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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 19.5% more expensive than Popayan without rent, and 9.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 33% more expensive than Popayan without rent, and 17.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Popayan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿64.8
$3.91 COP 14.8K
-48.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿594
$23.50 COP 89.0K
-20.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿239
$7.38 COP 27.9K
1.36%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿63.8
$1.50 COP 5,685
33.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿27.08
$0.87 COP 3,290
-2.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.24
$0.58 COP 2,178
-39.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿70.7
$1.20 COP 4,547
84.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿120
$2.24 COP 8,484
67.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Popayan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.9
$1.05 COP 3,989
63.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿52.2
$1.24 COP 4,692
31.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿37.04
$1.13 COP 4,294
2.65%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿63.3
$2.24 COP 8,490
-11.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿509
$4.55 COP 17.2K
250.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿101
$5.37 COP 20.3K
-40.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿349
$7.48 COP 28.3K
45.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿84.6
$2.52 COP 9,548
5.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.09
$1.07 COP 4,049
14.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿54.3
$1.36 COP 5,148
25.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿50.8
$0.91 COP 3,437
74.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿42.33
$1.16 COP 4,380
13.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿37.36
$1.13 COP 4,280
3.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.67
$0.85 COP 3,222
-20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.81
$0.65 COP 2,466
-13.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿144
$2.38 COP 9,024
89.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿610
$8.50 COP 32.2K
124.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿56.6
$1.09 COP 4,137
62.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿102
$1.74 COP 6,570
82.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Popayan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.78
$0.72 COP 2,710
33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿604
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿43.41
$1.49 COP 5,636
-8.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.23
$1.71 COP 6,457
-21.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿257
$5.88 COP 22.3K
36.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.74
$0.95 COP 3,582
30.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿676.6K
$17.8K COP 67.3M
19.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿695.5K
$25.2K COP 95.5M
-13.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Popayan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,277
$82.8 COP 313.6K
-13.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿450
$8.99 COP 34.0K
56.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿559
$22.62 COP 85.7K
-22.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Popayan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,345
$23.39 COP 88.6K
79.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿220
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿190
$3.96 COP 15.0K
50.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Popayan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,827
$237 COP 896.2K
29.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿473.0K
$5,888 COP 22.3M
151.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Popayan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,780
$58.4 COP 221.2K
-4.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿856
$32.73 COP 123.9K
-18.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,661
$82.3 COP 311.8K
1.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,241
$72.0 COP 272.7K
-2.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Popayan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.7K
$282 COP 1.1M
51.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,580
$237 COP 896.4K
0.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.6K
$534 COP 2.0M
50.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿16.1K
$423 COP 1.6M
19.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿65.9K
$1,637 COP 6.2M
25.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿49.0K
$1,433 COP 5.4M
6.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Popayan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.9K
-
-
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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Popayan: March 3, 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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