Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbia, SC and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Columbia, SC and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Columbia, SC is 91.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 153.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Columbia, SC is 104.8% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 118.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Columbia, SC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.20 $18.20
$2.03 ฿64.2
796.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.6 $60.6
$18.59 ฿588
226.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.99 $11.99
$7.48 ฿237
60.29%
Cappuccino
$3.65 $3.65
$2.00 ฿63.2
82.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$0.85 ฿26.81
184.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 $1.85
$0.35 ฿11.13
428.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.47 $4.47
$2.21 ฿70.0
102.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.59 $5.59
$3.76 ฿119
48.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Columbia, SC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.72 ฿54.4
-48.84%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 $2.67
$1.63 ฿51.7
63.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.52 $3.52
$1.16 ฿36.66
203.45%
Eggs
$4.22 $4.22
$1.98 ฿62.6
113.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.59 $9.59
$15.93 ฿504
-39.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.00 $13.00
$3.17 ฿100
310.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.32 $22.32
$10.90 ฿345
104.77%
Apples (1kg)
$5.27 $5.27
$2.65 ฿83.7
98.87%
Banana (1kg)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.22 ฿38.70
47.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.06 $5.06
$1.70 ฿53.7
197.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.24 $3.24
$1.59 ฿50.3
103.77%
Potato (1kg)
$3.23 $3.23
$1.32 ฿41.90
144.70%
Onion (1kg)
$4.74 $4.74
$1.17 ฿36.99
305.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.01 $2.01
$0.68 ฿21.46
195.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 $1.83
$0.56 ฿17.64
226.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.39 $8.39
$4.51 ฿143
86.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.90 $14.90
$19.07 ฿604
-21.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 $2.00
$1.77 ฿56.0
12.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$3.18 ฿101
-16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Columbia, SC
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$0.96 ฿30.47
111.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.69 $39.69
$18.90 ฿598
110.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.94 $1.94
$1.36 ฿42.98
42.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.47 $1.47
$1.35 ฿42.80
8.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.33 $18.33
$8.03 ฿254
128.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.24 ฿39.34
-34.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.7K $29.7K
$21.2K ฿669.8K
40.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$21.8K ฿688.5K
17.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Columbia, SC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$71.2 ฿2,255
206.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.3 $55.3
$14.09 ฿446
292.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.4 $59.4
$17.47 ฿553
239.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Columbia, SC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.52 $39.52
$42.07 ฿1,332
-6.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.91 $6.91
$6.88 ฿218
0.44%
Cinema Ticket
$14.80 $14.80
$5.94 ฿188
149.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Columbia, SC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,422 $1,422
$307 ฿9,728
362.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.5K $22.5K
$14.8K ฿468.2K
51.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Columbia, SC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.6 $56.6
$55.7 ฿1,762
1.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.13 $35.13
$26.79 ฿848
31.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 $78.3
$83.2 ฿2,634
-5.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 $112
$70.1 ฿2,219
60.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Columbia, SC
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,290 $1,290
$427 ฿13.5K
201.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$923 $923
$237 ฿7,504
289.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,177 $2,177
$802 ฿25.4K
171.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,270 $1,270
$503 ฿15.9K
152.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,107 $2,107
$2,061 ฿65.2K
2.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,679 $1,679
$1,533 ฿48.5K
9.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Columbia, SC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,214 $3,214
$654 ฿20.7K
391.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.54
5
30.80%

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

Last update for Columbia, SC: March 2, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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