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 6.7% more expensive than Santa Cruz without rent, and 6.8% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 4.4% more expensive than Santa Cruz without rent, and 3.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ฿64.2

$2.94 BOB 20.37

-30.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.59 ฿588

$27.08 BOB 188

-31.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.48 ฿237

$7.14 BOB 49.46

4.76%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ฿63.2

$2.81 BOB 19.46

-28.83%

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

$0.85 ฿26.81

$0.79 BOB 5.47

7.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.13

$0.66 BOB 4.56

-46.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿70.0

$1.44 BOB 9.95

53.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 ฿119

$1.90 BOB 13.20

97.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 ฿54.4

$1.08 BOB 7.46

59.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.63 ฿51.7

$1.42 BOB 9.84

14.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 ฿36.66

$1.34 BOB 9.30

-13.43%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿62.6

$1.76 BOB 12.22

12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.93 ฿504

$4.77 BOB 33.05

233.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 ฿100

$4.14 BOB 28.68

-23.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.90 ฿345

$6.30 BOB 43.66

73.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.65 ฿83.7

$2.74 BOB 18.96

-3.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿38.70

$0.89 BOB 6.14

37.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 ฿53.7

$1.14 BOB 7.92

49.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 ฿50.3

$1.00 BOB 6.90

59.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ฿41.90

$0.98 BOB 6.81

34.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 ฿36.99

$1.00 BOB 6.93

17.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ฿21.46

$0.76 BOB 5.24

-10.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ฿17.64

$1.15 BOB 7.97

-51.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.51 ฿143

$2.14 BOB 14.84

110.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.07 ฿604

$7.31 BOB 50.6

160.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ฿56.0

$1.48 BOB 10.26

19.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 ฿101

$2.01 BOB 13.94

58.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 ฿30.47

$0.30 BOB 2.06

220.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.90 ฿598

$21.43 BOB 149

-11.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.36 ฿42.98

$2.96 BOB 20.49

-54.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿42.80

$1.48 BOB 10.28

-8.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.03 ฿254

$7.28 BOB 50.5

10.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ฿39.34

$0.55 BOB 3.81

125.45%

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

$21.2K ฿669.8K

$28.7K BOB 199.2K

-26.36%

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

$21.8K ฿688.5K

$28.0K BOB 194.0K

-22.31%

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

$71.2 ฿2,255

$53.4 BOB 370

33.33%

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

$14.09 ฿446

$22.97 BOB 159

-38.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.47 ฿553

$33.51 BOB 232

-47.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.07 ฿1,332

$32.52 BOB 225

29.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.88 ฿218

$22.03 BOB 153

-68.77%

Cinema Ticket

$5.94 ฿188

$7.11 BOB 49.29

-16.46%

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

$307 ฿9,728

$202 BOB 1,400

52.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿468.2K

$4,157 BOB 28.8K

255.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.7 ฿1,762

$42.44 BOB 294

31.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.79 ฿848

$48.35 BOB 335

-44.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 ฿2,634

$83.7 BOB 580

-0.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 ฿2,219

$61.8 BOB 429

13.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$427 ฿13.5K

$414 BOB 2,868

3.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 ฿7,504

$262 BOB 1,813

-9.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$802 ฿25.4K

$748 BOB 5,186

7.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 ฿15.9K

$635 BOB 4,398

-20.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,061 ฿65.2K

$1,529 BOB 10.6K

34.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,533 ฿48.5K

$864 BOB 5,985

77.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$654 ฿20.7K

$505 BOB 3,496

29.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

-25.04%

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 Cruz: March 3, 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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