Is $1,000 a Month Enough To Live in Thailand? | Cost of Living in Chiang Mai

In this video I'll show you how much it costs to live in Chiang Mai in Thailand. I'll share my monthly expenses with you.
Please let us know if you live in Thailand or have lived here in the past. Are these costs similar to yours?
I've broken my montly cost of living in Thailand down into categories, so you can see the exact cost for everything.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Safety Wing Insurance
safetywing.com...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Airbnb Properties in This Video
1. Escent Condo
www.airbnb.com...
2. 51 Hometel
www.airbnb.com...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect With Us on Instagram
Andrew - / alwaysonajourney1
Jerry - / middleagedhomeless

[@ChefphuuGoonz]

I don't even have to watch this vid to answer 😂 I was born and live in chiang mai and my salary is 400 USD/ month. 1000 is more than enough. You can live here like a king

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Thanks for sharing your opinion.

[@gabres19871]

1k was my spending also 😂but I'm the biggest Khao soi eater 😂

[@Anomalyy666]

How long can foreigners live there on visa runs?

[@VisualWalkUK]

25000bhat is beyond luxury for accommodation in Chiang mai. I Rent a flat with 3500 bhat a month near Maya shopping centre Bill= electric+water for around 600 bhat.( I was always out 😊) Other monthly notable spend= -bike rent 2000 bhat -food& drink = 6000 bhat if you have 20000 bhat monthly You will live like King 👑. Omg.I miss my Life in Chiang Mai😢 One day,I will go back.❤

[@VisualWalkUK]

Thanks for lovely video by the way

[@TORXGAMING]

yeah this guy live high cost lol

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Thanks for sharing your costs. It's good to see other options.

[@mauimixer6040]

When, 20+ yrs ago ? Live like a king on that, LoL. If you call rice and soup and a bottle of water Every day, living like a king, king of what? Lots of little extras like keeping clean (laundry (new clothes even shorts, slippers, soaps, toothpaste etc etc) and only 200 bht($7)/day for All your meals and water, is a hard way to enjoy life(of course there's N room for a date, playing pool or a drink or movie, but, it's definitely doable, to survive, But Not thrive ! And don't need any medical anything, or get one of those Tourist Taxes(driving ticket) 😁. Enjoy your Ride! Aloha from Maui 🤙😎

[@VisualWalkUK]

@@mauimixer6040 this is a term that you can live like luxury.

[@user-Jenfromdownunder]

I found your vlogs and hit pay dirt!! Very watchable and informative! Cheers mate 👍

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Thank you

[@latebloomerabroad]

I lived in Chiang Mai in spring 2022 and lived very well on $800USD. Eating western food will cost you much more than eating the local food! I luckily love Thai food and made it my mission to find the best khao soi in town.

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

It's a very affordable city

[@joepmeerman2479]

Interesting ​@@AlwaysonaJourney

[@bmw328iowner8]

Thank you for the update. I just need to double that for socializing as a new arrival. Holding cash near the end of my visit led to excess spending which can be avoided by planning to change unused baht at the airport just before departing.

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Yeah, I think if you're visiting for the 1st time and like nightlife, you'd definitely need more money than I do.

[@hanslund2280]

Lived in chiang mai 5 years. Budget was 3000usd, worked fine. But there is so much more than, motorbikes, accommodation, food. You're looking at expenses as insurance, visa runs etc

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

That's a very comfortable monthly budget

[@Jesus-w3d8l]

It is really cheap to live in Chiang Mai. I paid 50 baht for a dish in Chiang Mai. It costs 200-250 baht in Bangkok!

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

There's lots of easy affordable food in Chiang Mai.

[@Clampers]

Great video Andrew and I love your content. I will look into getting safety wing insurance for my upcoming 28day trip to India.

