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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $852 per month in Chiang Mai vs $841 in Rionegro, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,354 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,489 in Rionegro, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,857 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,137 in Rionegro, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Rionegro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Rionegro are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 36% lower, Rionegro 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Rionegro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96 ฿64.0
$4.43 COP 16.0K
-55.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.81 ฿615
$30.19 COP 109.0K
-37.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.92 ฿259
$7.06 COP 25.5K
12.18%
Cappuccino
$1.91 ฿62.6
$1.71 COP 6,161
11.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿27.41
$1.10 COP 3,960
-23.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.51
$0.72 COP 2,587
-51.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿72.1
$1.66 COP 5,981
33.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 ฿124
$3.24 COP 11.7K
17.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Rionegro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.5
$0.90 COP 3,232
82.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿53.1
$1.16 COP 4,177
39.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 ฿38.62
$1.34 COP 4,850
-11.94%
Eggs
$2.01 ฿65.8
$2.29 COP 8,283
-12.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.89 ฿520
$4.45 COP 16.1K
257.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.01 ฿98.5
$2.03 COP 7,321
48.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.77 ฿352
$8.65 COP 31.2K
24.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 ฿85.5
$1.74 COP 6,269
50.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.88
$1.06 COP 3,826
15.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿55.7
$0.97 COP 3,503
75.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 ฿51.5
$0.74 COP 2,659
113.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿43.14
$0.69 COP 2,503
91.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿38.23
$1.16 COP 4,205
0.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.67 ฿21.98
$0.49 COP 1,757
36.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.32
$0.39 COP 1,413
43.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53 ฿148
$1.97 COP 7,128
129.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.20 ฿595
$6.35 COP 22.9K
186.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 ฿60.0
$1.20 COP 4,345
52.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 ฿106
$2.42 COP 8,726
33.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Rionegro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.89 ฿29.00
$0.64 COP 2,323
39.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.38 ฿634
$29.84 COP 107.7K
-35.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.35 ฿44.20
$1.46 COP 5,281
-7.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿44.05
$1.68 COP 6,057
-19.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.25 ฿270
$8.06 COP 29.1K
2.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ฿41.64
$0.95 COP 3,431
33.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿691.8K
$18.1K COP 65.4M
16.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5K ฿735.3K
$26.6K COP 96.2M
-15.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Rionegro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.2 ฿2,294
$83.1 COP 300.2K
-15.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.77 ฿450
$9.74 COP 35.2K
41.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60 ฿575
$24.22 COP 87.4K
-27.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Rionegro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.57 ฿1,360
$21.68 COP 78.3K
91.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60 ฿216
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.78 ฿189
$4.03 COP 14.6K
43.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Rionegro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 ฿10.0K
$307 COP 1.1M
-0.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿484.8K
$5,966 COP 21.5M
148.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Rionegro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4 ฿1,778
$58.8 COP 212.2K
-7.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.14 ฿855
$31.87 COP 115.0K
-17.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.5 ฿2,764
$100 COP 361.6K
-15.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.4 ฿2,270
$106 COP 380.9K
-34.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Rionegro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$424 ฿13.9K
$385 COP 1.4M
9.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$238 ฿7,788
$289 COP 1.0M
-17.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$825 ฿27.0K
$439 COP 1.6M
87.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$515 ฿16.8K
$869 COP 3.1M
-40.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,049 ฿67.0K
$1,648 COP 5.9M
24.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,523 ฿49.8K
$1,381 COP 5.0M
10.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Rionegro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$635 ฿20.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
13.43
-62.77%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 27, 2026

Last update for Rionegro: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Chiang Mai versus $385 in Rionegro. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $30.00 in Rionegro. Groceries tell a different story – $243 in Chiang Mai vs $142 in Rionegro – so Rionegro 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 Rionegro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Rionegro?
Chiang Mai costs about 1% more than Rionegro, 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 Rionegro?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,278 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,262 in Rionegro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Rionegro?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rionegro, 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 Rionegro?
Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Chiang Mai and $307 in Rionegro. 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 Rionegro?
Groceries cost about 72% 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 $1,000/month in Chiang Mai or Rionegro?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $852 in Chiang Mai and $841 in Rionegro, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Rionegro?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rionegro costs $841 versus $852 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 Rionegro?
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.
Should I move to Chiang Mai or Rionegro?
If budget matters most, go with Rionegro. 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

Similar cities