Go, but pay attention.
Numbeo's Safety Index puts Chiang Mai at 78/100 for crime — that makes it read sketchier than Thailand's national picture overall (70/100 vs 74/100).
City page · part of Thailand
The one number a country page can't give you
What people who actually live in Chiang Mai report
Numbeo aggregates thousands of resident-submitted perception surveys into a per-city Crime Index (higher = worse) and its inverse, a Safety Index — the only real city-granularity crime signal feeding this page, alongside Thailand's national advisory, political, health, and police-trust data.
Crime Index
22.0
Safety Index
78.0
Sub-scores
Same real inputs as Thailand's national page, with crime swapped for Chiang Mai's own Numbeo number above.
Local know-how
Staying safe in Chiang Mai, specifically
- • Emergency contacts: Fire: 053-241777 Police - emergencies: 191 Rescue Team: 053-218888 Tourist police: 1155, 053-278559
- • Crime: Chiang Mai, like most of Thailand, is quite safe, even at night.
- • The safest approach is to act like your Thai hosts and wear reasonable clothing (shoulders and chest covered) medium-length skirts, long shorts or long pants, speak in a moderate tone of voice, and avoid flashing money or jewellery.
- • Scams: Some scams from Bangkok have started to rear their ugly heads in Chiang Mai.
- • Smoke: Chiang Mai's smoke levels can be discomforting, and sometimes dangerous, during burning season which starts around Makha Bucha Day (end-Feb to early Mar) and lasts about a month.
Legal status (national law)
Legal since 1956. Thailand is one of Asia's most LGBTQ-friendly destinations and legalized same-sex marriage in 2025.
Source: Wikipedia — LGBTQ rights by country →Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
A / B / C / O · 230V
Driving side
left
Emergency
police: 191 / ambulance: 1669 / tourist_police: 1155
Tipping
Not obligatory but appreciated; round up or leave 20-50 THB for good service.
SIM / Data
Prepaid tourist SIMs (AIS, dtac, True) are available at the airport and 7-Elevens; eSIM options exist for most major carriers.
Cash vs. Card
Cash still rules for street food, markets, and tuk-tuks; cards fine in malls and hotels. Carry small bills.
How this compares to Thailand
Numbeo's Safety Index puts Chiang Mai at 78/100 for crime — that makes it read sketchier than Thailand's national picture overall (70/100 vs 74/100).
See the full Thailand page and all receipts →