🙂A single person spends $116 per month in Kololi vs $861 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $282 per month in Kololi vs $1,350 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $448 per month in Kololi vs $1,838 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Kololi is about 87% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kololi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kololi91% lower, Chiang Mai36% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kololi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$1.96฿65.7
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.40GMD 3,367
$18.35฿616
147.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.48฿251
-
Cappuccino
$2.81GMD 209
$2.02฿67.7
39.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25GMD 167
$0.85฿28.45
164.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95GMD 70.6
$0.36฿11.94
163.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.85GMD 508
$2.14฿71.7
220.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59GMD 340
$3.59฿121
27.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kololi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.65฿55.4
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.32GMD 98.2
$1.57฿52.6
-15.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.19฿39.95
-
Eggs
-
$1.94฿65.0
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$16.19฿544
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$2.99฿100
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.94฿367
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.71฿91.0
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.17฿39.18
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.69฿56.6
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$1.60฿53.9
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.38฿46.45
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.20฿40.38
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.67฿22.46
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.56฿18.70
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.64฿156
-
Wine(Bottle)
$6.54GMD 485
$17.62฿591
-62.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.86฿62.4
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.30฿111
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kololi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.13GMD 9.53
$0.88฿29.63
-85.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.34฿649
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72GMD 53.7
$1.36฿45.82
-47.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.34฿44.90
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$8.21฿276
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15GMD 85.0
$1.22฿41.11
-5.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$2,531GMD 187.7K
$21.4K฿716.8K
-88.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$4,234GMD 313.9K
$22.5K฿756.3K
-81.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kololi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$70.7฿2,372
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$14.04฿471
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$17.49฿587
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kololi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$42.15฿1,415
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88฿231
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.92฿199
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kololi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$309฿10.4K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$14.9K฿499.5K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kololi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$55.8฿1,872
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.11฿877
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$83.0฿2,787
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$70.5฿2,365
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kololi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$432฿14.5K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$239฿8,020
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$822฿27.6K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$512฿17.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,915฿64.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467฿49.3K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kololi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$579฿19.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kololi: July 11, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Kololi versus $18.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $26.00 in Kololi vs $243 in Chiang Mai – so Kololi 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
Kololi vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kololi or Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai costs about 643% more than Kololi, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Kololi and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $174 per month in Kololi and $1,292 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Kololi compared to Chiang Mai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $116 in Kololi and $861 in Chiang Mai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Kololi or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 824% more in Chiang Mai, 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 $1,200/month in Kololi or in Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $116 in Kololi and $861 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kololi or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kololi costs $116 versus $861 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Kololi 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 Kololi or to Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Kololi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.