😐A single person spends $1,272 per month in Soledad vs $950 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,032 per month in Soledad vs $1,430 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,791 per month in Soledad vs $1,909 in Chiang Mai, rent included.
😐Soledad costs about 34% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Soledad and Chiang Mai are more affordable than the global median – Soledad8% lower, Chiang Mai31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Soledad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.96COP 15.3K
$2.10฿69.3
136.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.34COP 127.2K
$19.84฿656
108.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.92COP 30.5K
$5.79฿191
71.33%
Cappuccino
$3.52COP 10.8K
$1.83฿60.4
92.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93COP 5,925
$0.78฿25.61
147.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83COP 5,647
$0.31฿10.37
490.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.94COP 5,985
$2.34฿77.2
-17.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.84COP 14.9K
$3.70฿122
30.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Soledad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94COP 5,970
$2.03฿67.1
-4.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.36COP 7,275
$1.60฿52.7
47.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.43COP 4,395
$1.42฿46.75
0.70%
Eggs
$4.91COP 15.1K
$2.18฿71.9
125.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.23COP 22.3K
$15.91฿526
-54.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.96COP 33.7K
$3.07฿102
257.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.75COP 39.2K
$9.87฿326
29.18%
Apples(1kg)
$3.48COP 10.7K
$2.63฿86.8
32.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57COP 4,827
$1.10฿36.19
42.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89COP 5,812
$1.63฿53.8
15.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.81COP 5,571
$1.53฿50.6
18.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43COP 4,402
$1.24฿41.13
15.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.46COP 4,497
$1.13฿37.37
29.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14COP 3,521
$0.74฿24.38
54.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13COP 3,493
$0.50฿16.48
126.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00COP 12.3K
$4.28฿141
-6.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.37COP 44.2K
$17.97฿594
-20.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47COP 4,517
$1.70฿56.1
-13.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96COP 9,096
$2.90฿95.7
2.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Soledad
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.16COP 3,572
$0.94฿31.13
23.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$55.3฿1,827
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.56COP 4,805
$1.23฿40.76
26.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.77COP 11.6K
$0.53฿17.66
611.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.61COP 29.6K
$2.40฿79.3
300.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29COP 3,977
$1.44฿47.55
-10.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9KCOP 73.5M
$21.2K฿700.2K
12.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3KCOP 105.4M
$27.3K฿902.1K
25.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Soledad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.4COP 244.3K
$64.9฿2,145
22.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.29COP 40.9K
$13.35฿441
-0.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.12COP 92.7K
$20.83฿688
44.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Soledad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.24COP 111.5K
$40.42฿1,336
-10.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$3.95฿131
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.28COP 25.5K
$6.71฿222
23.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Soledad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$645COP 2.0M
$787฿26.0K
-18.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,855COP 18.0M
$15.1K฿499.6K
-61.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Soledad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.3COP 256.3K
$56.2฿1,858
48.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.7COP 174.4K
$24.95฿824
127.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$141COP 433.6K
$92.7฿3,063
51.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 331.5K
$75.1฿2,482
43.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Soledad
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$673COP 2.1M
$484฿16.0K
39.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$287฿9,491
65.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,018COP 3.1M
$910฿30.1K
11.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$947COP 2.9M
$531฿17.5K
78.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,937COP 6.0M
$1,980฿65.4K
-2.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,704COP 5.2M
$1,451฿47.9K
17.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Soledad
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$605฿20.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15
5.57
169.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Soledad: September 7, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $673 in Soledad versus $484 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 Soledad versus $20.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $242 – 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
Soledad vs Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Soledad or Chiang Mai?
Soledad costs about 34% 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 Soledad and in Chiang Mai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,908 per month in Soledad and $1,426 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 dining costs compare in Soledad and in Chiang Mai?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $41.00 in Soledad 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 Soledad or in Chiang Mai?
Groceries cost about 21% more in Soledad, 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 Soledad or in Chiang Mai?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Soledad at $1,272. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Soledad it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Soledad or Chiang Mai?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $950 versus $1,272 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 to 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.