Email 01
Is Chiang Mai right for your family?
Before anything else, the honest question. Who thrives here, who struggles, and what this place is and isn't.
Planned email course · enrollment not open
Moving to Chiang Mai: A Step-by-Step Course for Families
Everything you need to know, in the order you actually need to know it.
Planned
12-email outline · enrollment not open - A planned 12-email outline
- Topics for each stage of a family move
- Enrollment is not open yet
Course idea · not available to purchase
Planned
12-email outline · enrollment not open - A planned 12-email outline
- Topics for each stage of a family move
- Enrollment is not open yet
Course idea · not available to purchase
The problem with planning a move
Too Much Information, No Clear Place to Start.
Most people planning a move to Chiang Mai end up with a lot of information and no clear sense of what to do first. The reading is easy. Knowing which decisions depend on which other decisions — that's the hard part.
This planned course outline follows the whole process through twelve topics, each focused on a stage of planning. Enrollment is not open yet; you can review the outline below and use the free guides in the meantime.
Planned course
Enrollment is not open. Review the planned 12-topic outline.
Course idea · not available to purchase
Email by email 
Your 12-Step Move to Chiang Mai
The planned outline follows decisions, not just information.
Email 02
What would your life here actually cost?
The real variables and hidden costs that don't show up in generic cost of living guides, so you can start building a budget that actually reflects your situation.
Email 03
How does the way you work shape your options?
Your income situation is the first decision to settle before you touch the visa question.
Email 04
Which visa path is yours?
The main options, what each one broadly requires, and how to start figuring out which one fits.
Email 05
What are your kids' options for school?
The options worth knowing about, and why this decision comes before neighborhoods.
Email 06
How do you get around?
Grab, motorbikes, licenses, car ownership: what you need to know before you commit to a neighborhood.
Email 07
Which neighborhood fits your life?
How to narrow down where to live based on what actually matters for your family: school location, lifestyle, and budget.
Email 08
How do you find your home?
How the rental market works, what you can realistically do remotely, and what to expect when you arrive.
Email 09
When should you actually move?
The factors that should shape your move window: air quality, rental market, school enrollment timelines.
Email 10
How do you get set up once you land and move in?
SIM cards, bank accounts, where to shop, how to hook into services: the order to tackle it in.
Email 11
Do you need to learn Thai?
The basic phrases that actually matter, how to approach learning, and an honest take on what's realistic.
Email 12
How do you build a real life here?
Community, integration, and what the first six months actually feel like, because a successful move isn't just about logistics.
A planned path for the move ahead. 🧳
One clear path
Stop Planning in Circles
The planned outline brings the key decisions into one sequence. Review it here, then use the free guides while enrollment is unavailable.
Course idea · not available to purchase
Hi, I'm Lily
Why I Built This
I grew up in Chiang Mai — half Thai, half American, at home in both cultures. I left for London and New York to see what else the world had to offer, but it turned out the city that raised me was already the answer. I came back in 2017, and turning Chiang Mai into our family's home is the best thing we've ever done.
I'm also, for better or worse, pathologically helpful. So when friends started arriving and asking me which visa, which neighborhood, which school, I helped. When founders showed up wanting to build something here, I helped. When families landed and needed someone to call about the bank account thing, or the burning season thing, or the why-isn't-our-rental-what-we-thought-it-was thing, I helped.
These days my family takes up most of my time and attention, and I can't keep answering every random DM. This planned course is a way to organize that local knowledge into a useful sequence. The outline is here, but enrollment is not open yet.
If you'd rather skip ahead and talk through your situation directly, the consultation is here.
The planned format
What the Course Is Intended to Cover
- A planned 12-email outline; the topics are shown above
- A proposed sequence for relocation decisions; from early fit through settling in
- Possible worksheets and prep checklists; details are still being finalized
- Original local perspective; intended to complement the free guides
- Relevant CNXlocal guide links; where they genuinely help
- Course format and delivery; not set until enrollment opens
The outline is available to review now; enrollment is not.
Planned course
Enrollment is not open. Review the 12-topic outline and use the free guides in the meantime.
Course idea · not available to purchase
Is this for you?
Who the Planned Course Is For
The outline is intended for families seriously considering relocation to Chiang Mai and ready to start making real decisions instead of accumulating browser tabs.
Its topics are relevant whether your move is six months away or two years away. The free guides can help you start working through them while enrollment remains unavailable.
If you do not have school-age kids, the schools topic may be less relevant.
The blog is free
How the Planned Course Differs From the Blog
The CNXlocal blog is free and always will be. The planned course is intended to sequence the same subjects around decisions families make during a move. It is not available to buy or enroll in yet.
About the planned course
Frequently Asked Questions
Not yet. Enrollment is not open, so there is no purchase or course delivery to sign up for today.
It is designed for families considering a move to Chiang Mai. The outline covers practical decisions from early research through settling in.
Browse the free CNXlocal guides for your questions today. This course is an idea, with no enrollment or delivery available.
A planned path for your move
Interested in the Course?
Enrollment is not open. Review the planned 12-topic outline, or use the free guides to begin now.
Course idea · not available to purchase