Indefinitely relocating to Chiang Mai, Thailand in late 2017 has been, without a doubt, one of the best choices I’ve ever made.
More than seven months into this journey, that’s exactly how I feel about it.
I’ve been thoroughly enjoying my lifestyle here as a job-free dividend expat. My new home has provided my everyday experiences and routines with an extra layer of oomph that I’m totally engrossed in. There’s an enthusiasm here that has permeated my entire existence. And it’s really wonderful.
There are many reasons that make this so. I could practically fill a book with all of the nuances of the place.
But I wanted to take some time today to discuss three particular aspects that make life here especially enjoyable.
The People
What makes a place, a place?
Is it the buildings?
The infrastructure?
The amenities (or lack thereof)?
You could go and make a lengthy list, but I’d argue it’s the people that is a massive part of what gives a place its identity.
There are two groups of people that make Chiang Mai so special to me.
First, there are the like-minded people from all over the world that descend on the city en masse.
There are digital nomads, online entrepreneurs, bloggers, vloggers, global citizens, investors, retirees (early and otherwise), and all kinds of open-minded people who more or less “took the red pill”.
I’ve never experienced anything like this in my entire life. There’s nothing like it in the States. That’s for sure.
And at the very least, someone living over here part time or full time has an interest in giving life outside the US a go, which says a lot about their mindset.
What’s been funny about it is, I’ve had more casual meetups with like-minded readers, peers, and friends in seven months in Chiang Mai than I had in seven years in Florida. Go figure.
Second, there are the Thai people.
Thai people are some of the sweetest, kindest, easiest, and happiest people I’ve ever met. The hospitality here is, across the board, amazing. I feel like people are given the benefit of the doubt right away, right or wrong. There’s an innocent benevolence here that’s refreshing.
I don’t want to stereotype and generalize too much. So I don’t want to say all Americans are this and all Thai people are that. Millions of people aren’t all one way or another way.
But within just weeks of living here, I noticed a significant difference in how Thai people tend to interact with me and each other, relative to how Americans tend to interact with me and each other.
Furthermore, I find that the people here – Thai and otherwise – don’t judge.
You can be you. Do pretty much whatever you like. Live true to your identity and who you really want to be.
It’s an incredibly eclectic place as a result of that, which I find to be quite different from what most of America is.
And then there’s the lack of intense politicizing of everything, which is such a relief after dealing with a nonstop barrage of politics in America. That is so, so, so old.
Now, none of this is right or wrong at its core. It’s simply personal preference. And my personal preference, after experiencing both, is the environment over here. To each their own on that. As the Thai people would say: mai pen rai.
The Food
I don’t think there’s anything about the food that I can say that I haven’t already said.
But I’ll give it a shot.
The food scene here is incredible.
This is a place where people are cooking food, eating food, looking at food, thinking about food, Instagraming pictures of food, dreaming about food, digesting food, shooting video on food, and talking about food.
Thai food is a world-class cuisine for good reason. It should be no surprise that almost every American city has numerous Thai restaurants.
The food is delicious. There’s a delicate balance of spicy, sweet, sour, and bitter in most dishes. The portions are right-sized for a normal human being. It’s healthy. And it’s incredibly cheap over here.
In fact, I’d argue that loving the local food – wherever you live – is vital to enjoying your environment.
Fortunately, that’s absolutely not a problem here in Chiang Mai.
You can’t throw a rock without hitting a place that’s serving up something absolutely amazing for a dollar or two.
It’s like my stomach and wallet got together and created this place in a dream for me.
I simply haven’t woken up yet.
I only eat twice per day. Lunch and dinner. I’ve been intermittently fasting for many months now, eating only during an eight-hour period (from 12-8). It’s fantastic. I’ve never felt or looked better, honestly. Reducing the amount of food I attempt to procure and consume is just one more way in which I I practice and enjoy minimalism.
Combining intermittent fasting with six days per week at the gym has put me in some of the best shape of my life.
