Why I Moved to Chiang Mai as a Digital Nomad

After 4 years of near continuous travel whilst working, and more than 10 years since I first set off on my backpacking trip that I planned on taking for “a few months”, I’ve now signed a one year lease on an apartment in Chiang Mai.

As someone that loves travelling and has a fully remote job that allows me to work from anywhere, why have I decided to move and stay in one city for a year?

After posting my reasons on social media, I feel this is something that many people have resonated with so I’ve written this to explain my reasons as it may help other people in a similar situation.

Background

I’ve been working remotely for four years, almost constantly on the move, living out of a backpack and averaging staying in each place for one month at a time.

In that time I’ve worked in more than 40 countries although some of them have just been for a couple of days whilst I have passed from one to another.

And I have absolutely loved it!

I have seen more of the world than I ever could have imagined from deserts and jungles, to snowy cabins and some of the worlds biggest cities across 5 continents.

But with that comes a lot of unpredictability. My friendships have been fleeting. My desk has been a kitchen table in an AirBnB or in a corner of a coworking space where I may or may not know anyone. And almost all of it has been by myself.

In late 2024 I decided Central America wasn’t for me so I returned to Langkawi in Malaysia and based myself there for 6 months. This was me testing the waters at being semi settled. And for those that have followed along for a while, I loved Langkawi and getting into a routine there.

Compare that to a few years ago when I got itchy feet after being in one town for 6 weeks….

So maybe it was now time to stay in one place longer, to build a community of friends that don’t change more often than I change my bedsheets. A stable routine that I can stick to.

Why move to Chiang Mai as a Digital Nomad?

Digital nomads tend to stick together in various hubs around the world. Bali, Lisbon, Tulum, Cartagena, Bansko. And Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand.

I reached out to a lot of friends that had already been to Chiang Mai and each of them said I’d love it. There are lots of benefits and I seemed to agree with most of them. Out of all the places mentioned above, Chiang Mai seemed to be one that resonated with me the most.

The Visa

Thailand recently introduced the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), a visa that allows the holder to undertake a soft skill or remote work in Thailand and stay in the country for up to 5 years.

Compared to other digital nomad visas around the world, the DTV is very simple to apply for. I applied via the London embassy online, collected the few bits of paperwork they needed and paid the £300 fee. I had the visa within a week.

It allows me to legally work in the country and stay for up to 180 days at a time (which can be extended with a quick crossing of the border). No more working on tourist visas in other countries, only being able to stay for 30 or 90 days at a time before having to pack up my bags and leave again.

Networking

I’ve always travelling solo and I’ve loved it. But it does have its negatives.

From a professional point of view, the only people I know in my line of work are the people that I work with in my company.

If I want to grow in my career then I should undertake some professional networking and fortunately, Chiang Mai is a hub for people that work in SEO.

In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve met a lot of people that work in SEO, that make websites and travel bloggers similar to myself, all of which could be good contacts in future. I’ve met people that have given me ideas for things I’ve never even thought of and it’s given me a bit of a push to try new things.

Watch this space….

Health

Many people reading this don’t know but I used to be a sport nutritionist in a previous life. I was extremely fit and very healthy.

Since travelling full time, my health and fitness is nowhere near where it used to be. I love the local food and let’s be honest, the local beer as well (as my crazy viral recent reel shows). I walk when I can but a scooter is so much easier to ride around on in the heat which means my step count on my phone is often a lot lower than it should be. I used to run half marathons for fun, now an hour down the gym kills me.

I want to get my fitness back and get control of my diet and health. I’m not unhealthy by any means but I’m not what I was either. Staying in one place means I can get into a good routine, know where the fruit and veg markets are and have a bit more control over my health.

Housing

I’ve basically been living out of AirBnBs and hotels for he last 4 years. Whilst I have nothing against plain white walls and the Ikea furniture that is in every single Airbnb around the world, I’m strangely looking forward to having my own place and my own things in it.

The other day I got excited when I bought a multipack of cleaning supplies knowing I won’t be throwing half of them away when I move on (sad, I know).

It will also allow me a comfier life having what I want and buying it knowing it will last me a while instead of just “making do” with what I have in my backpack. I have become an expert at doing crazy things with what I have on me. Using dental floss sticks as chopsticks and nail clippers at scissors are recent achievements.

For many people with their own homes, this may sound crazy. As someone that has lived out of a backpack for four years, it is genuine excitement.

Also read: Digital Nomad Guide to Chiang Mai (From Someone Living There Full Time!)

Money

Chiang Mai is a very affordable part of the world if earning a western currency. It is easy to live in Chiang Mai on less than $/£/€ 1000 per month.

That includes rent, bills, food, scooter, entertainment. Everything.

Spending so little means I can save a lot. Whether that goes on future travel to remote and expensive destinations, or I put it towards longer term savings and investments, either way it’s looking out for future me.

The future

If you follow me and read this blog because you want to see travel content, that isn’t going away. I will still take trips away and explore different countries. There is no way I’m literally staying in one place for 5 years!

I’ve already got another few trips planned (outside Thailand) over the next few months. So much for slowing down 🙄

But it’s a place I can slow down and start to think about the future (whether financially, health wise or professionally like I’ve mentioned) instead of just living in the here and now.

But yes I will still travel.

Yes I will still be going to off the beaten path destinations when possible.

Yes I will still blog about it.

Yes I will still post my travels here.

Dan

Dan is an avid traveller from London. His first big adventure was in 2010 living in Malaysia for 3 months. He has been on the road almost constantly since 2015 travelling to destinations that aren’t on the mainstream tourist trail and working full time and travelling since 2021.