Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 35,000 THB per m² (e.g., 35 m² = 1,225,000 THB)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 22,000 THB per m² (e.g., 35 m² = 770,000 THB)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 32,000 THB per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 1,600,000 THB)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 20,000 THB per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 1,000,000 THB)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 30,000 THB per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 2,400,000 THB)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 18,000 THB per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 1,440,000 THB)
- Corporate Tax
- 20% Standard rate (reduced rates for SMEs).
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- Standard 10% rate.
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents (>180 days); only taxed if remitted to Thailand.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% for income over 5,000,000 THB.
- VAT
- 7% (Standard rate).
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC rules, but transfer pricing laws apply.
- Property Tax
- Land and Building Tax is based on value and usage (approx. 0.02% to 0.1%).
- Property Transaction Tax
- Transfer fee 2%, Stamp Duty 0.5%, Withholding tax approx 1%.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- LTR (Long-Term Resident) Visa offers 17% flat tax or LTR-Remote Work 0% on foreign income.
Essentials
- City
- Lampang, Mueang Lampang District, Lampang Province, Thailand
- Population
- Approximately 55,000 (City Proper), 150,000 (Metropolitan)
- Internet Speed
- Excellent; Fiber optic widely available (100-500 Mbps). AIS and True Online are top providers.
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 35.5 THB. Major banks include SCB, Kasikorn (K-Bank), and Bangkok Bank.
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable. Use 1.5L bottled water (14 THB) or 20L delivery jugs (15-20 THB).
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type A, B, and C sockets compatible.
- SIM Card
- AIS or TrueMove H; 30-day unlimited data approx. 300-400 THB. Available at 7-Eleven.
- Banking for Expats
- PromptPay QR codes accepted everywhere (even street food). Wise and Revolut work at ATMs.
- Accommodation
- Baan Mon-Lakhon, The Coconut Hotel, or Ma Chic & Chill. Range: 8,000 - 15,000 THB/month.
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, via PromptPay QR codes. Credit cards accepted in larger hotels and Big C/Lotus's.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Booking.com. Guesthouse rates: 500-900 THB per night.
- Budget Accommodation
- The Riverside Guest House (approx. 450-600 THB/night) on Talad Gao Road.
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Talad Gao (Old Market) Road area for the walking street and riverside charm.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Suan Dok or Sob Tui area near Central Lampang for modern amenities and cafes.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- The Space Lampang (near Central); daily pass approx. 150 THB.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Carp Cafe (High-speed Wi-Fi, many plugs) or Flat White Cafe on Boonyawat Road.
- Networking Events
- Limited; informal meetups usually occur at 'The Riverside' or through the 'Expats in Lampang' FB group.
- Social Events for Expats
- Monthly meetups at Kim's Kitchen or weekend visits to the Kad Kong Ta Walking Street.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Grab is the primary app. Bolt has limited availability.
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Mr. Mechanic or local guesthouses. Approx. 200-300 THB/day or 3,000 THB/month.
- Best Beach Nearby
- No nearby beaches (landlocked Northern Thailand). Closest is Pattaya (~8-9 hours drive).
- Top Regional Airline
- Bangkok Airways (Direct flights to BKK Suvarnabhumi Airport).
- Top International Airline
- Thai Airways or Emirates (via connection in Bangkok).
- Highway Access
- Route 1 (Phahonyothin Road) connects south to Bangkok and north to Chiang Rai.
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Nakhon Lampang Railway Station (Historic 1916 building) on the Northern Line.
- Public Transport Passes
- No passes; Songthaews (yellow/green trucks) cost flat 20-40 THB within the city.
- Regional Travel
- Green Bus to Chiang Mai (1.5 hours, ~100-150 THB) or Train to Bangkok (8-10 hours).
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Lampang Cancer Hospital (highly rated) or Khelang Nakorn Memorial Hospital (Private).
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Sati Yoga Lampang; drop-in classes around 200 THB.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Muscle Work Gym or the gym inside Central Lampang (Jetts Fitness).
- Laundry Services
- Otteri Wash & Dry (Self-service chain); 40 THB per wash, 40 THB per dry.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- FoodPanda and GrabFood are very active in Lampang.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Khao Tan (Rice Crackers) and Gaeng Hang Lay (Northern Pork Curry).
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- May Kaidee style spots or 'Jey' (Vegetarian) restaurants near the clock tower.
- Best Dessert Spots
- Khao Mun Kai - Look Me (Known for sweet sticky rice) or Kane Mochi in Central.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Big C Supercenter, Lotus's, and the local Atsawin Market.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Shopee and Lazada (fast delivery from Bangkok/Chiang Mai).
- Grocery Delivery
- Lotus's Shop Online or GrabMart.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Tip Chang Road near the river for pubs like 'The Riverside' and 'PAPA Garden'.
- Local Brewery
- Craft beer bar 'Moonlight Lampang' features Thai craft selections.
- Wine Bars
- The Library (Boutique hotel bar) on Thanon Talat Kao.
- Street Food Stalls
- Kad Kong Ta Walking Street (Saturday/Sunday nights).
- Popular International Cuisine
- Long Jim New York Pizza (Authentic NY style) on Prประสานไมตรี Road.
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Wat Phra That Lampang Luang (One of Thailand's most beautiful temples).
- Museums & Art Venues
- Museum Lampang (located in the old City Hall) and Dhanabadee Ceramic Museum.
- Historical Sites
- Baan Sao Nak (Ancient teak house with 116 pillars).
- Religious Sites
- Wat Phra That Pu Pha Daeng (Sky temple atop a mountain).
- Annual Events
- Lampang Train and Horse Carriage Festival (April).
- Cultural Districts
- The Old Market District (Kad Kong Ta).
- Theater Venues
- Lampang Rajabhat University Cultural Center.
- Local Markets
- Talat Kao (Old Market) and Atsawin Night Market.
- Music Scene
- Live acoustic music at 'Huen Am-Phorn' and jazz nights at local cafes.
- Street Art
- Riverside murals along the Wang River near the white bridge (Ratsadapisek Bridge).
- Cooking Classes
- Small workshops at 'Organic Home' (20 mins outside city center).
- Art Galleries
- Local art displayed at Ma Chic & Chill and various boutique guesthouses.
- Historic Buildings
- Ratsadapisek Bridge and the Louis Leonowens House.
- Local Heritage
- The 'Rot Ma' (Horse Carriages) - the only city in Thailand still using them for transport.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Chae Son National Park (Hot springs and waterfalls).
- National Parks Nearby
- Doi Khun Tan National Park (Accessible by train, great hiking).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Public park 'Suan Sathan' and the Wang River walkway.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Wat Chalermprakiat (Doi Pu Yak) for 360-degree mountain views.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Mae Moh Reservoir area.
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Camping areas within Chae Son National Park.
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Thailand Post (Main Branch on Surain Road) and Kerry Express.
- Tech Repair Services
- IT City inside Central Lampang for major repairs; Banana IT.
- Table Tennis Spots
- Lampang Sports Center near the municipal office.
- Language Classes
- Language Institute at Lampang Rajabhat University.
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Lampang Public Library (near the clock tower).
- Community Centers
- Lampang Youth Center.
- Gaming Lounges
- Cyber cafes located along Boonyawat Road.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Illegal in Thailand; nearest legal casinos are in Laos or Cambodia.