Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Santa Barbara, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Santa Barbara, CA

πŸ™‚ Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 57.5% cheaper than Santa Barbara, CA without rent, and 76.7% cheaper with rent.
πŸ™‚ Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 53.3% cheaper than Santa Barbara, CA without rent, and 76.3% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ΰΈΏ65.3
$24.82 $24.82
-91.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ΰΈΏ608
$100 $100
-81.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ΰΈΏ248
$10.17 $10.17
-24.58%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.2
$5.62 $5.62
-64.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ΰΈΏ26.64
$2.73 $2.73
-69.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ΰΈΏ10.58
$2.1 $2.1
-84.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ΰΈΏ68.6
$8.16 $8.16
-74.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ΰΈΏ121
$9.1 $9.1
-59.01%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ΰΈΏ53.2
$1.3 $1.3
26.15%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ΰΈΏ50.9
$4.89 $4.89
-67.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ΰΈΏ38.62
$4.83 $4.83
-75.36%
Eggs
$1.98 ΰΈΏ64.1
$5.43 $5.43
-63.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ΰΈΏ517
$12.51 $12.51
27.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ΰΈΏ101
$11.62 $11.62
-73.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ΰΈΏ361
$14.26 $14.26
-21.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ΰΈΏ89.2
$6.24 $6.24
-55.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ΰΈΏ39.5
$1.91 $1.91
-36.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ΰΈΏ55.4
$3.84 $3.84
-55.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ΰΈΏ50.2
$5.35 $5.35
-71.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ΰΈΏ43.21
$3.31 $3.31
-59.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ΰΈΏ39.23
$3.04 $3.04
-60.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ΰΈΏ23.2
$2.18 $2.18
-66.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ΰΈΏ17.05
$2.02 $2.02
-73.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ΰΈΏ153
$13.02 $13.02
-63.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ΰΈΏ595
$15.26 $15.26
20.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ΰΈΏ57.9
$1.76 $1.76
1.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ΰΈΏ104
$4.07 $4.07
-21.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ΰΈΏ30.44
$1.8 $1.8
-47.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ΰΈΏ612
$65.2 $65.2
-71.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ΰΈΏ46.08
$5.82 $5.82
-75.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ΰΈΏ43.53
$2 $2
-32.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ΰΈΏ254
$50.9 $50.9
-84.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ΰΈΏ40.4
$1.22 $1.22
2.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ΰΈΏ684.9K
$28.5K $28.5K
-25.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ΰΈΏ706.8K
$25.5K $25.5K
-14.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ΰΈΏ2,285
$201 $201
-64.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ΰΈΏ444
$54.1 $54.1
-74.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ΰΈΏ568
$72.4 $72.4
-75.73%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ΰΈΏ1,347
$66.1 $66.1
-36.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ΰΈΏ223
$18.29 $18.29
-62.27%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ΰΈΏ188
$12.64 $12.64
-54.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ΰΈΏ9,963
$1,445 $1,445
-78.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ΰΈΏ475.8K
$37.3K $37.3K
-60.60%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ΰΈΏ1,793
$68.4 $68.4
-19.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ΰΈΏ854
$41.33 $41.33
-36.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ΰΈΏ2,755
$77.7 $77.7
9.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ΰΈΏ2,323
$146 $146
-50.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ΰΈΏ14K
$2,643 $2,643
-83.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ΰΈΏ7,610
$2,296 $2,296
-89.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ΰΈΏ26.6K
$5,146 $5,146
-84.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ΰΈΏ16.1K
$4,439 $4,439
-88.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ΰΈΏ70.6K
$10.4K $10.4K
-78.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ΰΈΏ49.9K
$9,888 $9,888
-84.40%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Santa Barbara, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ΰΈΏ22.8K
$5,242 $5,242
-86.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.68
-25.15%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

Last update for Santa Barbara, CA: October 29, 2025

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