Living in Thailand as a Digital Nomad - My HONEST Thoughts After 5 Months

About this video

The creator reviews five months living in Thailand as a digital nomad, having visited Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phuket, and Koh Samui after previously spending ten months in Bali. He rates locations on criteria that matter for long-term work rather than holidays. Convenience, internet, healthcare, transport, and things to do all score highly: apps like Grab and Foodpanda handle food, laundry, and cleaning; phone data and condo Wi-Fi are fast and reliable; and hospitals in Chiang Mai and Bangkok are described as top-notch. Cost of living is presented as cheaper than Bali, with local meals around $2-$3 and healthier options $8-$10. He lists his rents as about $550 a month in Chiang Mai, $1,100 in Bangkok, $1,200 in Phuket (his worst value, a small studio), and $750 for a lake house in Koh Samui. Visas score lower: 30 days on arrival plus a 30-day extension, border runs that carry denial risk, education visas requiring a large weekly time commitment, or a pricier long-term paid visa option he estimates around $5,000 a year. Weather loses a point for heat and humidity, Chiang Mai’s February-April burning season, and rainy seasons elsewhere, though Chiang Mai winters can be chilly. People are rated warmly except in Phuket, which he found more tourist-worn and less friendly. Overall he strongly recommends Thailand, favoring Chiang Mai for value and its city-nature mix, Bangkok for nightlife, and Koh Samui over Phuket for a slower island pace. Compared with Bali, he says Thailand wins on internet, infrastructure, healthcare, food, walkability, and price, while Bali has slightly friendlier people, an easier language, and better long-term visa options.

Key takeaways

• Chiang Mai offers the best value: fast internet, low rents (~$550/month in his case), and a mix of city amenities and nature
• Thailand beats Bali on internet, infrastructure, healthcare, food, walkability, and overall cost, per the creator’s comparison
• Budget roughly $2-$3 for local meals and $8-$10 for healthy/fitness-oriented meals; island rents like Phuket run much higher for less
• Visa stays are workable but awkward: 30+30 days, risky border runs, time-heavy education visas, or an expensive long-term visa
• Avoid Chiang Mai during the February-April burning season and expect Phuket to feel more touristy and less friendly than other areas

Episode details: published June 2, 2023 · 19:44 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Sean Dollwet’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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