However, intermittently fasting on Thai food and intermittently fasting on American food are two very different concepts – speaking in both financial and non-financial terms.
I figured that out pretty quickly, after losing a rather large chunk of weight within my first month of living here.
The funny thing about the intermittent fasting, though, is that i didn’t even know I was doing it. I just naturally settled into a groove where I ate lunch at noon, ate dinner around 7 or so, and then didn’t eat again for the rest of the night. Seemed like a rational way to manage resources and consume food. It wasn’t until a good friend of mine here in Chiang Mai informed me that I’m intermittently fasting, that I even knew what it was.
If I were to ever leave Thailand in general and Chiang Mai specifically, I would miss the food like crazy. The food, and my affection for it, would definitely factor into me ever even considering something like that.
The Climate
Ahh, four seasons.
Nine months of cold, cloudy weather filled with far too much precipitation. All so that one can enjoy three months of warm, sunny weather.
Yeah. Umm, no.
To each their own, but warm, sunny weather (all year) fills me with happiness.
I appreciate people who live in dark, cold climates. They make it so that the places I enjoy aren’t overpopulated (not yet, at least).
But I can’t do it. Not any more.
I did my time. Paid my dues growing up Southeast Michigan. Spent many a fall, winter, and spring cold and depressed. No, thanks.
Fortunately, Chiang Mai has a pretty fantastic climate.
The daily mean is 78.4 degrees over a year. That’s combined with over 2,500 hours of sunshine per year.
Sure, it can be a bit too hot at times, especially during the peak of the day in April and May. And rainy season is a touch intense.
But it sure beats six inches of snow any day of the week. And twice on Sunday.
There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t leave my apartment, walk outside, and smile as I feel that warmth and sunshine hit me. A warm, gentle breeze that slides across my face just right is something that’s priceless.
Some people adapt to things pretty quickly. Maybe it’s the child in me, but I don’t find myself getting tired of great things in life, even the simple, ordinary aspects of everyday life that many take for granted.
Warm, sunny weather is one of those aspects.
Perhaps I’m still thawing out after almost 30 years in the Midwest.
But I truly enjoy the climate that Chiang Mai offers. It’s definitely one of my favorite things about living here.
Conclusion
I’ve been asked many times – via comments and emails – about my decision to relocate to Chiang Mai specifically.
After all, there are many places throughout the world that offer a relatively high quality of life in combination with a relatively low cost of living.
Well, Chiang Mai offers what I believe to be the most advantageous spread between those two – it has the highest quality of life at the lowest cost of living. If I thought I could live a better life for less money somewhere else, I’d be there. If I thought I’d be happier somewhere else, I’d go there. It’s that simple.
There are many factors behind that viewpoint, but I think the three aforementioned aspects of everyday life here in Chiang Mai are some of the highlights for me.
I love a lot of things about living here. And there are some things I don’t like all that much (which I’ll go over another time).
But the people, the food, and the climate are right at the top of the list of the things I love most here. Chiang Mai does all three in a way that I don’t think anywhere else in the world can/will offer.
What do you think? Ever been here? Agree or not? What are your favorite things about where you live?
Thanks for reading.
Image courtesy of: Mnonchan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
P.S. If you’re interested in becoming financially independent, which could allow you to live anywhere in the world, check out some fantastic resources that helped me become financially free in my early 30s!
Hey Jason,
Every time when I read your posts about Thailand, especially Chiang Mai, they make me feel like I have to visit and stay there at least for a month in my life.
I love Thai food. We occasionally visit Thai restaurants here in Toronto. Prices are reasonable and I can’t imagine to compare them there. My favourite dish is ‘Red curry chick’.
You are enjoying a well-deserved life there after years of challenging periods. You are a living proof that we could achieve anything in our life if we have a right mind-set.
Best Regards,
FJ,
It’s a special place. 🙂
Thanks for the kind words. Although I worked really hard to get here, I still sometimes can’t believe it. I feel like I must be dreaming.
