Cost of Living Comparison Between Salinas, CA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Salinas, CA and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: Salinas, CA is 126.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 333.1% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Salinas, CA is 137.7% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 288.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salinas, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.69 $29.69
$2.02 ฿65.3
1369.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.1 $89.1
$18.78 ฿608
374.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.04 $12.04
$7.67 ฿248
56.98%
Cappuccino
$4.9 $4.9
$1.98 ฿64.2
147.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66 $2.66
$0.82 ฿26.64
224.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14 $2.14
$0.33 ฿10.58
548.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.86 $7.86
$2.12 ฿68.6
270.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.84 $7.84
$3.73 ฿121
110.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salinas, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.64 ฿53.2
-10.98%
White Bread (500g)
$3.55 $3.55
$1.57 ฿50.9
126.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.36 $6.36
$1.19 ฿38.62
434.45%
Eggs
$5.55 $5.55
$1.98 ฿64.1
180.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$21 $21
$15.99 ฿517
31.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.16 $13.16
$3.12 ฿101
321.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.74 $16.74
$11.16 ฿361
50.00%
Apples (1kg)
$6 $6
$2.76 ฿89.2
117.39%
Banana (1kg)
$2.16 $2.16
$1.22 ฿39.5
77.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.57 $3.57
$1.71 ฿55.4
108.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.06 $6.06
$1.55 ฿50.2
290.97%
Potato (1kg)
$4.47 $4.47
$1.34 ฿43.21
233.58%
Onion (1kg)
$3.39 $3.39
$1.21 ฿39.23
180.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.17 $2.17
$0.72 ฿23.2
201.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$0.53 ฿17.05
252.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.09 $11.09
$4.72 ฿153
134.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.18 $10.18
$18.39 ฿595
-44.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$1.79 ฿57.9
-6.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.34 $5.34
$3.21 ฿104
66.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Salinas, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 $1.95
$0.94 ฿30.44
107.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$68.8 $68.8
$18.9 ฿612
264.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.45 $3.45
$1.42 ฿46.08
142.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.88 $1.88
$1.35 ฿43.53
39.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.24 $40.24
$7.85 ฿254
412.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.25 ฿40.4
4.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K $24.2K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
14.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
20.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salinas, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$277 $277
$70.6 ฿2,285
292.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.1 $53.1
$13.72 ฿444
287.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.6 $72.6
$17.56 ฿568
313.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salinas, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.6 $39.6
$41.64 ฿1,347
-4.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.9 ฿223
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.31 $14.31
$5.8 ฿188
146.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salinas, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,968 $1,968
$308 ฿9,963
539.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.3K $38.3K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
160.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salinas, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.1 $56.1
$55.4 ฿1,793
1.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.8 $37.8
$26.4 ฿854
43.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.3 $92.3
$85.1 ฿2,755
8.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$126 $126
$71.8 ฿2,323
75.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salinas, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,200 $2,200
$434 ฿14K
406.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,164 $2,164
$235 ฿7,610
820.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,186 $4,186
$821 ฿26.6K
409.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,806 $3,806
$498 ฿16.1K
663.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,778 $2,778
$2,180 ฿70.6K
27.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,415 $2,415
$1,543 ฿49.9K
56.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salinas, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,905 $4,905
$703 ฿22.8K
597.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.41
5
28.20%

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

Last update for Salinas, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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