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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $869 per month in Chiang Mai vs $839 in Envigado, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,238 in Envigado, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,855 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,638 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 Mai 35% lower, Envigado 38% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.98 ฿65.0
$4.03 COP 14.4K
-50.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80 ฿619
$23.83 COP 85.0K
-21.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.75 ฿255
$7.45 COP 26.6K
4.03%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿63.2
$1.51 COP 5,396
27.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79 ฿26.07
$0.87 COP 3,096
-9.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.74
$0.62 COP 2,197
-41.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.9
$1.21 COP 4,308
82.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 ฿120
$2.17 COP 7,729
68.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 ฿54.4
$1.13 COP 4,029
46.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿53.7
$1.28 COP 4,550
27.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿39.28
$1.15 COP 4,086
3.48%
Eggs
$2.00 ฿65.8
$2.23 COP 7,938
-10.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.98 ฿526
$4.38 COP 15.6K
264.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.03 ฿99.6
$5.34 COP 19.0K
-43.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.86 ฿357
$7.28 COP 26.0K
49.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿90.9
$2.55 COP 9,077
8.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.83
$1.07 COP 3,832
10.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 ฿54.0
$1.29 COP 4,614
27.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ฿50.0
$0.92 COP 3,289
65.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 ฿45.59
$1.12 COP 3,980
23.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ฿39.25
$1.17 COP 4,178
1.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.11
$0.83 COP 2,957
-15.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.32
$0.69 COP 2,461
-18.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.58 ฿151
$2.30 COP 8,207
99.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.56 ฿545
$10.94 COP 39.0K
51.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿60.2
$1.13 COP 4,038
61.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 ฿105
$1.71 COP 6,084
87.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.87
$0.68 COP 2,436
29.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.72 ฿616
$29.57 COP 105.5K
-36.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿44.64
$1.47 COP 5,233
-7.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 ฿44.12
$1.70 COP 6,067
-21.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.84 ฿258
$5.99 COP 21.3K
30.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿40.35
$0.80 COP 2,852
53.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6K ฿711.8K
$17.9K COP 63.8M
20.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿742.2K
$25.5K COP 91.1M
-11.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.5 ฿2,322
$97.4 COP 347.5K
-27.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.68 ฿450
$11.29 COP 40.3K
21.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.45 ฿574
$25.18 COP 89.8K
-30.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.33 ฿1,361
$23.08 COP 82.3K
79.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 ฿229
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.77 ฿190
$4.02 COP 14.4K
43.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿10.1K
$242 COP 862.5K
26.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.6K ฿481.0K
$5,920 COP 21.1M
146.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8 ฿1,837
$59.9 COP 213.6K
-6.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.21 ฿863
$32.31 COP 115.2K
-18.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.8 ฿2,823
$84.6 COP 301.5K
1.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.2 ฿2,378
$72.3 COP 257.7K
-0.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$430 ฿14.1K
$266 COP 948.3K
61.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$239 ฿7,857
$241 COP 858.8K
-0.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$817 ฿26.9K
$660 COP 2.4M
23.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$511 ฿16.8K
$433 COP 1.5M
17.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,983 ฿65.3K
$1,620 COP 5.8M
22.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,484 ฿48.9K
$1,216 COP 4.3M
22.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Envigado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$619 ฿20.4K
-
-
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Envigado: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Chiang Mai versus $266 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 – $241 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 vs Envigado?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,303 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,259 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 Envigado?
Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Chiang Mai and $242 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 Envigado?
Groceries cost about 37% 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 Envigado?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $869 in Chiang Mai and $839 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 $839 versus $869 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 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.

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