Best cities to live in Thailand (2026)
3 cities ranked by Livability Score — affordability, safety, internet, democracy & climate.
Country at a Glance
Freedom House score
Press freedom rank
Grid reliability
Path to PR
Corporate tax
Chiang Mai
66/100Bangkok
58/100Phuket
58/100Compare cities in Thailand
❓ Living in Thailand — Common Questions
What is the best city to live in Thailand?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Chiang Mai ranks #1 in Thailand with a score of 66/100, and city-centre rent from around $463/month.
What is the safest city in Thailand?▾
By UNODC homicide rate data, Chiang Mai is the safest city in Thailand in our database, with a rate of 4.8 per 100,000 people.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Bangkok?▾
Chiang Mai scores 66/100 on our Livability Score vs 58/100 for Bangkok. Rent is $463/mo in Chiang Mai vs $703/mo in Bangkok. See the full comparison at the bottom of this page.
How do I get long-term residency or a visa to live in Thailand?▾
Thailand offers the Thailand LTR Visa (complex process). Duration: 10 years. Key requirement: Remote workers: income ≥ $80k/yr (or $40k+ with a master's degree/IP). Employer must be listed, have $50M+ revenue, or 150+ staff.. The process is complex. Check individual city pages for full details.
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