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Thanks Lenny. I've used Safety Wing since I went to India in November. It's easy to set up and cancel whenever you want. I've left my affiliate link in the video description. Enjoy yourself in India. :-)

[@martinpowell5769]

I thought chiang Mai was supposed to be cheap 😧 25 & 15,000 isn’t cheap, I think I will stick to jomtien, Pattaya - plenty of nice decent condos around the 9-12,000 baht range

[@_Alfa.Bravo_]

Feb - May is smoky season - so much air polution. From Laos smoke from burning brown coal with a lot of cadmium. Take care

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

I was there in April, and the pollution was severe. I'd definitely avoid that time of year in the future.

[@_Alfa.Bravo_]

@AlwaysonaJourney ... Thank you. The PM 2.5 levels are 10x over the limit and worth than in New Delhi India

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

You're right. I was in Delhi in November, and it was the worst pollution I'd ever experienced until Chiang Mai in April.

[@apoloestrada2908]

Thanks for the video & advice, last year, I lived in Jomtien Beach for 6 months and my monthly budget was $3K with an accompany of regular Thai lady 3 times a week without buying any barfines and lady drinks, been eating Thai foods in the market. In my early 50's now, I was planning to retire but I changed my plans so I'm back working in Cali started from scratched, will do this again next year.

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Thanks for sharing. It definitely depends on what you like to do with your time and money. :-)

[@mauimixer6040]

Entertainment has its price, sounds about right $, if you're wanting to enjoy certain things. You probably had a nice condo too ! 🥳 . Hope you get back soon, you probably deserve it ! 🙄

[@jtdenny3354]

Hi Andrew and Jerry, Great video! Any updates on the new DTV visa in Thailand? We're currently living in Danang and its great! I pay $9 USD per month for 3 month membership to New Gym. Great place lots of new equipment and A/C. We have to do border runs of course to stay in Vietnam but would prefer a longer visa like the DTV visa if it's approved and we qualify. Cheers!

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Thank you. I believe the exact details of the DTV visa haven't been confirmed yet. That's an amazing price for the gym. Which one is it. We are in Da Nang now. We joined HD Fitness and paid $98 for 3 months.

[@WilliamFluery]

Just found your channel. Great presentation. I noticed one of the clothing stores was named “SuperDry Store.” Do they sell light weight, quick dry clothing?

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Thank you. I've never get in to SuperDry Store in Thailand.

[@WilliamFluery]

@@AlwaysonaJourney I looked them up. They do not make quick drying cloths. They use a lot of cotton.

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Check out this brand, unboundmerino.com

[@gmm5550]

yes u can live pretty good on that but u have to follow a pretty strict budget and optimize many small things like cheapest sim cardplan etcwith no extra random impulsive things.. as always its little more expensive for a "farang" to live in thailand than a thai

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

You're right. :-)

[@chadr4013]

Good rule of living in SE Asia is $2k/person/mo. So if u want a wife n kid, assume u need $6k

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

:-)

[@JmanAnimates]

O2 is a nice gym. the staff are chill

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

It is the one of my favourite gym in chiang mai too.

[@imfasihahmad]

Hi, can we bring our dates over at the BnBs you mentioned? And can you do a video on Bangkok vs Chang Mai? Thanks in advance, new to your channel & just subscribed too!

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

I think thart would be ok but don't know for certain. Bangkok vs Chiang Mai is a good idea.:-)

[@gabres19871]

Khao soi, chicken satay,nam prik ong my weaknesses

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Delicious :-)

[@niratlasvegas]

Love love Chiangmai.

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

มา มา

[@T__OTI]

Great video, could you do one on buying a bike?

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Thank you. It's an idea. :-)

[@taiyoctopus2958]

idk what that bangers and mash is... but that looks exactly like what I would crave after a hangover lol

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Msny people think that. It's very good.

[@jamesbradfordjr4316]

Lol why you holding the cell phone up side down in ad 😂

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Well spotted. :-) it was just a pic we took for the video. Only realized later that my phone was upside down. Oops.

[@seananthony2229]

What time of year were you in Chiang Mai?

