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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $821 in Cartago, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,255 in Cartago, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,689 in Cartago, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 6% more than Cartago, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Cartago are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Cartago 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$3.71 COP 13.3K

-47.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$28.89 COP 103.2K

-35.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$7.33 COP 26.2K

6.68%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.57 COP 5,610

24.20%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.92 COP 3,289

-7.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.59 COP 2,112

-40.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.01 COP 3,622

110.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.59 COP 9,265

44.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.23 COP 4,398

39.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.53 COP 5,454

6.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.25 COP 4,452

-8.80%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.46 COP 8,767

-21.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$4.35 COP 15.5K

272.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$5.48 COP 19.6K

-43.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.55 COP 26.9K

44.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.46 COP 8,802

11.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.92 COP 3,300

31.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.14 COP 4,073

42.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$1.32 COP 4,714

20.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$0.87 COP 3,102

60.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$1.11 COP 3,952

5.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.71 COP 2,542

-7.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.70 COP 2,501

-24.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.81 COP 10.0K

66.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$11.32 COP 40.4K

64.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.06 COP 3,781

69.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.95 COP 6,969

65.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.69 COP 2,463

30.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$29.69 COP 106.0K

-35.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.52 COP 5,442

-7.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.89 COP 6,741

-31.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$9.87 COP 35.2K

-20.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.94 COP 3,359

35.11%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$21.8K COP 78.0M

-2.54%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$30.0K COP 107.1M

-25.95%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$80.6 COP 287.7K

-14.28%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$8.70 COP 31.1K

61.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$24.15 COP 86.2K

-25.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$23.66 COP 84.5K

73.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$4.91 COP 17.5K

20.57%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$224 COP 799.3K

33.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$5,901 COP 21.1M

153.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$63.6 COP 227.1K

-13.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$44.20 COP 157.8K

-39.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$77.4 COP 276.2K

9.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$90.4 COP 322.8K

-21.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$281 COP 1.0M

52.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$238 COP 849.6K

-0.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$527 COP 1.9M

52.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$424 COP 1.5M

21.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,428 COP 5.1M

38.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,172 COP 4.2M

25.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$308 COP 1.1M

100.37%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Cartago: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $281 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 100% 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $29.00 in Cartago. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $182 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 6%, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,231 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $821 in Cartago. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 55% 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 $866 in Chiang Mai and $821 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.