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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 53.2% cheaper than Santa Cruz, CA without rent, and 79.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 60.9% cheaper than Santa Cruz, CA without rent, and 75.8% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 ฿65.3

$22.44 $22.44

-91.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.78 ฿608

$79.7 $79.7

-76.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 ฿248

$12.36 $12.36

-37.94%

Cappuccino

$1.98 ฿64.2

$5.85 $5.85

-66.15%

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

$0.82 ฿26.64

$3.41 $3.41

-75.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.58

$2.54 $2.54

-87.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 ฿68.6

$6.93 $6.93

-69.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿121

$7.46 $7.46

-50.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$1.43 $1.43

14.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿50.9

$5.16 $5.16

-69.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.62

$6.65 $6.65

-82.11%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿64.1

$5.96 $5.96

-66.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.99 ฿517

$23.24 $23.24

-31.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿101

$14.85 $14.85

-78.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.16 ฿361

$23.7 $23.7

-52.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿89.2

$7.05 $7.05

-60.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.5

$2.78 $2.78

-56.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿55.4

$5.32 $5.32

-67.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.2

$7.49 $7.49

-79.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.21

$3.88 $3.88

-65.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.23

$3.93 $3.93

-69.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.2

$2.9 $2.9

-75.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.05

$2.86 $2.86

-81.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.72 ฿153

$14.16 $14.16

-66.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.39 ฿595

$12.02 $12.02

53.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿57.9

$2.15 $2.15

-16.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿104

$2.67 $2.67

20.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.44

$2.05 $2.05

-54.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.9 ฿612

$65.2 $65.2

-71.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ฿46.08

$4.09 $4.09

-65.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.53

$1.93 $1.93

-30.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 ฿254

$38.9 $38.9

-79.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 ฿40.4

$1.24 $1.24

0.81%

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

$21.2K ฿684.9K

$34.9K $34.9K

-39.36%

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

$21.8K ฿706.8K

$26.5K $26.5K

-17.45%

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

$70.6 ฿2,285

$221 $221

-68.02%

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

$13.72 ฿444

$47.05 $47.05

-70.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.56 ฿568

$67.8 $67.8

-74.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,347

$60.2 $60.2

-30.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.9 ฿223

Cinema Ticket

$5.8 ฿188

$17.04 $17.04

-65.96%

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

$308 ฿9,963

$3,225 $3,225

-90.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿475.8K

$38.5K $38.5K

-61.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,793

$63.2 $63.2

-12.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.4 ฿854

$46.64 $46.64

-43.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 ฿2,755

$79.3 $79.3

7.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,323

$115 $115

-37.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ฿14K

$2,893 $2,893

-84.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,610

$2,648 $2,648

-91.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$821 ฿26.6K

$5,700 $5,700

-85.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$4,219 $4,219

-88.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,180 ฿70.6K

$9,235 $9,235

-76.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,543 ฿49.9K

$8,116 $8,116

-80.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$703 ฿22.8K

$5,594 $5,594

-87.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

-21.38%

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, CA: October 27, 2025

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