Night life is active and inexpensive; movies are $3.50, drinks are $3.50; club cover fees are about the same.   Some retirees buy second-hand cars; others buy scooters or small motorcycles; these cost around $700.  Renting a small motorcycle is also an option and runs about $85 per month.  Note:  traffic flows on the left side of the road, and reckless driving seems to be an art form here.   Public transportation is cheap but not always convenient (tuk-tuks cost about $2.50 per ride, and songtaew minibuses about $.35 per ride).  Clothing is not expensive and bargain markets are all over the city.  Overall, it is quite possible to enjoy retirement here for around $500 per month.  

Chiang Mai's climate is tropical but cooler and less humid than elsewhere in Thailand.  The weather is either warm or hot during the day (and can reach 100 degrees) from March to May and warm or cool at night.  Winter temperatures (December and January) can be actually chilly.   The rains begin in May, come every day and last until November (mornings during this period are often clear).  The dry season lasts for another six months, which is four months longer than in other areas of the country.

While in the country on a retirement visa, it is illegal to work.  Volunteering opportunities, however, are all around.  A number of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), their work supplemented by volunteers, operate in this region.  Many work to help local children and the hill tribe people and appreciate the time and talent given by expat retirees.  Some of these groups include Helping Hands (needs English-speaking teachers, nurses and writers), TVS (helping locals manage tourism) and Raintree Resource Center (maintains a resource center and organizes special events).

Chiang Mai is also famous for its handicraft, numerous universities and more and more for its golf.  One of Asia's top three courses, the world-class, Robert Trent Jones Jr.- designed, 18-hole Santiburi Country Club course, is 25 minutes outside of the city and receives rave reviews.  The Chiang Mai Highands Resort course and the spectacular Gassan Khuntan Golf Resort also draw golfers from around Asia.

Drawbacks to retirement in Chiang Mai, aside from the potential for intense culture shock, are fairly few.  Sanitation and hygiene in some areas are not up to Western standards.  Traffic is chaotic.  Tuk-tuk drivers can be inconsiderate.  But, overall, Chiang Mai attracts expatriate retirees because it is a welcoming and inexpensive city in an exotic, fascinating land and offers a calmness all but lost in the U.S.   The surrounding area is lush and green; ancient temples peek through the trees; elephants carry visitors on jungle safaris.  For retirees with a sense of adventure, Chiang Mai is worth a visit.