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Driftly

Before you go

What it actually costs to start

Everything you pay before your first ordinary month begins. These ranges are deliberately cautious: running out in month two is the most common way a first move ends, and an optimistic number would be the least useful thing we could print.

Back to planning
Cost tier

Starting in Chiang Mai

Driftly
One-off setup

$1,524–$4,530

Before you have lived there a single day.

Plus 3 months of living costs

$2,100

The buffer that turns a bad first month into an inconvenience.

Cash on hand we'd want to see

$6,630

Top of the setup range plus the buffer, at the lean tier.

  • Flight

    One way to CNX, booked a few weeks out. Peak season sits at the top of this range.

    $550–$1,100

  • First month plus deposit

    Short lets charge a premium and most landlords want a deposit up front. Monthly rates only start after you are on the ground.

    $504–$1,050

  • Insurance — first 3 months

    Nomad visa applications generally require proof of cover before you travel.

    $120–$330

  • Visa and entry fees

    Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) application fees, translations and document legalisation.

    $0–$350

  • Gear and admin

    Laptop repairs before you go, a second bank card, luggage, adapters, vaccinations, document scans.

    $200–$900

  • Leaving costs at home

    Storage, contract exit fees, mail forwarding, and the last month of overlapping rent nobody plans for.

    $150–$800

Ranges are estimates built from the seed cost data and typical fares, not quotes. Fares, deposits and visa fees vary by season, nationality and how far ahead you book. Check the current figures before you commit to any of them. Turn this into months of runway.

Informational only. Not legal or tax advice. Verify with the relevant authority before travelling.