I’ve actually had really good Thai food in the States. The issues are variety and price. There’s far more variety at far lower price points here. And the authenticity is obviously 100%. For example, I never once saw Khao Soi in the States. Didn’t even know it existed.
Hope all is well where you’re at. Toronto might be cold in the winter, but it’s a beautiful city. Reminds me of Chicago (one of my favorite places).
Cheers!
The environment sounds really great. I need to check out the entrepreneur scene the next time we visit. Usually I just visit families and local attractions. Never really had time to meet foreigners in Thailand. I love the food and the weather too. Chiang Mai is a bit cooler than Bangkok so that’s nice.
Joe,
Yeah, you should definitely check out the local scene next time you swing through. The online space has obviously just exploded over the last, say, five years. And there are so many people over here taking advantage of that while also taking advantage of geographic arbitrage.
Now, I’m not best friends with everyone I meet. I mean, I’ve had some interactions that have been pretty disappointing. It’s just like anything else. But there are definitely more opportunities for serendipity over here. 🙂
Thanks for dropping by!
Best wishes.
Hi Jason, the Chiang Mai tourism board should really sponsor you 😉 You really summed up your living experience there so well it makes us want to pack up and go now !
We have been to Thailand many times as my sister–n-law is from Chiang Rai (up the road from you) and each time we visit and leave, we always leave sad and quickly missing all that good inexpensive food.
We currently live in US West coast where Thai food is common but $10-15 for khao soy versus $2-3 there is no comparison especially considering the quality and freshness of produce there.
Thanks for reminding us what we are missing. We WILL be back ! Sawadee 🇹🇭
Shun,
I’ve heard great things about CR! 🙂
I’d definitely miss the food if I ever were to leave. Look, I love my pizza, burgers, and all of the American stuff. Don’t get me wrong. But the value, taste, quality, health, and accessibility aspects over here are a lot to compete with.
Hope you can make it back sooner rather than later!
Cheers.
It sounds incredible, Jason. I look forward to making a trip out there one day and checking it out.
I’m curious, how’d you hear about Chiang Mai in the first place that made you interested in moving there? Did you visit and try it out at some point while you were still working? (Apologies if you’ve covered this in other posts)
Andy,
It’s a really great place. Not for everyone, of course, but I find it to offer the most for the least. One could certainly do worse.
CM is kinda legendary for geo arb. I’m no trailblazer in terms of coming over here to retire early and/or work online. It’s a well-known spot. But I spent a number of months researching dozens of places across the globe for what I thought could be the most advantageous and well-suited location for me to relocate to. CM topped the list. I checked it out for myself a little while back. I was initially mixed on the place because I was still tied to the US. Once I became truly free to live anywhere, I made the jump.
Best regards!
Although I‘ve already been to many places in Southeast Asia, I never had the chance to visit CM. However, we’re currently looking for the perfect spot to spend a sabbatical year. Could you let us in on why exactly you decided to move to CM and, above all, which other places you had on your radar. I’m sure that understanding your decision-making could help us a lot. Thank you Jason!
– David
David,
Yeah, I’m actually working on a post right now that will describe the process of deciding to come over here. It was more of a mental thing than anything else, though. It’s just like financial independence. You have to have that epiphany that allows you to realize that you can, indeed, make that change in your life. I had to accept that the US wasn’t right for me. Once I mentally realized I could live anywhere (and likely be much happier as a result), it was easy. Picking a place is way easier than overcoming the mental obstacle. However, the choice of where to go is up to the individual.
I’m not sure I’ll go too far into the research on other places, as a result of that, because I don’t believe there’s a ton of value to be had there. What I personally like/want in a place might not be at all what you or anyone else wants. I love CM. Someone else might not like it at all. Stuff like school systems don’t matter to me. Someone else might be coming over with children. I love Thai food. Someone else might prefer Mexican food. I enjoy a warm/hot climate. Others might prefer four seasons. On and on I could go.
