Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between San Diego, CA and Chiang Mai

😐 Solo nomad: San Diego, CA is 138% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 357.5% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Diego, CA is 148.3% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 306.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Diego, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.95 $22.95
$2.02 ฿65.3
1036.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.8 $99.8
$18.78 ฿608
431.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.8 $14.8
$7.67 ฿248
92.96%
Cappuccino
$6.07 $6.07
$1.98 ฿64.2
206.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$0.82 ฿26.64
275.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$0.33 ฿10.58
684.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.88 $7.88
$2.12 ฿68.6
271.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.95 $8.95
$3.73 ฿121
139.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Diego, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.64 ฿53.2
-23.17%
White Bread (500g)
$4.5 $4.5
$1.57 ฿50.9
186.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.42 $4.42
$1.19 ฿38.62
271.43%
Eggs
$5.04 $5.04
$1.98 ฿64.1
154.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.66 $13.66
$15.99 ฿517
-14.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.77 $12.77
$3.12 ฿101
309.29%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.5 $18.5
$11.16 ฿361
65.77%
Apples (1kg)
$4.6 $4.6
$2.76 ฿89.2
66.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.22 ฿39.5
40.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.92 $3.92
$1.71 ฿55.4
129.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$1.55 ฿50.2
205.16%
Potato (1kg)
$2.98 $2.98
$1.34 ฿43.21
122.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.47 $2.47
$1.21 ฿39.23
104.13%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.27 $2.27
$0.72 ฿23.2
215.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.5 $2.5
$0.53 ฿17.05
371.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.2 $12.2
$4.72 ฿153
158.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.29 $15.29
$18.39 ฿595
-16.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.79 ฿57.9
-2.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$3.21 ฿104
-20.87%
🚌 Getting Around
San Diego, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.56 $2.56
$0.94 ฿30.44
172.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.1 $72.1
$18.9 ฿612
281.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.97 $2.97
$1.42 ฿46.08
109.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.07 $2.07
$1.35 ฿43.53
53.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.69 $27.69
$7.85 ฿254
252.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.25 ฿40.4
0.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K $30.7K
$21.2K ฿684.9K
45.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K $26.6K
$21.8K ฿706.8K
21.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Diego, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$275 $275
$70.6 ฿2,285
289.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$67 $67
$13.72 ฿444
388.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.1 $79.1
$17.56 ฿568
350.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Diego, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.6 $66.6
$41.64 ฿1,347
59.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.66 $24.66
$6.9 ฿223
257.39%
Cinema Ticket
$15.76 $15.76
$5.8 ฿188
171.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Diego, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,625 $1,625
$308 ฿9,963
427.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.6K $28.6K
$14.7K ฿475.8K
94.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Diego, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1 $58.1
$55.4 ฿1,793
4.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.8 $58.8
$26.4 ฿854
122.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98 $98
$85.1 ฿2,755
15.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$71.8 ฿2,323
61.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Diego, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,808 $2,808
$434 ฿14K
546.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,412 $2,412
$235 ฿7,610
925.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,005 $5,005
$821 ฿26.6K
509.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,128 $4,128
$498 ฿16.1K
728.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,534 $9,534
$2,180 ฿70.6K
337.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,940 $6,940
$1,543 ฿49.9K
349.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Diego, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,341 $5,341
$703 ฿22.8K
659.25%
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 San Diego, CA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 29, 2025

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