After living in Chiang Mai for the best part of 3 years, exploring alot of it by bicycle, song taew and scooter (but mainly bicycle). I lived in over 7 different apartments and even been part of a large house share. Here is my top 5 things I love about living in Chiang Mai

Cheap accommodation

I've heard of people staying in accommodation for as cheap as 1000 THB (around $30) and ofc you can get expensive ones for around 15,000 THB or ($500). The majority of the apartments can be had between 5000-10,000 THB and for that you definitely get alot more than you would get in the west, thats for sure. I've paid 6000 baht before and had a separate full living room, bedroom and kitchen, I've also paid 2500 baht and just had a simple room and a toilet. There really is something for everyone and for what you would pay $500 for here, you can live like a king compared to the west.

Friendly people

There's no doubt here the people are VERY friendly, they even call it the land of smiles. As I ride my bicycle, it's very common for people to give me a thumbs up or just smile at me. Many people try to even talk to me and make conversation using the little English they know, I often get asked "where you from" or "where do you go". I've seen literally no crime here and the people wouldn't even dream of stealing your stuff, unlike many other places. If you get something stolen or get wronged here, it's most likely by one of the many western tourists, NOT the Thai people!

Food and cost of living very cheap

If you buy the traditional foods here, you'll find them very cheaply compared the the west, the electric bills are cheap and many products are cheap. I've even purchased a computer and phone here for a much cheaper price than I would of paid in the west with the super inflated taxes. I often buy food from the markets like the Thai people do vs supermarkets which can be kind of a tourist trap, especially when they are selling the imported goods from the west at an inflated price.

Amazing countryside not far from city

You can literally ride 5km from the city and you'll start to find mountains, waterfalls, fields, forests and all kinds of beautiful natural spots. The cycling here is great, with smooth roads and beautifully breathtaking scenery (once you've gotten out of the busy city). The forests here are lush and with the mountains Doi suthep and Doi Pui which are great for cycling, hiking and just visiting to see the beautiful nature.

Cheap and plentiful vegan and vegetarian restuarnts

Eating out can be very cheap and sustainable here, ofc never as cheap as making a home coked meal but there is so much variety here and after looking on happy cow, I've seen a vegetarian restaurant almost every 500m on average. Most of which are not even listed on websites and can be found by pounding the pavements. Some meals can be had for as little as 100 THB (around $3) with some fancier restaurants charging double or triple that, but still very cheap compared to the west. For me personally as a vegan of nearly 4 years I have never found so many plentiful vegetarian and vegan restaurants in any 1 area, it's literally a haven for vegans and thats why you'll often find so many here!

I hope you have enjoyed my post, stay tuned for 5 things I don't like about living in Chiang Mai, Thailand!