Why did you move here to CM instead of other cities in Thailand?....Are you still happy?

[BKK24]

Why did you move here instead of other cities in Thailand?

Are you still happy being here or any difficulty/caution you want to share? Just want to hear from those who have the first hand experience

I was thinking of BKK, but the wife said it's always flood every year (just more or less each year), too many mosquitos (dozen species of them) and too hot & high humidity.  In addition to being too  close to her family, the main issue is that the family like to go to temples but she doesn't like to go that often.  On her day off she just want to sit back and relax at home.

 

[marin]

2 minutes ago, BKK24 said:

I was thinking of BKK, but the wife said it's always flood every year (just more or less each year), too many mosquitos (dozen species of them) and too hot & high humidity. 

What do you think of 3+ months of horrible smoke and haze and the PM levels off the chart?

[Lacessit]

I have found Chiang Rai to be more laidback than Chiang Mai, cheaper COL. I lived in CM for ten years, the traffic congestion has got worse every year.

[BritManToo]

Yep, I like it here ........ the smog gets a bit tedious some years, but other than that it's great.

[pgrahmm]

It was a simpler town when I moved to Hang Dong....You could drive in, park easily, and explore, shop, dine and enjoy the city....For a fairly large city it still had an intimate feel to it....I got by speaking English - which was part of the appeal....Just about anything needed or necessary was basically on tap.....

Now, years later we live in San PaTong & go to the city as needed for errands or take visitors around ....

The intimate vibe has changed....But, upon seeing some of the other parts of TH - I find that I still prefer it here....

[bkk6060]

I am here now I usually come one week a month to get away from the madness of Pattaya.  Unfortunately, the smoke early in the year is not just annoying but a true health hazard in my opinion.  Stay home mostly for 2 months with air filters running to get through it.  If you play golf it can fill time.  It is not terrible in CM better then some places in Isan. It seems to kill time many people go to one of the 100's of coffee shops or walk the mall.  It can be boring, but any place gets a little boring over time.

I personally prefer Bangkok over here just me, as many I know dislike Bangkok.

 

[worgeordie]

Fell in love with the place 35 years ago and did not leave ,

has everything I require ,sure it's changed over the years,

some good , some not so , but that applies to just about

everywhere else , and yes I am still happy.

 

regards Worgeordie

[FolkGuitar]

We came 22 years ago, having never even set foot in the area before. We took a chance, just as we had done so many times before with various decisions to be made. We knew we didn't want a 'big city' feel that Bangkok offers, and didn't want to settle in the islands that we had always visited before. So we took a chance.

 

We've never regretted that decision. Sure, sometimes there are difficulties and minor irritations, but you find those everywhere. The air pollution is manageable, and doesn't give us second thoughts. (We don't leave during Burning Season.) Traffic is getting heavier, but that's really a minor inconvenience, certainly better here than in Bangkok! There is plenty to keep us outdoors when we wish to be, indoors when that's our aim, there is more than enough variety of restaurants and entertainment, and if we keep away from Neimann, no need to put up with crowds of tourists.

I'd recommend Chiang Mai without reservation.

[lordblackader]

17 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Yep, I like it here ........ the smog gets a bit tedious some years, but other than that it's great.

And that's the part some forget - it's some years, not every year. This year may have been bad, but everyone seems to have forgotten that it barely happened at all last year. 

[JimTripper]

I lived in cm about 5 years. I left because I got bored going to the same places and eateries each time. After years in one spot I need to get out for more stimulation and to see new things.

Edited June 25, 2023 by JimTripper

[scorecard]

16 hours ago, worgeordie said:

Fell in love with the place 35 years ago and did not leave ,

has everything I require ,sure it's changed over the years,

some good , some not so , but that applies to just about

everywhere else , and yes I am still happy.

 

regards Worgeordie

My Thai son suggested we move (son, his Thai wife, kids and me) from Bkk 6 months before his first child was going to finish kinder in Bkk.

We had, as a family done week-end/week visits to CM many times before and always came back to CM for more.

Son suggested full move to CM because he wanted his child (and more planned) to grow up in the CM 'culture' rather than Bkk (big, fast not all that friendly).

His take was CM people are more friendly and more  more helpful, more supporting/caring,  better circumstances for the kids to be imersed in.

Son and family searched CM for school and found several, son and his wife readily found good work and since moving here have established 2 successful businesses, and found good reliable trustworthy friends. Son's eldest child now at CM uni and all happy with the quality of her study.

Before we moved son and whole family searches CM for good housing and bought land and house in a new moo bahn just off the superhighway in the Don Chan area. Lucky got in before several very large rises in land prices in CM. Now have great 5 bed house, nice family/kid friendly village, upkeep excellent.

