Poor air quality makes Chiang Mai, Thailand, the worst place to live as an expat — if you VALUE your HEALTH. #chiangmai #thailand #expatlife
Chiang Mai turns into a gas chamber every year. From mid-February to mid-April, toxic smoke engulfs the city, pushing AQI levels beyond 500+. March is the worst, with hospitals overflowing, flights delayed due to zero visibility, and even the healthiest residents struggling to breathe.
The air is so polluted that spending a day outside can be like smoking multiple packs of cigarettes.
For 3 months, it becomes unlivable. That’s why, despite all its charm, Chiang Mai earns a 2/10 as a place to live long-term as an expat.
Unless you plan to escape every March and April, you’ll be stuck choking on toxic air, trapped in your apartment with air purifiers running full blast.
Key moments in this video:
00:01 Welcome to Chiang Meh
04:19 Chiang Mai’s population is 127,000 (not a city)
05:56 The Digital Gonads of Chiang Mai, selling courses and coaching
08:28 There are better places in Thailand
12:38 Final thoughts from the airport
14:31 Fast facts about Chiang Mai’s air
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✅ EXPAT VIDEOS
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Interview with an American expat
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⦿ KHO PHANGAN
⦿ SURAT THANI
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😂😂😂 Austin Texas? That city is one of the most racist. Check the archives
Chiang Meh😂😂😂thats my impression too.
This dude is an American Loser for sure. Go home grandpa
The sky appears clear. Show us the air pollution! Don’t just talk about it with your imagination. Also, don’t condemn Chiang Mai without offering a better alternative. I’m sure whatever your alternative is just as bad if you only focus on the negative aspects and ignore the positive ones.
you think all those old guys smoking care much about air pollution…..lol
I dont get why the country does nothing to fix this! they could and have spoken of it. Its on paper but that means nothing when actions to have cleaner air dont take place. Horrible!
After seeing your video, I think Yunnan in China would be a better choice for retirement.
Agree with a lot other than calling those outfits clown suits. Some of the people who wear them do so because of their religion.
Why don't you stay put in your own country??? No grass is greener on the other side. If you can't make it in your own country, what makes you think you can do it elsewhere??
OKAY, LEAVE NOW.
I love the video work and narration… I like the more domestic cities like korat or khon kaen… I am from Australia but I don't want to go anywhere on holidays where there's lots of European tourists in hostels… I appreciate and agree with most of your perspective
Click bait. Sure AQI needs to be considered, but how is it back at home?
https://youtu.be/ylezo5sDC8I?si=EllAiROG7fwoginL
Umm… they're not clown suits 😔
Funny how some people that are newbies to Thailand, think that they know everything about Thailand……. Your ignorance and arrogant attitude is so NOT Thailand…….. you lack the basics in UNDERSTANDING Thailand……….. turn the camera off, STFU, and spend some time learning Thai…….. when you speak Thai, you will start to truly UNDERSTAND THAILAND………. UNTIL THEN, this is just self entitled opinionated moronic blah blah blah………
You know, at 39 I was very cocky about my health. I was taking care of my diet and exercise and bam!, at 40 my hip gave out and I became a hobbly wobbly old guy. At 55, with a hip replacement now, I still do my best to stay as healthy as I can, but I still present as an “old dude”. If they’re not smokers, I wouldn’t judge too harshly about their health. You don’t know their back story.
I went to Chang Mai… I thought that it was the most boring place in Thailand
Haha, what the hell happened to this guy..? 😂😂😂
Comes for his dentist, come for clicks
Anyway I have good memories in this city, for sure I will go back. Air pollution is a big problem Thai GOV must fix it.
You only made your rating – for clicks been here 16 years don't have an health problem with the air quality – Your a jerk looking for clicks so a controversial rating is just what you need – get a life move on – but as you view Chiang Mai as so toxic – Your not welcome – don't come again!
Chiang Mai wasn't that great, but damn, it was really cheap. Just boring, hot, stinky, and crowded.
Chaing Mai is great. Go and make your own discussion
You miss high-rises and successful people in Chiang Mai? It just shows your lack of mindset to understand what that "village" is all about.
Wow, it's a great feeling I won't have to deal with the likes of you there.
I've finally made up mind to move there.
Absolutely spot on about Chiang Mai and the pollution. Not a place to live if you value your health.
This is one of the most beautiful cities. And you definitely can see those mountains and drive through them very easily
If the worst thing about Chiang Mai is Smokey air in the winter and birds, then that sounds not bad at all 😂
Chiangmai is great for 6 months if you have a car Just go to Krabi Phuket Samui or Bangkok during the burning season. Or Fukuoka Japan.
Chiang Mai is a paradice from June trough January, but stay away in february trough May so it realy depends. But Chiang Mai is a good place to stay and i love it 😊
Did he call their traditional dress "clown suits"? Then I see why you don't belong there. Get out of their country!
Clown suits? That doesnt sound respectfull…
Total bullshit
It's March and April it's not 4 months I've been there for 20 years never bothered me and I'm 65 years old I wish all Western people would get the hell out. It used to be beautiful 20 years ago.
Bangkok is nice but also polluted
The air sucks every place in the developing world.
Thanks for spreading this information
Man, Chiang Mai is fine. All those old people look like the same expats in Pattaya. And the ones in your video were all smoking!
Utter rubbish review, total BS video and totally misleading and false.
I measured via an app the air pollution in Chiang Mai and Bangkok……it was much better than in the Netherlands Rotterdam 😅