Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and San Rafael Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and San Rafael

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 2.4% more expensive than San Rafael without rent, and 5.2% cheaper with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 5.5% more expensive than San Rafael without rent, and 8.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
San Rafael
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿63.8
$9.90 ARS 14.4K
-79.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿585
$19.70 ARS 28.6K
-5.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿235
$5.83 ARS 8,468
28.30%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿62.8
$1.82 ARS 2,640
9.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.63
$0.98 ARS 1,429
-13.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.05
$1.03 ARS 1,494
-66.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿69.5
$1.02 ARS 1,486
116.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿118
$1.47 ARS 2,141
155.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
San Rafael
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.0
$1.01 ARS 1,468
70.30%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.4
$1.48 ARS 2,153
10.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.42
$1.41 ARS 2,051
-17.73%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.2
$1.58 ARS 2,298
25.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿501
$5.56 ARS 8,080
186.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿99.6
$7.56 ARS 11.0K
-58.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿343
$6.46 ARS 9,385
68.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.2
$1.74 ARS 2,524
52.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.45
$1.48 ARS 2,151
-17.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.4
$1.51 ARS 2,198
12.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿49.99
$0.86 ARS 1,244
84.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.63
$0.65 ARS 947
103.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.74
$0.71 ARS 1,032
64.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.31
$0.61 ARS 885
11.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.52
$1.26 ARS 1,831
-55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿142
$1.81 ARS 2,627
149.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿600
$5.13 ARS 7,452
271.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿55.7
$1.08 ARS 1,572
63.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿100.0
$1.57 ARS 2,286
102.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
San Rafael
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.27
$0.76 ARS 1,108
26.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿594
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.69
$0.42 ARS 604
223.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.51
$0.98 ARS 1,423
37.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿253
$4.80 ARS 6,969
67.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.08
$0.85 ARS 1,239
45.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿665.4K
$31.0K ARS 45.0M
-31.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿684.0K
$33.1K ARS 48.1M
-34.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
San Rafael
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,240
$77.9 ARS 113.2K
-8.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿443
$6.71 ARS 9,750
109.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿549
$15.28 ARS 22.2K
14.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
San Rafael
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,323
$25.91 ARS 37.6K
62.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿216
$13.50 ARS 19.6K
-49.04%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿187
$6.14 ARS 8,923
-3.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
San Rafael
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,664
$104 ARS 151.4K
194.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿465.1K
$2,131 ARS 3.1M
594.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
San Rafael
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,750
$82.8 ARS 120.2K
-32.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿842
$77.0 ARS 111.7K
-65.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,617
$149 ARS 216.7K
-44.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,204
$118 ARS 171.1K
-40.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
San Rafael
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.4K
$344 ARS 499.1K
24.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,454
$239 ARS 346.7K
-0.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.2K
$676 ARS 982.1K
18.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.8K
$540 ARS 783.8K
-6.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿64.8K
$1,823 ARS 2.6M
13.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
San Rafael
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.6K
$449 ARS 652.1K
45.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
79
-93.67%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for San Rafael: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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