Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Sao Tome and Principe
For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $906 a month against $1,214 in Sao Tome and Principe, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
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Chiang Mai Living Index45Cost of Living Index in Chiang MaiLearn more -
Sao Tome and Principe Living Index59Cost of Living Index in Sao Tome and PrincipeLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Chiang Mai is 28.1% cheaper than Sao Tome and Principe without rent, and 25.4% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Chiang Mai is 38.2% cheaper than Sao Tome and Principe without rent, and 29.3% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Chiang Mai
Sao Tome and Principe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ฿71.4
$8.81 STN 192
-75.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40 ฿649
$45.70 STN 999
-57.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ฿183
$8.62 STN 188
-36.54%
Cappuccino
$1.68 ฿56.4
$2.42 STN 52.8
-30.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 ฿22.10
$1.74 STN 38.06
-62.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 ฿11.52
$1.12 STN 24.57
-69.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.42 ฿81.0
$1.76 STN 38.46
37.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73 ฿125
$1.80 STN 39.44
107.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai
Sao Tome and Principe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.06 ฿68.9
$1.58 STN 34.44
30.38%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 ฿48.78
$1.53 STN 33.42
-4.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 ฿45.09
$1.95 STN 42.63
-30.77%
Eggs
$2.27 ฿76.0
$4.50 STN 98.3
-49.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.31 ฿546
$19.41 STN 424
-15.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.70 ฿90.3
$19.55 STN 427
-86.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.20 ฿308
$20.90 STN 457
-55.98%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 ฿80.1
$3.72 STN 81.2
-35.75%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 ฿34.66
$1.76 STN 38.50
-40.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 ฿53.7
$3.58 STN 78.3
-55.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.44 ฿48.37
$3.37 STN 73.7
-57.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 ฿43.59
$2.92 STN 63.9
-55.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 ฿37.29
$2.37 STN 51.7
-53.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.70 ฿23.55
$0.51 STN 11.06
37.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.99
$1.98 STN 43.32
-74.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13 ฿138
$2.25 STN 49.25
83.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.78 ฿595
$8.12 STN 177
118.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63 ฿54.7
$1.41 STN 30.74
15.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 ฿96.0
$1.70 STN 37.22
68.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiang Mai
Sao Tome and Principe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 ฿28.76
$1.41 STN 30.77
-39.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.2 ฿1,780
-
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Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 ฿40.81
$1.73 STN 37.81
-29.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 ฿18.81
$2.64 STN 57.8
-78.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 ฿77.5
$13.90 STN 304
-83.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.50 ฿50.2
$1.69 STN 37.00
-11.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K ฿698.3K
$24.3K STN 531.2K
-14.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K ฿895.0K
$31.1K STN 678.7K
-13.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai
Sao Tome and Principe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ฿2,051
$225 STN 4,918
-72.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.50 ฿419
$31.43 STN 687
-60.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.36 ฿682
$67.6 STN 1,477
-69.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai
Sao Tome and Principe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$37.94 ฿1,270
$33.47 STN 731
13.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.77 ฿126
$25.52 STN 558
-85.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 ฿221
$20.45 STN 447
-67.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiang Mai
Sao Tome and Principe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$774 ฿25.9K
$228 STN 4,976
239.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K ฿483.2K
$2,161 STN 47.2K
567.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai
Sao Tome and Principe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.8 ฿1,835
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.26 ฿846
$75.8 STN 1,656
-66.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 ฿3,032
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3 ฿2,453
$18.52 STN 405
295.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai
Sao Tome and Principe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 ฿15.4K
$283 STN 6,178
62.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 ฿9,835
$195 STN 4,256
50.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$919 ฿30.8K
$946 STN 20.7K
-2.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$552 ฿18.5K
$441 STN 9,627
25.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,917 ฿64.2K
$1,860 STN 40.6K
3.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,445 ฿48.4K
$1,129 STN 24.7K
27.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiang Mai
Sao Tome and Principe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$592 ฿19.8K
$431 STN 9,428
37.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
7.38
-24.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 2026
Last update for Sao Tome and Principe: October 6, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $294 31.8%
Sao Tome and Principe $195 16.1% 33.7% $99
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $236 25.6%
Sao Tome and Principe $402 33.3% 70.3% $166
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $110 11.9%
Sao Tome and Principe $42 * 3.5% 61.3% $67
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $94 10.2%
Sao Tome and Principe $324 26.9% 244% $230
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $77 8.4%
Sao Tome and Principe $149 12.4% 93.1% $72
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $61 6.6%
Sao Tome and Principe $21 * 1.7% 66.1% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $51 5.5%
Sao Tome and Principe $74 6.2% 45.5% $23
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Accommodation & Living
Chiang Mai $552 29%
Sao Tome and Principe $441 17% 20.2% $111
Groceries & Markets
Chiang Mai $529 27.8%
Sao Tome and Principe $955 36.9% 80.5% $426
Clothing & Footwear
Chiang Mai $244 12.8%
Sao Tome and Principe $94 * 3.6% 61.3% $150
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiang Mai $107 5.6%
Sao Tome and Principe $356 13.7% 234% $249
Eating Out
Chiang Mai $243 12.8%
Sao Tome and Principe $527 20.3% 116% $283
Getting Around
Chiang Mai $123 6.5%
Sao Tome and Principe $44 * 1.7% 64.2% $79
Sport & Entertainment
Chiang Mai $106 5.6%
Sao Tome and Principe $174 6.7% 64.3% $68
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Good to know
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
🇸🇹 Sao Tome and Principe
Weather
Population
127,240
204,327
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Chiang Mai Sao Tome and Principe 10,230 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
- Chiang Mai
- Sao Tome and Principe
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Chiang Mai vs other spots: cost of living compared
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