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 6.8% more expensive than San Rafael without rent, and 0.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 2.6% cheaper than San Rafael without rent, and 8.2% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
San Rafael
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 ฿64.4
$10.03 ARS 13.6K
-79.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 ฿583
$19.89 ARS 27.1K
-8.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 ฿244
$6.08 ARS 8,265
25.82%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿61.3
$1.84 ARS 2,496
4.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿26.90
$1.02 ARS 1,382
-17.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.39
$1.02 ARS 1,380
-64.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 ฿70.0
$1.02 ARS 1,384
114.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿121
$1.51 ARS 2,056
150.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
San Rafael
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿52.4
$1.01 ARS 1,371
62.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿51.8
$1.54 ARS 2,089
5.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.88
$1.44 ARS 1,957
-20.14%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿62.0
$1.62 ARS 2,208
19.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 ฿510
$5.66 ARS 7,698
181.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ฿99.2
$7.71 ARS 10.5K
-59.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ฿354
$6.62 ARS 9,005
67.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿86.5
$1.76 ARS 2,396
53.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿37.69
$1.47 ARS 1,999
-19.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿54.5
$1.47 ARS 2,003
16.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ฿51.3
$0.87 ARS 1,180
85.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿44.53
$0.66 ARS 899
110.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.70
$0.69 ARS 938
66.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿22.76
$0.64 ARS 864
10.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿17.60
$1.22 ARS 1,662
-54.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿146
$1.81 ARS 2,456
152.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 ฿603
$4.07 ARS 5,531
363.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿58.2
$1.13 ARS 1,539
61.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿103
$1.64 ARS 2,225
95.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
San Rafael
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.16
$0.79 ARS 1,072
11.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.89 ฿604
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.17
$0.41 ARS 558
243.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 ฿41.59
$0.97 ARS 1,319
34.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 ฿262
$4.88 ARS 6,632
68.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.18
$0.84 ARS 1,136
46.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿677.0K
$31.3K ARS 42.6M
-32.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ฿713.3K
$33.1K ARS 45.0M
-32.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
San Rafael
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 ฿2,234
$76.3 ARS 103.8K
-8.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07 ฿450
$6.83 ARS 9,288
106.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70 ฿566
$15.47 ARS 21.0K
14.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
San Rafael
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.41 ฿1,324
$26.23 ARS 35.7K
57.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69 ฿214
$13.84 ARS 18.8K
-51.66%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 ฿184
$6.07 ARS 8,260
-5.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
San Rafael
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,566
$102 ARS 138.7K
193.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿479.8K
$2,192 ARS 3.0M
584.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
San Rafael
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,753
$82.6 ARS 112.3K
-33.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35 ฿842
$76.3 ARS 103.8K
-65.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,706
$147 ARS 200.3K
-42.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,229
$121 ARS 164.6K
-42.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
San Rafael
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.6K
$341 ARS 463.4K
25.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 ฿7,697
$236 ARS 320.6K
2.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿25.9K
$672 ARS 913.9K
20.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿15.9K
$534 ARS 726.5K
-6.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 ฿64.7K
$2,078 ARS 2.8M
-2.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,524 ฿48.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
San Rafael
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$639 ฿20.4K
$454 ARS 617.0K
40.89%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for San Rafael: April 11, 2026

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

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