Chiang Mai vs Medellín — Cost of Living Comparison 2026
Which city is cheaper, safer, and better for remote workers? Here's the data.
NoodlePants Verdict — generated from live data
Chiang Mai edges out Medellín on affordability with a Cost of Living index of 30.4 vs 32.4 (USA=100; very affordable vs very affordable). Chiang Mai scores higher on safety (78/100), and Chiang Mai wins on internet at ~180 Mbps. Overall, Chiang Mai takes the Nomad Score crown with 86/100 — best for budget nomad and long-stay nomad.
Metric
Chiang Mai
Medellín
Avg Rent 1BR (city centre)
US$380
US$580
Avg Rent 1BR (outside centre)
US$250
US$360
Cost of Living (USA=100)
30
32
Safety Score
78/100
48/100
Internet Speed
180 Mbps
130 Mbps
Nomad Score
86/100
80/100
Healthcare Score
74/100
70/100
Digital Nomad Visa
✓ Available
✓ Available
Who is each city for?
Chiang Mai is better for…
Budget nomadLong-stay nomadCoworkingSlow living
See the Thailand country profileMedellín is better for…
Budget nomadLatAm baseSpring climateCommunity
See the Colombia country profileAlso compare
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