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

😐 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 8.9% more expensive than Santa Maria without rent, and 30.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 15.1% more expensive than Santa Maria without rent, and 20.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Santa Maria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 ฿64.4
$4.61 R$23.01
-56.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.23 ฿583
$27.15 R$135
-32.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.65 ฿244
$6.40 R$31.94
19.53%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿61.3
$1.36 R$6.81
41.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ฿26.90
$0.88 R$4.38
-4.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ฿11.39
$0.59 R$2.92
-38.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 ฿70.0
$1.42 R$7.07
54.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 ฿121
$3.63 R$18.09
4.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Santa Maria
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 ฿52.4
$0.91 R$4.54
80.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 ฿51.8
$1.35 R$6.76
20.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.88
$1.04 R$5.19
10.58%
Eggs
$1.94 ฿62.0
$1.50 R$7.46
29.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 ฿510
$8.45 R$42.18
88.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 ฿99.2
$3.62 R$18.08
-14.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.07 ฿354
$7.33 R$36.56
51.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.71 ฿86.5
$2.00 R$9.98
35.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ฿37.69
$1.26 R$6.31
-6.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ฿54.5
$1.29 R$6.42
32.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ฿51.3
$1.45 R$7.26
11.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 ฿44.53
$1.10 R$5.48
26.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 ฿36.70
$1.04 R$5.18
10.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.71 ฿22.76
$0.74 R$3.68
-4.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 ฿17.60
$0.62 R$3.08
-11.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.57 ฿146
$1.99 R$9.95
129.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 ฿603
$8.20 R$40.93
130.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 ฿58.2
$1.01 R$5.05
80.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 ฿103
$1.82 R$9.09
76.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Santa Maria
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 ฿28.16
$0.93 R$4.65
-5.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.89 ฿604
$27.49 R$137
-31.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 ฿45.17
$1.61 R$8.02
-12.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.30 ฿41.59
$1.00 R$5.00
30.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.20 ฿262
$5.52 R$27.52
48.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.23 ฿39.18
$1.02 R$5.10
20.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ฿677.0K
$23.4K R$116.7K
-9.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3K ฿713.3K
$27.4K R$136.6K
-18.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Santa Maria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.9 ฿2,234
$48.60 R$243
43.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.07 ฿450
$14.81 R$73.9
-5.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.70 ฿566
$16.27 R$81.2
8.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Santa Maria
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.41 ฿1,324
$21.42 R$107
93.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.69 ฿214
$10.68 R$53.3
-37.36%
Cinema Ticket
$5.74 ฿184
$5.24 R$26.15
9.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Santa Maria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 ฿9,566
$143 R$715
108.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.0K ฿479.8K
$2,660 R$13.3K
464.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Santa Maria
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,753
$49.65 R$248
10.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35 ฿842
$39.30 R$196
-32.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.7 ฿2,706
$81.5 R$407
3.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 ฿2,229
$57.1 R$285
22.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Santa Maria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$427 ฿13.6K
$275 R$1,372
55.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$241 ฿7,697
$151 R$755
59.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$811 ฿25.9K
$576 R$2,875
40.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$498 ฿15.9K
$337 R$1,683
47.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,022 ฿64.7K
$2,017 R$10.1K
0.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,524 ฿48.7K
$687 R$3,429
121.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Santa Maria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$639 ฿20.4K
$634 R$3,162
0.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
10
-50.00%

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: April 13, 2026

Last update for Santa Maria: April 13, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

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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