Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between El Salvador and Chiang Mai
For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $906 a month against $1,466 in El Salvador, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
-
El Salvador Living Index72Cost of Living Index in El SalvadorLearn more -
Chiang Mai Living Index45Cost of Living Index in Chiang MaiLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: El Salvador is 30% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 61.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: El Salvador is 34.7% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 44.4% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
El Salvador
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.68 $6.68
$2.13 ฿71.4
213.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.84 $44.84
$19.40 ฿649
131.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.08 $7.08
$5.47 ฿183
29.43%
Cappuccino
$3.57 $3.57
$1.68 ฿56.4
112.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 $1.14
$0.66 ฿22.10
72.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 $0.92
$0.34 ฿11.52
170.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.03 $2.03
$2.42 ฿81.0
-16.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 $3.49
$3.73 ฿125
-6.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Salvador
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 $1.84
$2.06 ฿68.9
-10.68%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 $2.40
$1.46 ฿48.78
64.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 $1.55
$1.35 ฿45.09
14.81%
Eggs
$2.76 $2.76
$2.27 ฿76.0
21.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.61 $7.61
$16.31 ฿546
-53.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.95 $5.95
$2.70 ฿90.3
120.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.99 $8.99
$9.20 ฿308
-2.28%
Apples (1kg)
$3.81 $3.81
$2.39 ฿80.1
59.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 $1.74
$1.04 ฿34.66
67.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.96 $2.96
$1.60 ฿53.7
85.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.93 $2.93
$1.44 ฿48.37
103.47%
Potato (1kg)
$2.85 $2.85
$1.30 ฿43.59
119.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 $2.32
$1.11 ฿37.29
109.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 $0.97
$0.70 ฿23.55
38.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.51 ฿16.99
86.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 $3.97
$4.13 ฿138
-3.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.90 $11.90
$17.78 ฿595
-33.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 $1.90
$1.63 ฿54.7
16.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.87 ฿96.0
-3.48%
🚌 Getting Around
El Salvador
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 $0.36
$0.86 ฿28.76
-58.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.46 $35.46
$53.2 ฿1,780
-33.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.51 $6.51
$1.22 ฿40.81
433.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.09 $3.09
$0.56 ฿18.81
451.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.04 $20.04
$2.31 ฿77.5
767.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 $1.19
$1.50 ฿50.2
-20.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$20.9K ฿698.3K
21.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$26.7K ฿895.0K
5.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Salvador
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 $104
$61.3 ฿2,051
70.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.38 $22.38
$12.50 ฿419
79.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.65 $41.65
$20.36 ฿682
104.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Salvador
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.73 $31.73
$37.94 ฿1,270
-16.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.60 $16.60
$3.77 ฿126
340.32%
Cinema Ticket
$4.96 $4.96
$6.60 ฿221
-24.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Salvador
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$167 $167
$774 ฿25.9K
-78.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,427 $4,427
$14.4K ฿483.2K
-69.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Salvador
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.2 $63.2
$54.8 ฿1,835
15.33%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.16 $49.16
$25.26 ฿846
94.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 $119
$90.6 ฿3,032
31.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 $103
$73.3 ฿2,453
40.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Salvador
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$733 $733
$459 ฿15.4K
59.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$655 $655
$294 ฿9,835
122.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,261 $1,261
$919 ฿30.8K
37.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$881 $881
$552 ฿18.5K
59.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,730 $2,730
$1,917 ฿64.2K
42.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,601 $1,601
$1,445 ฿48.4K
10.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Salvador
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$440 $440
$592 ฿19.8K
-25.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.48
5.57
52.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for El Salvador: October 3, 2026
Last update for Chiang Mai: October 5, 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
El Salvador $655 44.3%
Chiang Mai $294 31.8% 55.1% $361
Groceries & Markets
El Salvador $262 17.7%
Chiang Mai $236 25.6% 10.1% $26
Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Salvador $168 11.4%
Chiang Mai $94 10.2% 44% $74
Clothing & Footwear
El Salvador $150 10.2%
Chiang Mai $110 11.9% 27% $41
Eating Out
El Salvador $143 9.7%
Chiang Mai $77 8.4% 45.9% $66
Getting Around
El Salvador $59 4%
Chiang Mai $61 6.6% 3% $1.8
Sport & Entertainment
El Salvador $42 2.8%
Chiang Mai $51 5.5% 22.8% $9.5
Accommodation & Living
El Salvador $881 32.2%
Chiang Mai $552 29% 37.4% $329
Groceries & Markets
El Salvador $603 22.1%
Chiang Mai $529 27.8% 12.3% $74
Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Salvador $191 7%
Chiang Mai $107 5.6% 44% $84
Clothing & Footwear
El Salvador $334 12.2%
Chiang Mai $244 12.8% 27% $90
Eating Out
El Salvador $508 18.6%
Chiang Mai $243 12.8% 52.1% $265
Getting Around
El Salvador $118 4.3%
Chiang Mai $123 6.5% 3.8% $4.5
Sport & Entertainment
El Salvador $100 3.7%
Chiang Mai $106 5.6% 6.1% $6.1
Good to know
🇸🇻 El Salvador
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai
Weather
Population
6,029,976
127,240
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- El Salvador Chiang Mai 16,290 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
- El Salvador
- Chiang Mai
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
El Salvador vs other spots: cost of living compared
Similar countries
75
Cost of Living Index in Poland
Learn more
🇬🇷 Greece
75
Cost of Living Index in Greece
Learn more
🇸🇰 Slovakia
74
Cost of Living Index in Slovakia
Learn more
🇱🇹 Lithuania
71
Cost of Living Index in Lithuania
Learn more
🇱🇻 Latvia
69
Cost of Living Index in Latvia
Learn more
🇴🇲 Oman
69
Cost of Living Index in Oman
Learn more
🇱🇧 Lebanon
73
Cost of Living Index in Lebanon
Learn more
🇹🇹 Trinidad And Tobago
71
Cost of Living Index in Trinidad And Tobago
Learn more