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 $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $803 in Buenaventura, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,225 in Buenaventura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,648 in Buenaventura, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 8% more than Buenaventura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Buenaventura are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Buenaventura 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿65.0

$3.98 COP 14.2K

-50.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿619

$23.67 COP 84.4K

-20.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿255

$7.47 COP 26.6K

3.75%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿63.2

$1.50 COP 5,349

28.00%

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

$0.79 ฿26.07

$0.86 COP 3,067

-8.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.74

$0.62 COP 2,201

-41.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.9

$1.21 COP 4,312

82.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿120

$2.24 COP 7,978

63.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿54.4

$1.07 COP 3,814

54.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.7

$1.25 COP 4,450

30.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.28

$1.14 COP 4,082

4.39%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.8

$2.16 COP 7,693

-7.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿526

$4.33 COP 15.4K

269.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿99.6

$5.27 COP 18.8K

-42.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿357

$7.55 COP 26.9K

43.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.9

$2.51 COP 8,934

9.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.83

$1.11 COP 3,947

6.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.0

$1.30 COP 4,625

26.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿50.0

$0.87 COP 3,091

74.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.59

$1.13 COP 4,029

22.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿39.25

$1.12 COP 3,999

6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.11

$0.88 COP 3,130

-20.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.70 COP 2,497

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿151

$2.30 COP 8,195

99.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿545

$10.24 COP 36.5K

61.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.2

$1.14 COP 4,055

60.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿105

$1.71 COP 6,102

87.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.87

$0.73 COP 2,609

20.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿616

$30.19 COP 107.7K

-37.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.64

$1.42 COP 5,081

-4.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.12

$1.72 COP 6,121

-22.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿258

$5.97 COP 21.3K

31.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿40.35

$1.00 COP 3,583

23.00%

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

$21.6K ฿711.8K

$17.7K COP 63.0M

22.38%

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

$22.5K ฿742.2K

$25.6K COP 91.3M

-11.95%

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

$70.5 ฿2,322

$83.1 COP 296.2K

-15.07%

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

$13.68 ฿450

$8.91 COP 31.8K

53.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿574

$22.83 COP 81.4K

-23.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,361

$23.22 COP 82.8K

77.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿229

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿190

$4.01 COP 14.3K

43.89%

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

$307 ฿10.1K

$235 COP 836.4K

30.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿481.0K

$5,923 COP 21.1M

146.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,837

$58.6 COP 208.9K

-4.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿863

$32.76 COP 116.8K

-19.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,823

$84.2 COP 300.2K

1.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,378

$73.4 COP 261.8K

-1.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.1K

$282 COP 1.0M

52.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,857

$238 COP 850.3K

0.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.9K

$520 COP 1.9M

57.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.8K

$425 COP 1.5M

20.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿65.3K

$1,606 COP 5.7M

23.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.9K

$1,236 COP 4.4M

20.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.4K

$553 COP 2.0M

11.81%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Buenaventura: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $282 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 12% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $24.00 in Buenaventura. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $174 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: $869 in Chiang Mai, $803 in Buenaventura – roughly 8% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,204 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 38% 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 $19.00 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 $869 in Chiang Mai and $803 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 $803 in Buenaventura to $869 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.