Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Envigado

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $925 a month against $1,298 in Envigado, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$925
/mo nomad
Envigado
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,298
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Envigado

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Envigado actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $925 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,298 in Envigado, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $925
  • Envigado $1,298

A couple spends around $1,414 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,060 in Envigado, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,414
  • Envigado $2,060

A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,823 in Envigado, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,903
  • Envigado $2,823

Chiang Mai is about 29% cheaper than Envigado, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Envigado are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Envigado 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.29 ฿76.5
$7.12 COP 22.6K
-67.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.64 ฿656
$47.77 COP 151.5K
-58.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.61 ฿188
$9.56 COP 30.3K
-41.32%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿55.6
$2.70 COP 8,571
-38.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ฿23.40
$1.38 COP 4,388
-49.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 ฿10.24
$1.01 COP 3,209
-69.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿80.4
$3.17 COP 10.0K
-23.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71 ฿124
$3.67 COP 11.6K
1.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ฿65.3
$1.34 COP 4,237
45.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.03
$2.59 COP 8,224
-45.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.31 ฿43.62
$1.52 COP 4,827
-13.82%
Eggs
$2.18 ฿72.9
$3.24 COP 10.3K
-32.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.65 ฿556
$9.01 COP 28.6K
84.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.76 ฿92.2
$8.59 COP 27.2K
-67.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.11 ฿304
$11.80 COP 37.4K
-22.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.0
$4.08 COP 12.9K
-41.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.03 ฿34.26
$1.67 COP 5,298
-38.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.63 ฿54.4
$2.10 COP 6,672
-22.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ฿50.0
$1.98 COP 6,293
-24.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 ฿43.13
$1.37 COP 4,330
-5.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.03
$1.69 COP 5,355
-34.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿24.08
$1.18 COP 3,738
-38.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.59
$1.16 COP 3,693
-54.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31 ฿144
$4.22 COP 13.4K
2.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.95 ฿600
$12.97 COP 41.1K
38.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.58 ฿52.9
$1.39 COP 4,420
13.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 ฿95.0
$2.41 COP 7,635
17.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.86
$1.13 COP 3,597
-23.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.3 ฿1,780
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 ฿40.29
$1.59 COP 5,051
-23.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.57 ฿18.99
$1.99 COP 6,311
-71.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.35 ฿78.6
$7.34 COP 23.3K
-67.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.44 ฿47.96
$1.34 COP 4,249
7.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K ฿692.8K
$34.4K COP 109.1M
-39.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K ฿895.7K
$34.9K COP 110.8M
-23.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.3 ฿2,083
$126 COP 399.5K
-50.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.11 ฿405
$13.19 COP 41.8K
-8.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.94 ฿666
$30.90 COP 98.0K
-35.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.07 ฿1,239
$32.68 COP 103.6K
13.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.78 ฿126
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.50 ฿217
$6.41 COP 20.3K
1.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$793 ฿26.5K
$568 COP 1.8M
39.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿494.9K
$8,403 COP 26.6M
76.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 ฿1,796
$83.6 COP 264.9K
-35.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.62 ฿823
$49.32 COP 156.4K
-50.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.9 ฿3,036
$153 COP 485.3K
-40.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.1 ฿2,378
$106 COP 334.7K
-32.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$455 ฿15.2K
$558 COP 1.8M
-18.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$298 ฿9,954
$463 COP 1.5M
-35.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$908 ฿30.4K
$1,079 COP 3.4M
-15.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$554 ฿18.5K
$951 COP 3.0M
-41.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,931 ฿64.5K
$1,895 COP 6.0M
1.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.3K
$1,739 COP 5.5M
-16.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$591 ฿19.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
12
-53.58%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 17, 2026

Last update for Envigado: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$298
Envigado
$463 55.3% $165
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$235
Envigado
$276 17.4% $41
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Envigado
$176 62.9% $68
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Envigado
$170 80.2% $76
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$79
Envigado
$151 92% $72
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$61
Envigado
$16 * 73.5% $45
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$50
Envigado
$45 9.1% $4.6

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $455 in Chiang Mai versus $558 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $48.00 in Envigado. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $235 vs $276 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇨🇴 Envigado
🕒 Local time
00:01 12:01 AM
12:01 12:01 PM
12 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
204,399
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Envigado 17,180 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Envigado

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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?
Envigado costs about 40% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 $1,388 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,946 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 Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Envigado?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $48.00 in Envigado. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Envigado?
Groceries cost about 17% more in Envigado, 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 $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or in Envigado?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $925, than in Envigado at $1,298. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Envigado it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Envigado?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $925 versus $1,298 in Envigado. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Envigado makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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