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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,288 in Buenaventura, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,054 in Buenaventura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,820 in Buenaventura, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 26% cheaper than Buenaventura, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Buenaventura are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Buenaventura 6% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.4

$7.69 COP 24.0K

-72.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿644

$46.60 COP 145.4K

-57.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$8.83 COP 27.6K

-36.01%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.2

$2.32 COP 7,252

-21.98%

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

$0.71 ฿23.40

$1.48 COP 4,620

-52.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.36

$0.98 COP 3,066

-67.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.4

$2.32 COP 7,226

-3.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.62 COP 11.3K

0.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.3

$1.42 COP 4,439

38.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.29

$2.71 COP 8,459

-44.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.84

$1.81 COP 5,644

-25.97%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.3

$2.77 COP 8,649

-18.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿533

$7.55 COP 23.6K

115.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿96.9

$10.63 COP 33.2K

-72.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿326

$13.54 COP 42.3K

-26.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.4

$3.10 COP 9,676

-17.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.66

$1.32 COP 4,130

-19.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿52.9

$2.15 COP 6,723

-25.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.86

$1.96 COP 6,106

-22.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.68

$1.43 COP 4,452

-11.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿34.99

$1.49 COP 4,655

-28.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.63

$1.27 COP 3,977

-43.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.69

$0.99 COP 3,102

-48.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

$4.47 COP 14.0K

-6.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿586

$15.59 COP 48.7K

14.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.6

$1.61 COP 5,033

4.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.1

$3.13 COP 9,759

-9.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.36

$1.22 COP 3,814

-23.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,767

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.50

$1.54 COP 4,797

-20.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.92

$2.42 COP 7,567

-76.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.5

$8.84 COP 27.6K

-72.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.34

$1.50 COP 4,694

-6.00%

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

$21.4K ฿703.6K

$26.7K COP 83.3M

-19.65%

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

$27.3K ฿896.8K

$39.5K COP 123.4M

-30.85%

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

$63.7 ฿2,089

$117 COP 365.4K

-45.62%

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

$12.85 ฿422

$12.98 COP 40.5K

-1.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿663

$32.02 COP 99.9K

-36.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,271

$32.99 COP 103.0K

17.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿221

$6.25 COP 19.5K

7.84%

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

$778 ฿25.5K

$571 COP 1.8M

36.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿479.4K

$6,325 COP 19.7M

130.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,781

$84.2 COP 262.9K

-35.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿835

$58.7 COP 183.2K

-56.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,095

$144 COP 449.9K

-34.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,410

$94.5 COP 294.8K

-22.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$773 COP 2.4M

-36.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,492

$507 COP 1.6M

-42.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.3K

$1,174 COP 3.7M

-23.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$877 COP 2.7M

-41.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.1K

$2,059 COP 6.4M

-5.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.5K

$1,447 COP 4.5M

2.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.58

-51.90%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Buenaventura: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $773 in Buenaventura. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $47.00 in Buenaventura. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $288 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $947 in Chiang Mai, $1,288 in Buenaventura – roughly 36% apart. Buenaventura costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,932 in Buenaventura. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $47.00 in Buenaventura. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Buenaventura, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Buenaventura at $1,288. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Buenaventura it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $947 in Chiang Mai to $1,288 in Buenaventura. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Buenaventura makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.