Chiang Mai ranks first in Southeast Asia on Numbeo's 2026 safety index, with a score of 77.9 against Singapore's 77.5, The Nation reported on 21 October 2026. The index is a survey of how safe Numbeo's users feel. It is not police crime data. Explera DMC Thailand explains what the ranking measures and how agents can use it honestly.
Explera handles ground arrangements as a Thailand DMC for travel agents. Its Thai company, Explera DMC Co., Ltd., holds TAT licence 14/05119, the Tourism Business Licence issued by the Department of Tourism, and the group is IATA TIDS-registered (96215733) and a member of ASTA (900408341). Write to b2b@explera.co.th.
What does the 2026 index say?
Numbeo publishes its city tables twice a year, and the two 2026 editions give slightly different numbers. The start-of-year table for South-Eastern Asia shows Chiang Mai at 77.9 and Singapore at 77.5. Those are the figures in The Nation's report, which also put Chiang Mai 19th worldwide. The mid-year table shows Chiang Mai at 78.0 and Singapore at 77.7. Chiang Mai is first in the region in both, by less than half a point. Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports welcomed the result on 22 October and called it the city's second year running at the top, according to the National News Bureau of Thailand.
What does Numbeo's safety index measure?
It measures perception. Numbeo says its crime and safety figures come from surveys answered by visitors to its website, and that they may differ from official government statistics. People are asked how safe they feel walking alone by day and at night and how much they worry about things such as theft or being attacked. When we read Chiang Mai's page on 12 November 2026 it showed about 140 contributors over five years. That is a small sample, and a gap of 0.3 or 0.4 points over Singapore is too narrow to treat as a real difference between the two cities.
How should agents use it with clients?
Quote it with its source. "Chiang Mai ranks first in Southeast Asia on Numbeo's 2026 safety index, a survey of how safe people feel there" is accurate. "Chiang Mai is the safest city in Southeast Asia" is not something the index can prove, so do not print it in a brochure or a proposal. Use the ranking as a way into the conversation, then give the client practical advice: booked transfers with a named driver, licensed guides and a 24-hour contact. Our Chiang Mai destination guide covers the city, and our emergency support page explains what a Thailand DMC does when something goes wrong.
What about Bangkok and Pattaya?
A National News Bureau report in February 2026 placed Bangkok fifth and Pattaya sixth among ASEAN cities. The Numbeo regional tables we read on 12 November show something different: Bangkok seventh and Pattaya ninth by safety score, out of 18 cities in the mid-year table, with scores of 61.6 and 54.9. We could not match the fifth and sixth places to either 2026 table. If you mention the two cities, quote the scores and the edition, not a rank.
What does the ranking not cover?
It says nothing about air quality, road safety, health or travel insurance. Air matters most in the north. On the same site, Chiang Mai's pollution score is 77.8, which Numbeo classes as high, and that figure is also a survey of opinion, not a measurement of PM2.5. Smoke in the north is seasonal, and our post on Thailand's 2027 PM2.5 plan and the northern burning season explains when it matters. A client who asks "is Chiang Mai safe?" in March may really be asking about the air, so answer both questions. The rest of what we arrange is on our Thailand DMC services page.
Next steps
Send us your client's dates and group size for Chiang Mai through our contact page. The trade desk replies within 24 hours.
Sources
- Nation Thailand: Chiang Mai tops 2026 Southeast Asia safety index at 77.9 points
- Numbeo: South-Eastern Asia, Crime Index by City 2026 Mid-Year
- Pattaya Mail (NNT): Chiang Mai named Southeast Asia's safest city for second year running
Frequently asked questions
Is Chiang Mai the safest city in Southeast Asia?
It ranks first in the region on Numbeo's 2026 safety index, in both the start-of-year and mid-year tables. That is a survey of how safe people feel, so say "first on Numbeo's index" and name the source.
Is Numbeo's safety index based on police crime statistics?
No. Numbeo says the figures come from surveys answered by visitors to its website and may differ from official government statistics.
What is Chiang Mai's score on the 2026 index?
77.9 in the start-of-year table, against 77.5 for Singapore, and 78.0 in the mid-year table, against 77.7. The Nation reported the first pair of figures on 21 October 2026.
Does the ranking cover air quality in Chiang Mai?
No. Air quality is a separate question. Numbeo's own pollution score for Chiang Mai is classed as high, and smoke in the north is seasonal, so check the dates before you sell February to April.
