Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Carlsbad, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Carlsbad, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 53% cheaper than Carlsbad, CA without rent, and 76.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 56% cheaper than Carlsbad, CA without rent, and 72.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$19.84 $19.84
-89.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$82.3 $82.3
-77.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$11.92 $11.92
-35.65%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$5.02 $5.02
-60.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$2.72 $2.72
-69.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$1.97 $1.97
-83.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$6.8 $6.8
-68.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$7.02 $7.02
-46.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.11 $1.11
47.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$4.12 $4.12
-61.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$4.01 $4.01
-70.32%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$5.65 $5.65
-64.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$10.8 $10.8
48.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$8.32 $8.32
-62.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$14.6 $14.6
-23.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$3.37 $3.37
-18.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.72 $1.72
-29.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$2.82 $2.82
-39.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$5.68 $5.68
-72.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$3.66 $3.66
-63.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$3.21 $3.21
-62.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$1.4 $1.4
-48.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$2.09 $2.09
-74.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$10.95 $10.95
-56.89%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$15.07 $15.07
22.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.47 $1.47
21.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$1.2 $1.2
167.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$2.53 $2.53
-62.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$178 $178
-89.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$9.94 $9.94
-85.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.71 $1.71
-21.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$34.91 $34.91
-77.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.24 $1.24
0.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$24.3K $24.3K
-12.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$24.1K $24.1K
-9.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$241 $241
-70.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$46.27 $46.27
-70.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$60.2 $60.2
-70.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$84.4 $84.4
-50.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$32.38 $32.38
-78.69%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$20.93 $20.93
-72.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$1,187 $1,187
-74.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$23.1K $23.1K
-36.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$53.2 $53.2
4.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$24.3 $24.3
8.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$76.6 $76.6
11.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$84.8 $84.8
-15.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$2,628 $2,628
-83.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$2,220 $2,220
-89.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$4,364 $4,364
-81.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$3,508 $3,508
-85.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$6,959 $6,959
-68.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$6,253 $6,253
-75.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Carlsbad, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$6,553 $6,553
-89.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
5.97
-16.25%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Carlsbad, CA: October 28, 2025

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