Old friends often visit from Bkk, want to also move to CM but land/housing prices 'blocking' their move.

Yes CM has some pollution / smoke problems but hoping MF will make some progress on this point.

Our family move to CM highly successful. 

Edited June 25, 2023 by scorecard

[motdaeng]

8 minutes ago, lordblackader said:

And that's the part some forget - it's some years, not every year. This year may have been bad, but everyone seems to have forgotten that it barely happened at all last year. 

completely incorrect! in the northern region, there is an annual burning season accompanied by severe air pollution. before making baseless statements, please refer to the data from the past decade. it always astonishes me to see foreigners living in the north who are unaware of the significant issue of air pollution!

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-causes-of-air-pollutions-slow-violence-and-its-possibilities-for-the-clean-air/

[wwest5829]

Next month marks 12 years retired in Chiang Mai living along the 3rd ring road. During 2009 & 2010 I came 4 times, a month for each visit. I traveled around Thailand to see where I might settle. CM had 5 universities and I thought I might want to continue working with students (western history or conversational English). There are other Thai areas I think I could be happy living but CM seemed to check all the desires. Raised in the Philly metro area, I prefer to live outside Bangkok and am partial to the mountains over the beach for “home”. Granted, either stay in or leave the area during a month of the smoky season.

[Thailand]

21 years.

No regrets, happy.

[GaiwanAddict]

We are moving to Prachuap Khiri Khan after 2 years in Chiang Mai. The last burning season was disastrous. There is also a lot of traffic jam especially during the high season. The food is not very good either, it is too bland. No comparison to the food in the rest of Thailand. The friendliness of the people is also decreasing because more and more people from Bangkok live here, unfortunately. I definitely cannot recommend Chiang Mai.

Edited June 25, 2023 by GaiwanAddict

[clokwise]

2 hours ago, motdaeng said:

completely incorrect! in the northern region, there is an annual burning season accompanied by severe air pollution. before making baseless statements, please refer to the data from the past decade. it always astonishes me to see foreigners living in the north who are unaware of the significant issue of air pollution!

 

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-causes-of-air-pollutions-slow-violence-and-its-possibilities-for-the-clean-air/

Were you actually in CM last year? The "smokey season" was virtually non-existent.

 

I've lived in CM for over a decade and, while there are bad years, there are also very good years. The simplest solution I've found is to take a long holiday in Europe or elsewhere every March/April. Renting a place for a couple months in the south is a good option too.

[Rimmer]

An off topic post has been removed

[Bassosa]

8 years in CM and I'm looking for a way out. 

 

I came to realise that I don't want to live in a car-centric society anymore even though I do own a vehicle.

Luckily I still have a base in the Netherlands, in a small village surrounded by forest. Blissfully quiet, super boring, average age of inhabitants about 77, but glorious air quality year round. You can literally smell the pine trees. Can use bicycle to get around, or even walk without being mowed down. Added bonus: no souped up D-Maxes ripping up and down the street.

Edited June 25, 2023 by Bassosa

[Maybole]

Wife wanted to be near her family.

[mania]

Loved it from 2007-2016

Not so much now mainly because of traffic/over populated feel

[BKK24]

Wow thank you for all comments from your personal insight and experiences

I and my wife love reading them and certainly sure many others who’s browsing around here do too. The comments are very interesting with unique perspectives - both good and not so good

 

We’re aware of bad air quality 3-4mos in a year. Chiangmai airport - this’s one of our top lists on why we picked Chiangmai as our next home because it’s the international airport where we can easily escape to Europe and other Asian countries just hours away and quick trip to bkk or beaches too. Not to mention that houses in our budget range (low) in a good clean moobaan are still plentiful vs Bkk where we can only buy a tiny little shoebox condo.

 

 We don’t think we will get bored that much as we work online (M-F) and have only weekend to spare for our interests in sightseeing of countryside, markets and organic farms, and don’t care much about going into the city center square unless friend & family member want to go.

We’re wondering about the foods too, my wife said they’re not as good thai foods as in BKK.  It may not be up to the par with BKK but that’s ok, it’s still manageable and we always can cook some at home too.

[Unify]

I would live In Chiang Mai were it not for the pollution, which is a risk factor in heart disease, stroke, and dementia, as well as the more obvious emphysema and lung cancer. And I sure wouldn't live there with a child.

 

I was up there a couple of weeks ago and remembered how much I love the city. Yeah, the afternoon traffic sucks, but everything else is great. 71 baht for a taxi from downtown to the airport! I might look for a way to stay up there 6 months and somewhere else another 6 months. But that's a lot of moving back and forth.

