Chiang Mai vs Medellin: cost of living for digital nomads

Chiang Mai, Thailand and Medellin, Colombia, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.

The short version

  • Chiang Mai is about 27% cheaper than Medellin for a month of nomad living ($1,100 vs $1,500).
  • Rent is the biggest gap: $400 in Chiang Mai against $720 in Medellin.
  • Chiang Mai scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 6/10).
  • Internet is faster in Chiang Mai: 210 Mbps typical against 100 Mbps.
  • Both have a tropical climate.

Chiang Mai wins 7 of the measured lines; Medellin wins 0.

LineChiang MaiMedellin
Monthly total (USD)$1,100$1,500
Rent$400$720
Food$320$380
Transport$40$45
Coworking$100$120
Safety (out of 10)8/106/10
Internet (Mbps)210100
Climatetropicaltropical
City sizemidmetro
Settinginlandmountain
Nomad score (out of 10)10/1010/10

Compare Chiang Mai with

Compare Medellin with

Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Check the city pages for the dates each was last verified.