But I’ve covered some of these impressions here:
https://www.mrfreeat33.com/two-big-reasons-behind-my-decision-to-move-overseas-and-become-a-dividend-expat/
https://www.mrfreeat33.com/reverse-culture-shock-in-thailand/
And I put together a geo arb series not too long ago for DTA. In it, I discussed three (of dozens) of places I personally looked into:
http://dailytradealert.com/this-600-investment-turned-me-into-a-millionaire-in24-hours/
Hope that helps!
Best wishes.
Sounds interesting. Actually, I would like to read a post about the research you made and the other places you were thinking on 🙂
Jorge,
See my response to David. 🙂
Cheers!
Hi Jason,
How do you get enough calories during IF (do you have a calorie target/limit?), or is it primarily a weight loss/control method? I am too skinny (working on that–just started getting into weights!) and have a hard time gaining weight even eating all day.
What do you see as the advantages to the limited food intake window?
FreeInFIRE,
I don’t count calories or anything like that. I eat whatever I want. I simply stick to the two meals (along with my usual coffee shop visits in the afternoon). Like I said, though, intermittent fasting on Thai food is very different from the equivalent in America. Just a totally different cuisine over here. And then I’m in the gym six days per week. But I’m not looking to get bigger. I enjoy a muscular but lean frame.
As for the advantages to intermittent fasting, they’re too numerous to go over in a quick comment. But it’s pretty much like everything else I write about. It’s part of a holistic lifestyle that attempts to properly allocate resources. If you’re not wasting a bunch of time shopping, procuring, cooking, cleaning, eating, digesting, etc., you free up resources. Plus, it’s less wear and tear on your body and wallet.
Hope that helps! 🙂
Cheers.
Congrats Jason, living the dream and your doing t as a young man not an old one! So happy for you !
Rich,
Thanks so much!! 🙂
I long ago decided that retirement/taking time isn’t just for the old. Moreover, it’s a far more meaningful and worthwhile venture earlier in life due to the value of time being far higher when one is young:
https://www.dividendmantra.com/2015/05/a-year-isnt-a-year/
Best regards!
I haven’t been to Thailand yet. It’s going to be hard to choose which country to go to first, when I decide among the Asia countries. I’m thinking Japan first. How you eat is kinda how I do it on weekdays. I have lunch around noon and then I eat dinner at around 4pm. Then a coffee and a snack (and then maybe another snack 🙂 ). That’s just how it works out. Where I live now, I like that I get to see all the seasons pretty consistently. Though, it would be great to live in the PNW to get some of the nicer outdoor weather, where the summers are super nice…
HP,
Japan seems amazing. We plan on visiting Tokyo next summer. As I wrote about not too long ago, I plan on eventually spending summers outside of CM/Thailand. But logistics are such that we’re gonna start slow with that. So we’re thinking maybe a week or so in Tokyo next year. It’s urbanity perfected, in my mind.
If I were to ever want to move back to the States, the PNW would be at the top of the list. The weather isn’t ideal, but I think the quality of life is probably near the tops as far as the States is concerned. I checked out Portland before I made the jump over here. Really impressive built environment. The political stuff there would be tiring, though. Seattle seems really nice. But it’s awfully expensive. So many smaller towns in that area, though. Eugene, for instance, seems appealing.
Cheers!
I can’t get enough of your posts from Thailand, Jason!
IF is very effective, I’ve played with it myself on and off. I think it may be easier to do in Thailand because the food isn’t bombarded with as much refined sugar as in the USA, which causes insulin spikes and hunger pangs.
What you say about the kindness of the Thai people is something I’ve run into in a lot of countries that aren’t as economically developed as the USA. Not sure what the reason is for this, but you can feel it immediately. I’ve never visited Thailand but it’s on the list!
