😐A single person spends $847 per month in Chiang Mai vs $818 in Envigado, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,251 in Envigado, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,683 in Envigado, rent included.
😐Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Envigado, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Chiang Mai and Envigado are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai37% lower, Envigado39% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03฿68.4
$3.92COP 12.6K
-48.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.71฿630
$24.07COP 77.4K
-22.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.84฿264
$7.32COP 23.6K
7.10%
Cappuccino
$1.93฿64.9
$1.56COP 5,026
23.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83฿28.00
$0.87COP 2,813
-4.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35฿11.80
$0.57COP 1,820
-38.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22฿74.8
$1.15COP 3,701
93.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79฿128
$2.17COP 6,976
74.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65฿55.4
$1.18COP 3,792
39.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55฿52.3
$1.24COP 3,989
25.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.18฿39.79
$1.19COP 3,825
-0.84%
Eggs
$2.01฿67.9
$2.16COP 6,956
-6.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.16฿544
$4.45COP 14.3K
263.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03฿102
$5.15COP 16.6K
-41.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.84฿365
$7.21COP 23.2K
50.35%
Apples(1kg)
$2.68฿90.3
$2.54COP 8,188
5.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22฿41.14
$1.11COP 3,565
9.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63฿54.8
$1.36COP 4,370
19.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.53฿51.5
$0.87COP 2,796
75.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34฿45.10
$1.16COP 3,745
15.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.21฿40.86
$1.13COP 3,629
7.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70฿23.63
$0.88COP 2,828
-20.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53฿17.70
$0.70COP 2,257
-24.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69฿158
$2.37COP 7,636
97.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.71฿597
$10.60COP 34.1K
67.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85฿62.2
$1.13COP 3,631
63.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21฿108
$1.76COP 5,667
82.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89฿30.01
$0.71COP 2,286
25.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.76฿632
$30.06COP 96.7K
-37.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41฿47.40
$1.43COP 4,601
-1.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29฿43.52
$1.71COP 5,511
-24.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.79฿262
$6.04COP 19.4K
28.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29฿43.59
$0.86COP 2,780
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K฿733.4K
$18.2KCOP 58.6M
19.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K฿730.7K
$25.1KCOP 80.8M
-13.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.0฿2,358
$96.6COP 310.7K
-27.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.19฿478
$11.30COP 36.4K
25.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.42฿587
$25.91COP 83.4K
-32.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.64฿1,403
$23.77COP 76.5K
75.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.89฿232
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.78฿195
$3.96COP 12.7K
45.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$300฿10.1K
$237COP 762.6K
26.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.5K฿489.2K
$5,842COP 18.8M
148.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4฿1,865
$60.1COP 193.3K
-7.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.31฿886
$33.22COP 106.9K
-20.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8฿2,858
$83.5COP 268.6K
1.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5฿2,375
$73.6COP 236.9K
-4.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$425฿14.3K
$264COP 850.7K
60.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235฿7,919
$235COP 757.2K
-0.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$802฿27.0K
$667COP 2.1M
20.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$516฿17.4K
$428COP 1.4M
20.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,926฿64.9K
$1,125COP 3.6M
71.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,451฿48.9K
$1,756COP 5.6M
-17.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$586฿19.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
13.18
-62.06%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 20, 2026
Last update for Envigado: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Chiang Mai versus $264 in Envigado. 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 $24.00 in Envigado. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $176 in Envigado – so Envigado 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 Envigado: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Envigado?
Chiang Mai costs about 4% more than Envigado, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Chiang Mai and in Envigado?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,271 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,227 in Envigado. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Envigado?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Envigado, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Envigado?
Kindergarten costs $300 per month in Chiang Mai and $237 in Envigado. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Envigado?
Groceries cost about 38% 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.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Envigado?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $847 in Chiang Mai and $818 in Envigado, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Envigado?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Envigado costs $818 versus $847 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Envigado?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or to Envigado?
If budget matters most, go with Envigado. 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.
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared