Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Kololi

For one person, living is cheaper in Kololi: $112 a month against $936 in Chiang Mai, rent and utilities included – about $9,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Kololi

🇬🇲 Gambia

$112

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Kololi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $112 in Kololi, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Kololi $112

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $264 in Kololi, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Kololi $264

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $417 in Kololi, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Kololi $417

Chiang Mai costs about 737% more than Kololi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiang Mai and Kololi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Kololi 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.7

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

$43.26 GMD 3,205

-56.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.6

$2.59 GMD 192

-35.52%

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

$0.64 ฿21.56

$2.28 GMD 169

-71.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$0.91 GMD 67.6

-65.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$6.68 GMD 495

-64.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$4.45 GMD 330

-17.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

$1.31 GMD 96.8

9.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿592

$6.29 GMD 466

178.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.93

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

$21.1K ฿711.2K

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

$26.9K ฿909.8K

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

$62.2 ฿2,100

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

$12.17 ฿411

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿680

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

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

$736 ฿24.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿832

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,089

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,429

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿34.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Kololi: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Kololi

–

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Kololi

–

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Kololi

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Kololi

–

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Kololi

–

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Kololi

–

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Kololi

–

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $43 in Kololi. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $26 in Kololi – so Kololi wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇬🇲 Kololi

🕒 Local time

05:56 5:56 AM

22:56 10:56 PM

7 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

8,710

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Gambian Dalasi GMD D

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

100 GMD = 1.35 USD

100 GMD = 1.21 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

GMD, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.59 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Gambian Dalasi exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 74.1 GMD (100 GMD = 1.35 USD). 1 EUR = 82.49 GMD (100 GMD = 1.21 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Chiang Mai Kololi 12,110 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Kololi

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 Kololi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 737% more than Kololi, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $168 in Kololi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $936 in Chiang Mai and $112 in Kololi. That makes Kololi about 88% cheaper.

Groceries cost about 814% more in Chiang Mai, though the gap depends on what you buy.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $936 in Chiang Mai and $112 in Kololi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $112 in Kololi to $936 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.