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digital nomad thailand

Become a digital nomad in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

July 18, 2018 by David James Leave a Comment

Temple in Chiang Mai

*Disclaimer – This post contains affiliate links, however the opinions are my own.

I have been wanting to write this post for a very long time. People rave about Chiang Mai being one of the destinations for digital nomads to base themselves. And to be honest, it is hard to argue with the quality of the infrastructure, as well as the prices for the cost of living.

If you are an entrepreneur and you need a base that will allow you to grow, the Chiang Mai is definitely one of the best options to consider.

In this post, we will share the benefits of living in Chiang Mai and how you can pursue a life as a digital nomad in the city.

Before I jump into the article, let me tell you why I find Chiang Mai so attractive.

The main reason is the quality of life that you can obtain. You have access to the cultural experience, which is great if you are someone that likes to travel. You can use currency arbitrage to have greater purchasing power in Chiang Mai. This means you can get more luxurious accommodation, food and experiences. And thirdly, the city has an infrastructure similar to other developed countries. The internet connection especially rivals the connectivity speeds of other European, American and Asian countries.

Accommodation

One of the most attractive things about staying in Chiang Mai is the quality of the accommodation and the cost. You can rent a room for as little as $200 a month or a studio apartment in a condominium for as little as $700 a month.

The popular areas where digital nomads like to stay include:

  • Nimmanhaemin Road (also referred to as Nimman area)
  • Old city

You will need to decide in advance what kind of lifestyle you want. You can get accommodation in a condominium, which will have a pool and a gym and can save you spending extra money. You will also want to be aware of the security that the accommodation offers. Ideally, the building will come with staffed security and that the location is known to be safe.

Note – Something that you will need to keep in mind is that Thai’s tend to sleep on hard mattresses. So if you don’t think you will be comfortable sleeping on a hard mattress, get in touch with the accommodation host in advance or visit the property before you commit to the booking. I would personally avoid booking accommodation for a long period of time without checking the accommodation in advance. 

Below are useful resources to help you find accommodation in Chiang Mai.

AirBnB

Click here to see short and long-term options on AirBnB.

Hostels

There are numerous hostels in the Old City. Below are a few affordable ones that you can stay in.

Suneta Hostel Chiang Mai

Shared rooms of 4 people start from $15 a night. This place has really good reviews. It is modern and clean. There are Wi-Fi in the rooms and there is a complimentary breakfast.

Click here to make a booking. 

Green Sleep Hostel

This hostel has very good reviews and only costs $13 a night for a shared dormitory. Good breakfast, clean, wi-fi and free bike hire.

Click here to make a booking. 

Arch39 Art & Craft Hotel

Another popular hostel with mixed dormitories. Book a bed from $9 a night.

Click here to make a booking. 

Fun Wahn Hostel

Great value for money and many positive reviews. Shared dormitories start from $9 a night. Upgrade to $11 to get the free breakfast.

Click here to make a booking.

Bed In Town

Rated as “Exceptional”, it’s another great place to stay from only $9 a night.

Click here to make a booking. 

Good Day

If you want something cheap and cheerful, go with this place. Beds start from $4 a night.

Click here to make a booking. 

Cheap hotels for when you initially stay in Chiang Mai

Baan Din Ki

Prices start from $20 a night for a twin room booking. The hotel is also located inside a shopping centre.

Click here to make a booking. 

Long-Term accommodation options

Renthub (You can browse live rental options)

Huay Kaew Residence

Price – 5000 Baht/month with an onsite gym, pool, electricity and water.

Chiang Mai Lodge

Price – From 8,500 Baht/month for a studio with an ensuite. This doesn’t include electricity and water.

Useful links for finding accommodation in Chiang Mai.

Finding an apartment in Chiang Mai (by Chris the Freelancer)

Apartments for Digital Nomads (by Chris Grabinski)

Red Pill Rebellion

Internet

One of the things that makes Chiang Mai very attractive for digital nomads is the internet availability and connectivity.

Wi-Fi at your accommodation

Check the connectivity at your accommodation. If you use multiple devices, see if you can use multiple connections at the same time.

Mobile hotspot

You can buy and register for a mobile sim card while you are in Chiang Mai and use your phone as an internet hotspot device. The average internet speed in the city is 30mB per second, which is a sufficient speed for online businesses.

Note – It’s recommended that you also purchase a spare power bank pack in case the power runs low on the devices that you are using.

Below are a few power pack options that you can consider buying during your travels.

Visas

There are a few visa options when it comes to staying in Thailand as a digital nomad. I strongly advise that you visit the Thai Immigration website and follow the visa rules for staying in the Kingdom of Thailand.

  • 30-day tourist visa
  • 60-day visa
  • 6-month multiple-entry visa

You can see details on the Thai immigration website.

If you have any questions, you can also ask questions in this Facebook group about Thai immigration. Their members are well informed about the visa process and can give you the necessary guidance.

Also, check with the Thai immigration office or consulate in your country of residence.

You can also use visit this forum to see frequently asked questions in regards to Thai immigration. 

