
Which are the best areas in Chiang Mai to live with kids or without kids?
With Chiang Mai being such a great city to live in, choosing the best neighbourhoods in Chiang Mai to live in can be difficult. There are lots of areas people consider to be the best parts of Chiang Mai to live in for various reasons. Some people prefer being close to the nightlife, others prefer to be out near the countryside, and families generally prefer to be close to schools and kid friendly places.
The best parts of town to live in Chiang Mai truly depend on your family’s make-up. Solo people tend to prefer living within the old city or near Nimmanhaemin Rd. Families with kids tend to prefer living a bit outside of the city in gated communities called moo baans.
Let’s take a look at what are the best places to live in Chiang Mai.
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What Are The Best Parts of Town To Live In Chiang Mai For People Without Kids?
Many people without kids prefer to be close to or inside the city. The most popular areas for solo people or couples are:
- Nimmanhaemin area
- Suthep
- Wat Umong Area
- Pong Noi
- Wat Ket
- Wat Jed Yod
- The Old City (inside the moat)
- Santitham
- Fa Ham
Each of these great neighbourhoods in Chiang Mai offers a unique personality and all are close to every amenity you could desire. The best part about these neighbourhoods in Chiang Mai is everything is within a short walking distance or motorbike ride.
These good areas to live in Chiang Mai are also very easy to get around in other ways such as by rideshare, tuk tuk, or songtaew, which aren’t easily accessible outside of the city. It makes going out at night easier and safer.
The majority of housing available within these livable areas of Chiang Mai is a mix of condos, apartments or houses, so there is plenty of housing choice. The only real issue may be parking if you own a car as there is limited parking downtown Chiang Mai.
You may also prefer a moo baan (gated community) as a great place to live in Chiang Mai which we’ll explain in the next section.
What Are The Best Places To Live In Chiang Mai With Kids?
If you’re moving to Chiang Mai with kids or teenagers, you can of course live in the same great areas in Chiang Mai to live mentioned above. Many families live in those areas although most prefer to live in a gated community (moo baan).
Why should you live in a moo baan in Chiang Mai?
Many families and couples too, prefer to live in a moo baan in Chiang Mai. This is because moo baans:
- Have extra security
- Are gated
- Are more private
- Homes are generally newer and more modern
- Homes usually have a western kitchen
- Have landscaping
- Have community management
- Have playgrounds (not all)
- Have a swimming pool (not all)
- Have other families and kids around
What To Look For When Choosing A Moo Baan in Chiang Mai?
When deciding what are the best places to live in Chiang Mai, one must consider that not all moo baan neighbourhoods are created equally. Each has its own style, feel, amenities, and monthly management fee. Some are taken care of better than others and some have wonderful communities while in other moo baans, people mostly keep to themselves.
So, how do you choose a moo baan? 10 things to consider
There’s a certain set of criteria that sets moo baans apart from one another and makes them the best places to live in Chiang Mai with kids or without them. These factors make some moo baans in Chiang Mai stand out above the rest. Let’s see what makes the list of the best moo baans in Chiang Mai!
1. Amenities
Amenities are a strong deciding factor in choosing the best moo baan in Chiang Mai. Amenities include sporting facilities, swimming and fitness facilities, restaurants or cafes, playgrounds, and dog walking parks. It’s important that you look for upkeep. How well have the amenities stood the test of time? Are they still being maintained?
Here’s a listing of amenities to look for in moo baans in Chiang Mai:
- Swimming pool
- Fitness centre
- Playground(s)
- Tennis court(s)
- Badminton court(s)
- Cafes or restaurants
- Greenspace
- Hairdresser or barber
- Dog walking area
- Convenience store
- Security
2. Location
Location is so important! You won’t want to live somewhere where it will take you ages to get to what you need; restaurants, schools, supermarkets, work, etc. The best neighbourhoods in Chiang Mai (moo baans) are located near what most people want and need.
You’ll also want to factor in the road system here in Chiang Mai into your location. The roads largely operate on a U-turn system. This can be a huge pain in the butt and add up to 15-30 minutes on your travels. Some U-turns are 3 km or more away from intersections or the entrance to a moo baan, so it’s important to consider this factor when choosing a good place to live in Chiang Mai.
3. Security
Security is usually the main reason people or families choose to live in a moo baan in Chiang Mai. You’ll want to visit a few moo baans a test out their security. Guards are supposed to stop visitors and ask for your ID which will be returned to you upon exiting. Some moo baans even require you to get a stamp from the person you’re visiting to get your ID returned. If the security guard just lets you right in, then that’s a red flag.
