😐A single person spends $1,287 per month in Duitama vs $947 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,041 per month in Duitama vs $1,411 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,796 per month in Duitama vs $1,874 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Duitama costs about 36% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Duitama and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Duitama6% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Duitama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.78COP 24.5K
$2.08฿69.2
274.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.93COP 128.9K
$19.64฿651
108.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.82COP 30.9K
$5.65฿188
73.81%
Cappuccino
$2.66COP 8,385
$1.81฿59.9
46.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 4,046
$0.71฿23.66
80.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,826
$0.32฿10.48
181.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.93COP 6,069
$2.24฿74.2
-13.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.90COP 12.3K
$3.63฿121
7.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Duitama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67COP 5,251
$1.96฿65.0
-14.80%
White Bread(500g)
$2.38COP 7,486
$1.50฿49.83
58.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62COP 5,104
$1.34฿44.32
20.90%
Eggs
$3.59COP 11.3K
$2.26฿75.1
58.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.06COP 22.2K
$16.26฿539
-56.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.52COP 23.7K
$2.95฿98.0
154.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.64COP 33.5K
$9.94฿330
7.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.35COP 10.5K
$2.57฿85.3
30.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73COP 5,440
$1.06฿35.04
63.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92COP 6,047
$1.61฿53.5
19.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.74COP 5,487
$1.52฿50.4
14.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46COP 4,600
$1.27฿42.14
14.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,249
$1.07฿35.37
26.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30COP 4,104
$0.72฿23.89
80.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08COP 3,415
$0.51฿16.87
111.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.36COP 13.7K
$4.19฿139
4.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.48COP 39.3K
$17.87฿593
-30.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42COP 4,482
$1.69฿56.2
-15.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98COP 9,383
$2.84฿94.1
4.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Duitama
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06COP 3,325
$0.93฿30.70
13.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$53.9฿1,787
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.42COP 7,618
$1.23฿40.95
96.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.44COP 7,697
$0.58฿19.13
320.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.34COP 29.4K
$2.42฿80.4
285.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29COP 4,072
$1.41฿46.84
-8.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KCOP 70.4M
$21.4K฿711.3K
4.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9KCOP 113.0M
$27.3K฿906.7K
31.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Duitama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125COP 392.9K
$63.7฿2,112
95.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.48COP 51.9K
$12.85฿426
28.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.37COP 98.8K
$20.22฿671
55.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Duitama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.50COP 127.6K
$38.74฿1,285
4.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.97฿132
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.01COP 25.2K
$6.74฿223
18.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Duitama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$468COP 1.5M
$778฿25.8K
-39.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,626COP 20.9M
$14.6K฿484.6K
-54.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Duitama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.2COP 249.3K
$54.3฿1,801
45.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.3COP 158.5K
$25.45฿844
97.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$141COP 443.5K
$94.3฿3,129
49.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113COP 357.3K
$73.4฿2,436
54.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Duitama
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$734COP 2.3M
$490฿16.2K
49.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$542COP 1.7M
$289฿9,596
87.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,172COP 3.7M
$894฿29.6K
31.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$965COP 3.0M
$517฿17.1K
86.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,941COP 6.1M
$1,955฿64.9K
-0.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,615COP 5.1M
$1,477฿49.0K
9.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Duitama
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$602฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.81
5.57
129.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Duitama: August 31, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $734 in Duitama versus $490 in Chiang Mai. 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 $41.00 in Duitama versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $259 vs $240 – 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
Duitama vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Duitama or Chiang Mai?
Duitama costs about 36% 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 Duitama and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,931 per month in Duitama and $1,421 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Duitama or Chiang Mai?
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 Duitama and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Duitama and $20.00 in Chiang Mai. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Duitama or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Duitama, 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 Duitama or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $947, than in Duitama at $1,287. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Duitama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Duitama or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $947 versus $1,287 in Duitama. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Duitama compared to Chiang Mai?
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 Duitama or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Duitama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.