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

😐 Solo nomad: El Centro, CA is 107.9% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 193.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: El Centro, CA is 101.5% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 154.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Centro, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.94 $11.94
$2.03 ฿64.6
488.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.38 $39.38
$18.59 ฿593
111.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.17 $15.17
$7.48 ฿238
102.81%
Cappuccino
$4.03 $4.03
$2.00 ฿63.7
101.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$0.85 ฿27.01
141.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.35 ฿11.21
465.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.21 ฿70.5
34.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.03 $7.03
$3.76 ฿120
86.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Centro, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 $1.12
$1.72 ฿54.8
-34.88%
White Bread (500g)
$4.31 $4.31
$1.63 ฿52.1
164.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.58 $4.58
$1.16 ฿36.93
294.83%
Eggs
$3.72 $3.72
$1.98 ฿63.1
87.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.07 $12.07
$15.93 ฿508
-24.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.34 $16.34
$3.17 ฿101
415.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.69 $15.69
$10.90 ฿348
43.94%
Apples (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$2.65 ฿84.3
66.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 $1.69
$1.22 ฿38.98
38.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.13 $5.13
$1.70 ฿54.1
201.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.65 $5.65
$1.59 ฿50.7
255.35%
Potato (1kg)
$3.28 $3.28
$1.32 ฿42.21
148.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$1.17 ฿37.25
141.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.03 $2.03
$0.68 ฿21.61
198.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.19 $2.19
$0.56 ฿17.76
291.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.80 $10.80
$4.51 ฿144
139.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.96 $14.96
$19.07 ฿608
-21.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.77 ฿56.4
7.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.18 ฿101
8.18%
🚌 Getting Around
El Centro, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.04 $2.04
$0.96 ฿30.70
112.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.90 ฿602
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.44 $6.44
$1.36 ฿43.29
373.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.67 $2.67
$1.35 ฿43.11
97.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.94 $28.94
$8.03 ฿256
260.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 $1.29
$1.24 ฿39.62
4.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K $25.3K
$21.2K ฿674.7K
19.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5K $28.5K
$21.8K ฿693.5K
31.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Centro, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$156 $156
$71.2 ฿2,271
118.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.0 $54.0
$14.09 ฿449
283.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.5 $57.5
$17.47 ฿557
228.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Centro, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.58 $42.58
$42.07 ฿1,341
1.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.88 ฿219
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.21 $15.21
$5.94 ฿189
156.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Centro, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,499 $1,499
$307 ฿9,799
387.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.4K $23.4K
$14.8K ฿471.6K
57.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Centro, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.24 $47.24
$55.7 ฿1,775
-15.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.42 $33.42
$26.79 ฿854
24.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$83.2 ฿2,653
22.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$70.1 ฿2,235
46.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Centro, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,581 $1,581
$427 ฿13.6K
270.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,373 $1,373
$237 ฿7,559
479.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,595 $2,595
$802 ฿25.6K
223.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,256 $2,256
$503 ฿16.0K
348.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,519 $2,519
$2,061 ฿65.7K
22.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,631 $2,631
$1,533 ฿48.9K
71.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Centro, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$654 ฿20.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.64
5
32.80%

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

Last update for El Centro, CA: February 28, 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

Similar cities