Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Santa Ana Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Santa Ana

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 0.4% cheaper than Santa Ana without rent, and 7.7% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 7.7% cheaper than Santa Ana without rent, and 6.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Santa Ana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.03 ฿63.8
$2.46 $2.46
-17.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.59 ฿585
$17.72 $17.72
4.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.48 ฿235
$4.86 $4.86
53.91%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ฿62.8
$2.02 $2.02
-0.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 ฿26.63
$0.68 $0.68
25.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 ฿11.05
$0.61 $0.61
-42.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.21 ฿69.5
$2.02 $2.02
9.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.76 ฿118
$2.64 $2.64
42.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Santa Ana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 ฿54.0
$1.86 $1.86
-7.53%
White Bread (500g)
$1.63 ฿51.4
$2.06 $2.06
-20.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 ฿36.42
$1.49 $1.49
-22.15%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿62.2
$2.79 $2.79
-29.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.93 ฿501
$6.84 $6.84
132.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ฿99.6
$6.61 $6.61
-52.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.90 ฿343
$10.89 $10.89
0.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.65 ฿83.2
$3.21 $3.21
-17.45%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿38.45
$1.73 $1.73
-29.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 ฿53.4
$2.63 $2.63
-35.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 ฿49.99
$2.63 $2.63
-39.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 ฿41.63
$2.23 $2.23
-40.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ฿36.74
$2.20 $2.20
-46.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ฿21.31
$0.93 $0.93
-26.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿17.52
$1.03 $1.03
-45.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.51 ฿142
$4.07 $4.07
10.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.07 ฿600
$10.86 $10.86
75.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 ฿55.7
$1.76 $1.76
0.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 ฿100.0
$2.47 $2.47
28.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Santa Ana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.96 ฿30.27
$0.31 $0.31
209.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.90 ฿594
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.36 ฿42.69
$5.60 $5.60
-75.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿42.51
$2.98 $2.98
-54.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.03 ฿253
$19.86 $19.86
-59.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ฿39.08
$0.98 $0.98
26.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿665.4K
$23.3K $23.3K
-9.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿684.0K
$28.7K $28.7K
-24.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Santa Ana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.2 ฿2,240
$39.26 $39.26
81.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.09 ฿443
$19.35 $19.35
-27.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.47 ฿549
$39.37 $39.37
-55.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Santa Ana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.07 ฿1,323
$35.24 $35.24
19.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88 ฿216
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 ฿187
$5.06 $5.06
17.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Santa Ana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$307 ฿9,664
$146 $146
110.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.8K ฿465.1K
$5,858 $5,858
152.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Santa Ana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.7 ฿1,750
$68.2 $68.2
-18.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.79 ฿842
$43.74 $43.74
-38.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 ฿2,617
$116 $116
-28.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ฿2,204
$106 $106
-33.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Santa Ana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.4K
$295 $295
44.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 ฿7,454
$150 $150
58.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$802 ฿25.2K
$509 $509
57.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$503 ฿15.8K
$303 $303
66.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,061 ฿64.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,533 ฿48.2K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Santa Ana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$654 ฿20.6K
$445 $445
46.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
8.58
-41.72%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

Last update for Santa Ana: 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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