Food

Eating out in Thailand can be inexpensive if you stick to eating the local food. The price of food at restaurants are slightly cheaper than in Western countries. Use TripAdvisor’s restaurant app to get a good idea about recommended restaurants or places to eat in your area.

Below are a couple of videos that can give you a good idea about food in Chiang Mai.

Travel

Flights

One of the things that really appeals to me with Chiang Mai is the cost of travel within Thailand and also to neighbouring countries. Thailand sits on the border with Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia. The city also boasts an international airport, with several flights available to all parts of the world.

You can use flight comparison sites. Also check for deals with Air Asia.

Bus

However, a cheaper way to travel is by bus. So you can actually buy tickets and crossover the border and explore the different countries fairly inexpensively.

Taxi

You can actually download the car-sharing app Grab, which works similar to Uber but is meant to be cheaper.

Train

There’s also an intercity train service. You can get detailed information on  Seat 61.

Cost of living

You are at a huge advantage due to the currency strength against the Thai Baht. You will ideally want to earn in a strong currency such as the US dollar, British Pound or The Euro.

You can get by on $1000USD per month. However, you would be more comfortable earning $2000 USD a month or more.

Digital nomad communities

Chiang Mai Digital Nomads Group

Chiang Mai Buddy

Co-working spaces

There are a few co-working spaces you can use that are fairly inexpensive and that have a good internet speed.

CAMP (Creative and meeting place)

Website: http://www.ais.co.th/campais/en/

Address: 5th Floor, MAYA lifestyle shopping centre.

PunSpace

Website: http://www.punspace.com/

Nimman address: Punspace Nimman , 14 Sirimangkalajarn Lane 11, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

Tha Pha Gate address: Punspace Tha Phae Gate, 7/2 Rachadamnoen Road, Soi 4, Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

Wiang Kaew address: Punspace Wiang Kaew, 10 Wiang Kaew Road, Sri Phum, Muang, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand

Code Working Space

Website: http://code-space.co/

Address: 164/9 Moo 6 Faham , Mueng, Chiang Mai, 50000, Thailand.

You can see more information on their Facebook page. 

Mana Co-working Space

Website: https://www.facebook.com/manacoworkingspace

Things to do in Chiang Mai.

There are many things that you can do to enjoy Chiang Mai. To be honest, we recommend the information using the links below since they are very exhaustive and will give you alot more insight into things to do in and around Chiang Mai.

Things to do in Chiang Mai by TripCanvas

Discover Thailand Lonely Planet Guide

  • Sunday walking market
  • Learn Thai (I’d recommend checking out these tips from Chris the freelancer.)
  • Shopping (There is the world-class Maya shopping mall that you can visit.)

This guide should help you get started as a digital nomad. If you have any thoughts or questions, please share them in the comments below.

Thanks for reading.

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How to live a luxury beach lifestyle as a digital nomad in Koh Samui!

January 30, 2017 by David James Leave a Comment

Koh Samui

The sand is between my toes and the warmth of the sun is on my back. I’m relaxed looking at ocean views surrounded by joyous locals who are eager for me to try some of their local foods. I smell the aromas of the different Thai curries and it makes me fall in love with this place. The land of smiles and I’m enjoying the fact that I am in a destination where things seem to be a bit more carefree.

This is the life that I have always wanted. And now that I’m able to experience this, I get many more people ask me the same thing as well. I’m not rich and I didn’t win the lotto. I am an ordinary guy from an ordinary background that just wanted to achieve his dream of living a resort lifestyle while I still have my youth. The great thing is that if you want this kind of lifestyle as well, you can get it if you have the willpower, determination and if you are prepared to make the necessary changes to allow you to live, work and travel in the same way that I have.

Society tells us to retire before we can enjoy our life.

Work until you are in your sixties or seventies and you will have the chance to retire and live out your life doing whatever it is you want to do. It sounds good in theory until you account for things such as how much of a pension you will receive in your later years, will you have the health to travel or will you even be alive. I’m the kind of person that believes you should live your life in the present doing whatever it is you feel that you should be doing in your life. For me, one of my dreams was to live in Koh Samui, which I was able to achieve in May 2016. I wish I had stayed longer, but the initial month was fantastic.

Financing the stay.

The way I approach things is that there is always a financial cost threshold for your lifestyle costs. Even if you had all of the money in the world, you would still find it difficult to spend all of that money in a given time. You need to identify your ideal lifestyle cost threshold and create an income stream that will allow you to finance the cost.

Some things to keep in mind.

Purchasing things for the long-term is always much cheaper.

This is the key to hacking the lifestyle that you want. The longer you can stay in one place, the cheaper it will be in the long-term.

Travelling to Koh Samui.

Travel one-way.

Once you are in Asia, travelling around is fairly inexpensive as long as you purchase your tickets in advance. Depending on the country that you are travelling from, you can get to another country from as little as $40 Australian dollars. I’ve signed up to sites like Air Asia, Jetstar, Vietjet and SkyScanner to get alerts so I can take advantage of any good travel deals if I want to travel by air. Although, if you want to travel by sea, bus or train, then you can also find the best places to buy the tickets.

