What are some less touristy and laid-back areas near Chiang Mai for relocation?

Southern Thailand, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. Khanom, Sichon, Promkiri, Nopphitam,..best air in Thailand, mountains, rivers, empty beaches.

Plenty of nice places. We are 100k out of CM. Phrao district. Great small town and very laid back.

Nam Kliang district in Sisaket province

Can even rent you a house

Very quiet and rural with clean air

I suggest you read the posts about what Chiang Mai is like just now. Might help you decide if you can live through that.

Really bad pollution levels at the moment. Whole region is affected! I would think again if I were you!

I would suggest the following. Assuming you are seriously considering this. Chiang Mai is VERY “Touristy” and relatively unauthentic,do not commit to anything. Find a base and rent. Be sure you can be get to and from it simply. Then go look, where you may end up may suprise you.

Chiangmai is not laid back..despite the pollution for two months it gets cery crowded with tourist and lots of festival. I sigfest you go to Fang..very quiet,.local, really laid back..back cleanest village..we had a summer house there once in the middle of orange orchards and rice fields..frogs and birds are tour only companion..

I would suggest, you start to travel around and find your preferred space. Loads of foreigners in Chang Mai, bussing nightlife as it is lot of younger people. Burning session with heavy air pollution a couple of months, some take a brake from this and go on “vacation”. Fantastic nature, lot of festivals. Hua Hin, Jomtien, Rayong, Phang Nga, Krabi Samui more pensioners. The island of Phuket mix of everything but considered as expensive.

I would start with base at he outskirts of Bangkok, get know Thailand and at the same time have everything you are used to, as security blanket. It can be frustrating to understand how thing works here and the duality if papers and rubber stamps on one hand and digital payments, that you maybe used from home but can not use as you need a Thai debit/credit card from Thai bank. Opening bank account need proper visa and prof if residency and more.

Research Nong Khai, highly recommend 👌

Go to Chiang Rai

Right, just you and the dangerous smoke pollution.

Sangkampang