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 $847 per month in Chiang Mai vs $806 in Buenaventura, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,234 in Buenaventura, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,661 in Buenaventura, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 5% 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 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿68.4

$4.04 COP 13.0K

-49.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿630

$23.92 COP 77.0K

-21.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 ฿264

$7.12 COP 22.9K

10.11%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿64.9

$1.50 COP 4,828

28.67%

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

$0.83 ฿28.00

$0.93 COP 2,994

-10.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.80

$0.56 COP 1,811

-37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿74.8

$1.21 COP 3,908

83.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿128

$2.14 COP 6,872

77.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.4

$1.06 COP 3,397

55.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 ฿52.3

$1.25 COP 4,019

24.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿39.79

$1.13 COP 3,635

4.42%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿67.9

$2.15 COP 6,933

-6.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.16 ฿544

$4.36 COP 14.0K

270.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿102

$5.16 COP 16.6K

-41.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿365

$7.16 COP 23.1K

51.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿90.3

$2.48 COP 7,971

8.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿41.14

$1.12 COP 3,588

8.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.8

$1.31 COP 4,201

24.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.5

$0.87 COP 2,799

75.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿45.10

$1.13 COP 3,629

18.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.86

$1.17 COP 3,773

3.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.63

$0.81 COP 2,598

-13.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.70

$0.65 COP 2,105

-18.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿158

$2.33 COP 7,508

101.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.71 ฿597

$10.87 COP 35.0K

62.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ฿62.2

$1.13 COP 3,629

63.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿108

$1.79 COP 5,770

79.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿30.01

$0.72 COP 2,305

23.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿632

$29.68 COP 95.5K

-36.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.40

$1.44 COP 4,621

-2.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿43.52

$1.64 COP 5,285

-21.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 ฿262

$6.18 COP 19.9K

26.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿43.59

$0.95 COP 3,070

35.79%

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

$21.8K ฿733.4K

$17.7K COP 56.9M

23.09%

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

$21.7K ฿730.7K

$25.4K COP 81.7M

-14.59%

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

$70.0 ฿2,358

$83.3 COP 268.1K

-16.02%

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

$14.19 ฿478

$8.87 COP 28.5K

59.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 ฿587

$22.32 COP 71.8K

-21.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,403

$23.66 COP 76.1K

75.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿232

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿195

$4.02 COP 12.9K

43.78%

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

$300 ฿10.1K

$235 COP 756.2K

27.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ฿489.2K

$5,945 COP 19.1M

144.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,865

$60.1 COP 193.2K

-7.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.31 ฿886

$32.17 COP 103.5K

-18.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,858

$83.8 COP 269.6K

1.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,375

$74.1 COP 238.4K

-4.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 ฿14.3K

$282 COP 907.8K

50.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,919

$237 COP 761.3K

-0.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿27.0K

$536 COP 1.7M

49.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 ฿17.4K

$433 COP 1.4M

19.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 ฿64.9K

$1,731 COP 5.6M

11.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.9K

$1,400 COP 4.5M

3.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$586 ฿19.8K

$623 COP 2.0M

-5.86%

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Buenaventura: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 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 6% higher in Buenaventura, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $24.00 in Buenaventura. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $173 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: $847 in Chiang Mai, $806 in Buenaventura – roughly 5% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,271 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,210 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 40% 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 $847 in Chiang Mai and $806 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 $806 in Buenaventura to $847 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.