Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and San Diego, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and San Diego, CA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 58% cheaper than San Diego, CA without rent, and 78.1% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 59.7% cheaper than San Diego, CA without rent, and 75.4% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
San Diego, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ΰΈΏ65.3
$22.95 $22.95
-91.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ΰΈΏ608
$99.8 $99.8
-81.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ΰΈΏ248
$14.8 $14.8
-48.18%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.2
$6.07 $6.07
-67.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ΰΈΏ26.64
$3.08 $3.08
-73.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ΰΈΏ10.58
$2.59 $2.59
-87.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ΰΈΏ68.6
$7.88 $7.88
-73.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ΰΈΏ121
$8.95 $8.95
-58.32%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
San Diego, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ΰΈΏ53.2
$1.26 $1.26
30.16%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ΰΈΏ50.9
$4.5 $4.5
-65.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ΰΈΏ38.62
$4.42 $4.42
-73.08%
Eggs
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.1
$5.04 $5.04
-60.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ΰΈΏ517
$13.66 $13.66
17.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ΰΈΏ101
$12.77 $12.77
-75.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ΰΈΏ361
$18.5 $18.5
-39.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ΰΈΏ89.2
$4.6 $4.6
-40.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ΰΈΏ39.5
$1.71 $1.71
-28.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ΰΈΏ55.4
$3.92 $3.92
-56.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ΰΈΏ50.2
$4.73 $4.73
-67.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ΰΈΏ43.21
$2.98 $2.98
-55.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ΰΈΏ39.23
$2.47 $2.47
-51.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ΰΈΏ23.2
$2.27 $2.27
-68.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ΰΈΏ17.05
$2.5 $2.5
-78.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ΰΈΏ153
$12.2 $12.2
-61.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ΰΈΏ595
$15.29 $15.29
20.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ΰΈΏ57.9
$1.75 $1.75
2.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ΰΈΏ104
$2.54 $2.54
26.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
San Diego, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ΰΈΏ30.44
$2.56 $2.56
-63.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ΰΈΏ612
$72.1 $72.1
-73.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ΰΈΏ46.08
$2.97 $2.97
-52.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ΰΈΏ43.53
$2.07 $2.07
-34.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ΰΈΏ254
$27.69 $27.69
-71.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ΰΈΏ40.4
$1.26 $1.26
-0.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ΰΈΏ684.9K
$30.7K $30.7K
-31.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ΰΈΏ706.8K
$26.6K $26.6K
-18.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
San Diego, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ΰΈΏ2,285
$275 $275
-74.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ΰΈΏ444
$67 $67
-79.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ΰΈΏ568
$79.1 $79.1
-77.81%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
San Diego, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ΰΈΏ1,347
$66.6 $66.6
-37.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ΰΈΏ223
$24.66 $24.66
-72.02%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ΰΈΏ188
$15.76 $15.76
-63.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
San Diego, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ΰΈΏ9,963
$1,625 $1,625
-81.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ΰΈΏ475.8K
$28.6K $28.6K
-48.65%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
San Diego, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ΰΈΏ1,793
$58.1 $58.1
-4.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ΰΈΏ854
$58.8 $58.8
-55.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ΰΈΏ2,755
$98 $98
-13.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ΰΈΏ2,323
$116 $116
-37.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
San Diego, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ΰΈΏ14K
$2,808 $2,808
-84.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ΰΈΏ7,610
$2,412 $2,412
-90.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ΰΈΏ26.6K
$5,005 $5,005
-83.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ΰΈΏ16.1K
$4,128 $4,128
-87.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ΰΈΏ70.6K
$9,534 $9,534
-77.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ΰΈΏ49.9K
$6,940 $6,940
-77.77%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
San Diego, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ΰΈΏ22.8K
$5,341 $5,341
-86.83%
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 San Diego, CA: October 29, 2025

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