KTV / karaoke is where most of Chiang Mai's nightlife trouble happens — the single highest rip-off-risk category in the city. Private rooms, bottles and hostesses, clustered around Chang Khlan. A few drinks with no menu check can become a five-figure bill; a recent setup hit a table with 30,000฿ for a couple of drinks.
Budget 3,000~10,000฿ per person (room 500~1,500฿/hr, hostess 300~500฿/hr, whisky bottle 1,500~3,000฿, mixers 200~500฿). An official "second round" is rare and private arrangements are wildly overpriced. Confirm every price up front, stick to vetted venues, and avoid unverified local KTV entirely.
An evening format — but the smart move is to read the room and leave fast rather than settle in. The 5 venues below are live-ranked by 7-day visitor traffic and recent reviews. Updated daily.