Cost of Living Comparison Between El Cajon, CA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between El Cajon, CA and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: El Cajon, CA is 89.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 279.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: El Cajon, CA is 98.8% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 285.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Cajon, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.85 $19.85
$2.03 ฿64.8
877.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.4 $80.4
$18.59 ฿594
332.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.26 $15.26
$7.48 ฿239
104.01%
Cappuccino
$5.13 $5.13
$2.00 ฿63.8
156.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$0.85 ฿27.08
243.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$0.35 ฿11.24
628.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.07 $7.07
$2.21 ฿70.7
219.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.02 $8.02
$3.76 ฿120
113.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Cajon, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.72 ฿54.9
-30.81%
White Bread (500g)
$4.26 $4.26
$1.63 ฿52.2
161.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.35 $4.35
$1.16 ฿37.04
275.00%
Eggs
$3.85 $3.85
$1.98 ฿63.3
94.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.72 $13.72
$15.93 ฿509
-13.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.50 $16.50
$3.17 ฿101
420.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.71 $15.71
$10.90 ฿349
44.13%
Apples (1kg)
$4.43 $4.43
$2.65 ฿84.6
67.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.22 ฿39.09
36.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.08 $4.08
$1.70 ฿54.3
140.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.81 $4.81
$1.59 ฿50.8
202.52%
Potato (1kg)
$3.06 $3.06
$1.32 ฿42.33
131.82%
Onion (1kg)
$2.48 $2.48
$1.17 ฿37.36
111.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.09 $2.09
$0.68 ฿21.67
207.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 $2.37
$0.56 ฿17.81
323.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.86 $11.86
$4.51 ฿144
162.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.85 $14.85
$19.07 ฿610
-22.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80 $1.80
$1.77 ฿56.6
1.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$3.18 ฿102
-22.64%
🚌 Getting Around
El Cajon, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.85 $1.85
$0.96 ฿30.78
92.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.90 ฿604
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 $3.06
$1.36 ฿43.41
125.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.35 ฿43.23
23.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.39 $28.39
$8.03 ฿257
253.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.24 ฿39.74
5.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$21.2K ฿676.6K
22.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$21.8K ฿695.5K
25.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Cajon, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$155 $155
$71.2 ฿2,277
117.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.3 $54.3
$14.09 ฿450
285.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.0 $72.0
$17.47 ฿559
312.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Cajon, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.24 $42.24
$42.07 ฿1,345
0.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88 ฿220
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.92 $14.92
$5.94 ฿190
151.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Cajon, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,527 $1,527
$307 ฿9,827
396.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.1K $29.1K
$14.8K ฿473.0K
96.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Cajon, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.30 $48.30
$55.7 ฿1,780
-13.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.48 $33.48
$26.79 ฿856
24.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$83.2 ฿2,661
22.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 $102
$70.1 ฿2,241
45.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Cajon, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,421 $2,421
$427 ฿13.7K
466.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,978 $1,978
$237 ฿7,580
734.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,932 $2,932
$802 ฿25.6K
265.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,042 $4,042
$503 ฿16.1K
702.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,061 ฿65.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,533 ฿49.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Cajon, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,924 $3,924
$654 ฿20.9K
500.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.39
5
27.80%

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

Last update for El Cajon, CA: March 1, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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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