Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and El Salvador
For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $906 a month against $1,466 in El Salvador, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Chiang Mai Living Index45Cost of Living Index in Chiang MaiLearn more -
El Salvador Living Index72Cost of Living Index in El SalvadorLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 23.1% cheaper than El Salvador without rent, and 38.2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 25.8% cheaper than El Salvador without rent, and 30.8% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
El Salvador
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$6.68 $6.68
-68.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿649
$44.84 $44.84
-56.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿183
$7.08 $7.08
-22.74%
Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.4
$3.57 $3.57
-52.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.10
$1.14 $1.14
-42.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.52
$0.92 $0.92
-63.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.0
$2.03 $2.03
19.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿125
$3.49 $3.49
6.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
El Salvador
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿68.9
$1.84 $1.84
11.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.78
$2.40 $2.40
-39.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.09
$1.55 $1.55
-12.90%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.0
$2.76 $2.76
-17.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿546
$7.61 $7.61
114.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.3
$5.95 $5.95
-54.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿308
$8.99 $8.99
2.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.1
$3.81 $3.81
-37.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.66
$1.74 $1.74
-40.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.7
$2.96 $2.96
-45.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.37
$2.93 $2.93
-50.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.59
$2.85 $2.85
-54.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.29
$2.32 $2.32
-52.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.55
$0.97 $0.97
-27.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.99
$0.95 $0.95
-46.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿138
$3.97 $3.97
4.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿595
$11.90 $11.90
49.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.7
$1.90 $1.90
-14.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.0
$2.77 $2.77
3.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
El Salvador
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.76
$0.36 $0.36
138.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,780
$35.46 $35.46
49.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.81
$6.51 $6.51
-81.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.81
$3.09 $3.09
-81.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.5
$20.04 $20.04
-88.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.2
$1.19 $1.19
26.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿698.3K
$25.2K $25.2K
-17.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.0K
$28.3K $28.3K
-5.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
El Salvador
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,051
$104 $104
-41.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿419
$22.38 $22.38
-44.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿682
$41.65 $41.65
-51.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
El Salvador
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,270
$31.73 $31.73
19.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
$16.60 $16.60
-77.29%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿221
$4.96 $4.96
33.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
El Salvador
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿25.9K
$167 $167
363.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿483.2K
$4,427 $4,427
226.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
El Salvador
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,835
$63.2 $63.2
-13.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿846
$49.16 $49.16
-48.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,032
$119 $119
-24.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,453
$103 $103
-28.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
El Salvador
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
$733 $733
-37.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,835
$655 $655
-55.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.8K
$1,261 $1,261
-27.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$881 $881
-37.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.2K
$2,730 $2,730
-29.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.4K
$1,601 $1,601
-9.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
El Salvador
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.8K
$440 $440
34.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
8.48
-34.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Last update for El Salvador: October 3, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $294 31.8%
El Salvador $655 44.3% 123% $361
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $236 25.6%
El Salvador $262 17.7% 11.2% $26
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $110 11.9%
El Salvador $150 10.2% 37% $41
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $94 10.2%
El Salvador $168 11.4% 78.7% $74
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $77 8.4%
El Salvador $143 9.7% 85% $66
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $61 6.6%
El Salvador $59 4% 2.9% $1.8
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $51 5.5%
El Salvador $42 2.8% 18.5% $9.5
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $552 29%
El Salvador $881 32.2% 59.7% $329
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $529 27.8%
El Salvador $603 22.1% 14.1% $74
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $244 12.8%
El Salvador $334 12.2% 37.1% $90
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $107 5.6%
El Salvador $191 7% 78.7% $84
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $243 12.8%
El Salvador $508 18.6% 109% $265
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $123 6.5%
El Salvador $118 4.3% 3.7% $4.5
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $106 5.6%
El Salvador $100 3.7% 5.8% $6.1
Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇸🇻 El Salvador
Weather
Population
127,240
6,029,976
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Chiang Mai El Salvador 16,290 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
- Chiang Mai
- El Salvador
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared
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