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

🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 56.9% cheaper than Santa Monica, CA without rent, and 80.5% cheaper with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 58% cheaper than Santa Monica, CA without rent, and 80.9% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 ฿65.3

$25.29 $25.29

-92.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.78 ฿608

$99.5 $99.5

-81.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 ฿248

$12.3 $12.3

-37.64%

Cappuccino

$1.98 ฿64.2

$5.68 $5.68

-65.14%

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

$0.82 ฿26.64

$2.88 $2.88

-71.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ฿10.58

$2.3 $2.3

-85.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.12 ฿68.6

$8.59 $8.59

-75.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 ฿121

$9.32 $9.32

-59.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 ฿53.2

$1.18 $1.18

38.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 ฿50.9

$4.45 $4.45

-64.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 ฿38.62

$4.49 $4.49

-73.50%

Eggs

$1.98 ฿64.1

$7.19 $7.19

-72.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.99 ฿517

$12.47 $12.47

28.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 ฿101

$13.7 $13.7

-77.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.16 ฿361

$14.46 $14.46

-22.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 ฿89.2

$5.37 $5.37

-48.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 ฿39.5

$1.95 $1.95

-37.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 ฿55.4

$3.97 $3.97

-56.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿50.2

$5.73 $5.73

-72.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.21

$2.98 $2.98

-55.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 ฿39.23

$2.45 $2.45

-50.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.2

$1.82 $1.82

-60.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.05

$2.12 $2.12

-75.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.72 ฿153

$10.83 $10.83

-56.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.39 ฿595

$15.28 $15.28

20.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 ฿57.9

$2.53 $2.53

-29.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 ฿104

$5.34 $5.34

-39.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 ฿30.44

$2.08 $2.08

-54.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.9 ฿612

$81.5 $81.5

-76.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 ฿46.08

$3.15 $3.15

-54.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 ฿43.53

$1.71 $1.71

-21.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.85 ฿254

$29.08 $29.08

-73.01%

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

$23.8K $23.8K

-11.25%

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

$21.8K ฿706.8K

$25.5K $25.5K

-14.31%

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

$70.6 ฿2,285

$190 $190

-62.77%

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

$13.72 ฿444

$58.4 $58.4

-76.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.56 ฿568

$67 $67

-73.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.64 ฿1,347

$122 $122

-65.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.9 ฿223

$44.73 $44.73

-84.57%

Cinema Ticket

$5.8 ฿188

$18.03 $18.03

-67.83%

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

$308 ฿9,963

$1,791 $1,791

-82.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿475.8K

$14.7K $14.7K

-0.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.4 ฿1,793

$62.8 $62.8

-11.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.4 ฿854

$34.08 $34.08

-22.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 ฿2,755

$102 $102

-16.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.8 ฿2,323

$153 $153

-53.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 ฿14K

$3,279 $3,279

-86.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 ฿7,610

$2,892 $2,892

-91.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$821 ฿26.6K

$6,850 $6,850

-88.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 ฿16.1K

$5,897 $5,897

-91.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,180 ฿70.6K

$10.8K $10.8K

-79.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,543 ฿49.9K

$8,171 $8,171

-81.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$703 ฿22.8K

$7,229 $7,229

-90.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.49

-22.96%

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 Monica, CA: October 27, 2025

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