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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 53.9% cheaper than Santa Cruz without rent, and 54% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 40.9% cheaper than Santa Cruz without rent, and 52% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 ฿65.3

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.78 ฿608

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 ฿248

Cappuccino

$1.98 ฿64.2

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

$0.82 ฿26.64

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.58

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 ฿68.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$2.15 AWG 3.86

-23.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿50.9

$2.74 AWG 4.91

-42.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.62

$4.34 AWG 7.76

-72.58%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿64.1

$4.72 AWG 8.44

-58.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.99 ฿517

$7.98 AWG 14.28

100.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿101

$7.29 AWG 13.06

-57.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.16 ฿361

$6.52 AWG 11.67

71.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿89.2

$4.36 AWG 7.8

-36.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.5

$4.32 AWG 7.73

-71.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿55.4

$8.53 AWG 15.27

-79.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.2

$6.66 AWG 11.92

-76.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.21

$6.92 AWG 12.38

-80.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.23

$1.9 AWG 3.4

-36.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.2

$3.13 AWG 5.6

-77.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.05

$4.55 AWG 8.14

-88.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.72 ฿153

$10.44 AWG 18.69

-54.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.39 ฿595

$19.58 AWG 35.05

-6.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿57.9

$2.45 AWG 4.38

-26.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿104

$3.11 AWG 5.57

3.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.44

$1.98 AWG 3.54

-52.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.9 ฿612

$153 AWG 273

-87.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ฿46.08

$19.73 AWG 35.32

-92.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.53

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 ฿254

$19.7 AWG 35.26

-60.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ฿40.4

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

$21.2K ฿684.9K

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

$21.8K ฿706.8K

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

$70.6 ฿2,285

$136 AWG 243

-48.06%

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

$13.72 ฿444

$72.2 AWG 129

-80.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.56 ฿568

$200 AWG 358

-91.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,347

$69.7 AWG 125

-40.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.9 ฿223

$47.1 AWG 84.3

-85.35%

Cinema Ticket

$5.8 ฿188

$8.39 AWG 15.02

-30.87%

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

$308 ฿9,963

$139 AWG 249

121.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿475.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,793

$79.2 AWG 142

-30.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.4 ฿854

$112 AWG 201

-76.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 ฿2,755

$141 AWG 253

-39.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,323

$137 AWG 244

-47.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ฿14K

$1,289 AWG 2,308

-66.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,610

$556 AWG 995

-57.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$821 ฿26.6K

$1,569 AWG 2,810

-47.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$1,411 AWG 2,527

-64.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,180 ฿70.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,543 ฿49.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$703 ฿22.8K

$3,669 AWG 6,569

-80.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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 Cruz: October 29, 2025

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