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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $861 per month in Chiang Mai vs $116 in Kololi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,350 per month in Chiang Mai vs $282 in Kololi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,838 per month in Chiang Mai vs $448 in Kololi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 643% more than Kololi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Kololi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Kololi 91% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ฿65.9

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.35 ฿617

$45.40 GMD 3,367

-59.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿252

Cappuccino

$2.02 ฿67.8

$2.81 GMD 209

-28.11%

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

$0.85 ฿28.52

$2.25 GMD 167

-62.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 ฿11.97

$0.95 GMD 70.6

-62.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.14 ฿71.9

$6.85 GMD 508

-68.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 ฿121

$4.59 GMD 340

-21.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.5

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿52.7

$1.32 GMD 98.2

18.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿40.05

Eggs

$1.94 ฿65.1

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿545

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 ฿101

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿368

Apples (1kg)

$2.71 ฿91.2

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿39.27

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 ฿56.8

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 ฿54.0

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿46.56

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 ฿40.47

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.67 ฿22.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿18.74

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.64 ฿156

Wine (Bottle)

$17.62 ฿593

$6.54 GMD 485

169.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 ฿111

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.70

$0.13 GMD 9.53

576.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ฿651

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿45.92

$0.72 GMD 53.7

88.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.34 ฿45.00

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.21 ฿276

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 ฿41.20

$1.15 GMD 85.0

6.09%

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

$21.4K ฿718.5K

$2,531 GMD 187.7K

743.70%

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

$22.5K ฿758.1K

$4,234 GMD 313.9K

432.15%

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

$70.7 ฿2,378

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

$14.04 ฿472

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.49 ฿589

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.15 ฿1,418

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿231

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿199

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

$309 ฿10.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.9K ฿500.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.8 ฿1,876

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.11 ฿879

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 ฿2,793

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,371

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 ฿14.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 ฿8,040

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 ฿27.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 ฿17.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,915 ฿64.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 ฿49.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$579 ฿19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kololi: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Chiang Mai versus $45.00 in Kololi. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $26.00 in Kololi – so Kololi 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 Kololi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 643% more than Kololi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,292 per month in Chiang Mai and $174 in Kololi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $861 in Chiang Mai and $116 in Kololi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 824% 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.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $861 in Chiang Mai and $116 in Kololi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kololi costs $116 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Kololi. 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.