Chiang MaivsSiem Reap
📶
Chiang Mai has 2x faster internet
75 Mbps avg download speed
🛂
Thailand offers a digital nomad visa
Long-stay visa for remote workers
💰 Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
Chiang Mai
Siem Reap
Total Budget
$1,000/mo
$850/mo ✓
Rent (1BR)
$350/mo
$350/mo
Coworking
$120/mo
$75/mo ✓
Meal Out
$3
$3
Coffee
$2.5
$2.5
Siem Reap is $150/mo cheaper (18% savings)
💻 Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
📶 Internet75 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+7
🗣️ Englishmedium
🛂 Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London4h
🇩🇪 Berlin5h
🇰🇭 Siem Reap
📶 Internet40 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+7
🗣️ Englishmedium
🛂 Nomad VisaNot available
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London4h
🇩🇪 Berlin5h
🌡️ Climate Comparison
Weather patterns and best times to visit
Chiang Mai
ClimateTropical Monsoon
Avg Temp26°C
Rainy Days175/year
Best months: March, April, January, February
Siem Reap
ClimateTropical Monsoon
Avg Temp28°C
Rainy Days195/year
Best months: January, February, December, March
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
22°25°
Apr
30°31°
Jul
27°28°
Oct
26°27°
Chiang MaiSiem Reap
📊 Full Comparison
Category
🇹🇭Chiang Mai
🇰🇭Siem Reap
💰
Monthly Budget
$1,000
$850
Winner📶
Internet Speed
75 Mbps
Winner40 Mbps
🛡️
Safety
4.3/5
4/5
⭐
Nomad Score
4.7/10
Winner3.6/10
🍽️
Food Scene
9/10
Winner7/10
🎉
Nightlife
7/10
6/10
🚶
Walkability
6/10
7/10
👥
Community
very large
Winnersmall
4
Chiang Mai wins
vs
1
Siem Reap wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
💵Budget Nomad
Either works
Similar costs - choose based on other factors
💻Developer
Chiang Mai
75 Mbps is essential for video calls & uploads
🦋Social Butterfly
Chiang Mai
Larger nomad community for networking
🛡️Safety-First
Either works
Both cities are similarly safe
🍜Foodie
Chiang Mai
Better food scene with incredible variety
🎉Party Person
Either works
Both have great nightlife
🇹🇭Chiang Mai
Pros
- +Very affordable cost of living ($600-1,200/month)
- +Large digital nomad community
- +Excellent coworking spaces (Punspace, CAMP)
- +Amazing Thai food everywhere
Cons
- −Air quality issues (Mar-Apr burning season)
- −Very hot and humid (Mar-May)
- −Heavy rainy season (Jun-Oct)
- −Limited international flights
🇰🇭Siem Reap
Pros
- +Angkor Wat - largest religious monument in the world
- +Extremely affordable cost of living ($850/month)
- +Laid-back village atmosphere with friendly locals
- +Rich cultural heritage and ancient temples
Cons
- −Power outages affect internet reliability
- −Hot and humid year-round (25-35°C)
- −Rainy season May-October with flooding
- −Transactional tourist interactions common
