Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and San Juan del Sur Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and San Juan del Sur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,022 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,351 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,719 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,835 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,417 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

Chiang Mai is about 15% cheaper than San Juan del Sur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and San Juan del Sur are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 35% lower, San Juan del Sur 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ฿63.5

$4.25 NIO 156

-54.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.64 ฿609

$33.80 NIO 1,238

-44.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 ฿255

$5.52 NIO 202

41.67%

Cappuccino

$1.95 ฿63.8

$2.35 NIO 86.0

-17.02%

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

$0.85 ฿27.77

$0.85 NIO 31.14

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.58

$0.68 NIO 25.06

-48.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.13 ฿69.6

$1.30 NIO 47.48

63.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿122

$2.02 NIO 73.9

84.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 ฿56.0

$1.26 NIO 46.20

35.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿53.2

$1.48 NIO 54.1

10.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.14 ฿37.15

$1.17 NIO 42.88

-2.56%

Eggs

$1.93 ฿63.1

$1.96 NIO 71.7

-1.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.21 ฿530

$7.79 NIO 285

108.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿102

$6.39 NIO 234

-51.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿356

$7.97 NIO 292

36.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ฿90.0

$3.85 NIO 141

-28.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.52

$0.84 NIO 30.90

44.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿53.0

$1.78 NIO 65.1

-8.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿51.8

$2.26 NIO 82.8

-29.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 ฿45.70

$3.14 NIO 115

-55.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿38.17

$2.17 NIO 79.5

-46.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.66 ฿21.60

$1.01 NIO 36.99

-34.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.22

$1.01 NIO 36.93

-47.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.69 ฿153

$2.61 NIO 95.4

79.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.66 ฿609

$9.65 NIO 354

93.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 ฿58.8

$1.46 NIO 53.5

23.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 ฿106

$2.23 NIO 81.9

44.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 ฿29.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.21 ฿628

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 ฿45.91

$1.47 NIO 53.9

-4.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.29 ฿42.12

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.84 ฿256

$6.83 NIO 250

14.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.27 ฿41.58

$1.25 NIO 45.66

1.60%

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

$21.3K ฿694.9K

$22.9K NIO 838.0K

-7.00%

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

$22.2K ฿725.4K

$25.9K NIO 948.6K

-14.24%

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

$69.1 ฿2,256

$41.71 NIO 1,528

65.60%

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

$14.08 ฿460

$10.58 NIO 388

33.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.00 ฿588

$36.56 NIO 1,339

-50.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.06 ฿1,341

$29.69 NIO 1,087

38.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 ฿227

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 ฿193

$7.80 NIO 286

-24.10%

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

$299 ฿9,766

$123 NIO 4,505

143.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.0K ฿488.3K

$5,973 NIO 218.8K

150.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.7 ฿1,787

$78.8 NIO 2,884

-30.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.77 ฿874

$73.8 NIO 2,702

-63.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 ฿2,776

$130 NIO 4,761

-34.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.6 ฿2,306

$110 NIO 4,025

-35.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ฿14.0K

$461 NIO 16.9K

-7.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,752

$409 NIO 15.0K

-41.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 ฿26.2K

$955 NIO 35.0K

-16.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$515 ฿16.8K

$958 NIO 35.1K

-46.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,975 ฿64.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 ฿20.2K

$280 NIO 10.2K

120.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.25

-51.22%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Last update for San Juan del Sur: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Chiang Mai versus $461 in San Juan del Sur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 121% higher in Chiang Mai, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai versus $34.00 in San Juan del Sur. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Chiang Mai vs $223 in San Juan del Sur – so San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Juan del Sur costs about 18% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,300 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,532 in San Juan del Sur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Chiang Mai and $34.00 in San Juan del Sur. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% cheaper in San Juan del Sur – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in San Juan del Sur at $1,022. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Juan del Sur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,022 in San Juan del Sur. 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 Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Juan del Sur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.