๐A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $712 in Facatativรก, rent included.
๐A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,121 in Facatativรก, rent included.
๐A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,531 in Facatativรก, rent included.
๐Chiang Mai costs about 22% more than Facatativรก, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both Chiang Mai and Facatativรก are more affordable than the global median โ Chiang Mai35% lower, Facatativรก47% lower.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Facatativรก
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94เธฟ63.6
$2.80COPย 9,985
-30.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.64เธฟ609
$31.55COPย 112.5K
-40.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.82เธฟ256
$7.89COPย 28.1K
-0.89%
Cappuccino
$1.95เธฟ63.9
$1.24COPย 4,416
57.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85เธฟ27.80
$0.37COPย 1,334
129.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35เธฟ11.60
$0.37COPย 1,336
-5.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13เธฟ69.7
$1.16COPย 4,135
83.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73เธฟ122
$2.12COPย 7,555
75.94%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Facatativรก
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71เธฟ56.0
$0.94COPย 3,360
81.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63เธฟ53.3
$1.06COPย 3,767
53.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14เธฟ37.18
$1.13COPย 4,023
0.88%
Eggs
$1.93เธฟ63.2
$2.08COPย 7,402
-7.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.21เธฟ530
$2.70COPย 9,629
500.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12เธฟ102
$5.19COPย 18.5K
-39.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.90เธฟ356
$6.38COPย 22.7K
70.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.75เธฟ90.1
$0.82COPย 2,910
235.37%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21เธฟ39.56
$0.77COPย 2,749
57.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62เธฟ53.0
$1.34COPย 4,781
20.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59เธฟ51.9
$0.87COPย 3,088
82.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40เธฟ45.75
$1.11COPย 3,952
26.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17เธฟ38.20
$1.18COPย 4,216
-0.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66เธฟ21.62
$0.58COPย 2,084
13.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53เธฟ17.24
$0.37COPย 1,321
43.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.69เธฟ153
$2.82COPย 10.0K
66.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.66เธฟ610
$4.44COPย 15.8K
320.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80เธฟ58.8
$0.90COPย 3,212
100.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23เธฟ106
$1.24COPย 4,416
160.48%
๐ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Facatativรก
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90เธฟ29.28
$0.67COPย 2,376
34.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.21เธฟ628
$30.22COPย 107.7K
-36.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41เธฟ45.96
$1.42COPย 5,070
-0.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.29เธฟ42.16
$0.94COPย 3,341
37.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.84เธฟ256
$6.22COPย 22.2K
26.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27เธฟ41.62
$0.81COPย 2,899
56.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3Kเธฟ695.5K
$15.5KCOPย 55.3M
37.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2Kเธฟ726.1K
$25.1KCOPย 89.6M
-11.60%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Facatativรก
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.1เธฟ2,258
$37.37COPย 133.2K
84.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.08เธฟ460
$2.37COPย 8,464
494.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00เธฟ588
$25.54COPย 91.0K
-29.52%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Facatativรก
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.06เธฟ1,342
$23.28COPย 83.0K
76.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96เธฟ227
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.92เธฟ193
$4.73COPย 16.8K
25.16%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Facatativรก
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299เธฟ9,775
$293COPย 1.0M
2.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0Kเธฟ488.8K
$8,529COPย 30.4M
75.32%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Facatativรก
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7เธฟ1,788
$60.3COPย 214.8K
-9.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.77เธฟ875
$41.92COPย 149.4K
-36.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0เธฟ2,778
$102COPย 364.9K
-16.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6เธฟ2,308
$83.8COPย 298.8K
-15.77%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Facatativรก
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$428เธฟ14.0K
$286COPย 1.0M
49.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237เธฟ7,759
$236COPย 842.8K
0.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$801เธฟ26.2K
$531COPย 1.9M
50.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$515เธฟ16.9K
$435COPย 1.5M
18.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,975เธฟ64.5K
$1,555COPย 5.5M
26.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,475เธฟ48.2K
$1,228COPย 4.4M
20.11%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Facatativรก
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617เธฟ20.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
12.93
-61.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Last update for Facatativรก: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $286 in Facatativรก. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
๐A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $32.00 in Facatativรก. Groceries tell a different story โ $246 in Chiang Mai vs $133 in Facatativรก โ so Facatativรก 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 Facatativรก: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Facatativรก?
Chiang Mai costs about 22% more than Facatativรก, 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 Facatativรก?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,068 in Facatativรก. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Facatativรก?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Facatativรก, 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 Facatativรก?
Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $293 in Facatativรก. 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 Facatativรก?
Groceries cost about 86% 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 $1,200/month in Chiang Mai or Facatativรก?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably โ all-in costs are $866 in Chiang Mai and $712 in Facatativรก, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Facatativรก?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Facatativรก costs $712 versus $866 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 Facatativรก?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Facatativรก?
If budget matters most, go with Facatativรก. 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