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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,070 in Cartagena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,619 in Cartagena, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,168 in Cartagena, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 19% cheaper than Cartagena, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Cartagena are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Cartagena 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 ฿64.3

$5.89 COP 20.5K

-66.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 ฿612

$46.71 COP 163.0K

-59.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 ฿252

$9.43 COP 32.9K

-17.82%

Cappuccino

$1.92 ฿62.5

$1.62 COP 5,658

18.52%

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

$0.79 ฿25.79

$0.82 COP 2,855

-3.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.62

$0.66 COP 2,309

-45.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.25 COP 4,347

76.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿119

$2.88 COP 10.1K

27.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿53.8

$1.15 COP 4,020

43.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.92 COP 6,695

-15.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.86

$1.38 COP 4,818

-13.77%

Eggs

$2.00 ฿65.1

$2.10 COP 7,317

-4.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.98 ฿520

$6.73 COP 23.5K

137.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿98.5

$6.13 COP 21.4K

-50.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.86 ฿354

$7.82 COP 27.3K

38.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿90.0

$3.22 COP 11.2K

-14.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.42

$1.93 COP 6,729

-38.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.44 COP 5,011

13.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.51

$1.65 COP 5,757

-7.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿45.10

$1.54 COP 5,378

-10.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.84

$1.06 COP 3,716

12.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿22.86

$1.00 COP 3,489

-30.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.13

$0.64 COP 2,224

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.58 ฿149

$2.28 COP 7,973

100.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.56 ฿539

$18.45 COP 64.4K

-10.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿59.5

$0.94 COP 3,272

94.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 ฿104

$0.97 COP 3,392

229.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿28.56

$1.03 COP 3,583

-14.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.72 ฿610

$28.09 COP 98.0K

-33.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿44.16

$2.46 COP 8,570

-44.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿43.65

$2.44 COP 8,521

-45.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$4.73 COP 16.5K

65.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 ฿39.92

$1.02 COP 3,552

20.59%

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

$21.6K ฿704.3K

$21.4K COP 74.8M

0.92%

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

$22.5K ฿734.3K

$23.6K COP 82.3M

-4.41%

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

$70.5 ฿2,298

$139 COP 486.8K

-49.43%

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

$13.68 ฿445

$10.98 COP 38.3K

24.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.45 ฿568

$25.01 COP 87.3K

-30.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.33 ฿1,346

$34.52 COP 120.5K

19.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

$8.50 COP 29.7K

-18.12%

Cinema Ticket

$5.77 ฿188

$2.85 COP 9,936

102.46%

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

$307 ฿10.0K

$139 COP 485.5K

120.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿475.9K

$5,857 COP 20.4M

149.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,817

$47.52 COP 165.9K

17.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.21 ฿854

$38.12 COP 133.0K

-31.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 ฿2,793

$126 COP 440.8K

-32.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.2 ฿2,353

$114 COP 396.4K

-36.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 ฿14.0K

$725 COP 2.5M

-40.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿7,774

$334 COP 1.2M

-28.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$817 ฿26.6K

$1,271 COP 4.4M

-35.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$511 ฿16.6K

$466 COP 1.6M

9.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,983 ฿64.6K

$3,075 COP 10.7M

-35.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,484 ฿48.3K

$842 COP 2.9M

76.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$619 ฿20.2K

$410 COP 1.4M

50.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-66.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $725 in Cartagena. 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 51% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $47.00 in Cartagena. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $223 in Cartagena – so Cartagena 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 Cartagena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cartagena costs about 23% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,605 in Cartagena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $139 in Cartagena. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 8% cheaper in Cartagena – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $869, than in Cartagena at $1,070. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartagena it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $1,070 in Cartagena. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cartagena makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.