Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and El Cajon, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and El Cajon, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 51.5% cheaper than El Cajon, CA without rent, and 73.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 56.3% cheaper than El Cajon, CA without rent, and 73.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$19.68 $19.68
-89.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$79.6 $79.6
-76.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$15.09 $15.09
-49.17%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$5.17 $5.17
-61.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$3.02 $3.02
-72.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$2.55 $2.55
-87.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$7.13 $7.13
-70.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$8.07 $8.07
-53.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.16 $1.16
41.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$4.3 $4.3
-63.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$4.44 $4.44
-73.20%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$3.9 $3.9
-49.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$13.55 $13.55
18.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$15.95 $15.95
-80.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$15.72 $15.72
-29.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$4.44 $4.44
-37.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$1.71 $1.71
-28.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$3.91 $3.91
-56.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$4.77 $4.77
-67.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$3.08 $3.08
-56.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$2.37 $2.37
-48.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$2.1 $2.1
-65.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$2.37 $2.37
-77.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$12.06 $12.06
-60.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$15.29 $15.29
20.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.81 $1.81
-1.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$2.55 $2.55
25.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
El Cajon, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$1.93 $1.93
-51.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$2.92 $2.92
-51.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.72 $1.72
-21.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$28.43 $28.43
-72.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.25 $1.25
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$25.3K $25.3K
-16.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$27.5K $27.5K
-20.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$155 $155
-54.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$54.9 $54.9
-75.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$71.1 $71.1
-75.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$43.44 $43.44
-4.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$15.29 $15.29
-62.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$1,500 $1,500
-79.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$28.9K $28.9K
-49.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$46.79 $46.79
18.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$33.14 $33.14
-20.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$99.6 $99.6
-14.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$101 $101
-28.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
El Cajon, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$2,428 $2,428
-82.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$1,939 $1,939
-87.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$2,953 $2,953
-72.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$4,029 $4,029
-87.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$2,755 $2,755
-20.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$2,148 $2,148
-28.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
El Cajon, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$4,070 $4,070
-82.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.39
-21.75%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for El Cajon, CA: October 27, 2025

Similar cities

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.