Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sant Julia de Loria Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sant Julia de Loria

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $207 in Sant Julia de Loria, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $440 in Sant Julia de Loria, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $674 in Sant Julia de Loria, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 357% more than Sant Julia de Loria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Sant Julia de Loria are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Sant Julia de Loria 85% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$13.83 €11.89

-84.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$53.0 €45.56

-62.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$12.71 €10.93

-55.55%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿59.4

$1.83 €1.57

-1.09%

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

$0.71 ฿23.45

$2.43 €2.09

-70.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$2.03 €1.75

-84.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

$2.46 €2.11

-8.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

$3.97 €3.41

-8.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 ฿138

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

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

$21.4K ฿705.1K

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

$27.3K ฿898.7K

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

$63.7 ฿2,093

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

$12.85 ฿423

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

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

$778 ฿25.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$5,898 €5,070

-89.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sant Julia de Loria: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 879% higher in Sant Julia de Loria, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $53.0 in Sant Julia de Loria. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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 Sant Julia de Loria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 357% more than Sant Julia de Loria, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $311 in Sant Julia de Loria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $947 in Chiang Mai and $207 in Sant Julia de Loria. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai and $53.0 in Sant Julia de Loria. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sant Julia de Loria, where all-in costs run around $207, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Sant Julia de Loria 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. Sant Julia de Loria costs $207 versus $947 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 Sant Julia de Loria. 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.