😐A single person spends $1,404 per month in Koło vs $872 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Koło vs $1,337 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,760 per month in Koło vs $1,802 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Koło costs about 61% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Koło sits 4% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Koło
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.69zł 38.48
$2.01฿64.5
431.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.47zł 149
$18.23฿584
127.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.30zł 29.87
$7.65฿245
8.50%
Cappuccino
$3.53zł 12.69
$1.92฿61.5
83.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98zł 7.14
$0.84฿26.97
135.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64zł 5.90
$0.36฿11.42
355.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24zł 11.66
$2.19฿70.2
47.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71zł 13.37
$3.79฿121
-2.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Koło
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07zł 3.84
$1.64฿52.5
-34.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30zł 4.68
$1.62฿52.0
-19.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38zł 4.98
$1.15฿36.98
20.00%
Eggs
$3.20zł 11.51
$1.94฿62.2
64.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.01zł 32.43
$15.94฿511
-43.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.71zł 24.16
$3.10฿99.5
116.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.97zł 39.49
$11.07฿355
-0.90%
Apples(1kg)
$1.05zł 3.76
$2.71฿86.8
-61.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71zł 6.17
$1.18฿37.80
44.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78zł 6.40
$1.71฿54.7
4.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.94zł 10.59
$1.61฿51.5
82.61%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95zł 3.41
$1.39฿44.66
-31.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.14zł 4.11
$1.15฿36.81
-0.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.28zł 4.61
$0.71฿22.83
80.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65zł 2.35
$0.55฿17.65
18.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.30zł 19.07
$4.57฿146
15.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.36zł 26.50
$18.87฿605
-61.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13zł 4.08
$1.82฿58.4
-37.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66zł 5.99
$3.21฿103
-48.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Koło
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.07zł 3.84
$0.88฿28.24
21.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.73zł 118
$18.89฿606
73.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.14zł 7.72
$1.41฿45.30
51.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73zł 2.63
$1.30฿41.71
-43.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.77zł 38.79
$8.20฿263
31.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.70zł 6.12
$1.23฿39.29
38.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8Kzł 121.5K
$21.2K฿678.9K
59.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7Kzł 110.4K
$22.3K฿715.3K
37.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koło
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$272zł 980
$69.9฿2,240
289.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.76zł 31.54
$14.07฿451
-37.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.80zł 60.5
$17.70฿567
-5.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Koło
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.88zł 129
$41.41฿1,328
-13.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.34zł 69.6
$6.69฿215
189.09%
Cinema Ticket
$6.84zł 24.62
$5.74฿184
19.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Koło
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$342zł 1,231
$299฿9,593
14.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,167zł 29.4K
$15.0K฿481.2K
-45.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Koło
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.5zł 318
$54.8฿1,758
61.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.58zł 132
$26.35฿845
38.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.8zł 294
$84.7฿2,714
-3.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8zł 345
$69.7฿2,236
37.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Koło
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$656zł 2,360
$427฿13.7K
53.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$488zł 1,755
$241฿7,718
102.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$973zł 3,504
$811฿26.0K
20.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$818zł 2,946
$498฿16.0K
64.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,019zł 10.9K
$2,022฿64.8K
49.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,067zł 7,442
$1,524฿48.9K
35.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Koło
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$639฿20.5K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.75
5
35.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Koło: April 13, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $656 in Koło versus $427 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 in Koło versus $18 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $215 in Koło vs $246 in Chiang Mai – so Koło 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
Koło vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Koło or Chiang Mai?
Koło costs about 61% 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 Koło vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Koło and $1,308 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Koło 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 childcare costs compare in Koło and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $342 per month in Koło and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Koło or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Koło – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Koło or Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $872, than in Koło at $1,404. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Koło it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Koło or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $872 versus $1,404 in Koło. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Koło 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 Koło or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Koło makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.