🇹🇭 Southeast Asia
Cities & towns in Thailand
Where you land inside Thailand matters more than the country itself. Browse the most popular cities for American expats, or take a 60-second quiz to surface the top 5 that fit your lifestyle.
Find your city in Thailand
Answer 8 quick questions about pace, beaches, transit, and budget — we'll rank the top 5 cities.
Bangkok
Pop. ~10.7M
World-class food, transit, and nightlife in a megacity with a deep expat scene.
Walkability
6/10
Beach access
2/10
Expat community
10/10
Housing cost
4/10
Chiang Mai
Pop. ~130,000
Northern city beloved by digital nomads — cheap, walkable old town, mountain backdrop.
Walkability
8/10
Beach access
1/10
Expat community
10/10
Housing cost
2/10
Phuket
Pop. ~410,000
Big resort island with beaches, international schools, and a year-round expat community.
Walkability
5/10
Beach access
10/10
Expat community
9/10
Housing cost
4/10
Koh Samui
Pop. ~70,000
Mid-size island with a relaxed pace and a growing remote-work crowd.
Walkability
5/10
Beach access
10/10
Expat community
8/10
Housing cost
4/10
Pai
Pop. ~3,000
Tiny mountain town north of Chiang Mai — backpacker and creative-nomad enclave.
Walkability
8/10
Beach access
1/10
Expat community
7/10
Housing cost
2/10