Highlights:
- Riverside location with a mix of old and new developments
- Long-standing expat area with Western amenities
- Close to city center and Superhighway
- International schools and high-end condos available
Best for: Expat families looking for a established community and riverside living
Transportation: Car or motorbike recommended, walkable along the riverside areas
Cost of living: Riverside condos and houses range from ฿15,000-35,000/month, with moderately high food and living costs due to its expat-friendly environment.
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Wat Ket is where Chiang Mai’s expat story began, and it’s still writing new chapters today. Named after its central temple, this riverside neighborhood has been home to foreigners longer than anywhere else in the city.
For the OG digital nomads among us, Wat Ket holds a special place in Chiang Mai’s remote work history. Wawee Coffee by Narawat Bridge was one of the first popular spots to caffeinate and set up your laptop – long before “digital nomad” entered the lexicon.
Today, Wat Ket is a funky mix of old and new. Beautifully renovated historical homes sit alongside modern developments, creating a living timeline of Chiang Mai’s evolution. It’s not all smooth sailing though, there are real trafficky bits, and many areas are overrun with tourists.
But for many, the perks outweigh the challenges. Close access to both the city center and the Superhighway makes Wat Ket incredibly convenient. Charoen Muang Road takes you from Nawarat Bridge past McCormick Hospital, the train station and the old Arcade bus station all the way out to the superhighway and Central Festival.
If you’re after high-rise luxury living, the edge of Wat Ket, bleeding into Tha Sala, offers some of Chiang Mai’s swankiest condos.
Wat Ket has long catered to Western tastes, and it shows in the neighborhood’s amenities. From international schools to Western-style cafes and restaurants, you’ll find plenty of familiar comforts here. Expat-friendly Amenities in Wat Ket:
- International Schools: Chiang Mai International School, Windfield International School – Ecole Française Internationale.
- Supermarkets: Rimping Supermarket Nawarat Branch and Central Food Hall at Central Festival Shopping Mall nearby.
- Hospitals & Clinics: McCormick Hospital, Rajavej Chiang Mai Hospital and just neyond the Superhighway, Bangkok Hospital.
- Parks & Playgrounds: Charoen Prathet Public Park in nearby Chang Khlan.
