Final Impressions

After a wonderful stay and rest in Chiang Mai, I had to return to Bangkok to catch my flight back to Europe the next day. I stayed overnight in a hotel in Bangkok, and the next morning I headed to the airport, from where I flew to Vienna. After almost 12 hours of flying, I had to wait over 10 hours at the airport in Vienna before I had a flight to Belgrade. A few hours later, 2 buses, 1 train, and I was home. I immediately unpacked, took care of a few tasks, and now I finally have time to sum up all my impressions from the trip...

Not for a moment did I regret choosing these 2 places for my first stay in Thailand. Although everything was a cultural shock from the very start, I quickly got into my own rhythm and enjoyed every moment, whether it was visiting a temple, relaxing by the pool, or simply walking the city streets. Both Bangkok and Chiang Mai are very safe cities at any time of day, and the locals are extremely positive, hardworking, and humble, and they also prepare very tasty food!

Bangkok, as a huge capital city, has something to offer everyone, while Chiang Mai is more for those who want to relax and enjoy nature and a quieter life. So I would say that 15 days is enough to see the whole city and surroundings (national park and various outdoor activities) in Chiang Mai, while Bangkok requires months to get to know in detail, if that's even possible. Prices are affordable, and if someone is craving western things (food, clothing, etc.), everything is available, but at higher prices than local products. The fact that prices are mostly affordable does not mean that everything is cheap - there are, of course, luxury restaurants, hotels, and everything else in abundance, which is why Thailand is known as a country for every pocket.

Comfort and quality of life are at a high level, and now I understand why many foreigners and digital nomads have decided to live in Thailand. Bangkok, for example, has both a metro and a skytrain, and with various transportation apps, everything is very easily accessible and organized (unless you get caught in traffic during rush hour).

For the next time, I would like to visit some southern places, such as Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui, etc., to get a fuller picture of what Thailand really is, as I have only scratched the surface, and of course, I would return to Bangkok to visit some places I already miss.

Total Expenses

For almost 5 years now, I have been keeping a detailed record of all my expenses, so I also recorded all my expenses while I was in Thailand. Here is how much everything cost, divided into several categories:

Airplane tickets: Round-trip tickets to Bangkok via Vienna cost around 750€ (Austrian Airlines)). I also paid just under 100€ for a return ticket in the direction of Bangkok-Chiang Mai (Air Asia)).
Each flight included an additional carry-on bag, so I carried a backpack and a medium-sized sports bag with me.
Accommodation: I spent a month in Bangkok and paid just over 700€ for an entire apartment in a building with a gym and pool. In Chiang Mai, I spent less than a month, and it cost me just over 600€, also for an entire apartment in a building with a gym and pool. In both cases, I used Airbnb for booking, but after searching the name of the building where the apartment is located on Google, I found ads for literally identical apartments in the same building for up to 40-50% less money if taken for a longer period!
Food: This is one of the cheaper items if you eat local, not western food. So I spent only 380€ for 2 months (190€/month!), without any cooking in the apartment (which would, of course, further reduce costs).
Transportation: Transportation is generally cheap, but if you use a taxi/Grab every or every other day, costs quickly add up. I spent 180€ on transportation for both months, and about 25% of that went to taxis to and from the airport. Generally cheap, and if you use Grab bike (motorcycles), it would be significantly cheaper!
Souvenirs: I bought various things for myself and my parents, and it cost me around 80€. Magnets, popular Ya Dom inhalers, mini Buddha statues, a few t-shirts, etc.
Temples, tours, and similar activities: Most temples were free, but for a few more famous ones, you have to pay 3-15€. In Chiang Mai, I took a two-day tour for around 80€, so tours and tickets for various activities cost me around 140€ in total.
Other expenses: I paid 15€ for an e-sim for the first month (30GB). I used only 13GB, so for the second month, I took a smaller package of 15GB for 10€. I also bought sneakers at the night market for 40€.

Total expenses for 2 months: ~3000€.

Considering that this was my first time in this country, I believe these are not excessive costs, but it can certainly be cheaper in almost every category mentioned above. If you stay for a longer period in Thailand, the biggest savings would be on accommodation, and of course on transportation if you use Grab bike.