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 $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $741 in Duitama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,108 in Duitama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,476 in Duitama, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 17% more than Duitama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Duitama are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, Duitama 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$3.14 COP 11.2K

-38.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$19.21 COP 68.6K

-2.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$6.66 COP 23.8K

17.42%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$1.36 COP 4,872

43.38%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.72 COP 2,559

18.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.55 COP 1,950

-36.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.42 COP 5,061

50.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.10 COP 7,482

77.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.21 COP 4,324

41.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.10 COP 3,930

48.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.23 COP 4,405

-7.32%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$2.24 COP 8,002

-13.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$4.06 COP 14.5K

299.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$5.85 COP 20.9K

-46.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.16 COP 25.6K

52.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$2.51 COP 8,948

9.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$1.18 COP 4,214

2.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$0.89 COP 3,188

82.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$0.93 COP 3,315

70.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$1.24 COP 4,435

12.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$0.97 COP 3,448

20.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$0.96 COP 3,430

-31.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$0.75 COP 2,666

-29.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$1.73 COP 6,179

171.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$8.25 COP 29.5K

126.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$0.79 COP 2,814

127.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$1.55 COP 5,549

108.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

$0.72 COP 2,563

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

$30.13 COP 107.6K

-36.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.68 COP 6,001

-16.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

$1.61 COP 5,746

-19.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.08 COP 21.7K

28.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$0.91 COP 3,265

39.56%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$19.6K COP 69.9M

8.77%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$27.7K COP 98.8M

-19.75%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$71.7 COP 256.1K

-3.71%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$8.93 COP 31.9K

57.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$11.87 COP 42.4K

51.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$23.50 COP 83.9K

74.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$2.47 COP 8,823

139.68%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$237 COP 845.9K

26.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$2,433 COP 8.7M

514.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$64.1 COP 229.0K

-14.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$32.34 COP 115.5K

-17.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$83.0 COP 296.5K

2.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$37.94 COP 135.5K

86.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$279 COP 996.9K

53.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$241 COP 859.0K

-1.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$725 COP 2.6M

10.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$393 COP 1.4M

31.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

$1,508 COP 5.4M

30.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

$1,201 COP 4.3M

22.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

15.25

-67.21%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for Duitama: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $279 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Duitama. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $170 in Duitama – so Duitama 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 Duitama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 17% more than Duitama, 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 $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,111 in Duitama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Duitama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $237 in Duitama. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 45% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $741 in Duitama, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Duitama costs $741 versus $866 in Chiang Mai. 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 Duitama. 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.