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 $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,062 in Cartagena, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,608 in Cartagena, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,153 in Cartagena, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 20% cheaper than Cartagena, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Cartagena are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Cartagena 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿64.0

$6.17 COP 22.3K

-68.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.81 ฿615

$47.58 COP 171.8K

-60.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 ฿259

$9.85 COP 35.5K

-19.59%

Cappuccino

$1.91 ฿62.6

$1.65 COP 5,948

15.76%

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

$0.84 ฿27.41

$0.81 COP 2,914

3.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.51

$0.67 COP 2,407

-47.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿72.1

$1.30 COP 4,682

70.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 ฿124

$2.95 COP 10.6K

28.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.5

$1.14 COP 4,124

43.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 ฿53.1

$1.86 COP 6,715

-12.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.62

$1.33 COP 4,784

-11.28%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿65.8

$2.11 COP 7,605

-4.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.89 ฿520

$7.07 COP 25.5K

124.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 ฿98.5

$5.91 COP 21.3K

-49.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.77 ฿352

$8.13 COP 29.4K

32.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 ฿85.5

$3.20 COP 11.6K

-18.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.88

$1.96 COP 7,059

-37.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿55.7

$1.50 COP 5,424

13.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 ฿51.5

$1.58 COP 5,689

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿43.14

$1.55 COP 5,588

-14.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.23

$1.08 COP 3,892

8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿21.98

$1.00 COP 3,619

-33.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.32

$0.59 COP 2,144

-5.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.53 ฿148

$2.36 COP 8,503

91.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.20 ฿595

$18.52 COP 66.8K

-1.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 ฿60.0

$0.93 COP 3,367

96.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.03 COP 3,709

213.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿29.00

$1.05 COP 3,805

-15.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.38 ฿634

$28.08 COP 101.4K

-30.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 ฿44.20

$2.38 COP 8,602

-43.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿44.05

$2.37 COP 8,556

-43.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.25 ฿270

$4.93 COP 17.8K

67.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.64

$1.03 COP 3,709

23.30%

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

$21.2K ฿691.8K

$20.9K COP 75.4M

1.35%

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

$22.5K ฿735.3K

$23.6K COP 85.3M

-4.82%

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

$70.2 ฿2,294

$142 COP 514.1K

-50.74%

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

$13.77 ฿450

$10.96 COP 39.6K

25.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.60 ฿575

$25.17 COP 90.9K

-30.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.57 ฿1,360

$35.27 COP 127.3K

17.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.60 ฿216

$8.84 COP 31.9K

-25.34%

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿189

$2.94 COP 10.6K

96.60%

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

$306 ฿10.0K

$142 COP 512.4K

115.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿484.8K

$5,910 COP 21.3M

150.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.4 ฿1,778

$48.13 COP 173.8K

12.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.14 ฿855

$39.46 COP 142.5K

-33.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 ฿2,764

$123 COP 445.3K

-31.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 ฿2,270

$115 COP 413.6K

-39.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 ฿13.9K

$741 COP 2.7M

-42.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ฿7,788

$330 COP 1.2M

-27.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$825 ฿27.0K

$1,308 COP 4.7M

-36.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$479 COP 1.7M

7.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,049 ฿67.0K

$3,077 COP 11.1M

-33.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,523 ฿49.8K

$1,977 COP 7.1M

-22.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$635 ฿20.8K

$420 COP 1.5M

51.13%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Cartagena: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $741 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 $48.00 in Cartagena. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $222 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 25% 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 $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,593 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 $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $142 in Cartagena. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% 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 $852, than in Cartagena at $1,062. 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 $852 versus $1,062 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.