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 $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,295 in Cartagena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,130 in Cartagena, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,966 in Cartagena, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 28% cheaper than Cartagena, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Cartagena are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Cartagena 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$4.95 COP 15.5K

-57.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$135 COP 422.2K

-85.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$10.19 COP 31.8K

-44.36%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$3.61 COP 11.3K

-49.86%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.88 COP 5,879

-59.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$1.82 COP 5,670

-80.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$2.06 COP 6,425

7.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$4.87 COP 15.2K

-22.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.97 COP 6,144

4.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$2.99 COP 9,317

-49.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.51 COP 4,703

-7.28%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$5.21 COP 16.2K

-56.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$13.62 COP 42.5K

18.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$17.97 COP 56.1K

-83.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$2.07 COP 6,464

-74.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$14.76 COP 46.1K

23.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.40 COP 4,362

16.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$1.29 COP 4,018

-31.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

$59.4 COP 185.2K

-9.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$4.85 COP 15.1K

-75.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$3.84 COP 12.0K

-84.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$9.83 COP 30.7K

-75.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.38 COP 4,300

5.07%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$23.9K COP 74.6M

-12.17%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$34.8K COP 108.7M

-24.15%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$80.9 COP 252.4K

-21.32%

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

$12.89 ฿430

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$90.5 COP 282.5K

-56.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$8.48 COP 26.5K

-22.41%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$651 COP 2.0M

20.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$5,929 COP 18.5M

147.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$1,087 COP 3.4M

-54.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$581 COP 1.8M

-50.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$2,355 COP 7.3M

-62.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$978 COP 3.1M

-46.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$968 COP 3.0M

49.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$480 COP 1.5M

25.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

-62.87%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $1,087 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 25% 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $135 in Cartagena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $268 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 39% 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 $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,942 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 $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $651 in Cartagena. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 11% more in Cartagena, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Cartagena at $1,295. 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 $932 versus $1,295 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.