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

I was there in April and May.

[@seananthony2229]

@@AlwaysonaJourney dang!! You most love the heat. Have you ever been there October-December timeframe? What’s that like?

[@Zerinth]

Ahh ok it makes more sense why your rent is so high because you only stay 2 month​ @AlwaysonaJourney

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

@seananthony2229 I do like the heat but in April and May, it was very hot. October to December is much better, I think. It's cooler and much less,pollution.

[@mauimixer6040]

​@@AlwaysonaJourneyand more expensive, high season adds 20-30% . But it's cooler and no smoke.

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Hi everyone. Here's the link for SafetyWing Insurance. If you're looking fro comprehensive insurance for your next trip, this might be just what you need. safetywing.com/?referenceID=alwaysonajourney&Ambassador

[@sokaiya1]

Find one for trips back to USA. can’t seem to find

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

I don't have any information about that.

[@carstensanonym7527]

How you calculate the 1500/month for the purchased motorbike of 80000?

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

18,000 ÷ 12= 1,500

[@wontbelongnow5567]

1000 dollars is not enough to live its enough if your going no to want western food nights out and enjoy yourself in stead of watching every dime. Which most would hate it. There's to many can you live on 1000 dollars why not how you can live on 2500 dollars which is more realistic.

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

I disagree. I think it is enough. (for me anyway)That's not a video I would make as it's not my cost of living. This video shows my expenses. I am happy with the life that I lead and what I get in return for that amount of money. I don't watch every dime and have no interest in eating western food every day. I love Thai food. I don't drink or smoke or like going to bars. We are all different.;-)

[@martinpowell5769]

Well said, 1,000 does seem enough 👍😊🇬🇧

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

@@martinpowell5769 For some maybe not but for others it is.

[@TORXGAMING]

food rent you can cut 30% easy for sure

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

I agree, for the rent you can get 1 year contract with the modern studio price starts from 6,000 and one bedroom 9,000.

[@therehastobesomethingmoore]

So maybe $1600-$1700 for a couple ?

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

With a budget of $1600-$1700, you can definitely live comfortably and enjoy in Chiang Mai.

[@dg6887]

Delhi Mexico City Chiang Mai Most polluted city’s in the world. It costs your lungs

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Yes, you're right. Its bad.

[@azharidris7092]

$1000 US buck is a lot of money currently.. you can live like a king in that part of Thailand.. but what happens when the anticipated US Dollar crash finally happen.. you might need 5 or 6 thousand buck a months maybe more.. just saying.. the crash will come sooner than you think..

[@Eonwe]

Bitcoin

[@perrykomick9478]

😂😂...the US$ isn't going to crash😂😂..dream on

[@Treyglobal]

@@perrykomick9478it’s a possibility bro I live in the states and the US dollar isn’t back by anything that’s why Biden prints so much of it paper at the on the day it’s not the Saudi Arabia who’s currency is backed by oil

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Who knows what the future holds? I certainly don't. It's unpredictable.

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Time will tell.

[@ScruffyNomad]

CM is Farang Central. No thanks, mate.

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Upto you. We all go where we like or prefer. If Chiang Mai is not for you, no need to go.

[@lucian_73]

Thank you for the video. Perfect. Just a question and dont want to be stressed and i am not rich at all. I live on disability social security of $1500 a month. (54162.77) will i be okay? I don't party. Dont drink.

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

$1500 USD is a great budget for Chiang Mai, especially if you consider staying in a condo. You can find options that are even cheaper than the one we rented if you look around.

[@lucian_73]

@AlwaysonaJourney ok. Awesome. Yes I would like just a condo. Nothing more then like $400 a month. Is it difficult to do a permanent stay or will have to fly other places all the time to stay?

[@AlwaysonaJourney]

Now you can get 60 days free visa and +30 days extension. If you want to stay longer term you can get the ED visa for 6 or 12 months.

[@AnthonyMcCleane]

Very informative. Thank you.