation, cafes, internet, dating, and city vibe.
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Damn, this was truly expensive for Thailand…or maybe Im used to your Vietnam videos 😀
for a crazy co working space, checkout coco club. I love that! With Pool, Ice Bath, coffe and so on for 350 bht. my fav space for work
The cheap part is the accomodation. I stay in a very nice Airbnb in a good location for 20 eur per night, which, despite my best attempts, something I could not find in the southern islands. They are just either super expensive or low quality or faaaaar away from nice places. The food you ate and drinks you had were not also the cheapest. I think you are not in a tight budget (more power to you). Then it makes sense that Chiang Mai does not have that much appeal to you.
Been watching a lot of your videos recently! Thank you a lot for all your work and effort! it really helps someone like me who is just starting out this nomad thing. Would you say then that Da Nang is better and more exciting destination?
what do you think the matcha is expensive? you paid more in koh phangan
Nimman is such a bubble. I try avoiding it like the plague. 10 mins out of town has great nature, accommodation, food.
My favourite place in Thailand. (and I'm a beach person lol) It felt like home, I just love the locals, so friendly, and the local food was the best I had eaten during my time throughout the country. I can not wait to return and stay for extended time again, the city and its people hold a special place in my heart.
I could only watch half of this video because all you did was complain.
You might not have the right approach to Chiang Mai — it’s basically the opposite of Bali.
First, it’s a mountain city with hiking and nature, so the vibe is completely different from the beach. You just need time to adapt, but it’s actually really good.
Second, there are plenty of digital nomads like in Bali — cafés, places to work, opportunities to meet people — but the energy is more mature and calmer. It’s more about slowing down, having silence, and being alone with yourself.
Bali ( Canggu ) , especially in groups, can be very over-stimulating: constant noise, parties, social pressure, and not much time to reconnect with nature or yourself.
That’s why Chiang Mai can look boring on paper, but the more time you spend there, the more you understand why so many people visit it — and end up living there.
I love this city
Spent 3 months in Thailand last year.Also went to Chiang Mai.Dont get the hype…Much better places in Thailand imo.
Does Your tribe have an age limit?
I feel like your expectations are really high. Everything looked really nice to me.. but for you was either.. "pretty ok.. not bad.. or nothing fancy".. Let us know when you find the perfect place on Earth..
Joose, I would consider myself a supporter of your content, but to be honest, with this video you pretty much did everything wrong as far as chiang mai goes. I get that you like islands more, but you pay 3-4x times more when you stay in nimman. There are so much more good stuff around this city that you missed. Ive visited every major nomad spot in south east asia and i reached the conclusion that Chiang Mai is the best city, and its not even close. So its a shame you visit bad spots, and review the city based on that. Reach out, and I will show you how to do this city properly.
Are you from Finland originally? Very familiar accent 😊
I have also been in Chiang Mai for the last couple of weeks and have had a similar experience. Nice enough vibe but accomodation not so great, restaurants hit and miss. A tad dissapointing after reading so much good stuff online
13:17 wow crazy location island name?
It was very hot this June! haha
I LOVE Chiang Mai
Visit Pa Pae meditation retreat for a couple of days and Pai. It is around an hour drive from CM.
You do not resonate with Chiang Mai. Got it 👍🏼
You need to drive around, 1-2 hours out of the city. That's the charm of CM.
Can you start including about motorbike rental in your videos? It would be interesting how much it is to rent a 300/600cc. Top guy as well for including about what dating is like in each region it’s good to know where are good easy location to bump into similar minds.
Ohhh I've been there. Its a good time. Super chill. have fun!
Def agree with the analysis!
awesome video! Thank you for it. Btw. it is "there ARE a lot of people". Noticed this a lot, maybe some other people get annoyed by it 🙂
Dude you can't rate a city by being there for 4 days.
Overall what is the best place to date and dating apps ?
$54 per night in Chiang Mai? Rooms used to be $200 per month, now a bit more but not that much! You are being ripped off.
Chiang Mai has some of the best coffee, live it up in the north
Looks pretty amazing. I’ve heard the burning season is really bad pollution. Thanks for the warning.
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Seems like a fair analysis, cool city in Thailand
Hua Hin or Pattaya next.
went to Chiang Mai quiet a few times also for work. Dating was usuallly not good and it gets boring in the city pretty quickly. Also i found it hard to make local friends, like in most places in Thailand.
Was great for us living there as digital nomads this year.
You’re also visiting during the high season when the weather is cooler (by at least 5-10 degrees) and the prices are higher. Our accommodation was half the price you were paying.
Also the vegan options are amazing. But you have to go to the old town to find the best.
I feel like you’re a little bias though because you love Bali so much. When you love a place, like you do with Bali, then no where else will compare.
I find it hard to believe Chiang Mai has become comparable in price to Bangkok. He has to be exaggerating. It just doesn't make any sense – I went to Thailand many times from 2012 – 2020. I noticed obvious price increases each time I revisited Bangkok, but never Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai always came across as a nice place to live if you want a laid back atmosphere, but there's nothing amazing about it – nothing really instagramable, which kept it from becoming as overpriced as the islands or Bangkok.
I found everything in Chiang Mai super cheap the same time only last year.
I think that temple you visited has a very professional Tok Sen masseuse. Ayy, I want to go see that place.
Finally! Truly one of the best cities for nomads I can assure 🙂 you gotta give it more time and connect with more people to show you around. Nature is awesome there
I was in Ching Mai two weeks before you and I have to say I really liked the city. Compared to Bangkok, everything is closer, I can get in 15-20 minutes everywhere in the city, grab is cheaper (because you don't have to travel far), there is less traffic, temperatures around 25C are nice – you don't get sweaty all the time and the most important thing there are many coworking spaces (I have to recommend The coco club with ice bath, pool and sauna, and Real Space) where I can connect with other digital nomads. Coming from Pattaya, I appreciate that, cause in Pattaya, there aren't many digital nomads and coworks…
Regarding the prices, you're completely right. I heard how Chiang Mai is cheap, but I feel like the prices are very similar to Bangkok, but in Bangkok you get better accommodation for the same price.
I have to visit some islands as well…
I was planning to maybe visit next March or April while traveling to Bangkok but probably have to skip due to the air quality.
I’m in Chiang Mai now and will be here for a little less than a month. I share your opinion so far for now, maybe I’ll be enjoying it more.
Which place in South East Asia would you recommend for January in terms of price and weather. South Thailand is good weather, but more expensive now. Vietnam and Indonesia is cloudy/rainy it seems like.
The Phillipines might be a good option, but I’m a bit concerned about the wifi.
Let me know your thoughts 🙂
Good video bro. Ill check out the Sunday night marked tonight. Ive enjoyed walking around the old city for some days but now its getting a bit boring. Heading back to the coast tomorrow.
They need to try to bring the air pollution down ,burning season makes it one of the most polluted city’s in the world
It won't be as good as bkk but it's nice for a slow life, I like the evening market in nimman, nice music and very festive, I also love Khao soi, it's a good blend, if you don't like to party and want to be around nature, want something peaceful but modern, it's a slow life with all the modern amenities you need, I stayed there 6 months before, but I don't like the burning season, it's a decent place, rather stay there than Phuket, it's good for a change but not wow but very good for normal living in my opinion, especially for the locals there