Another sign of good security will be 24/7 service with guards that patrol the neighbourhood hourly. Some moo baans even spend a bit extra and hire police to canvas the community once or twice a day.
4. Privacy
This is important to some people. If it’s important to you, then you’ll want to look for housing communities in Chiang Mai where homes are gated and walled or where there is plenty of space between neighbouring homes.
5. Other people, families, friendliness
If you’re moving to Chiang Mai with kids or teenagers, then having peers around for them to play with is a priority. All of the moo baans we’ll recommend below are known for their friendliness and are very popular places to live in Chiang Mai with kids.
6. A good community management board
All moo baans have a community management board or committee. The management board is usually made up of long-term residents of the moo baan and sometimes the developer plays a role as well. The moo baan management committee is responsible for setting rules and managing everything within the community. They earn income through monthly moo baan fees which is supposed to be put back into the community (it will be quite obvious if they aren’t doing this – red flag!).
7. The monthly moo baan management fee
A monthly management fee in moo baans is standard for all homes no matter what the cost to rent or own. The monthly fee varies depending on the moo baan but the general rule is that you’ll pay more the more facilities and amenities the moo baan has. Always inquire with the house owner about the fee and at what percentage it increases each year.
What are moo baan management for?
- Security
- Construction or maintenance
- Swimming pool maintenance (if there’s a pool)
- Garbage collection
- Landscaping in public areas
- Water facilities upkeep
- Sports facility upkeep
- Fitness centre upgrades or maintenance
- Paying the office staff
- Electricity issues
8. Landscaping and general esthetics
You’ll want to look for greenery and good landscaping and obviously that there is no trash piled up anywhere. Greenery and trees are so important as not only do they provide shade, beauty, and a tranquil feeling, but they indicate the moo baan is established and (if landscaped) is properly managed.
9. There are no wild dogs or soi dogs
This is a big one if you have kids. Living outside of moo baans in local communities and Thai villages, usually means there will be soi dogs. These poor dogs aren’t kept and roam the streets looking for food. Other times dogs do have homes, but are let out to do as they please. The dogs are territorial which can result in people being bitten.
A good moo baan in Chiang Mai will have strict rules about pets, especially dogs. It’s common that dogs must be leashed when outside of their home, and no dog shall be let out alone.
10. Quietness
Moo baans are quiet. Like really, really quiet (most of them are anyway). This can be a good or bad thing depending on your lifestyle. Sometimes neighbours will complain about loud noise and having parties or BBQ’s in a moo baan means your party needs to end early.
During Loy Krathong or New Year, loud celebrations are also typically not allowed, which means no lighting off fireworks!
So, what are the best moo baans to live in Chiang Mai?
Below is a listing of the most popular moo baans in Chiang Mai along with a map so you may see where the best moo baans in Chiang Mai are located.
List of the most popular moo baans in Chiang Mai:
(This list is not comprehensive and is not presented without bias in no particular order)
- Lanna Thara
- Home in Park Village
- Lanna Pinery
- Koolpunt Ville 7
- Koolpunt Ville 8
- Koolpunt Ville 9
- World Club Land
- The Masterpiece Scenery Hill
- The Laguna Home 2
- Baan Wang Tan
- Sansaran
- Baan Nai Fun
- Supalai Garden Ville
- Diya Valley Sankampaeng
(If you have any to add to the list let us know!)
Where Are the Best Moo Baans in Chiang Mai to live with kids or without?
Have a look at the map to see where the best moo baans in Chiang Mai are located around the city. Some are closer to downtown than others, while some are closer to schools. All are close to main road arteries making it easy to get around Chiang Mai.
Map of the most popular moo baans in Chiang Mai:
Best places to live in Chiang Mai that aren’t in a moo baan
Of course, living in a moobaan with kids in Chiang Mai might not be your cup of tea. There are other lovely areas to live in Chiang Mai such as:
- Nong Hoi
- Sarapee
- Hang Dong
- San Sai
- Samoeng
- San Kamphaeng
- Doi Saket
- Mae Rim
The most popular place to live in Chiang Mai with kids is…..
Hands down the most popular area to live in Chiang Mai with kids is Hang Dong. It’s where most of the schools are located along with the most activities to do with kids. Most of the playgrounds and kid friendly cafes are located in this region too.
Also, many of the best neighbourhoods in Chiang Mai are located in Hang Dong as well.
We hope this article, The Best Places to Live in Chiang Mai With Kids or Without Kids, helps you with your decision of where to live in Chiang Mai. Check out our FAQ page to get even more of your questions answered and see our home page to find great things to do with kids in Chiang Mai.