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

🙂 Solo nomad: Cartago is 23.4% cheaper than Chiang Mai without rent, and 5.6% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Cartago is 2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 10% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cartago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.70 COP 13.9K
$2.03 ฿63.8
82.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.90 COP 108.8K
$18.59 ฿585
55.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.42 COP 27.9K
$7.48 ฿235
-0.80%
Cappuccino
$1.55 COP 5,843
$2.00 ฿62.8
-22.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,291
$0.85 ฿26.63
2.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 COP 2,087
$0.35 ฿11.05
57.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.04 COP 3,927
$2.21 ฿69.5
-52.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 COP 9,295
$3.76 ฿118
-34.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cartago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 COP 4,617
$1.72 ฿54.0
-28.49%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 COP 5,500
$1.63 ฿51.4
-10.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 COP 4,553
$1.16 ฿36.42
4.31%
Eggs
$2.48 COP 9,330
$1.98 ฿62.2
25.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.19 COP 15.8K
$15.93 ฿501
-73.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.45 COP 20.5K
$3.17 ฿99.6
71.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.41 COP 27.9K
$10.90 ฿343
-32.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 COP 9,026
$2.65 ฿83.2
-9.43%
Banana (1kg)
$0.98 COP 3,700
$1.22 ฿38.45
-19.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.20 COP 4,520
$1.70 ฿53.4
-29.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.27 COP 4,777
$1.59 ฿49.99
-20.13%
Potato (1kg)
$0.83 COP 3,110
$1.32 ฿41.63
-37.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 COP 4,160
$1.17 ฿36.74
-5.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 COP 2,853
$0.68 ฿21.31
11.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 COP 2,463
$0.56 ฿17.52
16.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.89 COP 10.9K
$4.51 ฿142
-35.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.83 COP 40.8K
$19.07 ฿600
-43.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 COP 4,186
$1.77 ฿55.7
-37.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 COP 6,966
$3.18 ฿100.0
-41.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Cartago
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 COP 2,590
$0.96 ฿30.27
-28.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.90 ฿594
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 COP 5,781
$1.36 ฿42.69
13.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 COP 7,366
$1.35 ฿42.51
45.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.96 COP 37.5K
$8.03 ฿253
24.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COP 3,571
$1.24 ฿39.08
-23.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7K COP 81.8M
$21.2K ฿665.4K
2.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K COP 111.9M
$21.8K ฿684.0K
36.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cartago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 312.5K
$71.2 ฿2,240
16.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.88 COP 33.4K
$14.09 ฿443
-36.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.19 COP 91.1K
$17.47 ฿549
38.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cartago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.62 COP 88.9K
$42.07 ฿1,323
-43.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88 ฿216
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.94 COP 18.6K
$5.94 ฿187
-16.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cartago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$228 COP 859.0K
$307 ฿9,664
-25.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,962 COP 22.4M
$14.8K ฿465.1K
-59.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cartago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.8 COP 240.0K
$55.7 ฿1,750
14.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.68 COP 168.2K
$26.79 ฿842
66.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.4 COP 287.5K
$83.2 ฿2,617
-8.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.0 COP 342.4K
$70.1 ฿2,204
29.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cartago
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$288 COP 1.1M
$427 ฿13.4K
-32.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$243 COP 914.0K
$237 ฿7,454
2.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$537 COP 2.0M
$802 ฿25.2K
-33.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$426 COP 1.6M
$503 ฿15.8K
-15.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,495 COP 5.6M
$2,061 ฿64.8K
-27.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,363 COP 5.1M
$1,533 ฿48.2K
-11.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cartago
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$310 COP 1.2M
$654 ฿20.6K
-52.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.58
5
131.60%

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

Last update for Cartago: March 3, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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