😐A single person spends $980 per month in Soledad vs $869 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,432 per month in Soledad vs $1,362 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,883 per month in Soledad vs $1,855 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Soledad costs about 13% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Soledad and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Soledad27% lower, Chiang Mai35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Soledad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.00COP 21.4K
$1.98฿65.0
203.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.29COP 83.1K
$18.80฿619
23.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.75COP 34.8K
$7.75฿255
25.81%
Cappuccino
$1.57COP 5,603
$1.92฿63.2
-18.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81COP 2,893
$0.79฿26.07
2.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,571
$0.36฿11.74
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.29COP 4,589
$2.21฿72.9
-41.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94COP 10.5K
$3.66฿120
-19.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Soledad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14COP 4,079
$1.65฿54.4
-30.91%
White Bread(500g)
$1.84COP 6,577
$1.63฿53.7
12.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,926
$1.19฿39.28
15.97%
Eggs
$2.18COP 7,758
$2.00฿65.8
9.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.76COP 24.1K
$15.98฿526
-57.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.99COP 21.4K
$3.03฿99.6
97.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.98COP 28.4K
$10.86฿357
-26.52%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25COP 11.6K
$2.76฿90.9
17.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,961
$1.18฿38.83
-5.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45COP 5,180
$1.64฿54.0
-11.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60COP 5,703
$1.52฿50.0
5.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.54COP 5,488
$1.38฿45.59
11.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.07COP 3,810
$1.19฿39.25
-10.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01COP 3,599
$0.70฿23.11
44.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60COP 2,124
$0.56฿18.32
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 8,346
$4.58฿151
-48.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.09COP 64.5K
$16.56฿545
9.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99COP 3,519
$1.83฿60.2
-45.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98COP 3,508
$3.20฿105
-69.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Soledad
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72COP 2,565
$0.88฿28.87
-18.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.99COP 106.9K
$18.72฿616
60.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.92COP 6,859
$1.36฿44.64
41.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.71COP 6,115
$1.34฿44.12
27.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.91COP 17.5K
$7.84฿258
-37.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02COP 3,638
$1.23฿40.35
-17.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.8KCOP 67.2M
$21.6K฿711.8K
-12.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8KCOP 109.8M
$22.5K฿742.2K
36.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Soledad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143COP 508.6K
$70.5฿2,322
102.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.94COP 39.0K
$13.68฿450
-20.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.33COP 90.3K
$17.45฿574
45.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Soledad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.80COP 84.9K
$41.33฿1,361
-42.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.96฿229
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.94COP 10.5K
$5.77฿190
-49.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Soledad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$144COP 514.2K
$307฿10.1K
-53.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,892COP 21.0M
$14.6K฿481.0K
-59.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Soledad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.10COP 171.6K
$55.8฿1,837
-13.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.58COP 137.6K
$26.21฿863
47.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$126COP 450.9K
$85.8฿2,823
47.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115COP 410.2K
$72.2฿2,378
59.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Soledad
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$283COP 1.0M
$430฿14.1K
-34.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235COP 839.0K
$239฿7,857
-1.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$521COP 1.9M
$817฿26.9K
-36.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$422COP 1.5M
$511฿16.8K
-17.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,581COP 5.6M
$1,983฿65.3K
-20.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,353COP 4.8M
$1,484฿48.9K
-8.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Soledad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$619฿20.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15
5
200.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Soledad: June 8, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $283 in Soledad versus $430 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 $23.00 in Soledad versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Groceries tell a different story – $216 in Soledad vs $241 in Chiang Mai – so Soledad 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
Soledad vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Soledad or Chiang Mai?
Soledad costs about 13% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 Soledad vs Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,471 per month in Soledad and $1,303 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Soledad 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 Soledad and Chiang Mai?
Kindergarten costs $144 per month in Soledad and $307 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 Soledad or Chiang Mai?
Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Soledad – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $800/month in Soledad or Chiang Mai?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $980 in Soledad and $869 in Chiang Mai, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Soledad or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $869 versus $980 in Soledad. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Soledad 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 Soledad or Chiang Mai?
If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Soledad makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.