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 132.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 361.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: San Diego, CA is 156.2% more expensive than Chiang Mai without rent, and 315% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Diego, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.33 $23.33
$2.03 ฿64.0
1049.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$18.59 ฿586
439.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.83 $14.83
$7.48 ฿236
98.26%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$2.00 ฿63.0
192.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 $2.97
$0.85 ฿26.72
249.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60 $2.60
$0.35 ฿11.09
642.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.09 $8.09
$2.21 ฿69.8
266.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.02 $9.02
$3.76 ฿118
139.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Diego, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 $1.22
$1.72 ฿54.2
-29.07%
White Bread (500g)
$4.49 $4.49
$1.63 ฿51.5
175.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.35 $4.35
$1.16 ฿36.54
275.00%
Eggs
$5.29 $5.29
$1.98 ฿62.4
167.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.72 $13.72
$15.93 ฿502
-13.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.58 $12.58
$3.17 ฿99.9
296.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.75 $18.75
$10.90 ฿344
72.02%
Apples (1kg)
$4.58 $4.58
$2.65 ฿83.4
72.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 $1.66
$1.22 ฿38.57
36.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.88 $3.88
$1.70 ฿53.5
128.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.79 $4.79
$1.59 ฿50.2
201.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.92 $2.92
$1.32 ฿41.76
121.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.48 $2.48
$1.17 ฿36.86
111.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 $2.20
$0.68 ฿21.38
223.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.48 $2.48
$0.56 ฿17.58
342.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.96 $11.96
$4.51 ฿142
165.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.16 $15.16
$19.07 ฿602
-20.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 $1.75
$1.77 ฿55.8
-1.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$3.18 ฿100
-22.64%
🚌 Getting Around
San Diego, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.49 $2.49
$0.96 ฿30.37
159.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.6 $71.6
$18.90 ฿596
278.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 $3.09
$1.36 ฿42.83
127.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.35 ฿42.65
47.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.44 $28.44
$8.03 ฿253
254.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 $1.24
$1.24 ฿39.20
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K $30.7K
$21.2K ฿667.5K
45.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K $27.3K
$21.8K ฿686.1K
25.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Diego, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$273 $273
$71.2 ฿2,247
283.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$69.0 $69.0
$14.09 ฿444
389.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.6 $78.6
$17.47 ฿551
350.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Diego, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.1 $67.1
$42.07 ฿1,327
59.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.53 $24.53
$6.88 ฿217
256.54%
Cinema Ticket
$15.99 $15.99
$5.94 ฿187
169.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Diego, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,616 $1,616
$307 ฿9,694
425.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$28.5K $28.5K
$14.8K ฿466.6K
92.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Diego, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.4 $58.4
$55.7 ฿1,756
4.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.4 $58.4
$26.79 ฿845
117.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.3 $99.3
$83.2 ฿2,625
19.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 $116
$70.1 ฿2,211
65.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Diego, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,812 $2,812
$427 ฿13.5K
558.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,356 $2,356
$237 ฿7,478
893.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,894 $4,894
$802 ฿25.3K
510.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,099 $4,099
$503 ฿15.9K
714.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,662 $8,662
$2,061 ฿65.0K
320.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,713 $6,713
$1,533 ฿48.3K
338.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Diego, CA
Chiang Mai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,594 $5,594
$654 ฿20.6K
755.81%
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: March 3, 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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