Getting to Koh Samui is pretty easy. It’s more about the budget and comfort that you want to have while travelling there.

Air

The quickest way and most comfortable way to get to Koh Samui is by plane, athough, it is the most expensive. If you are entering Asia for the first time, it’d be wise to get a ticket directly to Koh Samui. The flight time from Bangkok is just over 1h.

Train

If you want a much cheaper option, you can opt for the bus and ferry option. The train will go to Surath Thani station and from there you will need to catch a bus to take you to the port.

Once you are at the port, you can catch the ferry to the Port at Koh Samui and you will need to either get the local taxi or Tuk Tuk to your accommodation. Taxis on the island are very expensive. A trip can easily cost you 400 Baht. Instead, try to flag down a Tuk Tuk which should cost 20 Baht.

The train journey will be at least 11h and then the commute to Koh Samui’s main centre will be at least another 3h.

Bus

Similar deal to trains, although they have the longest journey, they are also the cheapest. But expect to have the least amount of comfort as you are squeezed onto a bus with several other travellers.

For a more extensive guide on travelling around Thailand and South East Asia, read the guides on Seat 61.

Get long-stay visas.

There are several countries that provide long-stay visas that you can have for free or for a cost. When my wife and I decided to enter the Kingdom of Thailand, we applied for a visa that would allow us to stay for 60 days. We stayed 30 days in Koh Samui. The cost of the visa was $45 Australian Dollars per person. Thailand also provides a tourist free visa for people that want to stay in the country for up to 30 days. (Check the visa information for your country).

There is also a 6 month visa that they have made available and cost over $200.

There are many digital nomads that like to do visa runs and re-enter Thailand on a 30 day holiday visa. However, it is advised that you obtain the proper visa for entering the Kingdom.

Getting around in Koh Samui.

Using taxis in Koh Samui is very expensive. So the best value for money is hiring a vehicle such as a scooter or a car to get around. Alternatively, you could even buy a vehicle and then sell it upon leaving the country to further minimise your costs.

Hiring a scooter cost me 5000 Baht for one month and I had to provide a 5000 Baht deposit which I received after returning the vehicle. The other thing to consider is your insurance cover. Check with your travel insurance provider to make sure that you are fully covered.

Where to stay.

There are resort strips and then there’s accommodation in more suburban areas and then you have accommodation in more rural areas. The type of place where you will stay really depends on your lifestyle preferences. I opted for a new condominium that had a pool, gym, lounge area, basketball court and tennis court. The place was a nice studio apartment with fast internet and the hosts cleaned the flat twice per week. It cost about $1,000 a month inclusive of electricity and water bills.

The great thing about staying in a condominium was the all-inclusive factor, so we never really had to leave the flat and there were a few small beaches within a couple minute’s drive of the complex.

If you are a backpacker, it will cost a lot less to rent a bed in a shared room. And obviously, the more you want to spend, the better quality place you should get.

Another thing was we had our own kitchen, so we cooked most of the time, which allowed us to cut back on the cost of eating out. We could easily spend $60 a week to get all of the food that we needed for the week. We opted to shop for fruits and vegetables at the local market and we went to shopping centres like Big C.

Exploring the island.

Exploring the island is much cheaper if you do it yourself. There are several things to see and do on the island, however the most enjoyable experience is going to the beach. If you use your own transportation, you can go to travel around only for the cost of petrol, parking and entry fees.

Rave at the full-moon party.

Koh Phangan is just around the corner and is the host to the full-moon party. You can easily stay on the island or you can commute from Koh Samui on their ferry service. For 1000 Baht ($40 Australian Dollars) per person, you will get entry to the Full moon party and ferried to and from Koh Phangan. Once inside, you can purchase mixer buckets from 250 Baht and enjoy parties on the beach or in the clubs.

Click here to find out more information. 

How to finance your travel in Koh Samui.

You can earn an income legally by applying for the right working visa to gain employment in the country. From there, you could apply to work in the hospitality sector as hotel or restaurant staff.

If you are a retiree that receives an income from a pension then it will be able to get by as long as your costs are lower than your living expenses.

For others that need another source of income, you can earn an income online. By making around 3000 Australian Dollars each month, you will be able to live and work comfortably in Koh Samui.

To get an idea of what you can do, check out this travel income report and also a list of job boards for digital nomads.

Work in your home country and then travel until the money runs out.

This is a viable plan, however your time travelling will be limited to the savings that you have. Once it has run out, you will have to go back to the lifestyle that you wanted to get away from.

What are some jobs that can be done online?

There are several jobs that you can do as a virtual assistant. There’s data entry jobs, design, marketing, writing, video editing, podcasting and more. The thing is you need to develop your approach to earning an income as a business. If you want to earn a passive income, you can develop products that can be sold, such as information products or books. Alternatively, you could develop sites that sell advertising space or affiliate products.

Want to know more?

Sign up to our newsletter so you can start earning an income online today!



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