ebcal

I don't think you'd get all that for under 5K baht.

Like the other posters say, its the kitchen requirement that sets it apart. Very very small % of apartment rentals have any kitchen facilities, as Thais just tend to "make do" with whatever space available.

Take the kitchen area out and you could find a decent, clean place virtually anywhere in CM for well under 5K baht.

That being said, we got a small electric oven that does the trick for around 1k baht and a NICE "stove" with grill, complete with pot and lids, for around the same (1k). Our "kitchen" came with only a toaster (?) and a hot water dispenser, but we have a full "western-style" now and abuse the hell out of it.

Also, our building has a ton of studios available around your price range, and I love the location. Very near old city, but within walking distance of anything you'd need and tuktuks and red trucks almost on your doorstep if otherwise. 103 Condo, Project 2.

Yeah, that's what I meant about Thais "making do" - just get yourself a portable oven or gas cooker, and you can do amazing things (if you can cook!) - no need to spend the "kitchen surcharge" (several thousand baht per month I would guess) - just improvise.

If you want to go the DIY route, then you should probably check to make sure it is ok to have a portable oven, toaster or cooker. Some places may not allow cooking. Or I guess you can take your chances and sneak it in.

Hi All,

Just wondering what are the best Mexican restaurants in CM? Sometimes I get the craving and wondering if they have it in CM, when I am visiting. In Bangkok, there are a couple on Sukhumvit, Sunrise Tacos and Coyotes that will do in a pinch. I prefer Sunrise Tacos and it is also a lot cheaper than Coyotes.

I saw the Salsa Kitchen mentioned in another thread about ribs, but checked their website and see they have some Mexican food. How is it? I also saw another one called El Toro. Any opinions? Thanks.

Thanks to all for the helpful information. I will check more of the threads and do some reading on past posts. I will definitely rent first and maybe would continue renting long term. Got the clear message to look around on my own and dealing directly with the owner's is probably the best, but that there could be some cases where an agent can help, but have to make sure you can find a good agent.

I have a Thai GF who lives in CM and she has a condo, large studio that rents for 6k/mon. I have stayed there, when I visited CM. So, I do have a local I can trust and a place to stay as long as needed, until we decide to get another

place. She prefers a condo and nothing too big, although she could consider a house, if I really wanted it. I have not decided yet on house versus condo, as I see pros and cons of both, but would probably look at something

with 2BR, maybe one as a spare guest room, but could consider more or less BR's if other things are right.. But, I will have to wait until I decide to make the move there, then I can actually look around at places.

Hi All,

First post on this site, but found this site to be quite interesting.

I am starting to think about quitting work sometime relatively soon and moving to Chiang Mai maybe to retire early or at least maybe on a semi-retired basis. Have to still do more planning to work out the numbers and see when I can swing it financially. But, I have started to price rentals in Chiang Mai and am quite surprised at the relatively high rents being asked for on some websites. I do see a wide wide range of what you get for your money, so that definitely means one has to do a lot of work and due diligence in shopping around.

1. Seems houses are generally a better deal than condos, as I see condos often asking higher prices than many houses, which seems odd. Maybe this is due to association dues and costs to run the condo place are higher if there are guards, pool, etc.

2. Still, I see some condos that seem very overpriced. Some very nice ones going for $45,000 B/ month, or more. This seems way overpriced for Chiang Mai or maybe I had the wrong idea. I think maybe this is also due to rentals being listed on English sites, so directed at foreigners who they assume will pay a premium. So, I think maybe having a Thai friend check some Thai listings would result in finding lower prices. Can anyone confirm?

3. I also see a very high cost of monthly rent versus purchase price. I see this on some that have rent or buy option or just by comparing something close. Some seem to have a high rent as compared to the cost to buy, so renting in 8-9 years would cover the total purchase price. And while I am not looking to buy anytime soon, at least until I have lived there some time, but I also dont see very good rent vs buy costs.

4. As in any city, I know the cost differs of course by location and those right by the downtown area, night markets would pay a premium. However, I can be somewhat flexible on location and dont need to be right next to the night bazaar or other popular tourist areas. But, I would like a fairly nice place, so not looking for a budget place. And I would be looking for 1 or 2 BR place.

I would be interested to hear others comments on the rental market. Condo versus house, and the observations I made above. I read also that the utilities can be overcharged in a condo unit by the owner, whereas a house you would deal directly with the utility with no additional mark up. Thanks a lot.