Childcare in Chiang Mai is one of the categories where the cost-of-living difference vs. the US, UK, or Singapore is most dramatic. A full-time experienced nanny who would cost $4,000+/month in San Francisco runs $700 to $1,500/month here. A bilingual daycare that would cost $2,500+/month in London runs $500 to $1,000.
This guide walks through the three main childcare options, what each actually costs, how to vet, and the visa considerations that catch families out.
The three main options
- Nanny (day or live-in). One-on-one, your home, the most flexible. Best for newborns, infants, and toddlers; also for school-age kids needing after-school care.
- Daycare or preschool. Center-based, structured, peer socialization. Best for toddlers and preschool kids (2 to 5).
- Au pair or mother's helper. Hybrid arrangement, often a young person living with the family in exchange for part-time childcare and a small allowance.
Many families use a combination: daycare 3 mornings a week + a part-time nanny for afternoons, or full-time nanny + parent-and-me classes for socialization.
Nannies
Day nanny
Comes to your home 5 to 6 days a week, 8 to 10 hours per day. Cooks lunches for the kid, plays, naps, manages the daily rhythm. Usually doesn't live with you. Goes home evenings.
- Thai-speaking nanny: ฿15,000 to ฿28,000/month for 5 days a week. ฿20,000 to ฿35,000/month for 6 days.
- English-speaking nanny: ฿25,000 to ฿45,000/month. Some Burmese and Filipino nannies in this pool with English plus their first language.
- Western-trained / qualified early-years professional: ฿35,000 to ฿55,000/month. Rarer, often with formal early-childhood credentials.
Live-in nanny
Lives in your home, usually with their own room. One day off per week (typically Sunday). Provides round-the-clock support but with proper rest and personal time. Costs include salary + room + board.
- Salary: ฿18,000 to ฿35,000/month (Thai-speaking), ฿30,000 to ฿55,000/month (English-speaking).
- Total cost including food and electricity: typically ฿25,000 to ฿65,000/month all-in.
Live-in works best in homes with a separate guest suite or maid's quarters. Many Hang Dong, Mae Rim, and Saraphi homes are designed for this. Condos rarely have the space.
Where to find a nanny
- Agencies. 2 to 4 reputable nanny agencies serve the expat market in Chiang Mai. Vetting and reference-checking handled. Agency fee: typically 1 month of salary, payable on hire. Replacement guarantee usually 1 to 3 months.
- Chiang Mai Moms and Expat Families Facebook groups. Direct hire. Families often post when their nanny is leaving or has flex hours. Cheaper than agency but you do the vetting yourself.
- Word of mouth. The highest signal. A nanny whose family is moving away, or who's flexible to add another family, comes via referral. Most long-term expat families hire this way.
- Departing families. Worth asking expat-family contacts whose nanny might be looking for a new family if the current one is leaving Thailand.
Vetting a nanny
- Two references from previous employers. Call them. Ask specific questions: What did the nanny do well? What was hard? Why did the arrangement end?
- Trial week before committing. Pay full daily rate for the trial week. Watch how the nanny is with your kid.
- Background and ID check. Thai national ID, work history. Foreign nannies (Burmese, Filipino) need legal work status; verify documents.
- First aid and CPR. Ask. If not, ask if they're willing to take a course (offered at most private hospitals for ฿1,500 to ฿3,000).
- Clarify expectations in writing. Hours, days, duties (cooking? laundry? errands?), salary, paid leave, holidays, what happens if the kid is sick.
Daycare and preschool
Local Thai daycares
Cheapest option, ฿5,000 to ฿12,000/month. Most serve a Thai working-class clientele. Care is genuine and warm but the curriculum is light and the language is Thai. Best for families committed to bilingual immersion, or for the cost-conscious with toddlers who don't need a Western-style early-years curriculum.
Bilingual daycares
The middle ground. ฿15,000 to ฿35,000/month. English and Thai used in parallel; teachers and assistants mixed. Half-day, full-day, or extended options. Most expat-family daycares fall here.
Common locations: Nimman, Hang Dong, Mae Rim, San Sai. Programs vary widely; visit before enrolling.
International school early years programs
The premium tier. ฿180,000 to ฿320,000/year. Panyaden's early years, Prem's PrePrem, CMIS K, NIS PreK, Lanna early years. Full Western-curriculum early childhood with the school as the venue. Same school for years to come, which simplifies the transition into primary.
Often integrates with the school's bus service and main calendar (August to June year, breaks aligned).
Au pair / mother's helper
A young person, often a recent graduate or gap-year traveler, lives with the family in exchange for part-time childcare and a stipend. ฿8,000 to ฿15,000/month allowance + room + board.
Less formal than a nanny. Best for families who want a supplementary helper rather than a primary caregiver, and who have space for a guest room. The au pair handles 20 to 25 hours of childcare per week.
Common channels: AuPair.com, Workaway, Helpx, gap-year programs. Vet carefully; reference and background checks matter even more for a live-in stranger.
Visa and legal considerations
- Thai nanny on a Thai national ID: Works freely as a domestic helper. No work permit needed for individual household employment.
- Foreign nanny (Burmese, Filipino, etc.): Needs proper work authorization. Burmese nannies often work on documented but informal arrangements; Filipino nannies typically come on documented work visas through agencies. Verify status before hiring.
- Live-in: insurance and contracts. Many expat families purchase low-cost health insurance for their nanny (฿8,000 to ฿15,000/year). A simple written contract protects both sides.
- Severance and notice. Thai labor law guidance suggests 1 month notice and 30-day severance after 4 months of employment, though enforcement on household help is light. Building in 1 month severance from the start avoids end-of-relationship friction.
What the mix looks like at different stages
- Newborn to 12 months: Full-time nanny is common, especially when both parents work or when one parent works from home and needs uninterrupted blocks.
- 1 to 3: Mix of nanny and 2 to 3 morning playgroups for socialization. Or shift to bilingual daycare 4 mornings + nanny afternoons.
- 3 to 5: Most families move primary care to a daycare or pre-K. Some keep a part-time nanny for pickup and afternoon shifts.
- School-age: School covers most hours. After-school nanny or driver for activities and homework supervision.
What we cover on a Plan Check
For families with specific childcare needs (early-start newborn care, sibling care with mixed ages, special-needs support, language priorities), we map providers near your neighborhood, the going rates for your specific request, and the hiring channels that fit your timeline. We also walk through the cost math against your family's working pattern (one parent working vs both, remote vs in-office, single-shift vs split-shift).
See Family Plan Check for a personalized childcare plan, or browse our cost of living calculator for how childcare slots into your overall family budget.