🙂A single person spends $119 per month in Kololi vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $276 per month in Kololi vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $433 per month in Kololi vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
🙂Kololi is about 86% cheaper than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kololi and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Kololi91% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kololi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$1.94฿63.5
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.38GMD 3,428
$18.64฿609
148.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$7.82฿255
-
Cappuccino
$2.68GMD 198
$1.95฿63.8
37.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38GMD 176
$0.85฿27.77
180.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00GMD 74.1
$0.35฿11.58
185.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.99GMD 517
$2.13฿69.6
228.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.73GMD 350
$3.73฿122
26.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kololi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.71฿56.0
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.38GMD 102
$1.63฿53.2
-15.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.14฿37.15
-
Eggs
-
$1.93฿63.1
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$16.21฿530
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$3.12฿102
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$10.90฿356
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.75฿90.0
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.21฿39.52
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.62฿53.0
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$1.59฿51.8
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$1.40฿45.70
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.17฿38.17
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.66฿21.60
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.53฿17.22
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.69฿153
-
Wine(Bottle)
$6.59GMD 487
$18.66฿609
-64.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.80฿58.8
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.23฿106
-
🚌 Getting Around
Kololi
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.14GMD 10.33
$0.90฿29.26
-84.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.21฿628
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70GMD 51.6
$1.41฿45.91
-50.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.29฿42.12
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.84฿256
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11GMD 81.8
$1.27฿41.58
-12.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$2,534GMD 187.3K
$21.3K฿694.9K
-88.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$4,293GMD 317.2K
$22.2K฿725.4K
-80.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kololi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$69.1฿2,256
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$14.08฿460
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$18.00฿588
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kololi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$41.06฿1,341
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿227
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$5.92฿193
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kololi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$299฿9,766
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$15.0K฿488.3K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kololi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$54.7฿1,787
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$26.77฿874
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$85.0฿2,776
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$70.6฿2,306
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kololi
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$428฿14.0K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$237฿7,752
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$801฿26.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$515฿16.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,975฿64.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,475฿48.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kololi
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$617฿20.2K
-
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Kololi versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $27.00 in Kololi vs $246 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 630% 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 vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $178 per month in Kololi and $1,300 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 $119 in Kololi and $866 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 Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 815% 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 Chiang Mai?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $119 in Kololi and $866 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 $119 versus $866 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 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.