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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 60.7% cheaper than San Jose, CA without rent, and 80.3% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 63.6% cheaper than San Jose, CA without rent, and 77.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
San Jose, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$20.3 $20.3
-90.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$100 $100
-81.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$11.54 $11.54
-33.54%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$5.79 $5.79
-65.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$3.22 $3.22
-74.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$2.47 $2.47
-86.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$8.8 $8.8
-75.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$10.92 $10.92
-65.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
San Jose, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.46 $1.46
12.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$4.94 $4.94
-68.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$3.19 $3.19
-62.70%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$4.85 $4.85
-59.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$21.13 $21.13
-24.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$15.17 $15.17
-79.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$22.45 $22.45
-50.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$6.08 $6.08
-54.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$2.46 $2.46
-50.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$4.79 $4.79
-64.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$6.75 $6.75
-77.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$3.44 $3.44
-61.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$4.28 $4.28
-71.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$2.97 $2.97
-75.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$2.77 $2.77
-80.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$11.32 $11.32
-58.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$14.95 $14.95
23.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$2.35 $2.35
-23.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$3.35 $3.35
-4.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
San Jose, 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
$89 $89
-78.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$3.42 $3.42
-58.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.89 $1.89
-28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$29.82 $29.82
-73.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$1.31 $1.31
-4.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$30.2K $30.2K
-29.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$27K $27K
-19.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
San Jose, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$292 $292
-75.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$49.13 $49.13
-72.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$67.9 $67.9
-74.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
San Jose, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$122 $122
-65.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$30.12 $30.12
-77.09%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$15.45 $15.45
-62.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
San Jose, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$1,985 $1,985
-84.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$26.2K $26.2K
-43.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
San Jose, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$52.5 $52.5
5.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$43.85 $43.85
-39.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$89.8 $89.8
-5.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$138 $138
-48.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
San Jose, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$3,022 $3,022
-85.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$2,672 $2,672
-91.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$5,283 $5,283
-84.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$4,622 $4,622
-89.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$10.6K $10.6K
-79.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$9,587 $9,587
-83.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
San Jose, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$5,864 $5,864
-88.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.51
-23.20%

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 Jose, CA: October 28, 2025

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