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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $845 per month in Chiang Mai vs $985 in Soledad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,454 in Soledad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,802 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,923 in Soledad, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 14% cheaper than Soledad, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Soledad are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 37% lower, Soledad 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.95 ฿62.8

$5.98 COP 21.4K

-67.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.43 ฿594

$23.15 COP 82.8K

-20.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 ฿241

$9.41 COP 33.7K

-20.30%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿62.3

$1.59 COP 5,689

21.38%

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

$0.78 ฿25.08

$0.82 COP 2,935

-4.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.42

$0.72 COP 2,576

-55.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.15 ฿69.2

$1.31 COP 4,679

64.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 ฿120

$2.96 COP 10.6K

25.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿55.2

$1.20 COP 4,299

42.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.56 ฿50.3

$1.94 COP 6,927

-19.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿38.06

$1.39 COP 4,959

-15.11%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿63.9

$2.18 COP 7,813

-9.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.04 ฿517

$7.00 COP 25.1K

129.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿102

$6.00 COP 21.5K

-47.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.94 ฿353

$7.88 COP 28.2K

38.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 ฿84.7

$3.31 COP 11.9K

-20.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.61

$1.11 COP 3,959

5.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.65 ฿53.0

$1.46 COP 5,208

13.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 ฿49.51

$1.63 COP 5,830

-5.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ฿44.34

$1.54 COP 5,511

-10.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿37.54

$1.06 COP 3,807

10.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.25

$1.05 COP 3,753

-37.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.55

$0.60 COP 2,141

-15.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.52 ฿146

$2.36 COP 8,451

91.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.32 ฿590

$18.60 COP 66.6K

-1.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿57.9

$0.98 COP 3,492

83.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿102

$0.98 COP 3,519

224.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿28.97

$0.73 COP 2,619

23.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.00 ฿612

$30.27 COP 108.3K

-37.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.50

$2.00 COP 7,142

-29.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 ฿42.15

$1.72 COP 6,167

-23.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.09 ฿261

$4.70 COP 16.8K

72.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 ฿41.08

$1.03 COP 3,696

24.27%

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

$21.3K ฿686.1K

$18.9K COP 67.5M

12.91%

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

$21.7K ฿699.3K

$30.1K COP 107.8M

-27.97%

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

$69.2 ฿2,230

$142 COP 509.1K

-51.36%

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

$13.97 ฿450

$10.65 COP 38.1K

31.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.95 ฿578

$24.75 COP 88.6K

-27.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.31 ฿1,363

$23.19 COP 83.0K

82.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.66 ฿214

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿191

$2.89 COP 10.3K

104.84%

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

$299 ฿9,640

$140 COP 501.8K

113.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿478.4K

$6,010 COP 21.5M

147.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ฿1,810

$49.22 COP 176.2K

14.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.94 ฿868

$38.44 COP 137.6K

-29.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.9 ฿2,735

$126 COP 452.3K

-32.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,314

$113 COP 405.6K

-36.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$435 ฿14.0K

$281 COP 1.0M

54.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$240 ฿7,727

$235 COP 840.8K

2.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$798 ฿25.7K

$535 COP 1.9M

49.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$427 COP 1.5M

16.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,995 ฿64.3K

$1,812 COP 6.5M

10.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 ฿49.4K

$1,264 COP 4.5M

21.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$628 ฿20.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

-66.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 20, 2026

Last update for Soledad: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $435 in Chiang Mai versus $281 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 $18 in Chiang Mai versus $23 in Soledad. Groceries tell a different story – $244 in Chiang Mai vs $220 in Soledad – so Soledad 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 Soledad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Soledad costs about 17% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,267 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,477 in Soledad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Chiang Mai and $140 in Soledad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in Soledad – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $845 in Chiang Mai and $985 in Soledad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $845 versus $985 in Soledad. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Soledad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.