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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $836 in Cartago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,266 in Cartago, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,696 in Cartago, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 3% more than Cartago, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Cartago are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Cartago 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$3.64 COP 11.9K

-46.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$28.68 COP 93.4K

-36.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$7.29 COP 23.7K

2.61%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.59 COP 5,175

27.04%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.87 COP 2,830

-2.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.57 COP 1,855

-36.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.00 COP 3,268

114.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.51 COP 8,176

43.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.24 COP 4,023

33.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.51 COP 4,921

3.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.27 COP 4,118

-6.30%

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.52 COP 8,204

-23.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$4.11 COP 13.4K

293.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$5.49 COP 17.9K

-45.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$7.76 COP 25.2K

40.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.43 COP 7,909

11.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$0.91 COP 2,978

28.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$1.19 COP 3,887

42.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$1.27 COP 4,149

25.98%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$0.81 COP 2,630

70.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.06 COP 3,455

13.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.70 COP 2,280

-4.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.69 COP 2,245

-18.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$2.85 COP 9,264

62.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$12.59 COP 41.0K

39.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$1.12 COP 3,651

66.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.88 COP 6,133

75.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.68 COP 2,224

29.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$29.88 COP 97.3K

-35.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.54 COP 5,000

-11.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$1.88 COP 6,131

-28.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$9.65 COP 31.4K

-14.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$0.99 COP 3,223

23.23%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$21.7K COP 70.7M

-1.65%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$30.4K COP 98.8M

-25.77%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$83.1 COP 270.5K

-14.96%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$8.68 COP 28.2K

61.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$24.16 COP 78.7K

-27.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$23.67 COP 77.0K

78.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$4.97 COP 16.2K

19.11%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$225 COP 731.6K

37.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$5,871 COP 19.1M

153.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$63.2 COP 205.7K

-11.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$44.52 COP 144.9K

-41.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$75.6 COP 246.0K

9.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$91.1 COP 296.5K

-22.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$284 COP 923.9K

52.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$238 COP 775.4K

0.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$527 COP 1.7M

56.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$428 COP 1.4M

19.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,740 COP 5.7M

10.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,273 COP 4.1M

15.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

$347 COP 1.1M

66.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.58

-56.82%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Cartago: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Chiang Mai versus $284 in Cartago. 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 67% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Cartago. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $185 in Cartago – so Cartago 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 Cartago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Chiang Mai is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,254 in Cartago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cartago, 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $836 in Cartago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 54% less in Cartago. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $836 in Cartago, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Cartago – 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 Cartago. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.