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 86.4% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 148.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Columbia, SC is 96% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 112.4% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Columbia, SC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.21 $18.21
$2.02 ฿65.3
801.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 $60.5
$18.78 ฿608
221.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.9 $11.9
$7.67 ฿248
55.15%
Cappuccino
$3.82 $3.82
$1.98 ฿64.2
92.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$0.82 ฿26.64
189.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 $1.86
$0.33 ฿10.58
463.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.12 ฿68.6
108.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.6 $5.6
$3.73 ฿121
50.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Columbia, SC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.87 $0.87
$1.64 ฿53.2
-46.95%
White Bread (500g)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.57 ฿50.9
66.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.64 $3.64
$1.19 ฿38.62
205.88%
Eggs
$4.26 $4.26
$1.98 ฿64.1
115.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.39 $9.39
$15.99 ฿517
-41.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.99 $12.99
$3.12 ฿101
316.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$22.61 $22.61
$11.16 ฿361
102.60%
Apples (1kg)
$5.21 $5.21
$2.76 ฿89.2
88.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 $1.84
$1.22 ฿39.5
50.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.27 $5.27
$1.71 ฿55.4
208.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.27 $3.27
$1.55 ฿50.2
110.97%
Potato (1kg)
$3.19 $3.19
$1.34 ฿43.21
138.06%
Onion (1kg)
$4.63 $4.63
$1.21 ฿39.23
282.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 $1.99
$0.72 ฿23.2
176.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 $1.89
$0.53 ฿17.05
256.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.53 $8.53
$4.72 ฿153
80.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.84 $14.84
$18.39 ฿595
-19.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.79 ฿57.9
12.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 $2.64
$3.21 ฿104
-17.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Columbia, SC
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.94 ฿30.44
108.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.68 $40.68
$18.9 ฿612
115.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.03 $2.03
$1.42 ฿46.08
42.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.52 $1.52
$1.35 ฿43.53
12.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.06 $18.06
$7.85 ฿254
130.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 $0.76
$1.25 ฿40.4
-39.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.4K $30.4K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
43.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
17.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Columbia, SC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 $218
$70.6 ฿2,285
209.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.7 $53.7
$13.72 ฿444
291.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$60.2 $60.2
$17.56 ฿568
243.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Columbia, SC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.01 $40.01
$41.64 ฿1,347
-3.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.01 $7.01
$6.9 ฿223
1.59%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19 $15.19
$5.8 ฿188
161.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Columbia, SC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,431 $1,431
$308 ฿9,963
364.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.3K $22.3K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
51.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Columbia, SC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 $56.7
$55.4 ฿1,793
2.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.31 $35.31
$26.4 ฿854
33.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 $80.3
$85.1 ฿2,755
-5.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$71.8 ฿2,323
61.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Columbia, SC
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,306 $1,306
$434 ฿14K
200.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$904 $904
$235 ฿7,610
284.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,200 $2,200
$821 ฿26.6K
167.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,290 $1,290
$498 ฿16.1K
158.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,827 $1,827
$2,180 ฿70.6K
-16.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,750 $1,750
$1,543 ฿49.9K
13.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Columbia, SC
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,526 $3,526
$703 ฿22.8K
401.31%
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: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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