Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and San Francisco de Macoris Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and San Francisco de Macoris

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $726 in San Francisco de Macoris, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,193 in San Francisco de Macoris, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,660 in San Francisco de Macoris, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than San Francisco de Macoris, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Chiang Mai and San Francisco de Macoris are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, San Francisco de Macoris 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.3

$10.20 DOP 600

-79.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿653

$51.1 DOP 3,008

-61.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$7.80 DOP 459

-27.31%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.1

$2.40 DOP 142

-24.58%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ฿25.56

$1.09 DOP 64.0

-29.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.49

$0.68 DOP 39.80

-48.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.7

$2.49 DOP 147

-11.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿126

$3.66 DOP 215

3.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.1

$1.47 DOP 86.5

39.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.4

$1.59 DOP 93.6

-5.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.54

$1.61 DOP 94.8

-13.04%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.1

$2.44 DOP 144

-7.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿539

$7.46 DOP 439

117.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.4

$5.52 DOP 325

-47.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿313

$6.68 DOP 393

41.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.1

$3.16 DOP 186

-15.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.25

$0.81 DOP 47.85

34.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.8

$2.77 DOP 163

-41.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.58

$1.90 DOP 112

-23.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.51

$2.04 DOP 120

-37.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.19

$2.23 DOP 131

-52.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.86

$1.06 DOP 62.5

-32.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.50

$0.97 DOP 57.3

-45.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$5.43 DOP 319

-22.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿609

$10.45 DOP 615

75.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.2

$2.69 DOP 158

-39.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.5

$3.05 DOP 179

-4.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.22

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,789

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.02

$3.30 DOP 194

-64.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.24

$2.24 DOP 132

-74.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.4

$6.05 DOP 356

-60.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.25

$1.36 DOP 80.3

6.62%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.0K ฿699.1K

$23.3K DOP 1.4M

-9.91%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K ฿879.1K

$33.4K DOP 2.0M

-20.85%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$63.7 ฿2,118

$95.0 DOP 5,589

-32.99%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.89 ฿429

$32.66 DOP 1,921

-60.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿683

$36.47 DOP 2,146

-43.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,298

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿219

$7.73 DOP 455

-14.88%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$784 ฿26.1K

$258 DOP 15.2K

203.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿488.2K

$7,675 DOP 451.6K

91.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,834

$45.98 DOP 2,706

19.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿823

$48.59 DOP 2,859

-49.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,132

$90.4 DOP 5,318

4.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,461

$129 DOP 7,576

-42.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,588

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

13.56

-58.92%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for San Francisco de Macoris: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $51.0 in San Francisco de Macoris. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $225 in San Francisco de Macoris – so San Francisco de Macoris wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 San Francisco de Macoris: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 28% more than San Francisco de Macoris, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,089 in San Francisco de Macoris. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $51.0 in San Francisco de Macoris. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Francisco de Macoris, where all-in costs run around $726, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In San Francisco de Macoris it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. San Francisco de Macoris costs $726 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with San Francisco de Macoris. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.