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 $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $758 in Duitama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,118 in Duitama, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,479 in Duitama, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 14% more than Duitama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Duitama are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Duitama 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.8

$3.22 COP 10.5K

-39.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$19.21 COP 62.5K

-4.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

$6.88 COP 22.4K

8.72%

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$1.35 COP 4,393

49.63%

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

$0.85 ฿28.50

$0.76 COP 2,471

11.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.96

$0.58 COP 1,903

-37.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.8

$1.42 COP 4,620

50.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$2.11 COP 6,874

70.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

$1.18 COP 3,825

39.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.07 COP 3,488

46.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.02

$1.19 COP 3,874

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

$2.23 COP 7,265

-13.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿544

$4.05 COP 13.2K

299.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

$5.79 COP 18.8K

-48.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

$7.36 COP 24.0K

48.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

$2.57 COP 8,374

5.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.25

$1.23 COP 4,018

-4.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.7

$0.88 COP 2,871

92.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

$0.87 COP 2,816

83.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.54

$1.23 COP 4,017

12.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.45

$1.02 COP 3,314

17.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.50

$0.97 COP 3,159

-30.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.73

$0.78 COP 2,542

-28.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

$1.71 COP 5,567

171.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$9.29 COP 30.3K

89.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.5

$0.78 COP 2,545

138.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

$1.49 COP 4,847

121.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.68

$0.73 COP 2,377

20.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿650

$29.70 COP 96.7K

-34.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.90

$1.67 COP 5,435

-18.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿44.98

$1.53 COP 4,979

-12.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

$6.19 COP 20.2K

32.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.18

$1.00 COP 3,271

22.00%

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

$21.4K ฿718.1K

$19.5K COP 63.5M

9.52%

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

$22.5K ฿757.7K

$28.0K COP 91.1M

-19.49%

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

$70.7 ฿2,376

$73.8 COP 240.2K

-4.24%

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

$14.04 ฿472

$8.86 COP 28.8K

58.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿588

$11.96 COP 38.9K

46.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,417

$23.02 COP 74.9K

83.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

$2.39 COP 7,783

147.70%

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

$309 ฿10.4K

$235 COP 764.2K

31.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.4K

$2,452 COP 8.0M

506.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,875

$65.7 COP 213.8K

-15.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿878

$32.13 COP 104.6K

-18.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,792

$84.4 COP 274.7K

-1.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,369

$38.60 COP 125.6K

82.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

$279 COP 907.0K

55.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,035

$239 COP 778.3K

-0.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

$711 COP 2.3M

15.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

$389 COP 1.3M

31.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

$1,796 COP 5.8M

6.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.3K

$1,208 COP 3.9M

21.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Duitama: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $432 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 $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $19.00 in Duitama. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $172 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 14% 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 $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,137 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 $309 per month in Chiang Mai and $235 in Duitama. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% 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 $861 in Chiang Mai and $758 in Duitama, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Duitama costs $758 versus $861 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.