SiargaovsChiang Mai
📶
Chiang Mai has 2x faster internet
75 Mbps avg download speed
🌡️
Tropical Wet vs Tropical Monsoon climate
Different weather patterns year-round
🛂
Thailand offers a digital nomad visa
Long-stay visa for remote workers
💰 Cost of Living Breakdown
Monthly expenses comparison in USD
Expense
Siargao
Chiang Mai
Total Budget
$1,200/mo
$1,000/mo ✓
Rent (1BR)
$400/mo
$350/mo ✓
Coworking
$100/mo ✓
$120/mo
Meal Out
$2 ✓
$3
Coffee
$2 ✓
$2.5
Chiang Mai is $200/mo cheaper (20% savings)
💻 Remote Work Essentials
Internet, timezone, and language comparison
🇵🇭 Siargao
📶 Internet50 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+8
🗣️ Englishhigh
🛂 Nomad VisaNot available
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London3h
🇩🇪 Berlin4h
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
📶 Internet75 Mbps
🕐 TimezoneUTC+7
🗣️ Englishmedium
🛂 Nomad VisaAvailable
Working hours overlap:
🇺🇸 US West0h
🇺🇸 US East0h
🇬🇧 London4h
🇩🇪 Berlin5h
🌡️ Climate Comparison
Weather patterns and best times to visit
Siargao
ClimateTropical Wet
Avg Temp27°C
Rainy Days301/year
Chiang Mai
ClimateTropical Monsoon
Avg Temp26°C
Rainy Days175/year
Best months: March, April, January, February
Quarterly Temperatures
Jan
26°22°
Apr
27°30°
Jul
28°27°
Oct
27°26°
SiargaoChiang Mai
📊 Full Comparison
Category
🇵🇭Siargao
🇹🇭Chiang Mai
💰
Monthly Budget
$1,200
$1,000
Winner📶
Internet Speed
50 Mbps
75 Mbps
Winner🛡️
Safety
4/5
4.3/5
⭐
Nomad Score
4/10
4.7/10
Winner🍽️
Food Scene
8/10
9/10
🎉
Nightlife
7/10
7/10
🚶
Walkability
3/10
6/10
Winner👥
Community
medium
very large
Winner0
Siargao wins
vs
5
Chiang Mai wins
Which City is Right for You?
Recommendations based on your nomad style
💵Budget Nomad
Chiang Mai
$200/mo cheaper with similar quality of life
💻Developer
Either works
Both have adequate internet for development work
🦋Social Butterfly
Chiang Mai
Larger nomad community for networking
🛡️Safety-First
Either works
Both cities are similarly safe
🍜Foodie
Either works
Both have great food scenes
🎉Party Person
Either works
Both have great nightlife
🇵🇭Siargao
Pros
- +Surfing Capital of the Philippines with world-class Cloud 9 waves
- +Affordable cost of living compared to Western countries
- +Growing digital nomad community with dedicated coworking spaces
- +Stunning natural attractions from lagoons to rock pools
Cons
- −Frequent power outages disrupt work and daily life
- −Internet can be unreliable outside coworking spaces
- −Limited medical facilities for serious emergencies
- −Need scooter for transportation as walkability is low
🇹🇭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
