Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartagena and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartagena and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,086 per month in Cartagena vs $852 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,604 per month in Cartagena vs $1,360 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,121 per month in Cartagena vs $1,867 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Cartagena costs about 27% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Cartagena and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Cartagena 18% lower, Chiang Mai 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.93 COP 18.7K

$2.04 ฿68.2

190.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.34 COP 149.1K

$18.71 ฿624

153.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 COP 31.3K

$7.86 ฿262

26.59%

Cappuccino

$1.57 COP 4,950

$2.03 ฿67.7

-22.66%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.82 COP 2,579

$0.80 ฿26.64

2.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 COP 2,128

$0.35 ฿11.68

94.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.31 COP 4,111

$2.14 ฿71.5

-38.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 COP 9,107

$3.67 ฿122

-21.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 COP 3,590

$1.73 ฿57.6

-34.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 COP 5,777

$1.57 ฿52.4

16.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,324

$1.20 ฿39.99

14.17%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 6,910

$1.97 ฿65.8

11.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.81 COP 21.5K

$16.23 ฿541

-58.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.22 COP 19.6K

$3.06 ฿102

103.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.77 COP 24.5K

$10.80 ฿360

-28.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 COP 10.3K

$2.77 ฿92.3

17.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 COP 6,014

$1.17 ฿38.94

63.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 COP 4,556

$1.71 ฿57.0

-15.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 COP 5,101

$1.59 ฿53.2

1.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,074

$1.39 ฿46.51

15.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,400

$1.16 ฿38.56

-6.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 COP 3,177

$0.66 ฿22.05

53.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 COP 1,865

$0.52 ฿17.31

13.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 7,403

$4.65 ฿155

-49.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.80 COP 59.2K

$17.78 ฿593

5.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 COP 3,083

$1.79 ฿59.6

-45.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 COP 3,081

$3.34 ฿111

-70.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 COP 3,311

$0.91 ฿30.27

15.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.98 COP 91.2K

$18.64 ฿622

55.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 COP 7,753

$1.41 ฿47.04

74.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.37 COP 7,461

$1.34 ฿44.70

76.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.86 COP 15.3K

$8.11 ฿270

-40.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 COP 3,204

$1.23 ฿41.16

-17.07%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.1K COP 66.5M

$21.4K ฿715.1K

-1.49%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.0K COP 75.7M

$21.8K ฿728.0K

10.19%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$143 COP 449.0K

$71.3 ฿2,379

99.93%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.93 COP 34.4K

$14.01 ฿467

-21.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.27 COP 79.6K

$17.93 ฿598

40.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.26 COP 111.0K

$40.82 ฿1,362

-13.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.60 COP 27.1K

$6.88 ฿230

25.00%

Cinema Ticket

$2.84 COP 8,948

$5.72 ฿191

-50.35%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$144 COP 453.7K

$308 ฿10.3K

-53.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,062 COP 19.1M

$14.7K ฿489.7K

-58.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.97 COP 151.0K

$55.8 ฿1,860

-13.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.50 COP 121.2K

$26.04 ฿869

47.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 COP 393.7K

$84.8 ฿2,829

47.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 COP 351.2K

$71.0 ฿2,368

57.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$720 COP 2.3M

$423 ฿14.1K

70.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$333 COP 1.0M

$242 ฿8,088

37.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,292 COP 4.1M

$797 ฿26.6K

62.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 COP 1.5M

$507 ฿16.9K

-6.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,492 COP 11.0M

$1,918 ฿64.0K

82.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$935 COP 2.9M

$1,464 ฿48.8K

-36.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 COP 1.5M

$595 ฿19.9K

-21.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

200.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cartagena: July 26, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $720 in Cartagena versus $423 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, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Cartagena versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $223 in Cartagena vs $244 in Chiang Mai – so Cartagena 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

Cartagena vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartagena costs about 27% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,629 per month in Cartagena and $1,279 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $144 per month in Cartagena and $308 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Cartagena – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $852, than in Cartagena at $1,086. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartagena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $852 versus $1,086 in Cartagena. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cartagena makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.