Chiang Mai Real Estate

One of the great advantages of staying in Chiang Mai is the low cost of housing. You can spoil yourself with a nice luxurious apartment near the city centre or a multi-bedroomed house with garden out in the suburbs.

For as little as $50/£30 a month you can have a comfortably large studio apartment near the city centre, or you can splash out on a three-bedroomed house and garden within a complex, complete with leisure facilities for $500, and still only be a 15 minute drive from the city.

The area west of the city, nearer the mountain is most popular with foreigners for its convenient location, near to Nimminhemin avenue and Huay Kaew road as well as Central Mall. The further you are from the city, the less likely you are to find "farang-friendly" facilities and services. But you are more likely to enjoy a peaceful tropical existence.

Many prefer condos, older places will have "Thai bathrooms", which aren't terribly comfortable and may have a squat toilet. Condos are also less insulated to noisy neighbours, but often have great views of the mountains. Some, such as the ever popular Hillside 4, come with facilities such as a gym, pool and cable TV.

Another option is the increasingly popular moo baan (housing village) and some of these are very modern, comfortable and well kept, but not very private. They also tend to be further out of the city.