A Month in Chiang Mai: Why It Wasn’t for Me
When I was searching online for places suitable for long-term stays, Chiang Mai kept coming up. It’s one of the most popular cities among digital nomads and slow travelers. Out of curiosity, I decided to spend a month there to see whether I would like it.
Now that I’m back home, my conclusion is very clear: Chiang Mai is not for me, and I probably won’t go back.
Why I Didn’t Like Chiang Mai
There are four main reasons.
The food was too sweet. Drinks, food—almost everything tasted sweet. Most of the time I stuck to iced Americanos, but occasionally I tried milk tea from street stalls and was genuinely shocked by how sweet it was. As for the food, Chiang Mai’s cuisine is Northern Thai, which is quite different from Bangkok-style food (something I didn’t know before going). Even dishes like Pad Thai are sweet and spicy at the same time. By the end of my first week, I found myself eating “spicy” hotpot—only to realize it wasn’t spicy at all.
Noise, especially from motorcycles. There are simply too many motorcycles, and they are loud. Walking along main roads was uncomfortable. The apartment I rented faced a main road in the distance. At night, even with the windows closed, car noise disappeared—but motorcycle engines somehow cut straight through the walls and windows. It was sharp, piercing, and exhausting. Sleeping without earplugs was impossible. For an entire month, I wore earplugs almost every night just to avoid being woken up.
Transportation was inconvenient. Chiang Mai basically has no public transportation. I don’t ride motorcycles, and I wasn’t brave enough to rent one. That meant my only options were ride-hailing apps or shared red trucks (songthaews). During peak hours, ride-hailing could involve long waits and surge pricing. Getting around never felt easy or spontaneous.
Mosquitoes—far too many. I’m the type of person mosquitoes love. Even with mosquito repellent, I got bitten almost every night. Wearing shorts was out of the question. Long pants and long sleeves were necessary, and even then, I still got bitten.
If I were to plan long-term living somewhere, I’d be thinking in terms of years, not weeks. These issues alone were enough to completely discourage me.
What Chiang Mai Does Well
That said, Chiang Mai definitely has its strengths.
The weather is excellent.
From November to February, the climate is close to perfect—not cold, not hot. Swimming in an outdoor pool is totally comfortable. The burning season hasn’t started yet, so the air quality is good, and the sky is a deep, uninterrupted blue almost every day.
Markets of every kind.
Food markets, handicraft markets, small goods markets, art markets—you name it. There’s always a different market to visit each week. Night markets are everywhere, offering cheap and decent food (though the dining environment is often quite rough). To be honest, most night markets are very similar, but they’re still fun to explore.
A diverse, international environment.
Chiang Mai is famous as a long-stay destination, so people from all over the world gather here—Americans, Europeans, Japanese, Koreans, and more. If you want to meet new people, there are plenty of activities and communities to join. Food options are also quite international: Japanese, Korean, and Western food are easy to find. Chinese food is relatively limited, and when available, it’s often closer to Chaoshan-style cuisine.
Affordable sports and fitness classes.
For example, one-on-one swimming lessons cost around 120 RMB per session, compared to at least 200 RMB back Home. There are also Muay Thai classes, tennis, golf, and more. I didn’t personally take those classes, but I did some research, and compared to prices in China, they’re very reasonable.
Plenty of places to work.
Whether you live in Nimman, the Old City, or near Central Festival, you can always find a place to work—coworking spaces, cafés, or other work-friendly spots.
Temples and Buddhist culture.
Chiang Mai has a large number of temples. If you’re interested in Buddhism, it’s absolutely worth visiting. Some temples even offer talks on Buddhism and meditation courses. I joined a half-day meditation experience and gained a lot from it. It was my first time trying meditation, and I’ll likely continue practicing it on my own.
A City That Feels Both Advanced and Backward
Overall, Chiang Mai gave me a very contradictory feeling.
On one hand, it feels advanced: 24-hour 7-Elevens selling almost everything you need, coin-operated laundromats everywhere, waste sorting, countless cafés, and cars that actually yield to pedestrians.
On the other hand, it feels underdeveloped: narrow sidewalks (or none at all), dirty and chaotic back streets, almost nonexistent public transportation, and poor natural water quality.
That contrast defines Chiang Mai for me—and ultimately explains why it wasn’t the right place for my long-term life.