🙂A single person spends $866 per month in Barranquilla vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,363 per month in Barranquilla vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,859 per month in Barranquilla vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Barranquilla and Chiang Mai have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.
📊Both Barranquilla and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Barranquilla35% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barranquilla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.94COP 17.6K
$1.94฿63.5
154.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.96COP 110.6K
$18.64฿609
66.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.16COP 25.6K
$7.82฿255
-8.44%
Cappuccino
$1.75COP 6,267
$1.95฿63.8
-10.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92COP 3,296
$0.85฿27.77
8.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60COP 2,146
$0.35฿11.58
71.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.37COP 4,886
$2.13฿69.6
-35.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93COP 6,877
$3.73฿122
-48.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barranquilla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,360
$1.71฿56.0
-45.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33COP 4,749
$1.63฿53.2
-18.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03COP 3,667
$1.14฿37.15
-9.65%
Eggs
$2.03COP 7,266
$1.93฿63.1
5.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.51COP 16.1K
$16.21฿530
-72.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.21COP 18.6K
$3.12฿102
66.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.14COP 25.5K
$10.90฿356
-34.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.88COP 10.3K
$2.75฿90.0
4.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,852
$1.21฿39.52
12.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 5,434
$1.62฿53.0
-6.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.85COP 3,037
$1.59฿51.8
-46.54%
Potato(1kg)
$0.90COP 3,226
$1.40฿45.70
-35.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50COP 5,361
$1.17฿38.17
28.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81COP 2,909
$0.66฿21.60
22.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62COP 2,202
$0.53฿17.22
16.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.81COP 10.0K
$4.69฿153
-40.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.55COP 34.1K
$18.66฿609
-48.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89COP 3,179
$1.80฿58.8
-50.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,694
$3.23฿106
-59.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Barranquilla
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.76COP 2,732
$0.90฿29.26
-15.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.20COP 115.0K
$19.21฿628
67.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.92COP 6,848
$1.41฿45.91
36.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.82COP 10.1K
$1.29฿42.12
118.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.94COP 17.6K
$7.84฿256
-36.99%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.00COP 3,584
$1.27฿41.58
-21.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.0KCOP 53.6M
$21.3K฿694.9K
-29.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1KCOP 78.9M
$22.2K฿725.4K
-0.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barranquilla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$139COP 495.3K
$69.1฿2,256
100.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.13COP 29.0K
$14.08฿460
-42.26%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.37COP 76.3K
$18.00฿588
18.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barranquilla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.44COP 76.6K
$41.06฿1,341
-47.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.36COP 51.3K
$6.96฿227
106.32%
Cinema Ticket
$4.16COP 14.8K
$5.92฿193
-29.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barranquilla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$61.2COP 218.5K
$299฿9,766
-79.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,837COP 6.6M
$15.0K฿488.3K
-87.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barranquilla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.3COP 219.1K
$54.7฿1,787
12.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.6COP 187.8K
$26.77฿874
96.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3COP 286.7K
$85.0฿2,776
-5.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.5COP 255.3K
$70.6฿2,306
1.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barranquilla
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$235COP 838.4K
$428฿14.0K
-45.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$224COP 800.1K
$237฿7,752
-5.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$544COP 1.9M
$801฿26.2K
-32.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$456COP 1.6M
$515฿16.8K
-11.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,574COP 5.6M
$1,975฿64.5K
-20.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$605COP 2.2M
$1,475฿48.2K
-58.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barranquilla
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$486COP 1.7M
$617฿20.2K
-21.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10
5
100.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barranquilla: June 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $235 in Barranquilla versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 27% higher in Chiang Mai. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Barranquilla versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $171 in Barranquilla vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Barranquilla wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Barranquilla vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Barranquilla vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,299 per month in Barranquilla and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Barranquilla or Chiang Mai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Barranquilla, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Barranquilla or Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 44% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do childcare costs compare in Barranquilla and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $61.2 per month in Barranquilla and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Barranquilla or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Barranquilla and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Barranquilla or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Barranquilla costs $866 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Barranquilla compared to Chiang Mai?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Barranquilla or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Barranquilla. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Barranquilla vs other spots: cost of living compared