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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $821 per month in Cartago vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,255 per month in Cartago vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,689 per month in Cartago vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Cartago is about 5% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cartago and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Cartago 39% lower, Chiang Mai 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.71 COP 13.3K

$1.94 ฿63.5

91.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.89 COP 103.2K

$18.64 ฿609

54.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.33 COP 26.2K

$7.82 ฿255

-6.27%

Cappuccino

$1.57 COP 5,610

$1.95 ฿63.8

-19.49%

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

$0.92 COP 3,289

$0.85 ฿27.77

8.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 COP 2,112

$0.35 ฿11.58

68.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.01 COP 3,622

$2.13 ฿69.6

-52.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 COP 9,265

$3.73 ฿122

-30.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 COP 4,398

$1.71 ฿56.0

-28.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 COP 5,454

$1.63 ฿53.2

-6.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 COP 4,452

$1.14 ฿37.15

9.65%

Eggs

$2.46 COP 8,767

$1.93 ฿63.1

27.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.5K

$16.21 ฿530

-73.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.48 COP 19.6K

$3.12 ฿102

75.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.55 COP 26.9K

$10.90 ฿356

-30.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 COP 8,802

$2.75 ฿90.0

-10.55%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 COP 3,300

$1.21 ฿39.52

-23.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 COP 4,073

$1.62 ฿53.0

-29.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,714

$1.59 ฿51.8

-16.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 COP 3,102

$1.40 ฿45.70

-37.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,952

$1.17 ฿38.17

-5.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 COP 2,542

$0.66 ฿21.60

7.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 COP 2,501

$0.53 ฿17.22

32.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 COP 10.0K

$4.69 ฿153

-40.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.32 COP 40.4K

$18.66 ฿609

-39.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 COP 3,781

$1.80 ฿58.8

-41.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 COP 6,969

$3.23 ฿106

-39.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 COP 2,463

$0.90 ฿29.26

-23.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.69 COP 106.0K

$19.21 ฿628

54.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.52 COP 5,442

$1.41 ฿45.91

7.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 COP 6,741

$1.29 ฿42.12

46.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.87 COP 35.2K

$7.84 ฿256

25.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,359

$1.27 ฿41.58

-25.98%

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

$21.8K COP 78.0M

$21.3K ฿694.9K

2.61%

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

$30.0K COP 107.1M

$22.2K ฿725.4K

35.04%

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

$80.6 COP 287.7K

$69.1 ฿2,256

16.66%

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

$8.70 COP 31.1K

$14.08 ฿460

-38.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.15 COP 86.2K

$18.00 ฿588

34.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.66 COP 84.5K

$41.06 ฿1,341

-42.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$4.91 COP 17.5K

$5.92 ฿193

-17.06%

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

$224 COP 799.3K

$299 ฿9,766

-25.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,901 COP 21.1M

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-60.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 COP 227.1K

$54.7 ฿1,787

16.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.20 COP 157.8K

$26.77 ฿874

65.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.4 COP 276.2K

$85.0 ฿2,776

-8.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.4 COP 322.8K

$70.6 ฿2,306

28.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 COP 1.0M

$428 ฿14.0K

-34.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 COP 849.6K

$237 ฿7,752

0.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$527 COP 1.9M

$801 ฿26.2K

-34.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$424 COP 1.5M

$515 ฿16.8K

-17.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,428 COP 5.1M

$1,975 ฿64.5K

-27.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,172 COP 4.2M

$1,475 ฿48.2K

-20.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$308 COP 1.1M

$617 ฿20.2K

-50.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

131.60%

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

Last update for Cartago: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $281 in Cartago 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 100% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Cartago versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $182 in Cartago vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Cartago 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

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

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,231 per month in Cartago and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $821 in Cartago and $866 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 55% less in Cartago. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $821 in Cartago and $866 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Cartago – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Cartago. 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.