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 $847 per month in Chiang Mai vs $974 in Soledad, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,437 in Soledad, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,816 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,901 in Soledad, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 13% 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

$2.03 ฿68.4

$6.08 COP 19.6K

-66.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.71 ฿630

$23.84 COP 76.7K

-21.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.84 ฿264

$9.58 COP 30.8K

-18.16%

Cappuccino

$1.93 ฿64.9

$1.62 COP 5,223

19.14%

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

$0.83 ฿28.00

$0.87 COP 2,804

-4.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.80

$0.67 COP 2,159

-47.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 ฿74.8

$1.26 COP 4,038

76.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿128

$2.84 COP 9,147

33.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ฿55.4

$1.18 COP 3,810

39.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.55 ฿52.3

$1.86 COP 5,992

-16.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 ฿39.79

$1.38 COP 4,429

-14.49%

Eggs

$2.01 ฿67.9

$2.11 COP 6,794

-4.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.16 ฿544

$6.84 COP 22.0K

136.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 ฿102

$6.18 COP 19.9K

-50.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.84 ฿365

$7.70 COP 24.8K

40.78%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿90.3

$3.17 COP 10.2K

-15.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿41.14

$1.10 COP 3,551

10.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 ฿54.8

$1.46 COP 4,711

11.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 ฿51.5

$1.60 COP 5,143

-4.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿45.10

$1.61 COP 5,182

-16.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿40.86

$1.12 COP 3,598

8.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 ฿23.63

$1.05 COP 3,370

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.70

$0.63 COP 2,037

-15.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿158

$2.24 COP 7,222

109.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.71 ฿597

$18.22 COP 58.6K

-2.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 ฿62.2

$0.99 COP 3,177

86.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿108

$1.03 COP 3,312

211.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 ฿30.01

$0.68 COP 2,180

30.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.76 ฿632

$29.60 COP 95.2K

-36.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿47.40

$1.95 COP 6,277

-27.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿43.52

$1.67 COP 5,358

-22.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 ฿262

$4.73 COP 15.2K

64.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 ฿43.59

$0.96 COP 3,103

34.38%

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

$21.8K ฿733.4K

$19.1K COP 61.6M

13.74%

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

$21.7K ฿730.7K

$30.0K COP 96.4M

-27.64%

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

$70.0 ฿2,358

$141 COP 453.5K

-50.34%

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

$14.19 ฿478

$10.96 COP 35.3K

29.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.42 ฿587

$25.03 COP 80.5K

-30.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,403

$23.35 COP 75.1K

78.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.89 ฿232

Cinema Ticket

$5.78 ฿195

$2.95 COP 9,503

95.93%

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

$300 ฿10.1K

$142 COP 457.5K

110.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.5K ฿489.2K

$6,040 COP 19.4M

140.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,865

$47.81 COP 153.8K

15.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.31 ฿886

$38.77 COP 124.8K

-32.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 ฿2,858

$126 COP 405.6K

-32.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.5 ฿2,375

$113 COP 365.1K

-37.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 ฿14.3K

$285 COP 916.4K

49.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,919

$240 COP 772.6K

-2.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿27.0K

$522 COP 1.7M

53.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$516 ฿17.4K

$430 COP 1.4M

19.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,926 ฿64.9K

$1,821 COP 5.9M

5.74%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,451 ฿48.9K

$1,346 COP 4.3M

7.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$586 ฿19.8K

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: July 20, 2026

Last update for Soledad: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $425 in Chiang Mai versus $285 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 $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $24.00 in Soledad. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Chiang Mai vs $218 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 15% 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 $1,271 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,461 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 $300 per month in Chiang Mai and $142 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 $847 in Chiang Mai and $974 in Soledad, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $847 versus $974 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.