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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,332 in Duitama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,039 in Duitama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,746 in Duitama, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 30% cheaper than Duitama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Duitama are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Duitama 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$5.66 COP 17.6K

-63.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$32.12 COP 99.8K

-38.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$9.49 COP 29.5K

-40.25%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.16 COP 6,724

-16.20%

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

$0.77 ฿25.56

$1.43 COP 4,456

-46.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$1.07 COP 3,312

-67.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$1.67 COP 5,177

32.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$2.54 COP 7,884

49.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$1.46 COP 4,527

40.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.48 COP 4,583

2.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.54

$1.69 COP 5,265

-17.16%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$3.14 COP 9,759

-28.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$7.99 COP 24.8K

102.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$14.54 COP 45.2K

-80.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$17.63 COP 54.8K

-46.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$3.53 COP 11.0K

-24.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.25

$1.44 COP 4,474

-24.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$2.19 COP 6,811

-26.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.58

$1.88 COP 5,848

-22.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.51

$1.44 COP 4,489

-11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.19

$1.52 COP 4,732

-30.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.86

$1.00 COP 3,109

-28.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.50

$0.95 COP 2,948

-44.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$4.41 COP 13.7K

-4.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$12.95 COP 40.2K

41.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$1.45 COP 4,497

12.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$1.67 COP 5,196

73.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.22

$1.03 COP 3,215

-14.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,789

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.02

$2.91 COP 9,035

-59.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.24

$2.06 COP 6,385

-71.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$8.17 COP 25.4K

-70.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.25

$1.34 COP 4,162

8.21%

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

$21.0K ฿699.1K

$27.5K COP 85.5M

-23.64%

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

$26.4K ฿879.1K

$34.2K COP 106.1M

-22.66%

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

$63.7 ฿2,118

$175 COP 543.6K

-63.62%

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

$12.89 ฿429

$10.85 COP 33.7K

18.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$26.55 COP 82.5K

-22.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,298

$33.53 COP 104.2K

16.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$6.60 COP 20.5K

-0.30%

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

$784 ฿26.1K

$676 COP 2.1M

15.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.2K

$6,088 COP 18.9M

140.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,834

$54.3 COP 168.6K

1.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$57.3 COP 177.9K

-56.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,132

$123 COP 381.2K

-23.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,461

$98.6 COP 306.3K

-24.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

$765 COP 2.4M

-35.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,588

$480 COP 1.5M

-39.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

$1,192 COP 3.7M

-25.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

$1,030 COP 3.2M

-49.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

$1,784 COP 5.5M

10.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

$1,629 COP 5.1M

-11.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

12.4

-55.08%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Duitama: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $765 in Duitama. 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 $32.00 in Duitama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $302 – 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 Duitama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Duitama costs about 43% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,998 in Duitama. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $32.00 in Duitama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 25% more in Duitama, 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 Duitama at $1,332. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Duitama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,332 in Duitama. 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, Duitama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.