Nomad InsidersHONEST CITY FILES
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§ Ledger · Cost of Living

Chiang MaivsMedellín

At the monthly tier, Chiang Mai runs 7% cheaper than Medellín: $1,300 against $1,400.

Tier
Chiang Mai
Medellín
Medellín against Chiang Mai
Shoestringthe floor
$900
$900
even same as Chiang Mai
Monthlythe headline
$1,300
$1,400
+8%pricier than Chiang Mai
Comfortthe nicer flat
$1,900
$1,800
−5%cheaper than Chiang Mai
Bakedeverything in
$2,400
$2,400
even same as Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, ThailandGo

By global nomad standards Chiang Mai is still genuinely cheap: a comfortable solo month lands around $1,300 all in. The only line creeping up is Nimman rent, roughly 6% a year as more nomads pile into the same few streets, while food, transit, and coworking stay near giveaway prices. The real hidden cost is not on this list: escaping burning season means flights and a second base for six weeks, so budget for that.

+6% YoY (Nimman rents)OPEN THE CHIANG MAI DOSSIER →
Medellín, ColombiaGo, but stay alert

El Poblado rents have jumped hard with the nomad wave, Laureles and Envigado are the value play now.

+15% YoYOPEN THE MEDELLÍN DOSSIER →

Type a number and each tier reads as a share of it. Nothing is saved, nothing is sent, and we do not guess a figure for you.

Tier
Chiang Mai
Medellín
Shoestring
—
—
Monthly
—
—
Comfort
—
—
Baked
—
—
§ The receipts

Line by line, category by category.

Housing

PERCENTS ARE AGAINST THE SITE MEDIAN FOR THAT LINE
Chiang Mai · 3 lines
1BR condo · Nimman (furnished, monthly)$450/mo−60% below median
1BR apt · Old City / Santitham (furnished)$280/mo−75% below median
Co-living room (bills included)$550/mo−30% below median
Medellín · 6 lines
1BR apt · El Poblado (center)$1,373/mo+4% above median
1BR apt · Laureles / Envigado$1,200/mo−5% below median
Co-living room$420/mo−55% below median
2BR apt · El Poblado$2,010/mo
2BR apt · Laureles$890/mo
2BR apt · Belén$842/mo

Food

PERCENTS ARE AGAINST THE SITE MEDIAN FOR THAT LINE
Chiang Mai · 4 lines
Local rice dish + drink$3−70% below median
Cafe latte$2.50−35% below median
Khao soi (iconic bowl)$2.50−50% below median
Groceries · solo, monthly$180/mo−40% below median
Medellín · 4 lines
Set lunch (menú del día)$4−60% below median
Restaurant dinner for 2 · mid$30−50% below median
Cappuccino (El Poblado)$2.50−45% below median
Groceries · solo, monthly$220/mo−40% below median

Work

PERCENTS ARE AGAINST THE SITE MEDIAN FOR THAT LINE
Chiang Mai · 2 lines
Coworking · monthly hot desk$140/mo−20% below median
Coworking day pass$10/day−50% below median
Medellín · 2 lines
Coworking day pass$10/day−50% below median
Coworking · monthly$110/mo−45% below median

Transit

PERCENTS ARE AGAINST THE SITE MEDIAN FOR THAT LINE
Chiang Mai · 2 lines
Red songthaew (shared, flat fare)$0.85−60% below median
Grab car across town$4−55% below median
Medellín · 2 lines
Metro ride$0.80−55% below median
Uber / DiDi across town$4−52% below median

Life

PERCENTS ARE AGAINST THE SITE MEDIAN FOR THAT LINE
Chiang Mai · 3 lines
Gym · monthly$30/mo−35% below median
SIM · monthly data$12/mo−40% below median
Scooter rental · monthly$90/mo+45% above median
Medellín · 3 lines
Gym · mid$30/mo−50% below median
SIM / phone · 10GB$12/mo−58% below median
Spanish class · group, hr$8/hr−55% below median

Sources: Nomad Insiders city audits. Chiang Mai last audited Jul 12, 2026; Medellín last audited Jun 13, 2026. Each line is a real receipt from the city file; the percent beside it compares that line with the median for the same line across every audited city.

§ More pairs

Other cities against Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai vs Mexico CityChiang Mai vs BangkokChiang Mai vs Bogotá

← The full ledger, all 85 cities

Figures are Nomad Insiders audited snapshots in USD, last reviewed Jul 12, 2026. Rents move; treat anything older than a quarter as a floor, not a quote.