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 $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $797 in Buenaventura, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,202 in Buenaventura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,608 in Buenaventura, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 6% more than Buenaventura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Buenaventura are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Buenaventura 41% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$4.11 COP 14.7K

-52.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$23.58 COP 84.4K

-21.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$7.07 COP 25.3K

6.08%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$1.55 COP 5,545

24.52%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$0.92 COP 3,307

-15.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$0.56 COP 2,014

-42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$1.16 COP 4,139

85.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$2.14 COP 7,656

73.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$1.06 COP 3,781

61.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$1.23 COP 4,400

26.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$1.15 COP 4,105

2.61%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$2.15 COP 7,680

-7.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$4.38 COP 15.7K

266.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$5.26 COP 18.8K

-39.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

$7.18 COP 25.7K

52.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$2.42 COP 8,653

8.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$1.07 COP 3,831

9.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$1.36 COP 4,850

21.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$0.93 COP 3,338

65.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$1.17 COP 4,178

17.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$1.17 COP 4,185

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$0.87 COP 3,106

-24.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.69 COP 2,455

-26.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$2.31 COP 8,250

95.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$9.11 COP 32.6K

101.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$1.09 COP 3,906

65.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$1.76 COP 6,307

80.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.68 COP 2,446

32.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

$29.84 COP 106.8K

-36.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$1.48 COP 5,308

-4.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

$1.73 COP 6,184

-24.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$5.91 COP 21.1K

36.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$1.02 COP 3,643

25.49%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$17.6K COP 63.1M

20.85%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$25.7K COP 91.8M

-15.42%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$82.1 COP 293.8K

-15.70%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$8.94 COP 32.0K

56.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$22.34 COP 79.9K

-19.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$23.31 COP 83.4K

81.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$4.06 COP 14.5K

45.81%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$237 COP 847.8K

26.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$5,929 COP 21.2M

150.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$58.7 COP 210.2K

-4.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$33.13 COP 118.6K

-18.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$83.2 COP 297.8K

1.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$71.6 COP 256.1K

0.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$287 COP 1.0M

51.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$237 COP 847.6K

1.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$531 COP 1.9M

50.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$432 COP 1.5M

15.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

$1,652 COP 5.9M

20.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

$1,366 COP 4.9M

12.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

$550 COP 2.0M

14.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.18

-62.06%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Buenaventura: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $287 in Buenaventura. 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 14% 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $24 in Buenaventura. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $170 in Buenaventura – so Buenaventura 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $845 in Chiang Mai, $797 in Buenaventura – roughly 6% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,195 in Buenaventura. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 43% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai and $24.00 in Buenaventura. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $845 in Chiang Mai and $797 in Buenaventura, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $797 in Buenaventura to $845 in Chiang Mai. 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 Buenaventura. 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.