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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 13% more expensive than Popayan without rent, and 12.8% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 23.2% more expensive than Popayan without rent, and 16% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Popayan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.97 เธฟ62.0
$3.78 COPย 13.9K
-47.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.68 เธฟ587
$23.90 COPย 87.7K
-21.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.92 เธฟ249
$7.34 COPย 27.0K
7.90%
Cappuccino
$2.02 เธฟ63.7
$1.55 COPย 5,696
30.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 เธฟ26.45
$0.86 COPย 3,140
-2.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 เธฟ11.07
$0.61 COPย 2,237
-42.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 เธฟ69.9
$1.20 COPย 4,402
85.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 เธฟ113
$2.16 COPย 7,942
66.20%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Popayan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 เธฟ52.4
$1.06 COPย 3,898
57.55%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 เธฟ51.1
$1.25 COPย 4,582
29.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 เธฟ37.83
$1.14 COPย 4,182
5.26%
Eggs
$1.93 เธฟ60.8
$2.24 COPย 8,219
-13.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.00 เธฟ503
$4.38 COPย 16.1K
265.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.16 เธฟ99.2
$5.13 COPย 18.8K
-38.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.93 เธฟ344
$7.15 COPย 26.2K
52.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.67 เธฟ83.8
$2.43 COPย 8,925
9.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 เธฟ36.99
$1.11 COPย 4,085
6.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 เธฟ51.5
$1.29 COPย 4,738
27.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 เธฟ49.83
$0.87 COPย 3,189
82.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 เธฟ41.64
$1.13 COPย 4,142
16.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 เธฟ37.49
$1.17 COPย 4,288
1.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 เธฟ22.20
$0.82 COPย 2,995
-13.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 เธฟ17.75
$0.65 COPย 2,391
-13.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.64 เธฟ146
$2.42 COPย 8,892
91.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.96 เธฟ596
$10.45 COPย 38.4K
81.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 เธฟ55.7
$1.09 COPย 4,006
62.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20 เธฟ101
$1.77 COPย 6,501
80.79%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Popayan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.90 เธฟ28.32
$0.67 COPย 2,470
34.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.24 เธฟ605
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 เธฟ42.78
$1.43 COPย 5,245
-4.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 เธฟ42.37
$1.70 COPย 6,243
-20.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.15 เธฟ256
$6.10 COPย 22.4K
33.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.22 เธฟ38.43
$0.94 COPย 3,451
29.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K เธฟ671.8K
$18.1K COPย 66.6M
17.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K เธฟ683.8K
$26.0K COPย 95.6M
-16.45%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Popayan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.3 เธฟ2,210
$81.7 COPย 300.1K
-13.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.91 เธฟ437
$9.35 COPย 34.3K
48.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.00 เธฟ566
$22.87 COPย 84.0K
-21.29%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Popayan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.78 เธฟ1,314
$23.30 COPย 85.5K
79.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.80 เธฟ214
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.72 เธฟ180
$3.92 COPย 14.4K
45.92%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Popayan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 เธฟ9,693
$236 COPย 865.7K
30.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K เธฟ465.7K
$5,841 COPย 21.4M
153.60%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Popayan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9 เธฟ1,756
$58.0 COPย 212.8K
-3.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.71 เธฟ840
$32.77 COPย 120.3K
-18.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 เธฟ2,658
$82.2 COPย 301.8K
2.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.8 เธฟ2,227
$73.2 COPย 268.8K
-3.24%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Popayan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$431 เธฟ13.5K
$278 COPย 1.0M
54.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 เธฟ7,439
$241 COPย 885.6K
-1.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 เธฟ25.5K
$530 COPย 1.9M
52.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$501 เธฟ15.7K
$431 COPย 1.6M
16.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,202 เธฟ69.2K
$1,609 COPย 5.9M
36.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,600 เธฟ50.3K
$1,131 COPย 4.2M
41.47%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Popayan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$684 เธฟ21.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
13.18
-62.06%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: January 13, 2026

Last update for Popayan: January 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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