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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,277 in Cartago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,012 in Cartago, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,747 in Cartago, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 27% cheaper than Cartago, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Cartago are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Cartago 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$7.52 COP 23.5K

-72.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$39.19 COP 122.3K

-49.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$8.40 COP 26.2K

-32.50%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.59 COP 4,963

13.84%

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

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.31 COP 4,101

-41.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.90 COP 2,798

-61.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$3.18 COP 9,927

-30.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$3.85 COP 12.0K

-1.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.67 COP 5,200

22.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$1.98 COP 6,173

-23.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.53 COP 4,779

-8.50%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$2.96 COP 9,235

-23.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$6.57 COP 20.5K

146.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$7.17 COP 22.4K

-59.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$10.58 COP 33.0K

-10.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$3.66 COP 11.4K

-26.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$1.41 COP 4,409

-22.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$1.78 COP 5,551

-8.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$1.75 COP 5,468

-16.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$1.47 COP 4,573

-12.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$1.61 COP 5,011

-34.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$1.16 COP 3,622

-37.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$1.03 COP 3,229

-48.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$3.78 COP 11.8K

11.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$13.28 COP 41.4K

37.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$1.48 COP 4,605

10.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

$2.58 COP 8,066

12.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$1.06 COP 3,313

-16.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.87 COP 2,727

34.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

$2.19 COP 6,822

-73.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$9.84 COP 30.7K

-75.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$1.35 COP 4,214

7.41%

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

$21.0K ฿701.4K

$29.6K COP 92.3M

-28.94%

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

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$36.1K COP 112.5M

-26.74%

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

$63.7 ฿2,125

$117 COP 365.2K

-45.62%

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

$12.89 ฿430

$13.25 COP 41.3K

-2.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$31.12 COP 97.1K

-34.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$41.56 COP 129.7K

-6.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$8.41 COP 26.2K

-21.76%

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

$784 ฿26.2K

$549 COP 1.7M

42.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

$6,925 COP 21.6M

111.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$82.1 COP 256.2K

-32.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

$56.3 COP 175.6K

-56.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

$127 COP 396.2K

-25.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

$113 COP 351.9K

-34.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$609 COP 1.9M

-19.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$490 COP 1.5M

-41.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$1,158 COP 3.6M

-23.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$993 COP 3.1M

-47.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

$2,255 COP 7.0M

-12.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

$1,779 COP 5.6M

-18.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

11.58

-51.90%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Cartago: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $609 in Cartago. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $39.00 in Cartago. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $248 – 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 Cartago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cartago is pricier by about 37%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,916 in Cartago. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $932 in Chiang Mai and $1,277 in Cartago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $784 per month in Chiang Mai and $549 in Cartago. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Cartago at $1,277. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cartago it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Chiang Mai – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Cartago makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.