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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,331 in Villavicencio, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,076 in Villavicencio, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,821 in Villavicencio, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 30% cheaper than Villavicencio, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and Villavicencio are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Villavicencio 3% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Villavicencio
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.08 ฿69.2
$8.01 COP 25.3K
-74.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.61 ฿652
$42.51 COP 134.1K
-53.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 ฿189
$10.20 COP 32.2K
-44.41%
Cappuccino
$1.81 ฿60.0
$2.70 COP 8,512
-32.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 ฿25.55
$1.33 COP 4,189
-42.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.48
$0.85 COP 2,679
-58.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿73.6
$1.96 COP 6,193
12.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿126
$3.94 COP 12.4K
-3.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Villavicencio
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.05 ฿68.1
$1.62 COP 5,097
26.54%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 ฿50.4
$2.43 COP 7,659
-37.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.40 ฿46.51
$1.69 COP 5,325
-17.16%
Eggs
$2.26 ฿75.1
$3.84 COP 12.1K
-41.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.19 ฿538
$8.11 COP 25.6K
99.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.90 ฿96.3
$7.58 COP 23.9K
-61.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 ฿313
$10.57 COP 33.4K
-10.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.68 ฿89.1
$3.55 COP 11.2K
-24.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 ฿36.23
$1.78 COP 5,620
-38.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 ฿53.8
$2.03 COP 6,416
-20.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 ฿48.55
$1.84 COP 5,807
-20.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 ฿42.48
$1.53 COP 4,839
-16.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 ฿35.17
$1.48 COP 4,675
-28.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.85
$1.40 COP 4,406
-48.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.49
$1.22 COP 3,843
-56.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 ฿141
$4.48 COP 14.1K
-5.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.29 ฿608
$12.82 COP 40.4K
42.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.2
$1.45 COP 4,561
12.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 ฿96.5
$3.01 COP 9,498
-3.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Villavicencio
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿29.20
$1.16 COP 3,647
-24.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.8 ฿1,788
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 ฿38.99
$2.16 COP 6,817
-45.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 ฿19.22
$2.44 COP 7,704
-76.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.39 ฿79.3
$9.41 COP 29.7K
-74.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 ฿48.22
$1.30 COP 4,105
11.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K ฿698.6K
$22.5K COP 71.1M
-6.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K ฿878.6K
$36.1K COP 114.0M
-26.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Villavicencio
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.7 ฿2,116
$129 COP 406.5K
-50.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.89 ฿429
$16.65 COP 52.5K
-22.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 ฿682
$31.50 COP 99.4K
-34.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Villavicencio
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.02 ฿1,297
$40.73 COP 128.5K
-4.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.92 ฿130
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.58 ฿219
$8.11 COP 25.6K
-18.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Villavicencio
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$784 ฿26.1K
$491 COP 1.5M
59.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿487.9K
$6,694 COP 21.1M
119.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Villavicencio
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 ฿1,833
$81.0 COP 255.6K
-32.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.74 ฿823
$49.85 COP 157.2K
-50.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.1 ฿3,130
$145 COP 456.5K
-34.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.0 ฿2,459
$117 COP 367.9K
-36.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Villavicencio
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 ฿16.3K
$636 COP 2.0M
-22.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$288 ฿9,582
$484 COP 1.5M
-40.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$891 ฿29.6K
$1,192 COP 3.8M
-25.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$521 ฿17.3K
$1,087 COP 3.4M
-52.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,974 ฿65.6K
$2,229 COP 7.0M
-11.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,444 ฿48.0K
$1,642 COP 5.2M
-12.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Villavicencio
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$602 ฿20.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
12.81
-56.52%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Villavicencio: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $636 in Villavicencio. 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $43.00 in Villavicencio. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $269 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Villavicencio: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Chiang Mai or Villavicencio?
Villavicencio costs about 43% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by 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 Villavicencio?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,996 in Villavicencio. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Chiang Mai or Villavicencio?
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.
How do dining costs compare in Chiang Mai and in Villavicencio?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $43.00 in Villavicencio. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Chiang Mai or in Villavicencio?
Groceries cost about 12% more in Villavicencio, 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 in Villavicencio?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $932, than in Villavicencio at $1,331. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Villavicencio it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Chiang Mai or Villavicencio?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $932 versus $1,331 in Villavicencio. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Chiang Mai compared to Villavicencio?
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 to Villavicencio?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Villavicencio makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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