[1FinickyOne]

They really need to work on the parking, exacerbated by the store owners who reserve the parking places on the street in front of their stores... 

 

But, I live out of town and still enjoy going in town... though there are good restaurants and massage out here too... 

[ChrisKC]

I have lived in Chiang Mai "Province" off and on for ten years; Doi Saket, Mae Rim, Sarapee and Sanpatong. In the countryside; the City within easy reach with plenty of transport, except after dark it seems!

 

Never have I been remotely affected by the smog, that I acknowledge is there. Chiang Mai, is not like many countries second cities and certainly has a character that I know and like. Yes, the traffic has got worse but that is the case everywhere I can think of!

 

Businesses come and go, restaurants change hands often that allows for the variation in experiences. Things hardly ever remain the same - some good, some not so good.

 

I first lived in Chiang Mai area 20 years ago and when had been there for about three weeks I was asking those who had been there for a few years and I recall them saying, yes, it is nice here but not as good as the past! In some ways, now, I would say something similar.

 

Some people wouldn't like Chiang Mai and many choose Pattaya for example, but certainly not me!

 

If I became single again, Chiang Mai would be one of my first places to move to.

 

[NorthernRyland]

On 6/24/2023 at 1:44 PM, BKK24 said:

Why did you move here instead of other cities in Thailand?

Are you still happy being here or any difficulty/caution you want to share? Just want to hear from those who have the first hand experience

 

I've been living 10 months a year in Chiang Mai for 15+ years now and it gets worse every year. Congested, polluted and so frustrating getting around due to traffic and u-turns that I dread going in to the city. Housing is becoming a real problem because land is so expensive the only people who buy are property developers that build these awful congested little housing projects that are so close the roofs nearly touch. I saw a 1 rai piece of land in some ghetto little village in Mae Jo yesterday for 6.5 million baht. More 11x11 meter plots for tiny houses will occupy that whole field soon and more congestion to follow.

 

Any smaller city in the region is better in my opinion unless you're easily bored and need to go to new places every night and be around crowds of people.  100% I would move tomorrow if I could find something to do with my wife. Places in the north I would move to:

 

1) Mae Hong Son

2) Nan

3) Chiang Dao

4) Phayao

5) Chiang Rai (maybe)

 

Of course this all subjective. Chiang Mai was tons of fun when I was in my 20s and there was less car traffic but now I want something more livable and chill. I'm leaving back to Colorado next week and I'm already dreading the horrible road conditions when I get back.

 

Remember it gets worse every year so if your off put by traffic and congestion it's only getting worse next year.

[NorthernRyland]

On 6/25/2023 at 4:47 PM, Bassosa said:

 

8 years in CM and I'm looking for a way out. 

 

I came to realise that I don't want to live in a car-centric society anymore even though I do own a vehicle.

 

This is the primary point. Chiang Mai is great city BUT you're trapped within a horrible network of roads with some of the most inconsiderate drivers in the world so doing simple things like to doing an errand can be long detours around u-turns with crazy fast driving. Anytime I go some place else I realize how terrible it is living like that. If you must live here you need to be extremely strategic on where you live and make sure you're not trapped between any of the major roads, which are always expanding and encroaching on once nice areas, and it's only going to get worse next year...

[bignok]

On 6/25/2023 at 11:19 AM, GaiwanAddict said:

We are moving to Prachuap Khiri Khan after 2 years in Chiang Mai. The last burning season was disastrous. There is also a lot of traffic jam especially during the high season. The food is not very good either, it is too bland. No comparison to the food in the rest of Thailand. The friendliness of the people is also decreasing because more and more people from Bangkok live here, unfortunately. I definitely cannot recommend Chiang Mai.

Lanna food is great. Bland 555

[bignok]

21 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

) Mae Hong Son

2) Nan

3) Chiang Dao

4) Phayao

5) Chiang Rai (maybe)

 

Why mhs?

[BritManToo]

9 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

This is the primary point. Chiang Mai is great city BUT you're trapped within a horrible network of roads with some of the most inconsiderate drivers in the world so doing simple things like to doing an errand can be long detours around u-turns with crazy fast driving. Anytime I go some place else I realize how terrible it is living like that. If you must live here you need to be extremely strategic on where you live and make sure you're not trapped between any of the major roads, which are always expanding and encroaching on once nice areas, and it's only going to get worse next year...

No problems at all on my scooter or m/c.

20 mins tops from my home in MaeJo to the moat (12km) any time of the day or night.

[NorthernRyland]

Just now, bignok said:

Why mhs?

The city is very quiet and charming and has lovely mountains all around. It's more remote but still going to immigration would be much easier than Chiang Mai. Getting imported foods would be very difficult and airport travel a problem since CM is ~7 hour drive away.