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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 10.6% more expensive than Cali without rent, and 15.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 9% more expensive than Cali without rent, and 8.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Cali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$3.65 COP 15.2K
-44.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$29.31 COP 122.2K
-35.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$7.44 COP 31K
3.09%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$1.56 COP 6,522
26.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.9 COP 3,746
-8.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.56 COP 2,341
-41.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$1.05 COP 4,360
101.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$2.56 COP 10.7K
45.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Cali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.22 COP 5,067
34.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.52 COP 6,331
3.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.26 COP 5,261
-5.56%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$2.47 COP 10.3K
-19.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$4.32 COP 18K
270.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$5.3 COP 22.1K
-41.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$7.7 COP 32.1K
44.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$2.48 COP 10.3K
11.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$0.98 COP 4,101
24.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$1.14 COP 4,767
50.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$1.27 COP 5,292
22.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$0.89 COP 3,699
50.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.05 COP 4,371
15.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.75 COP 3,107
-4.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$0.65 COP 2,722
-18.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$2.92 COP 12.2K
61.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$10.91 COP 45.5K
68.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.07 COP 4,466
67.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$1.88 COP 7,856
70.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Cali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.72 COP 2,987
30.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$20.38 COP 84.9K
-7.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$1.56 COP 6,502
-8.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.91 COP 7,969
-29.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$9.87 COP 41.1K
-20.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$0.99 COP 4,121
26.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$22.2K COP 92.4M
-4.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$29.5K COP 123M
-25.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Cali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$80.2 COP 334.3K
-11.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$8.59 COP 35.8K
59.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$24.04 COP 100.2K
-26.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Cali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$19.75 COP 82.3K
110.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$14.26 COP 59.4K
-51.61%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$4.96 COP 20.7K
16.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Cali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$224 COP 932.1K
37.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$6,064 COP 25.3M
142.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Cali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$63.1 COP 263.1K
-12.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$43.4 COP 180.9K
-39.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$76.9 COP 320.5K
10.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$88.9 COP 370.5K
-19.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Cali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$239 COP 997.9K
81.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$189 COP 789K
24.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$605 COP 2.5M
35.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$404 COP 1.7M
23.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$1,074 COP 4.5M
103.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$852 COP 3.6M
81.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Cali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$399 COP 1.7M
76.28%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Cali: October 28, 2025

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