I've traveled to 90 countries. I only found one place I want to live.

Lola Méndez has found Chiang Mai to be an affordable city for her lifestyle.

Lola Méndez

• Lola Méndez has been traveling full-time for nine years and has visited 90 countries.
• Chiang Mai kept drawing her back, so after her dad died, she decided to move to Thailand.
• Now, she pays $355 per month for rent and $35 for therapy sessions.

At 25, after bouncing between California and New York, I left the US with no regrets and no plans to return. I traveled around the world, living in cities across Spain, Italy, India, Vietnam, Uruguay, and Mexico — and visited 90 countries. Eventually I realized that Chiang Mai, Thailand, was the only place I wanted to live.

My first trip to Thailand, in December 2015, came a few months after leaving America. It was also my first time in Asia. I had started following the teachings of Buddha and was eager to visit a country where they were practiced. On my first visit, I spoke with monks, meditated in temples, and visited countless golden statues.

I became obsessed with Thai massages and was happily introduced to what became my favorite dish, Khao Soi — egg noodles in a coconut curry soup. When my monthlong vacation came to an end, I sobbed. I was determined to return.

As a freelance journalist, my job continued to lead me around the world over the next few years, including another three-month stint in Chiang Mai. But when my family needed help at home, I returned to Latin America to be close to my parents.

Missing Chiang Mai over the years

Over the next five years — spent between Uruguay and Mexico — I felt an ache in my heart for Chiang Mai. I'd tell everyone who would listen about my experiences in northern Thailand. At the time, my father was sick, and living that far away was not an option. The day he died, a close friend told me to follow my heart and move to Thailand.

A year and a half later, when I was invited on a press trip to Bangkok, it felt like the universe was permitting me to move back to Chiang Mai and I took the opportunity. As the plane descended into Thailand, and I spotted the first pagoda, I knew I had made the right choice.

Lola Méndez was eager to visit Thailand after she started following the teachings of Buddha.

Lola Méndez

Chiang Mai is affordable for me as a foreigner

Thai legislation also motivated my move back to Chiang Mai. I use cannabis medicinally, and marijuana was legalized in 2022. Thailand is also to become the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, Taiwan being the first in Asia.

I'm only comfortable living in places where I don't face legal repercussions for being queer.

In Chiang Mai I pay $355 per month for rent, $300 less than what I was paying in Puerto Vallarta and four times cheaper than my New York City rent.

I make an effort to rent from locals to ensure my tourist dollars stay in local hands. Motorbike taxis cost less than $2 within a 15-minute radius. I've built a community by attending events that align with my interests including yoga classes, pottery workshops, coworking meetups, and dance lessons.

I can buy over six pounds of mangoes, dragon fruit, and mangosteen for less than $5. Thai massages cost between $3 and $30 an hour, and I've found an English-speaking therapist who charges $35 for in-person sessions.

Most importantly, I feel welcomed by the Thai people. I plan to keep traveling, but want Chiang Mai to be my base. Hopefully, I'll be one of the first to receive the new five-year digital nomad visa.

Got a personal essay about living abroad that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor: akarplus@businessinsider.com.

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