Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Soledad

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $935 a month against $1,371 in Soledad, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
Soledad, Colombia
Chiang Mai
🇹🇭 Thailand
$935
/mo nomad
Soledad
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,371
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $935 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,371 in Soledad, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $935
  • Soledad $1,371

A couple spends around $1,467 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,078 in Soledad, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,467
  • Soledad $2,078

A family of three spends $1,999 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,786 in Soledad, rent included.

  • Chiang Mai $1,999
  • Soledad $2,786

Chiang Mai is about 32% cheaper than Soledad, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Soledad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$5.80 COP 18.7K
-63.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.62 ฿623
$46.46 COP 150.1K
-59.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.60 ฿187
$10.11 COP 32.7K
-44.61%
Cappuccino
$1.66 ฿55.6
$2.67 COP 8,612
-37.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 ฿21.63
$2.58 COP 8,328
-74.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ฿10.20
$2.33 COP 7,529
-87.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.32 ฿77.7
$3.36 COP 10.9K
-30.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 ฿123
$5.06 COP 16.3K
-27.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Soledad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.02 ฿67.4
$1.90 COP 6,146
6.32%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ฿47.08
$2.85 COP 9,198
-50.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 ฿46.54
$1.44 COP 4,646
-3.47%
Eggs
$2.37 ฿79.2
$5.06 COP 16.4K
-53.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.52 ฿552
$8.41 COP 27.2K
96.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.67 ฿89.3
$9.93 COP 32.1K
-73.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 ฿302
$12.66 COP 40.9K
-28.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 ฿80.2
$3.61 COP 11.7K
-33.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.82
$1.44 COP 4,646
-27.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 ฿55.5
$1.99 COP 6,436
-16.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 ฿52.1
$1.95 COP 6,314
-20.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ฿41.39
$1.56 COP 5,037
-20.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.34
$1.53 COP 4,937
-28.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 ฿25.47
$1.13 COP 3,658
-32.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿17.19
$1.18 COP 3,827
-56.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 ฿138
$4.20 COP 13.6K
-1.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.93 ฿600
$14.36 COP 46.4K
24.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62 ฿54.3
$1.45 COP 4,698
11.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 ฿94.4
$2.34 COP 7,546
20.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Soledad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.93 ฿31.25
$1.13 COP 3,659
-17.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.9 ฿1,769
$67.1 COP 216.6K
-21.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 ฿39.35
$1.53 COP 4,938
-22.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.17 ฿5.73
$2.12 COP 6,851
-91.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 ฿60.6
$9.49 COP 30.6K
-80.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.47 ฿49.25
$1.33 COP 4,300
10.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿702.6K
$33.9K COP 109.5M
-38.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿886.7K
$35.2K COP 113.6M
-24.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Soledad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.6 ฿2,092
$77.4 COP 249.9K
-19.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.60 ฿388
$13.48 COP 43.5K
-13.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.30 ฿679
$28.47 COP 92.0K
-28.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Soledad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.88 ฿1,267
$37.06 COP 119.7K
2.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.70 ฿124
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 ฿218
$8.30 COP 26.8K
-21.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Soledad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$727 ฿24.3K
$634 COP 2.0M
14.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.6K ฿554.2K
$5,827 COP 18.8M
184.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Soledad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 ฿1,790
$85.5 COP 276.1K
-37.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.80 ฿829
$53.2 COP 171.9K
-53.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 ฿3,023
$138 COP 444.8K
-34.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 ฿2,407
$98.8 COP 319.2K
-27.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Soledad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ฿16.1K
$710 COP 2.3M
-32.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$310 ฿10.4K
$492 COP 1.6M
-36.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,058 ฿35.4K
$1,423 COP 4.6M
-25.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$659 ฿22.0K
$783 COP 2.5M
-15.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,418 ฿80.8K
$2,209 COP 7.1M
9.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,609 ฿53.8K
$1,779 COP 5.7M
-9.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Soledad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$595 ฿19.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
15
-62.87%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: November 1, 2026

Last update for Soledad: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
$310
Soledad
$492 58.7% $182
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
$237
Soledad
$298 25.9% $61
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
$108
Soledad
$169 55.9% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
$94
Soledad
$119 26.3% $25
Eating Out
Chiang Mai
$77
Soledad
$155 103% $79
Getting Around
Chiang Mai
$59
Soledad
$84 42.7% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
$51
Soledad
$54 5.4% $2.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $481 in Chiang Mai versus $710 in Soledad. 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 in Chiang Mai versus $46 in Soledad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $237 vs $298 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇨🇴 Soledad
🕒 Local time
16:08 4:08 PM
04:08 4:08 AM
12 h behind Chiang Mai
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
127,240
582,156
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 33.44 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.56 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 3,230 COP (10,000 COP = 3.1 USD). 1 EUR = 3,628 COP (10,000 COP = 2.76 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiang Mai Soledad 16,640 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiang Mai
  • Soledad

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 Soledad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Soledad?
Soledad costs about 47% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. 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 and in Soledad?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $2,056 in Soledad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Soledad?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $481 there versus $710 in Soledad.
How do childcare costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Soledad?
Kindergarten costs $727 per month in Chiang Mai and $634 in Soledad. 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 in Soledad?
Groceries cost about 26% more in Soledad, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Chiang Mai or in Soledad?
$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $935 in Chiang Mai and $1,371 in Soledad. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Chiang Mai or Soledad?
It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $935 in Chiang Mai to $1,371 in Soledad. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
For expats, Chiang Mai is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 32% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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