Moose,
Thanks so much. Glad you’re enjoying these updates from Thailand. I love writing them. 🙂
Yeah, I think IF is easier here. Or more effective, at least. I eat one plate for lunch. And two plates for dinner. I don’t find myself particularly hungry late at night, which is unlike how it’d be in the States. I would find myself craving a sandwich or something around midnight when I still lived in Florida. And it was easier to give in to that because of the different way in which you consume/store food there.
I think the difference in attitudes comes down to one word: jaded. I plan to write more about that in the future.
Best regards!
I think you’re right, Jason. Sad but true.
You basically used the same format for selecting a country to move to that I did a few years ago, except that our priorities are different, and I ended up in Mexico rather than Thailand. There is certainly not a right or wrong list, but more based on individual lifestyle. We both had a list of check marks we needed to be happy, and for me it was less expensive than Canada or the USA, quality food, able to speak English, lot of expats in area, a great beach, great weather, easy access to return to visit family, and lots of sports bars…lol. Your list was excellent as well, and a few of the same check marks as I had, & seems like it is a winning formula for you.
Brian,
That’s awesome. Mexico sounds great! 🙂
Yeah, you have to come up with a list that best suits you. And then you have to find a place that offers you as many of those things as possible, while also limiting the number of drawbacks at the same time. It’s about being in a place that is most advantageous for you, setting you up to excel across the spectrum of activities you find important. Thailand is great for me. But it’s certainly not for everyone (nor would I want it to be).
Sounds like you’re enjoying life in Mexico. That’s what it’s all about!
Best regards.
Hi Jason,
Sounds like it’s working out really well, happy for you.
Unfortunately we didn’t have the same experience when we visited CM, it
was meant to be shoulder season but it just wouldn’t quit raining with
grey clouds all the time there so we just didn’t get the same vibe you
talk about, we badly wanted to love the place after all we’d heard. Now
that we’re FIRE we’ll probably go back and do it properly for a longer stay
but between October and May when winter hits here and the days get
shorter again.
Currently in coastal northern UK preparing for the ramp up from 16 to 17 hours
of daily sunlight, years ago we used to hate the late evening sun but no
longer have a stressful job to get up for in the morning so can really enjoy
hanging out in it now. Cousin is in Helsinki where he get’s up to a full 19 hours
of daylight so if you blink you’ll miss nighttime, though that might be a little too
exhausting for us.
Never get sick of talking about these FIRE freedom lifestyle options…
DN
DN,
CM definitely isn’t for everyone, nor would I (or probably anyone else living here) want it to be. But the great news is that it’s a huge world out there. So many amazing places to check out and make a part-time or long-term stay out of it. Maybe part of the fun is checking those places out and finding somewhere that best suits you.
Enjoy the extra daylight over there. 🙂
Cheers.
Jason,
Sounds like things are working out really well for you! Glad to hear it. I am work in BKK, and see a lot of the advantages that you point out.
One maybe “advantage” of being a foreigner in a different country is that a person is in a bit of a bubble. In most cases probably, the foreigner in the country is not fluent in the language, does not read the local newspaper, listen to the local radio etc. There is a lot of politics going on in Thailand, but as foreigners, we are kind of “immune” to it (which I think is not a bad thing!! 55555)
Jennifer,
Thanks for pointing that out. I agree with you on us being in a bit of a bubble. And I also agree that it’s not a bad thing. 🙂
One of the things I really disliked about living in the US – especially toward the last couple years of living there – was the constant stream of political rhetoric and divisiveness being drilled into my head. That was even with someone who watched almost no television and didn’t have a cable subscription. So I can only imagine what it’s like for other people.
That all said, it seems like that environment doesn’t exist over here to a great degree. I was talking to a long-term expat (from the US) about this not too long ago. He understands Thai to a suitable degree. And he thought those dynamics just aren’t the same over here, although it’s exacerbated for many of us due to our non-exposure. Ignorance is bliss!
Best wishes.