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 10.3% more expensive than Santa Cruz without rent, and 5.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 7.1% more expensive than Santa Cruz without rent, and 3.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Santa Cruz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.02 ฿65.3
$2.83 BOB 19.4
-28.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.78 ฿608
$26.78 BOB 183
-29.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.67 ฿248
$7.46 BOB 51.1
2.82%
Cappuccino
$1.98 ฿64.2
$2.72 BOB 18.63
-27.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 ฿26.64
$0.76 BOB 5.21
7.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ฿10.58
$0.71 BOB 4.83
-53.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.12 ฿68.6
$1.48 BOB 10.16
43.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿121
$1.98 BOB 13.57
88.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Santa Cruz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿53.2
$1.07 BOB 7.35
53.27%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 ฿50.9
$1.42 BOB 9.73
10.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 ฿38.62
$1.33 BOB 9.14
-10.53%
Eggs
$1.98 ฿64.1
$1.77 BOB 12.14
11.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.99 ฿517
$4.65 BOB 31.86
243.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ฿101
$4.15 BOB 28.42
-24.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.16 ฿361
$6.51 BOB 44.57
71.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.76 ฿89.2
$2.64 BOB 18.08
4.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 ฿39.5
$0.91 BOB 6.26
34.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿55.4
$1.14 BOB 7.8
50.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 ฿50.2
$1 BOB 6.88
55.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 ฿43.21
$0.94 BOB 6.43
42.55%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 ฿39.23
$1.03 BOB 7.04
17.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.72 ฿23.2
$0.79 BOB 5.38
-8.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.05
$1.11 BOB 7.63
-52.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.72 ฿153
$2.14 BOB 14.68
120.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 ฿595
$7.05 BOB 48.27
160.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 ฿57.9
$1.48 BOB 10.12
20.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿104
$2.06 BOB 14.08
55.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Santa Cruz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 ฿30.44
$0.3 BOB 2.04
213.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.9 ฿612
$21.71 BOB 149
-12.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 ฿46.08
$2.88 BOB 19.74
-50.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 ฿43.53
$1.46 BOB 10.01
-7.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.85 ฿254
$7.08 BOB 48.49
10.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 ฿40.4
$0.58 BOB 3.94
115.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿684.9K
$29.3K BOB 200.6K
-27.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K ฿706.8K
$27.8K BOB 190.7K
-21.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Santa Cruz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 ฿2,285
$54.2 BOB 371
30.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.72 ฿444
$22.31 BOB 153
-38.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.56 ฿568
$32.84 BOB 225
-46.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Santa Cruz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.64 ฿1,347
$32.3 BOB 221
28.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.9 ฿223
$21.34 BOB 146
-67.67%
Cinema Ticket
$5.8 ฿188
$7.13 BOB 48.81
-18.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Santa Cruz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$308 ฿9,963
$202 BOB 1,384
52.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.7K ฿475.8K
$4,227 BOB 29K
247.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Santa Cruz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 ฿1,793
$43.42 BOB 297
27.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.4 ฿854
$48.74 BOB 334
-45.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 ฿2,755
$84.9 BOB 582
0.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8 ฿2,323
$61.7 BOB 423
16.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Santa Cruz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 ฿14K
$402 BOB 2,757
7.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 ฿7,610
$260 BOB 1,778
-9.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 ฿26.6K
$759 BOB 5,200
8.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿16.1K
$651 BOB 4,462
-23.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,180 ฿70.6K
$1,375 BOB 9,421
58.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,543 ฿49.9K
$1,667 BOB 11.4K
-7.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Santa Cruz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$703 ฿22.8K
$401 BOB 2,750
75.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
6.67
-25.04%

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 28, 2025

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