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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 13.7% more expensive than Cali without rent, and 10.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 2.9% more expensive than Cali without rent, and 6.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Cali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.2
$3.59 COP 13.5K
-43.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿588
$29.51 COP 111.1K
-37.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿237
$7.46 COP 28.1K
0.27%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.2
$1.63 COP 6,132
22.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.81
$0.95 COP 3,584
-10.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.13
$0.56 COP 2,122
-37.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.0
$1.05 COP 3,958
110.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿119
$2.50 COP 9,419
50.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Cali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.4
$1.22 COP 4,572
40.98%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.7
$1.51 COP 5,692
7.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.66
$1.20 COP 4,521
-3.33%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.6
$2.54 COP 9,540
-22.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿504
$4.17 COP 15.7K
282.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿100
$5.36 COP 20.2K
-40.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿345
$7.59 COP 28.6K
43.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.7
$2.40 COP 9,050
10.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.70
$0.90 COP 3,392
35.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.7
$1.14 COP 4,276
49.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.3
$1.26 COP 4,756
26.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.90
$0.87 COP 3,263
51.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.99
$1.06 COP 4,004
10.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.46
$0.76 COP 2,863
-10.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.64
$0.65 COP 2,462
-13.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿143
$2.82 COP 10.6K
59.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿604
$11.21 COP 42.2K
70.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.0
$1.11 COP 4,158
59.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿101
$1.92 COP 7,223
65.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Cali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.47
$0.68 COP 2,555
41.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿598
$20.33 COP 76.5K
-7.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.98
$1.61 COP 6,051
-15.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.80
$1.95 COP 7,327
-30.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿254
$9.76 COP 36.7K
-17.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.34
$0.95 COP 3,573
30.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿669.8K
$21.8K COP 82.2M
-3.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿688.5K
$29.7K COP 111.9M
-26.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Cali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,255
$82.8 COP 311.6K
-13.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿446
$8.79 COP 33.1K
60.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿553
$24.10 COP 90.7K
-27.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Cali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,332
$20.12 COP 75.7K
109.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿218
$14.36 COP 54.0K
-52.09%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿188
$4.96 COP 18.7K
19.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Cali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,728
$228 COP 857.7K
34.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿468.2K
$5,953 COP 22.4M
148.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Cali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,762
$62.9 COP 236.8K
-11.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿848
$43.78 COP 164.7K
-38.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,634
$77.0 COP 289.8K
8.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,219
$89.0 COP 334.8K
-21.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Cali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.5K
$242 COP 909.1K
76.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,504
$185 COP 697.4K
27.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.4K
$624 COP 2.3M
28.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.9K
$407 COP 1.5M
23.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.2K
$1,085 COP 4.1M
89.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.5K
$854 COP 3.2M
79.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Cali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.7K
$489 COP 1.8M
33.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
11.58
-56.82%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Cali: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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